WITH THE FLIP OF A COIN
Feeling tense? Life’s twists and turns can cause your stress levels to skyrocket, leading to various health problems. But relief may be easier and quicker than you think. According to recent studies, just 10 minutes of massage can work wonders on your mood, activating your body’s system for overcoming stress. A quick massage is like hitting the reset button on your day, turning your anxiety into a sense of balance and calm. Let’s explore how you can transform tension into tranquility in just 10 minutes. UNKNOT AND UNWIND A short massage prompts your body to slow down. Your body responds strongly to touch, and the kneading motion of massages helps release tension. When stressed, our bodies naturally tense up, which can cause pain and discomfort. Massage can increase the elasticity of tissues, warm your muscles, and work to relax the nerves associated with stress. When your muscles and joints are at ease, your body produces feel-good hormones like serotonin. DREAMY KNEADS When you can’t catch enough z’s, it significantly impacts your stress levels. Massages encourage deeper sleep by helping increase serotonin and melatonin, the sleep hormone. Direct pressure on muscles increases the production of comfy hormones and reduces cortisol, the hormone responsible for anxiety. A quick rub down before bed can ease you into a calm state, coaxing you to drift off to dreamland. 10 MINUTES TO BLISS If you want to experience the stress-melting benefits of a short massage, you don’t need to book an appointment with a professional. You can give yourself several massages, like a shoulder massage, using circular motions on each side. If you’re facing a stress headache, glide your hands across your forehead, applying a small amount of pressure. Start at your ears and massage each side of your head with your fingertips. Do this several times and finish with a scalp massage. So, the next time you feel anxious, get comfortable and take a few minutes for a massage. These small moments of relaxation can roll you into the day more calm and balanced. Knead a Break? 10 Minutes of Massage Can Reset Your Day
Our Favorite Decision-Making Tool May Not Be as Fair as We Think
“Movies or bowling?” “Pizza or burgers?” Long before Rock, Paper, Scissors and Magic 8 Balls helped us make major life decisions, people dating all the way back to the Roman Empire and the Middle Ages were flipping coins to make hard choices or gamble. COIN TOSS ORIGINS
The Romans used coin tossing to settle personal disputes, calling it “heads or ships.” The coins depicted Janus, the two- faced Roman god of doorways and change, on one side and the prow of a ship on the other side. In the Middle Ages, they called coin tossing “cross and pile,” a game of chance among children. What we know as “heads” was the cross, and “tails” was the pile. THE PURPOSE OF FLIPPING A COIN In theory, when people need to make a decision between two equally viable options, and they can’t reach a decision, tossing a coin is usually the “fair” way to decide — or is it? A 2023 study by the University of Amsterdam sheds light on how the time-honored decision-making tool may not be as unbiased as we think. THE ‘RANDOMNESS’ OF A COIN TOSS The study flipped more than 350,000 coins across 46 different currencies and found that a flipped coin returned to its starting position 50.8% of the time. So, if a coin starts at tails, it will likely land on tails. This test was based on a 2004 theory that argued coin tosses land as they start 51% of the time. What’s more alarming is that a 2009 study revealed that coin tosses are easily manipulated. How is that possible if coin tosses are supposed to be random? The study showed that with a few minutes of practice, the tosses could be manipulated with sleight-of-hand to land in favor of whoever makes the toss. CHOOSE YOUR TOSSERS WISELY While debate continues over the fairness of a coin toss, there’s not enough evidence to sway arguing siblings or the NFL to shy away from continuing the tradition. But if you ever find yourself in a coin toss situation with someone, it might be wise to choose a neutral party to flip the coin for you!
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