Twenty years ago, when I was 35, I left my life in the greater Boston area to pursue a job opportunity in glamorous Milan. Prior to the move, I had earned my MBA from the University of South Carolina. During my studies, I did an exchange program with Bocconi University’s business school and had an … Read more
Work hours are more flexible Many workplaces are flexible and allow employees to choose a schedule that fits their lifestyle. In Finland, typical office hours go from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. One small culture shock I experienced early on is that when workdays often start so early, some people start going to lunch around 11 … Read more
At 32, after 12 years of living rent-free with my parents in the San Francisco Bay area, I was ready to move into my own place. I had saved $400,000 and had the flexibility to make the leap, but whether it was uncertain streams of income, wanderlust and mostly, the financial benefits of staying put, … Read more
Costa Rica is home to one of the world’s Blue Zones, where people live longer and healthier lives than average. I’m from a small town in the region of Cartago, called Llano Grande, which is known for its rich agriculture. As a cookbook author and cooking teacher who was born and raised here, I have … Read more
When my husband Brian first told me he’s from Laguna Beach, it took everything in me to play it cool. “Oh, is that near Los Angeles?” I asked. Like most elder millennials, I knew exactly where Laguna Beach was. I’d seen every episode of the reality show (I was an LC with a Kristin haircut) … Read more
Long hours, heavy workloads, tight deadlines, job insecurity, a lack of control over your schedule and generally feeling unsupported can leave you feeling unhappy and discontented with your work environment. If gone unchecked for too long, this kind of chronic workplace stress can lead to job burnout. As a Harvard-trained psychologist, one of the best ways … Read more
1. ‘What information do you need?’ Whether I am talking to a senator or a CEO, I’ve found that a surefire way to make any communication harder than it needs to be is by trying to read the other person’s mind. It is faster, and more valuable, to ask what information the other person needs, … Read more
From beans to greens, there are many foods that make up the traditional diets of people in the Blue Zones, a handful of areas in the world where people tend to live longer. My family is from the Greek Blue Zone of Ikaria — I spend about half of every year on the island and … Read more
Back in 2009, like so many during the Great Recession, I got laid off. I had been working 9-to-5 as an audio engineer, and working as a freelance music producer for indie bands on the side I decided to take the setback of losing my job and use it as a chance to devote time … Read more
I’ve spent the last decade immersed in the science of happiness, and I’ve learned that our relationships are the most important factor contributing to our personal wellbeing. While I was researching my new book, “New Happy: Getting Happiness Right in a World That’s Got It Wrong,” I discovered that there are two major barriers that … Read more
