If you wake up each morning feeling spent, it’s not just you. There is a general feeling of fatigue throughout the world. Scientists in Singapore have found a reason why. It’s because the human brain is unable to keep up with everything happening in modern life. In a published paper, the researchers collected data on rates of depression, exhaustion, loneliness, and many other factors that contribute to overall fatigue. They also looked at previous studies to narrow down why we feel overwhelmed so much of the time. The conclusion they came to was that our brains simply cannot keep up with the speed and competition of modern life. @busineknc5z ♬ Relapse – Easy Ethan The brain isn’t evolving fast enough The researchers argue that for thousands of years, humanity lived in smaller groups of familiar people, and our brains evolved to respond to immediate, recognizable threats. Within the last century alone, cities have become densely populated with millions of people. The internet doesn’t just connect us to our neighbors but to the entire world. In real time, we have access to news and people everywhere. It’s overwhelming. “Competition is not new, but modern life can make it feel constant,” said study co-author Dr. Jose Yong. “An evolutionary perspective may help explain why people respond so strongly to comparison and the fear of falling behind, even when those signals come from strangers or screens rather than a small social group.” @wearymillennial Modern life is overwhelming. Constant info, fights, and outrage. Find joy in simple moments: quiet time, creative projects, nature, and kids. #MentalHealth #SimpleLiving #Mindfulness #Authenticity #Parenting ♬ original sound – Wearymillennial Competition all the time, everywhere This isn’t to say that cities and the internet are bad, but scientists believe that this constant connection to a significantly larger range of people creates a heightened sense of competition in our minds. Instead of keeping up with those in our town and keeping tabs on local goings-on, we’re comparing ourselves to millions on social media. We are also constantly being fed new information to process and discern through 24-hour news, social media feeds, and the large populations surrounding us. This “evolutionary mismatch” can contribute to several mental and physical health problems, ranging from obesity to depression to anxiety. “Stress, loneliness and anxiety are often treated as personal or lifestyle problems, but they may also reflect a mismatch between the environments people live in and the conditions our minds and bodies evolved to navigate,” said environmental psychologist and study co-author Sarah Chan. “That means we should think not only about individual resilience, but also about how cities and communities are designed.” Our brains need more time to process it all It’s not just that our brains are trying to keep up with what’s happening now, but also that they’re trying to do so without processing our collective past trauma. In 2022, psychologist Naomi Holdt theorized that many people felt so overwhelmed because they were still mentally processing the events of the COVID-19 pandemic. She suggested that society was encouraged to return to normal and get back to work without time to fully process what had happened. This could cause the stress to “catch up,” making people feel even worse. What can we do? The scientists and psychologists aren’t trying to get us to return to an antiquated, simpler time. What they are pushing for is creating better city environments with nature and plant life to reduce stress. They also say that coming up with ideas to create more in-person social connection and digital spaces that reduce comparison would help. Again, it’s not an attempt to turn back the clock, but to encourage city planners, policymakers, and others in power to design the present more thoughtfully and supportively. While it will take a collective effort to help reduce this problem overall, there are some things you can do to help with your personal fatigue. Unplugging at the end of the day by reducing screen time and turning off your phone can help quiet your mind and improve your health. Spending a half hour in nature through a hike or a trip to the park can help, too. These methods can help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, ease anxiety, and combat depression. No matter how you feel, know that you’re definitely not alone. The post Scientists find the ‘evolutionary mismatch’ that makes modern life feel constantly exhausting appeared first on Upworthy.

