How to Use Facebook to Save Lives

Posted on July 1, 2013 by admin

Right now, more than 118,000 people in the U.S. need a new organ, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. One of the best ways to get new people to sign up for the donor list? Facebook. In May 2012, when Facebook added a new feature that allowed users to add their organ donor status on their timeline, 13,012 new people across the country signed up to be donors—in just one day, according to a new study published in the American Journal of Transplantation.

That’s about the number of people that could be expected to sign up in a three-week span during that time of year, according to the study. Pretty phenomenal, huh? Especially considering that just one organ donor can save up to eight lives, according to OrganDonor.gov.

Here’s how it works: When you add your donor status to your timeline, it shows up on your friends’ newsfeeds—just as with any other status update. (And in the event that you haven’t registered yet but want to, this feature also gives you a link to sign up to be an organ donor online.) So if you have a couple hundred Facebook friends and you update your organ donor status, your good deed starts trending (especially if your friends share your status)—encouraging others to follow suit.

To see what effect this has on donor registrations, researchers looked at data for the first 13 days the feature was available last May. While the dramatic increase in new donors did level off by the end of the period examined, a whopping 39,818 new donors signed up to be organ donors during the span. Plus, just 30 percent of Facebook users had the timeline at that point—which means the remaining 70 percent of people on the social network couldn’t yet use the organ donor update feature (but now can).

What more incentive do you need to list your donor status on Facebook? Oh, and while you’re at it, you might want to use social media to help spread the word about any other causes you’re involved in, too—because helping others is definitely something to “Like.”

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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5 Facebook Pages You Need To Like—Now!

Posted on January 31, 2013 by admin

Here’s one more reason to avoid Facebook after a few martinis: People are way more likely to remember a status update than they are to recognize lines from a book or even faces, according to a recent study published in the journal Memory & Cognition. Sure, that means you should think before you post, but it also means you can learn a ton if you “like” the right things online.

Researchers at University of California, San Diego recruited undergraduate students to complete a series of memory studies where they were shown either Facebook posts or lines of published text. They found that their accuracy and confidence in recognizing Facebook posts was much stronger than their ability to remember the other sentences. The posts were so memorable that the researchers were curious how it would compare to facial memory. It turned out that the results held up: Facebook posts were more memorable than faces. In fact, the difference in memory strength was the same as what you would see between healthy individuals and those with amnesia!

Chances are that not a lot of thought was put into each post, but ironically, that might be why it sticks with you. “What comes to mind easily is also easy to remember,” says lead study author Laura Mickes, Ph.D., experimental psychologist at the University of Warwick and visiting scholar at UC San Diego. When you shoot off a Facebook post, it’s usually unfiltered and spontaneous, unlike the text from a book. And according to researchers, that conversational tone might be what makes it so memorable. “Off the cuff thinking just comes easier,” says Mickes.

The good news: You can fill up your newsfeed with smart brands and people to pretty much guarantee you’ll remember their words of wisdom. Here’s who you should ‘Like,’ STAT:

The Goal: Live a healthy, fabulous life.
Like This: Women’s Health

The Goal: Finally pay off your credit card bills.
Like This: LearnVest

The Goal: Know an endless amount of celebrity gossip.
Like This: E! Online

The Goal: Spend more time in the kitchen.
Like This: Candice Kumai, author of Cook Yourself Sexy

The Goal: Give your career a boost.
Like This: Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook

photo: Hemera/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
Social Networking: Don’t Overshare
How to Be a Social (Media) Climber
Can Facebook Make You Gain Weight?
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Can Facebook Make You Gain Weight?

Posted on December 20, 2012 by admin

If you’re finding it hard to resist stuffing your face with holiday cookies, your Facebook profile may to be blame. Spending time on social networks can lower your self-control, according to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research.

Researchers from Columbia University and the University of Pittsburg conducted a series of studies on social network use. In the first two studies, they found that people who were focused on their close friends while browsing Facebook had higher self-esteem after logging off. “We present an overtly positive view of ourselves on social networks,” says lead study author Keith Wilcox, Ph.D., assistant professor at Columbia Business School. “And we care more if that’s being seen by close friends. The more you focus on them while browsing, the more you’re thinking of the image you’re presenting to them.”

