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The Rise of Techno Healing

By U.S. News & World Report

Let’s admit it. We spend a good chunk of our daily lives feeling stressed to the max. We troll for ways to numb and self-soothe our collective anxiety, frustration and general angst. And the ways we cope aren’t always healthy. Scientific research confirms what many of us know from experience: that when our fight-and-flight response is chronically revved, our Paleolithic hardwiring drives us to grab comfort food, which never seems to include kale. Instead, we turn to the “hyperpalatable” foods — refined and processed sugary, fatty, salty products. “Desserts” is, after all, just “stressed” spelled backwards. Thus, our national girth control dilemma.

Eating food that’s bad for us is just one way we self-soothe. There’s a whole spectrum of easy-to-access, stress-induced, self-destructive behaviors from which to choose. Witness the 2-pack-a-day nicotine habit, thrice daily venti macchiatos, bigger-than-your-head cookies and enormous cupcakes, alcohol binges, street drugs, social withdrawal, dark moods, shopping until you’re beyond broke, workaholism and losing ourselves in the cyberspace.

Weary of the ruthless, brain-draining vicious cycles and desperate to find a solution, we haul our sleepy souls out of bed while it’s still dark outside, cram in a meditation if we’re lucky and then race to a spin or barre or yoga class for the promised relief. Then we pray that whatever endorphin-charged magic we experience will stick with us for the rest of the day. But more often than not, as the day marches on, we find ourselves overwhelmed again. Where’s that help when we need a loving nudge, an encouraging voice — that anchor when we feel like a rudderless boat tossed around by waves of stress?

When you can’t dash off to yoga or go for a bike ride and you feel stress taking over, what can you do? Enter a new member of your stress-relieving A-Team: your digital device. Wait a minute, you say. Aren’t I supposed to turn it all off to de-stress? No. You just need to be smart and strategic about how you use technology to support your journey. At your fingertips, you can use your computer, tablet or smartphone to help guide, coach and heal what ails you throughout the day. So stop looking at your devices as just business or communication tools. They’re also here to help support the health and well -being of your mind, body and spirit as well.

Behold the emergence of techno healing.

The rise of digital technology has occurred at blistering speed. Consider the time it took for the following communication devices to reach 50 million U.S. homes:

— Radio: 38 years

— Television: 13 years

— Internet: 4 years

— Social networking: 16 months

— Smartphone apps: 9 months

Research now points to the valuable role apps and devices play in our lives as we strive to achieve optimal mind and body wellness. And it’s not just about tracking physical activity or nutrition. We’re talking about a wide spectrum of wellness, coaching and healing resources that are now available. We have to learn how to utilize, and not overuse, this technology to our benefit.

Let’s say your boss just dumped a mountain of urgent projects on your desk. As you stare at the bulging folders and feel internal tension rise, instead of heading to the employee kitchen to scarf a pile of leftover doughnuts, you grab your phone and click onto any of these apps to experience techno healing:

— Stress Less

— My Health Coach

— Heal Your Body A-Z

— Relax Melodies

— Buddify

— Omvana

— Take a Break!

— The Mindfulness App

— Calm

To go deeper, you can also try these apps:

— Advanced Vibrational Healing

— Self-Healing

— The Aromatherapy App

— Mercola

Addicted to every screen you own? Sleeping with your devices? Stop the techno insanity by using your own digital devices to control your daily digital use! Hop onto Checky or Moment. Feeling a bit down and struggling to stay positive? There’s an app for that, too. Try Happier, Positive Thinking or How are You.

If you find sleep a challenge? Click onto Sleep Cycle or Deep Sleep to map out refreshing naps and rejuvenating nighttime sleep.

Spirituality is integral to the healing process. Connect with communities and get reminders to take the time for a prayerful moment or two from apps like Pray!; Prayer Prompter; PrayerMate; and Pocket Prayer Pro.

What if, during your busy, crazy day, you could get stress relief by simply grabbing any device and, with a click, get lost in jaw-dropping, mind-blowing, time-lapse photography of flowers opening, while in the background you listened to hopeful, calming, joyous music playing softly? Well, it’s coming. I’m presently studying the effects of this kind of digital intervention on people’s moods and behavior by teaming with acclaimed director and producer, Louis Schwartzberg, who is also a world renowned time-lapse cinematographer. His “Nature. Beauty. Gratitude” TED talk has garnered over 3 million views. Experience your own techno healing by watching his “Flowers” video.

Techno healing is a resource that exists as one more option you can use to help you navigate in everyday life. It doesn’t take the place of real human interactions, your spin class, a walk in nature, smelling a fragrant bloom, quietly journaling, playing with your pup or enjoying a delicious meal. But life is challenging, so we can certainly use all the help we can get. And sometimes, that help is sitting right in the palm of your hand.

More from U.S. News

9 Ways Watching TV Can Shorten or Ruin Your Life

10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health

Apps to Mind Your Mental Health

The Rise of Techno Healing originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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