“Look into each other’s eyes and dance.” That’s the simple caption on a video shared by choreographer Damian Malvacio that’s capturing people’s hearts. In the clip, we see a gray-haired woman in her golden years dancing with the comparably young Malvacio in an otherwise empty studio. The duo improvises their movements to a simple, haunting piano solo, letting the music and their silent communication guide their steps. The result is a stirring example of how movement and energy speak in ways words sometimes can’t. Watch: View this post on Instagram People see so many different stories in the dance Art is open to interpretation, and this dance is no exception. As the comments show, this video touches people for different reasons as they see various stories in the movements: “I can’t tell if this is a mother with her son, a woman reminiscing about an old love, or just a story of dancing through all ages of life, but this truly touched me. So beautiful. Thank you for sharing such tenderness and humanity for us all to witness. ” “This brought out tears as I watched this beautiful display of the influence that the mothers and sons or grandmothers and grandsons have on each other. I sat here in complete awe of your choreography. Thank you for sharing! ” “Wow! What a beautiful scene . Full of tenderness, calmness, respect and trust. They care for each other. The movements in slow motion are also full of intimacy. Is it a love couple? Mother and son? People who meet the first time? Doesn’t matter. I think they improvise what means they react really to each other. That makes this scene unique and captivating. Bravo!” “This reminds me of my brother carrying our elderly frail mother up the steps at West Point, and piggyback up the Great Sand Dune of the Outer Banks, so that she could keep up with us and her grandkids… ” View this post on Instagram It also shows physical intimacy comes in many forms So often, the word “intimacy” is used synonymously with sex, but not all physical intimacy is sexual. This dance feels deeply intimate, but in ways that touch on other elements of human connection. People appreciated seeing such pure, sweet expression: “The fragility and the tenderness in the movement. The exchange between two different souls. How beautiful…” “Intimacy at its depths. ” “I’m sobbing. Such beauty. Such care. Such tenderness.” “This is presence. It’s beautiful.” “My wish for the world is that we all discover the beauty of movement and intimate connection with others. It’s available to us is we just wake to and look. ” View this post on Instagram “I found so many layers of meaning in this, this was more than dance and the thought went far beyond choreography. Incredible. ” “Wowwwww. Thank you for sharing this beautiful work More of this in the dance world please. Intergenerational dancers. Movement that has meaning. Expressivity. Intention. ” Malvacio works with older people in his Yo Bailo program That viral improvised dance is just one example of what happens in Yo Bailo, Malvacio’s dance program for people over 60. Malvacio explained to Sala Verdi that the Yo Bailo project is all about reclaiming the body, which older people have often put on the back burner during the busy years of their lives spent working and raising a family. View this post on Instagram “Reclaiming the body happens through connection,” Malvacio said in an interview translated from Spanish. “Feeling that vessel, this beautiful, wonderful body that houses emotions—and connecting the body with the mind and emotions, and then creating a dance from that.” No dance experience is required to participate in Yo Bailo. You just need a desire to join a group project that “celebrates movement, age, memory and freedom.” “It’s more than dance,” states the Yo Bailo website. “It’s a declaration of presence, beauty, and transformation.” We can see that so clearly in his videos, and there’s more where that came from. You can follow Damian Malvacio on Instagram to see more examples of how dance can be transformative at any age. The post An old woman and a young man improvised a dance together. It’s pure, tender intimacy. appeared first on Upworthy.

It started like any ordinary pharmacy errand. A Michigan woman named Sarah was waiting at CVS to pick up a prescription for her “son.” When another woman waiting in line overheard the name of her “son,” she apparently couldn’t help but let out an unsolicited opinion. “You’ll really name your son anything, huh?” the woman said with a sigh. The name in question? Whiskey. At least it wasn’t Bubbles. Photo credit: Canva Now, if you’re picturing a tiny human in a onesie named after your dad’s favorite Friday-night drink, and feeling a little baffled in the process, don’t worry. So was everyone else. The twist nobody saw coming Except Whiskey isn’t a little boy. He’s a red golden retriever. Yep. Sarah’s “son” is of the four-legged variety, currently undergoing cancer treatments and racking up a pharmacy bill that could rival a small country’s GDP. She and her husband get his prescriptions filled at their local CVS because (fun fact) many human and animal meds are the same, just at different doses. As Sarah explained to Newsweek, this strategy saves them a few bucks, but can certainly lead to some incredible misunderstandings. In her TikTok video, which has now been watched over 3 million times, Sarah