You ever feel like it’s getting harder than ever to remember important info – or even what you need to get at the grocery store? Just because it’s easy to put things down in the Notes app on your iPhone, if you really want to remember things – use the old tried-and-true method of writing it down on paper.

A new study shows that writing on physical paper allowed students to retain the information an hour later as opposed to other methods like taking things down on a laptop.

Researchers found that paper was more useful to our memories because each sheet of paper is physically unique – as opposed to a screen which stays the same, only what appears on it changes.

Also, those participating in the study who used paper completed tasks 25% faster than those who used digital tools.

They also tested differences between using physical pen and paper or using a tablet with a stylus and because the paper allows for uneven strokes or variations of letters, or even folds in the paper, and our brains retained the info from paper more.

So if you really want to remember what you need to grab at Stop and Shop…grab a pen!

Image Credit: Oleksii Didok / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Did you brush your teeth today? Well, hopefully you did – but, more importantly, did you brush correctly?

Many of us brush our teeth wrong – and there are big mistakes dentists say they see all the time.

First – brushing too hard. It’s bad for your gums, and the bristles can’t do their job – and that goes for both manual and electric toothbrushes.

Also, don’t rinse right after you brush as it flushes the fluoride away – you should wait at least two minutes.

You also should swap out your toothbrush more often – every three months, instead of every time you go to the dentist.

When you brush is important – you want to wait at least 30 minutes after having something too sugary or acidic.

Finally, you may have heard baking soda is good for your teeth, but it’s too abrasive and can damage your enamel.

Image Credit: fizkes / iStock / Getty Images Plus

With the summer heat and humidity upon us, it’s a reminder that we’re in the middle of mosquito season. And that best way to avoid getting sick is to prevent mosquito bites.

The CDC has some tips on how to do just that:

First, if you’ve got stagnant water anywhere near your home, make sure you dump it out, as it can be a breeding ground for mosquitos, and can potentially make pets sick if they drink it.

Use insect repellent every time you go out – in addition to sunscreen, it should be a part of your daily routine.

If you’re going to be spending time in a wooded area, try to wear either long sleeve shirts or long pants, or both.

If you do keep your doors and windows open, make sure they have screens – it’ll prevent insects from getting in.

Image Credit: Andrei Sauko / iStock / Getty Images Plus

We’re gonna have a stretch of particularly hot, sunny weather is ahead of us – and when you head outside during the summer, it’s so important to keep your skin healthy.

Here are some skin tips for the season:

First and foremost – use sunscreen! Sunburns are never fun, and years of too much sun leads to premature wrinkling and skin aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer.

And don’t forget your lips – as you would with sunscreen, there are lip-specific products as well with SPF protection.

If you wear makeup, try to find oil-free products that are breathable on the skin during the high humidity.

Summer’s a good time to exfoliate to help improve hydration from moisturizers. And hydration also comes by drinking plenty of water throughout the day to help prevent headaches or dizzy spells.

Keep your skin protected for a safe summer!

Image Credit: puhhha / iStock / Getty Images Plus