That may seem like a great side effect, but their next study found this momentary ego boost led to lower self-control. After browsing Facebook while focused on their close friends, participants were more likely to pick an unhealthy snack and give up quickly on a difficult task. “It’s essentially giving you the same feeling you would get from a great workout, but you didn’t actually do anything,” says Wilcox.

It makes sense: Posting pictures from your epic Saturday night and knowing your friends will “like” them can give you a huge boost of confidence. And that momentary high causes you to let other things slide—like taking in extra calories or spending more money. Over time, those behaviors add up. In their final study, the researchers surveyed 541 participants and found that spending more time on Facebook was associated with a higher BMI, more frequent binge eating, lower credit scores, and more credit card debt. Yikes.

But you don’t need to swear off the social network altogether. Just knowing how the site affects you can help you avoid the trap, says Wilcox. Still need a little extra help with self-control? Try these strategies to boost your willpower in any situation:

The situation: That chocolate cake is staring you down. Plus, you had a salad for lunch!
Do this: Reframe your thoughts
That same feel-good boost you get from Facebook can also come from making healthy choices. “Any time you feel like you’re doing well, it relaxes that willpower center in our brains,” says Christine Carter, Ph.D., sociologist at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center. To boost it back up, reframe what your good behavior means. “Don’t look at the salad as evidence that you’re doing well, but that you’re committed to your goals,” says Carter. You’ll be more likely to stick with that progress, instead of reversing it.

The situation: It’s been a long day, and you’re really not feeling the gym
Do this: Get up early tomorrow (and the next day, and the next…)
Need self-control to stick with your fitness routine? Hit the gym in the morning. “Willpower takes a lot of energy. And like a muscle, it gets fatigued,” says Carter. That’s why you’re more likely to give in when it comes to ordering takeout and curling up on the couch after a long day full of decisions.

The situation: You just passed a shoe sale and you need those heels
Do this: Vow to come back in a week
When temptation is right in front of you, it’s hard to turn down. “You don’t want to tell yourself no, because that makes you want them more,” says Carter. “Instead, promise yourself that if you still want them in a week, you’ll buy them.” Chances are you won’t feel the urgent need to spend once you’ve left the store.

The situation: Texting your ex seems like a fantastic idea
Do this: Delete his number EARLY
There’s a reason you have a sudden urge to call what’s-his-name after a long night out. “Your self-control is down when it’s the end of the night. You’re fatigued, and there’s probably alcohol involved,” says Carter. To avoid the midnight-dial, take extra precautions. Delete his number and give it to a friend in case you ever need it. Not ready for that? Change his contact name to something like “Bad Idea,” so you’re hit with a reminder every time you want to text him.

The situation: You’d rather watch your DVR than get your work done.
Do this: Take a short break
When stress depletes your self-control, it’s harder to resist quality procrastinating like a Downton Abbey marathon. “Give yourself ten minutes to relieve stress,” says Carter. Go for a walk or take a quick nap. A rise in blood sugar can also increase your willpower, so try a healthy snack like a handful of almonds.

The situation: Well, everyone else ordered a third martini.
Do this: Start the night with a plan
When you’re out with friends, it’s easy to get caught up and let our self-control off for the night. Counteract this by setting your limit before you go out. “People who make a plan are considerably more likely to stick to it than those you don’t,” says Carter.

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Your Facebook Friends Are Stressing You Out

Posted on November 30, 2012 by admin

Finally, an excuse to DECLINE all those friend requests on Facebook. Turns out the more Facebook friends you have, the more stress you feel, according to a report from the University of Endiburgh Business School.”

Researchers surveyed 300 people about their Facebook friendships and their levels of stress and anxiety. They found that most people had an average of seven different social circles on Facebook, including friends known online, extended family, friends of friends, and colleagues. The people with more friends, and a greater variety of friends, reported feeling more stressed. Also, adding employers and parents as friends was correlated with an increase in stress, as well.