retold this CVS name-shaming incident, and viewers collectively lost it. @sarahwithscrubs I should’ve thrown in I was picking up his cancer meds too lol #fyp #foryoupage #storytime #dogs #smallcreator ♬ original sound – sarah renee The internet had a field day One commenter shared, “I was shaming you too until you said dog!” Another wrote, “I mean, Whiskey is a horrible name for a child But for a dog? Okay lol.” However, a few folks came to Sarah’s defense. One person noted, “There are women named Brandi, what’s wrong with Whiskey?” Another admitted, “in my 49 years I didn’t know CVS filled pet meds!” It’s the kind of mix-up that reminds us how funny life can be when the human and animal worlds collide. Because let’s face it: Whiskey the dog? Adorable. Whiskey the toddler? Maybe… less so. It might be a mostly unspoken rule, but a rule nonetheless. How the whole thing wrapped up As for what became of that misunderstanding, Sarah shared that when the other woman called Whiskey a “horrible” name for a child to grow up with that could lead to getting bullied in school, Sarah quipped back with “Well, he’s a dog. So I don’t think so.” Upon that realization, Sarah told Newsweek that she “apologized very nicely” once she learned that Whiskey was, in fact, a dog. As Sarah put it, the stranger “just left in a hurry, probably to think about her actions later.” Meanwhile, TikTok is still chuckling, and celebrating one very good boy with a name that fits him perfectly. Moral of the story: some names are meant for baby humans, like Zach or Emma. Others are for the fur babies who greet you at the door with a wagging tail and oodles of love…like Whiskey. This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post Woman gets shamed at CVS for ‘son’s’ unusual name. The reality has people rolling. appeared first on Upworthy.

In the never-ending quest to understand ourselves better, or at least have just one more distraction from whatever it is we should be doing, here comes the animal personality test. And the craziest part is (at least for me), it’s kind of accurate. The truth is, these days anyone can create their own personality tests. (And they do… and I’ve taken them.) Which Sex and the City character are you? Who is your inner Marvel superhero? What color is your heart? (Carrie, Ant Man, and black respectively.) Where this quiz actually came from But this particular animal archetype quiz, in actuality, is a model developed in the late 90s by Gary Smalley, an author with a psychology background and a PhD in counseling. Co-created by author John Trent, the two wrote a book called The Two Sides of Love: The Secret to Valuing Differences. The idea is to strike a balance between the tender, “soft” side of love and the “hard,” more direct side. After taking the quiz provided in the book (and now online), one can find out if their temperament is the lion, the beaver, the otter, or the golden retriever. Even though it was written as a love-based tool, this personality test is often mentioned in the corporate world as a way to find out how people relate in the workforce. Jasper Rose, a financial recruiting agency, shared the quiz on their website, but notes, “This model should be taken with a pinch of salt. These animal categories describe the natural leaning of your temperament. In other words, they aren’t entirely fixed, as personalities are flexible and change over time, and people are complex.” (So something an otter would say.) Without further ado, the personality test can be taken (among many places) through this Michigan State University worksheet here: Gary Smalley and John Trent’s personality test. Photo Credit: Michigan State University A few things to know before you take it As with most personality tests, these questions can be tricky, as many times more than one answer will apply. For example, one question asks that you rank what best describes you from the following: “likes authority, enthusiastic, sensitive feelings, likes instructions.” Another: “Takes charge, takes risks, loyal, accurate.” It’s possible to relate to all four statements equally, making this a flawed test. But if you’re in it for a lighthearted look at something that may vaguely describe you, here’s a breakdown of the results: The Lion These, according to the test, are the natural-born leaders. They are confident, take-charge, strong, and independent. From the Jasper Rose website: “Strengths: visionary, persistent, practical, productive, initiates change and projects, communicates directly, enjoys being challenged, strong-willed, independent, decisive, leader. Weaknesses: Insensitive/cold, sarcastic, self-sufficient, impatient, stubborn, overlooks risks, controlling at times, can be too direct.” An educational worksheet on the Community Engaged Learning website (Michigan State University) adds that lions, “are great at initiating communication, but not great at listening.” They add their natural desires are “freedom, authority, variety, difficult assignments, opportunity for advancement.” The Otter These are our happy social types. “They are often energetic and enthusiastic, with a tendency to be playful and enjoy humor. Otters are generally creative and enjoy trying new things but may struggle with follow-through. They value relationships and are often empathetic and compassionate towards others.” “Strengths: