the widow's web, part 2

This is the second in an occasional series in which I share some of the websites I've come across and liked. Some I'll visit often, others just now and again.

When putting together this recent post, I visited the website of the Rembrandthuis Museum. It transpires that the site has lots of interesting stuff on it - including a virtual tour, information on etching and, of course, lots of information on Rembrandt's life and work. Although everything you click seems to generate a pop-up window, it's a well constructed site and well worth a visit!

One site that I've been aware of for years but only recently started to use regularly is Digital Spy. It's great for entertainment stories in handy bite-sized chunks. The stories are often gleaned from the press, and should sometimes taken with a pinch of salt, but it's a fun source of celebrity gossip and reality TV news. It also caters for those with an interest in cult and American telly shows.

The final site is one I've not explored as much as I want to yet, but is the inspiration behind my other blog. Have a look at Authentic Happiness for more information on Positive Psychology.


Andrew

positivewidow

A few days ago, I posted this entry about ways to become more positive. One of the techniques suggested was to record, on a daily basis, 3 positive things that had happened that day.

In the interests of scientific research, I have decided to start doing so, and have set up a side-blog for the purpose. I also hope to look at other techniques and blog about them either here or there, as the mood takes me!

You can follow my daily ups - no downs are allowed - at www.positivewidow.blogspot.com


Andrew

Three Positive Things

It's been a little over a week since I last posted, for which my apologies.

Although I was supposed to be off last week, I ended up working the whole week, and particularly late on Monday and Tuesday. The rest of the week I was catching up on telly and relaxing when I could - including having a bit of a break from the internet!

On Tuesday, I was driving home listening to the wireless and I heard this edition of "All in the Mind". The programme was about optimism and, more aptly, pessimism and ways these can be used and combated.

One of the interviewees featured was a Doctor Seligman from the University of Pennsylvania. He had a number of interesting suggestions, including determining your key strengths and then working out ways to apply these to the tasks which you disliked least. Another was to get into the habit of writing down at the end of the day 3 things, however trivial, that had gone well that day. Studies have suggested that doing this can improve mood and productivity.

This website has a number of tools and links relating to Dr Seligman's ideas. I've not yet explored it fully, but am going to take some of the tests and see if I can become more positive.

For now, I'm going to try to think of three positive things each day. I'd have struggled to think of that many last Tuesday, but today I'm going to list the following:

• I got today's key item of work completed, and approved.
• I was able to relax a bit and have a bit of banter with my colleagues
• My holiday requests were okayed by the boss

Andrew