The Emotional Toolkit

Stress

4 Practices to Reduce Holiday Stress

Heather Lench Ph.D. on November 17, 2025

Holidays are stressful. Here are four quick habits to work on before and after the season to reduce stress and increase your enjoyment.

Holidays are stressful. Here are four quick habits to work on before and after the season to reduce stress and increase your enjoyment.

Artificial Intelligence

Why Your Chatbot Should Not Be Your Bestie

Heather Lench Ph.D. on November 5, 2025

AI developments have created a situation where the signals of emotional expression can be convincingly created or altered. Here are the potential risks to people.

AI developments have created a situation where the signals of emotional expression can be convincingly created or altered. Here are the potential risks to people.

Awe

Using Emotional Power to Envision the Impossible

Heather Lench Ph.D. on September 30, 2025

People sometimes feel trapped and helpless in their situations. There is one emotion that can be powerful enough to transform how we view the world and ourselves.

People sometimes feel trapped and helpless in their situations. There is one emotion that can be powerful enough to transform how we view the world and ourselves.

Emotions

Knowing Your Emotions Matters for Your Life

Heather Lench Ph.D. on August 8, 2025

Knowing more about emotions can benefit your life, and it's a skill that anyone can learn. Here's how to get started.

Knowing more about emotions can benefit your life, and it's a skill that anyone can learn. Here's how to get started.

Boredom

The Hater's Guide to Loving Boredom

Heather Lench Ph.D. on June 18, 2025

2. Appreciate boredom for what it is.

2. Appreciate boredom for what it is.

Stress

The Fix for Feeling Out of Control

Heather Lench Ph.D. on April 29, 2025

It seems like every news piece is full of things we cannot control that are going to hurt us in some way. In the chaos, there are ways to retain your calm.

It seems like every news piece is full of things we cannot control that are going to hurt us in some way. In the chaos, there are ways to retain your calm.

Emotion Regulation

3 Reasons You Should Smile Today

Heather Lench Ph.D. on February 18, 2025

We usually think of smiles as a reaction to feeling happy. But there are several reasons to make the effort to smile, even when you don’t feel like it.

We usually think of smiles as a reaction to feeling happy. But there are several reasons to make the effort to smile, even when you don’t feel like it.

Politics

Does Anger Drive the Political Pendulum Between Parties?

Heather Lench Ph.D. on November 12, 2024

We've all seen the political pendulum swing back and forth between parties in elections. Could anger be pushing the pendulum?

We've all seen the political pendulum swing back and forth between parties in elections. Could anger be pushing the pendulum?

Emotions

Why We Need to Feel Sad After a Failure

Heather Lench Ph.D. on September 30, 2024

No one likes to feel sad but studies show it can help us move on and have better emotional well being.

No one likes to feel sad but studies show it can help us move on and have better emotional well being.

Boredom

How Your Smartphone Is Robbing You of Your Best Life

Heather Lench Ph.D. on September 12, 2024

If we avoid boredom with a smartphone, we’re missing out on opportunities to tackle new challenges and accomplish great things.

If we avoid boredom with a smartphone, we’re missing out on opportunities to tackle new challenges and accomplish great things.

Boredom

Questions Raised for Emotion Science by "Inside Out 2"

Heather Lench Ph.D. on August 5, 2024

If you're a parent of a teenager, you can connect with the unmotivated sarcastic character of Ennui in the "Inside Out 2" movie. But Ennui got boredom wrong for how teenagers feel.

If you're a parent of a teenager, you can connect with the unmotivated sarcastic character of Ennui in the "Inside Out 2" movie. But Ennui got boredom wrong for how teenagers feel.

Emotions

The Science of Emotions: Questions Raised by Inside Out 2

Heather Lench Ph.D. on July 10, 2024

Inside Out 2 depicts new emotions bursting onto the scene with chaos and little warning. But is that how complex emotions actually happen?

Inside Out 2 depicts new emotions bursting onto the scene with chaos and little warning. But is that how complex emotions actually happen?

Boredom

Make Time for Boredom This Summer

Heather Lench Ph.D. on June 14, 2024

Summer has less structure and more freedom, and it can also be boring. Here are three ways you can intentionally plan to harness boredom this summer to benefit your life.

Summer has less structure and more freedom, and it can also be boring. Here are three ways you can intentionally plan to harness boredom this summer to benefit your life.

Politics

Why Politics Get Nasty

Heather Lench Ph.D. on June 7, 2024

Ever wonder why arguments about politics get so heated? The political messages we all watch could hold the answer.

Ever wonder why arguments about politics get so heated? The political messages we all watch could hold the answer.

Boredom

How to Embrace Boredom for Deep Work and Focus

Heather Lench Ph.D. on March 28, 2024

Learning to tolerate boredom is essential to mastering challenging tasks and succeeding. But how do you learn to embrace it? Tips from exposure treatment offer some clues.

Learning to tolerate boredom is essential to mastering challenging tasks and succeeding. But how do you learn to embrace it? Tips from exposure treatment offer some clues.

Relationships

Why Valentine’s Day Hurts After a Breakup

Heather Lench Ph.D. on February 12, 2024

Although breakups hurt, people usually recover quickly and are less upset than they had previously anticipated. But Valentine's Day can change that pattern, research suggests.

Although breakups hurt, people usually recover quickly and are less upset than they had previously anticipated. But Valentine's Day can change that pattern, research suggests.

Emotions

How to Not Give Up on Your New Year's Resolution by February

Heather Lench Ph.D. on January 23, 2024

4 tips for using the power of emotion to achieve your goals.

4 tips for using the power of emotion to achieve your goals.