Outgoing, optimistic, personable, communicator, dreamer, responsive, warm, friendly, talkative, enthusiastic, compassionate. Weaknesses: Undisciplined, unproductive, exaggerative, egocentric, unstable, struggle with follow-through, impulsive, needs social approval, easily offended.” The Center for Relationship Education adds, “Otters find it easy to be soft on people. It is also easy for them to be soft on problems. Otters need to learn to say ‘No’ and provide the hard-side balance of healthy boundary setting.” The Beaver These are our go-tos for decisive, detail-oriented people who actually enjoy structure and routine. “Beavers tend to be cautious and risk-averse, preferring to follow established procedures rather than taking chances. They are also known for their analytical skills and ability to organize complex information. However, they may struggle with flexibility and creativity, and may sometimes be perceived as overly critical.” “Strengths: Analytical, thorough, decision-maker, deliberate, self-disciplined, industrious, organized, aesthetic, sacrificing. Weaknesses: Moody, self-centered, touchy, negative, unsociable, critical, revengeful.” The educational handout adds that in terms of relationships, “Beavers are good listeners, communicate details, and are usually diplomatic.” The Golden Retriever These are our loyal, dependable friends/lovers. “They also tend to avoid conflict and prioritize maintaining harmony in their relationships. However, they may struggle with making decisions and taking action, and may sometimes come across as passive or indifferent.” “Strengths: Calm, supportive, agreeable, easy-going, loyal, dependable, quiet, objective, diplomatic, humorous, values relationships, stable and consistent. Weaknesses: Selfish, stingy, indirect with others, resists change, procrastinator, unmotivated, lacks initiative, indecisive, fearful, worrier, can be co-dependent.” The Center for Relationship Education notes, “Goldens’ strong tendency toward the soft-side of love can lead to issues of co-dependence and enabling. Goldens need to learn to balance their natural soft-side with some hard-side qualities.” So which animal are you, really? As with most quizzes like these, most of us are a combination of traits not easily put into labeled boxes. If nothing else, it’s a creative way to get people thinking about how they interact with one another in a variety of situations. (Which is totally something a golden retriever like me would say.) This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post A fun personality test determines ‘how you love’ based on your animal archetype appeared first on Upworthy.

It’s quite common for people to fantasize about their wedding day, the ceremony, the bridal party, the dress, the cake, and some people spend months or even years meticulously planning every detail. People even spend thousands of dollars hiring wedding planners to make sure that the big day stays fully organized and all the moving parts come together without a hitch. But no matter how well you plan, sometimes things that simply can’t be predicted happen, and how you and your beloved handle the hitches and glitches on your wedding day can say a lot. Especially when that hitch or glitch is something major…like watching your beautiful, four-tier wedding cake, the one you spent time choosing and lots of money creating to share with your wedding guests, come crashing to the ground right in front of you. The moment everything went sideways That’s what happened to one couple who eagerly watched as the caterers who were carrying their wedding cake tripped on their way into the room, sending their cake to an untimely demise in spectacular fashion. The video, shared by @the.sarik on Instagram, is only about 10 seconds long, but it tells a whole beautiful love story in the reactions of both the groom and the bride. Watch: View this post on Instagram First of all, hope those waiters are OK. But secondly, staying calm and making the most of a bad situation is a huge character plus, and this groom clearly has those qualities in spades. You can see in the bride’s face that she knows it, too. The internet couldn’t stop gushing “Her eyes show that she knows she got the right guy,” wrote one commenter. “The way he just called her to eat is just phenomenal,” shared another. “‘Cake is still cake.’ Yelling at those waiters won’t solve anything, but it can ruin their whole lives,” wrote another. “They know their mistake, and they can be corrected privately. May the reaction of this man be an inspiration to us all, to care for the feelings of other people more than material things.” “Of all the things that could ruin a wedding day, I’m glad the husband knew this didn’t have to be one of them,” shared another. What this really says about love When unpredictable things do happen, it’s largely the reaction of the people involved that determines whether they become tragic tales or entertaining stories. If what we saw in the video is any indicator, this couple will be telling their grandkids someday about how the guys carrying their wedding cake tripped and ruined it, and how Grandpa’s response won Grandma’s heart all over again. This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated. The post They watched their wedding cake crash to the ground. The groom’s reaction was perfect. appeared first on Upworthy.