It's often easier to be kind to others than to ourselves, she says. In the workplace, at school and at home, being compassionate leads to better outcomes," she says. The connection between mental health and physical health is so critical. From kindness expert Gabriella Van Rij. Darnell Hunt, dean of the UCLA social sciences division, said he wanted the institute to be an antidote "in the midst of current world politics, violence and strife", that is "rooted in serious academic work".
When people see kind acts, they are inspired to replicate those acts, he says - but we are still trying to understand the mechanisms of kindness. We want to translate this research into how people in the real world can use this to create policy and make a difference. This "historical moment is the right time to do this", he says. A lot of problems in LA echo problems elsewhere in the world.
If you can solve them here, we can see what can be done around the world. A random 'slice' of birthday kindness. Bus shelter mysteriously made into cosy room. Binman's birthday surprise for year-old. Flipped car turned over by good Samaritans. Image source, Getty Images. The notion of kindness has made headlines recently. Is the bystander effect a myth? Teacher thanks kindness of strangers. Some of the projects at the institute include:.
Anthropologists examining how kindness spreads between people Sociologists analysing how those who behave unkindly could be persuaded to be kind Psychologists researching how kindness can improve mood and reduce depression symptoms.
Image source, UCLA. Dr Harding says it can be easier to be kind to others, rather than ourselves. Tips for living a kinder life. But there is one surprising commonality: In each community, residents garden well into old age. That's no coincidence, as there's plenty of research to prove that gardening increases well-being and longevity.
Exposure to sunlight, fresh air and plant life all have health benefits. In fact, doctors in Scotland prescribe "nature walks" for high blood pressure and anxiety.
They also encourage patients to interact with the surroundings, whether that means bird-watching or collecting twigs. In a famous study , environmental researcher Roger Ulrich found that patients who had their gallbladders removed recovered faster — and with less pain medication — if their hospital rooms looked out on nature rather than a brick wall.
Nature is restorative, he noted , because "we have a kind of biologically prepared disposition to respond favorably to nature because we evolved in nature. It was good to us, and we tend to respond positively to environments that were favorable to us. If being around nature is good for you, then being consistent about it is even better, which is something that gardening pretty much forces you to do.
You may try to jog every day in the park, but then blow it off for a few weeks when your schedule gets too busy. If you stop tending to a garden midway, however, you're liable to see all your hard work go to waste as weeds take over everything.
Is gardening the equivalent of running a triathlon? Of course not, but it still qualifies as exercise. Different types of gardening require different amounts of physical activity. Turning the earth and digging up stones, for example, can be one of the most effortful things you'll ever do.
At the other end of the spectrum, pruning roses bushes and planting seeds constitute very mild exercise. This benefit won't apply if you only grow decorative plants such as flowers and shrubs. You may assume that being tall means, in some part, having good health. In addition to genetics and heredity, adult height is determined largely by nutritional intake during infancy and childhood. But multiple studies have thrown this assumption into question. Being tall may have its perks.
But, based on some studies, long life may not be one of them. While much more evidence is needed, research indicates a possible link between height and specific diseases, as well as longevity potential. Keep in mind, though, that short and tall are relative terms, and more research, and evidence, is needed to confirm these findings. Lifestyle habits also play a strong role in longevity potential. A longitudinal study of men who had served in the Italian military found that those under This study looked at the death rates of men born between and in the same Italian village.
Researchers found that at 70 years old, the taller men were expected to live approximately 2 years less than those who were shorter. By current standards, this is relatively short. A study on height and lifespan in former professional basketball players found that larger body size yielded reduced longevity.
This study analyzed the height and life span of 3, living and deceased basketball players who played between The players had an average height of In this study, the tallest players in the top 5 percent for height died younger than the shortest players in the bottom 5 percent. Those born between were an exception to these findings. Researchers were quick to note that variables such as genotype variations, socioeconomic factors, medical care, weight, education, nutrition, exercise, and smoking were all factors that also play a role in determining longevity.
The FOX03 genotype and its relationship to height and longevity was analyzed in an observational study of 8, American men of Japanese descent. The FOX03 gene is consistently linked to longevity in human and animal studies. It is also linked to body size, and may be one reason why shorter people may have longer lifespans. Shorter men were also shown to have less incidence of cancer, and lower fasting insulin levels.
It is not completely understood why, or even if, shorter people are destined to live longer. Much more research is needed. Health complications which may be correlated with height include cancer and other conditions. A study of American men and women found a connection between height and cancer risk, as well as death from all causes.
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