Samantha Boardman

4 weeks ago | drsamanthaboardman.substack.com | Samantha Boardman

“I feel so scattered,” explained Ava. Like many people I know, my patient Ava was having a hard time focusing. “I open my phone to check the weather but then a notification pops up about some infuriating political news so I check X, and then open Instagram, and then I get a message from my mom but before I reply, my friend sends me a link to a celebrity scandal, and I quickly check the status of my Amazon order.

1 month ago | drsamanthaboardman.substack.com | Samantha Boardman

We all know that eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercise is good for our health. A Cambridge University study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry highlights an arguably more fun way to give ourselves a boost: going out on the town. While I am not suggesting you become a club rat, there is evidence that a night out may be just what the doctor ordered. The Dose is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.

2 months ago | drsamanthaboardman.substack.com | Samantha Boardman

“I don’t jump to conclusions. I leap to them,” explained my patient Ava. In many ways, Ava believed that being a pessimist served her well. She carried an umbrella on sunny days. She traveled with an extra phone in case hers was damaged or lost. She expected her favorite basketball team to always lose. Anticipating a negative outcome protected her from disappointment or being caught off guard. Her pessimism was both personal and global. The universe didn’t have her back, nor did anyone else.

2 months ago | creators.yahoo.com | Samantha Boardman

I have a pet peeve. (Actually I have many pet peeves but will focus on just one for brevity’s sake.) It has become increasingly common to shorten the phrase “I love you” to “Love you.” Both in verbal and written communication, “love you” has hijacked the more labor intensive “I love you.” I suppose two syllables require less effort than three.

2 months ago | creators.yahoo.com | Samantha Boardman

The news these days is bleak and it’s hard not to become upset or outraged or both. Every day seems to bring a new onslaught of issues — big and small, global and local — that fill us with an overwhelming sense of anxiety. When the world feels overwhelmingly out of control, and let’s face it there’s a lot that feels out of our control right now, resist the temptation to withdraw or even to stick your head in the sand like an ostrich.