Why the anxiety? For starters, Facebook forces you to interact with a diverse range of audiences: peers, colleagues, and family. And with more friends comes more potential for social weirdness, says Irene S. Levine, Ph. D., author of Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Break-up with Your Best Friend.

“In real life, you might not invite all three groups to the same cocktail party or dinner, because it could be awkward,” she says. “It’s not surprising that something similar would happen online—if everyone is seeing the same posts, there are no social filters.” For instance, you feel totally comfortable sharing pics of a wild bachelorette party with your closest girlfriends, but would rather that Bob from accounting not get a peek at the shenanigans. And yes, you can set certain posts to private, or so that only some people can see—but sometimes it’s hard to keep track of who’s on what list.

Another possible reason for this friend-related anxiety: Spreading yourself too thin between too many friends can cause your relationships to weaken, says Shasta Nelson, CEO of GirlFriendCircles.com, and author of Friendships Don’t Just Happen! The Guide to Creating a Meaningful Circle of Girlfriends.

“Women who try to maintain friendships with too many people are at risk of multiplying the stressors of friendships—inviting, scheduling, emails, remembering events and dates—without really getting the most important benefits of friendship—intimacy, vulnerability, forgiveness, honesty, feeling seen, and being supported,” she says.

As a result, the more social you are, the more isolated you may feel, says Nelson. “People who are social bees have a big social group but still struggle with loneliness because they haven’t fostered deep friendships,” she says. The healthiest people have a wide circle of casual friends, but small circle of three to seven close friends, she explains.

Want to build those inner circle bonds? Follow Nelson’s guidelines:

Pinpoint 3 Pals
Nelson recommends identifying three friends you want to get to know better, and prioritizing those interactions. Then focus your time on getting to know those people more intimately—set up dinner plans, be proactive in inviting them to fun events, respond to their emails before everyone else’s—instead of trying to move forward your relationships with everyone you know.

Gather Up a Group
Meeting in a small group, like for a girl’s night out or a recurring monthly book club, can help you save time and alleviate stress by helping you build several relationships at once, says Nelson.

Set a Schedule
Plan your play dates as consistently as possible, like scheduling a brunch the first Sunday of every month. Having a pre-planned meeting allows you to enjoy the fun part of the friendship without the stress of planning the outing or coordinating multiple peoples’, says Nelson. Consider setting up a Google calendar invite that automatically populates your friends’ calendars, so it’s not something anyone has to think about more than once.

Image: Goodshoot/Thinkstock

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http://blog.womenshealthmag.com/thisjustin/just-friends/

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How the Average Woman Uses Facebook

Posted on October 12, 2012 by admin

Overshare much? You’re not alone. According to a poll of our readers, the average woman’s most embarrassing social networking snafu is posting incriminating photos or wall posts that were seen by a family member. Oops! Another freaky Facebook fact: New research shows that checking Facebook might be more tempting to people than sex. Considering 64 percent of our survey respondents admit to being a little bit addicted to the social networking site, we’ll wager that at least some of them can relate to that stat.

Take a peek at our handy infographic (and share it with your friends!) to see what else the average woman is up to online.

And since we’re already on the subject… shameless plug time. Let’s get social:
Follow us on Twitter @WomensHealthMag
Sneak a peek at our Instagram feed by following WomensHealthmag in your app
Like us on Facebook (and check out our new Get More WH goodies!)
Get inspired by our Pinterest boards

Image: Brand X Pictures /Thinkstock

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Is Facebook Ruining Your Sex Life?

Posted on October 9, 2012 by admin

You want it. You need it. You can only suppress the temptation for so long before you just give in and do it. And by it we mean checking your Facebook and Twitter accounts.

A recent study, conducted in Germany by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, found that it is more difficult to resist the temptation to check social network tweets, pictures, comments, and other posts than it is to resist sex.

Study participants used their smartphones to regularly update researchers about their cravings. They noted every time they felt an impulse to check their social sites, as well as every urge they felt for alcohol, cigarettes, food, sleep, sex, and other forms of gratification.

