It worked for hundreds of Cornell University students in a recent experiment. Those who chewed gum prior to and during test-taking scored, on average, 30 points better than those who didn’t chew. Shocked? So were the students! Upon announcing the findings, “you could literally hear a gasp from the class,” says Edward McLaughlin, Ph.D., who conducted the study. So, was it a special ingredient in the gum? Nope—past studies show that the simple act of chewing gum eases anxiety, increases your focus and makes it easier to recall information.
[photo: Nadya Peek]
Working on a important project on your computer? If you want to get it done on time, you might want to turn off the pop-ups that alert you when you get an email or IM. A new study out of the U.K.’s University 
Nervous about a new class, singles meet-up, job interview or kayaking trip? You’ll become instantly braver when you watch a few minutes of your favorite sit-com on 
Feel like you’re too pooped to work out? It may not be your body that needs recharging—it could be your mind. In a British study, volunteers who were asked to do a mentally tiring task before riding a 
When collecting donations for Haiti relief, the SPCA, your kid’s soccer team, church or another organization, try touching a potential donor on the arm or shaking their hand before you deliver your pitch. Gentle touch triggers a 
The next time you’re in a crowded room, on a noisy street or in another place where it’s hard to make out what someone else is saying, there’s an easy way to hear more clearly: lean in with your right ear. It’s linked to the left hemisphere of your brain, which processes sounds in noisy environments and makes it easier to zero in on one specific sound from among many competing ones, reports the journal BMC Biology.
Have you signed up for a knitting class? Heading to a seminar to learn how to start a small business? Being trained at a new job? Learning will be easier when you get plenty of rest beforehand. 
The proof? Try this: While sitting, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles with it. Now, while doing this, draw the number “6” in the air with your right hand. Surprise— 
“Do not disturb”! While most of us base our decisions on how well similar experiences turned out in the past, a new study out of the U.K.’s Bangor University shows that getting interrupted 
Want your kids to clean up their room? Your mate to do the dishes? A coworker to help out more with a project? Before you ask, fill the room with a lemon, orange or pine scent, for instance, by lighting a scented candle, simmering citrus slices in a pan for 10 minutes, or spritzing your favorite scented room deodorizer. In a recent series of experiments, 
Or “I’m blue”, “I’m frustrated”, “I’m stressed” or whatever negative emotions you’re currently experiencing. A recent brain imaging study out of UCLA shows that putting bad feelings into words nixes them by decreasing activity in the amygdala, an area of the brain that governs emotions. The result? You feel better instantly.
Every day, I take
at least 15 mg. of lycopene (the compound that gives tomatoes their
bright red
color), 
I slump-proof
my day by popping 100 mg. of
coenzyme Q10
three times daily, which is a
natural vitamin-like substance that
I've cut the number of my monthly migraines by
half and reduced their intensity by taking 100 mg. of coenzyme Q10
three times daily, 
Sambucol
is an all-natural sweet syrup made from
elderberries, which are rich in antiviral compounds. It's been proven to
I take 4
acidophilus pearls containing 1
billion CFU each daily. FYI: Pearls deliver more live good bacteria than powders or pills.
Also, you need several billion CFU of good bacteria to make a dent in the
trillions of bacteria in your digestive tract, so don't bother with
acidophilus supplements that offer only several million CFU per dose.
My blood sugar crashes pretty quickly, making me noshy between meals. To the rescue:
chromium picolinate. Just 200 mcg. of this insulin-regulating mineral
with food keeps my blood sugar steady till the next mealtime. 
ortless to collect emails
from folks who sign up, send out e-newsletters and track open and
click-through rates thanks to an intuitive interface that gets you up and running in minutes. Choose their free service or pick the (happily) low-cost
choice for more
mailing options. I started out with the free service, soon upgraded and have never looked back.
best, easiest, smoothest, most user-friendly blogging
program, but I didn't believe the hype. I tried other ones first. And guess what? Everyone
was right.
Thesis makes a
web
hosting, email and domain registration
for years. What I love most: You can host dozens of websites for just $5 each
per month, so you can earn extra money by "sub leasing" your domains.
Plus, the support is fast and helpful. Tip: Installing a
