Don't Go to Bed Mad

Most of us have heard the saying, “The best way to maintain a healthy relationship is to not go to bed mad.” This is rather good advice even if it wasn’t based in research…until now. While we can’t control all the stressors that come into our lives, making a conscious effort to resolve conflict can be a means to substantially reduce our stress level. Here are some tips to consider…

Relationships, Communication, Conflict, SleepSaundra SchrockMay 10, 2021Relationships, Conflict, Sleep

Pandemic of Loneliness

The concept of loneliness is complex and has many different causes, and its symptoms vary among people (Lim et al., 2020). Social isolation is one factor that increases loneliness in many people. Here are some tips to help you in “the new normal”…

COVID-19, Behavior Change, Relationships, LonelinessSaundra SchrockApril 26, 2021Pandemic, COVID-19, Anxiety, Loneliness

Shaming Others

As I recover from having COVID-19 late last year, I am stunned by how much shaming I hear and see. I'm sure I am sensitive to this because of my experience, but it seems that there is a lot more shaming than compassion and care. Let’s find out why people resort to shaming and what to do about it.

COVID-19, Relationships, Shaming, Behavior ChangeSaundra SchrockJanuary 28, 2021COVID-19, Relationships, Shaming, Behavior Change

Pandemic Fatigue

After months of socially restricting our interactions, we are restless and long for the company of family and friends. And, during the holidays, we saw people choose to ignore the advice from experts and participate in family gatherings, often flying to see them while others complied and stayed at home. So, why do some people comply and others do not?

Social Craving

Since the pandemic began, many people have only seen their friends and family on video calls or at a distance. While seeing others at a safe distance or on video may help, it is not a perfect substitute for being with others in person. With the upcoming holiday season, we are probably a little more frustrated than usual that we won't be able to be with our loved ones and friends. If you feel this way, new research indicates that our reaction may be more than just a psychological one, but may actually be biological, too.

COVID-19, Social Distancing, Relationships, FamilySaundra SchrockDecember 7, 2020COVID-19, Social Distancing, Relationships

Lean on Your Friends

There is no question that this period of time has been one of the most difficult and challenging periods that we have ever experienced. Every aspect of our lives has been impacted. While it may be difficult to find a silver lining in all of this, I think getting to know my friends on a deeper level has been one of the most beneficial aspects of having this shared challenge.

Building Trusted Relationships Virtually

More than four decades of research has unequivocally shown that trust in teams is vital for the effective functioning of work relationships. Trust becomes become especially relevant in environments where there’s a need for high interdependence, close cooperation, teamwork, and flexibility – which are some of the primary characteristics of virtual environments. So, how do you increase trust? Is it a skill that can be learned?