Long Work Hours Weaken Mental Skills

Hiccuping cat, ambiguous lottery ticket top the list

(NEWSER) - Traffic, poor sleep, and bad weather are the three most common excuses for showing up late to work, according to a nationwide survey of employees and bosses. But what are the most outrageous reasons employees gave in 2011 for being tardy? Here are the top 10, selected by CareerBuilder.com as part of its annual survey: More»

Those who work rotating shifts more likely to get disease: Study

(NEWSER) - Women who work a night shift at least a few nights a month are more prone to type 2 diabetes, according to new research. The longer they work such a rotating schedule, the greater the risk, reports USA Today . The women saw their type 2 diabetes rates spike 5% over one to two years, 20% over three to nine years, and 40% over 10 to 19 years when compared to women who worked day hours. More»

Growing darkness depresses, so you need to keep upbeat

(NEWSER) - The increasingly short and dark days of winter can make many people feel depressed this time of year, and Daylight Saving Time only makes things worse. So to help people out, Time offers eight tips to keep your spirits up:

• Socializing and exercising. OK, not exactly what you crave when you're feeling depressed, but forcing yourself to be active and meet people can really turn your mood around.

In some, it can lead to positive changes

(NEWSER) - It's a counterintuitive idea, but depression could actually be a good thing. The Independent addresses the question by looking at studies and talking to experts and depression sufferers. Though not everyone agrees, a surprising number seem to think the answer is yes: Those who suffer depression and come out the other side have "seen the abyss" and end up stronger. Of course, experts are cautious in their phrasing: "Depression can end in suicide, so it is not to be taken lightly," says one. More»

New link made between genes, risk of depression

(NEWSER) - Bad—or, potentially, good—news for pessimists: Some people's negative outlook on life appears to be caused by a genetic condition, according to a new study. Researchers found that people with low levels of the brain chemical NPY are likelier to be pessimistic, to deal poorly with stress, and to suffer from major depression, the Telegraph reports. More»