Seasonal Stress Management Blog
Hi! I’m Dr. Franssen. Or maybe you should call me Catherine, because in my blogs, you’ll get to know me a bit better.
Anyone who’s ever been cornered by me at a cocktail party can attest to the fact that I am utterly fascinated with the science behind stress, seasons, parenting, productivity, and pretty much everything that makes life interesting. In this blog I answer questions, reflect on personal and professional challenges, and share insights from my expertise. In short, this is neuroscience for everyday life.
If I haven’t written about something you care about yet, please reach out! I love answering questions.
Gratitude Inception
I’m so grateful to find my lessons and published words reposted and blogged by strangers (attributed, of course). Especially when gratitude is being spread to improve minds and lives.
How to make your own luck
When we say that someone is lucky, we tend to think that their success or failure is brought by chance rather than through their personal actions, but luck is actually more psychological than it is anything else. It’s related to how we view the world, our personality and how our brain is wired.
Dark Chocolate Health Benefits
Between National Dark Chocolate Day and the Valentine candy displays, the temptation is real. Let’s indulge in a bit of science about the health benefits of chocolate, and then wrap up with a few thoughts on how to manage those chocolate cravings in a healthy way!
Puzzles for your brain
Puzzles affect your cognitive abilities, but they also build resilience and promote relaxation.
Yoga for Stress Reduction- A Scientific Analysis
Thinking about stress management as part of your New Year’s resolutions? Curious about whether yoga might be for you? Yoga is fantastic for your mind and body, and there’s some great research that backs it up.
Everyday STEM for the Family!
To kick off this holiday week at home with family, I’m reposting an article I wrote two years ago with loads of ideas on how we can integrate STEM learning into our daily activities to supplement kids’ education. Check it out!
Holiday Party Prep: Stress Tips Flashback
Party prep means managing the stress of diving into awkward family interactions. Here’s a few holiday stress management tips to help you plan for the worst and hope for the best.
Protect Your Brain and Wallet While Holiday Shopping
Holiday Shopping: How retailers trick your brain into overspending during the holidays. Originally appeared in CNN Business Perspectives in November 2018.
Holiday Stress Tips
For this post, I’m flashing way back to 2011 when I gave what I’m pretty sure was my very first television interview ever! Rewatching it now, I'm actually impressed with the clear insights and concrete tips I was giving way back then! Take a few minutes to review my thoughts on reducing stress & enjoying the holiday season to the fullest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zzfMQ_fMSE
Redeeming Scrooge with Neuroscience
This Holiday Season, Avoid the Pitfalls of Scrooge and Your ‘Type A’ Behavior
Thanksgiving and Pumpkin Spice
As you create and consume your favorite holiday foods, I’m serving up a buffet of pumpkin spice for your entertainment!
Resilience for Global Entrepreneurship Week
Reflection on my invited lecture today. I consider the key personality characteristics of an entrepreneur and the importance of resilience.
The Pumpkin Spice Neuroscientist
Today’s blog is a reflection on my journey of sharing the science of everyday life, featuring my most asked for topic: pumpkin spice!