Social networking sites came out on top with 42% of participants citing Facebook, Twitter, or other media outlets as the hardest desires to resist, according to study author Wilhelm Hofmann, assistant professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

“Media usage appeals to our short-term reward centers,” Hofmann explains. Study participants turned to social networking sites to “fulfill a mixture of motives including social bonding and curiosity, which might not seem like a big deal—making it more difficult to resist” Wilhelm says.

In the meantime, if you’re finding yourself more tempted by Pinterest than heavy petting, maybe it’s time to make your sex life a bit more irresistible.

Here are six super-hot tips that trump boring status updates, any day:

Assume a New Position
Try one—or all!—of these 35 orgasm-inducing ways to get your grind on

Have Fun With Your Breasts
The truth is, your boobs play an important role in pleasing both of you. These six moves will help you double your pleasure

Talk Dirty
Learn how language affects your sex life and how you can use your words to make sex so awesome, you’ll find it hard to speak. Get the tips, here

Increase Your Libido
Insights and advice that will help make you hungrier for lovin’ than you may have been in a long time. Get ready to get it on!

The Better Sex Diet
Eat these 11 foods regularly for a boost in the bedroom

Have Great Morning Sex
Scientists say that people who start their days by having sex are all-around healthier and happier than those who don’t. Make it work for you

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The One Person You NEED to Unfriend on Facebook

Posted on October 2, 2012 by admin

Remove that bookmark to your former flame’s Facebook page. Staying connected to an ex on Facebook can halt your recovery from the breakup and stunt your personal growth, according to a new study in Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking.

Researchers asked 464 people to answer questions about a past distressing breakup, including how much time had passed since the split, which partner initiated it, and how much contact they’ve had with their ex since calling it quits.

After crunching the data, researchers found that remaining friends on Facebook actually resulted in less desire, attraction, and longing for the ex. But those who consistently kept tabs on their ex’s page were more likely to feel distressed, lonely, and hung-up on the breakup. (You don’t have to be stuck in a rut forever. Heal your broken heart with this: Yoga Exercises to Get Over a Breakup.)

Ultimately, Facebook isn’t really to blame for your lack of closure. Instead, it’s not having enough self-control—plus a persistent need to seek out information—that leaves you permanently bitter from the breakup, says Tara C. Marshall, Ph.D., lead study author and psychologist at Brunel University in England.

So what’s a girl to do if she can’t nix her addiction to sifting through his pictures and status updates? Unfriend, unfollow, and un . . . whatever it is you do on Instagram. But that’s not enough—you also have to ditch anything that remotely reminds you of him, says Melysha Acharya, founder of BrokenHeartedGirl.com.

“Get rid of that blanket you cuddled together under, move your bed, buy a new bedspread, and rearrange your couch and your flatscreen so the familiar look of your living room doesn’t stir up old memories,” Acharya says.

You heard it here first: The best way to quit your ex is to go cold turkey.

Additional reporting by Denny Watkins

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from WH:
Your Body On: Heartbreak
Boost Your Willpower
Is Relationship Doubt Healthy?

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Join our Jillian Michaels Facebook Chat

Posted on May 15, 2012 by admin

We’re hosting a live chat with fitness guru Jillian Michaels!

WHERE: Women’s Health Facebook page
WHEN: Friday, May 18 from 1-2 PM EST

In honor of National Women’s Health Week, Jillian will be answering reader questions live on our Facebook page. So get your health and exercise queries ready. On Friday at 1 PM, you can enter them into the status bar on the top left-hand side of our Facebook timeline. Click on the “Recent Posts by Others” to see the answers she’s provided to other users.

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Athens Java Hut

Serving Jittery Joe's Coffee, Cecilia Villaveces, Cakes and Italian Gelato

Tag Archives: Facebook

How to Use Facebook to Save Lives

5 Facebook Pages You Need To Like—Now!

Can Facebook Make You Gain Weight?

Your Facebook Friends Are Stressing You Out

How the Average Woman Uses Facebook

Is Facebook Ruining Your Sex Life?

The One Person You NEED to Unfriend on Facebook

Join our Jillian Michaels Facebook Chat