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How Much Do You Know About Self-Care?

Take our quiz on the science of personal well-being

Kim Painter,

AARP

En español

Published July 13, 2022

9 Questions

e9763a33-b7f2-4d0c-a56f-125b5fe9a10d

How Much Do You Know About Self-Care?

[ {
  "question" : "Forest bathing can lower your blood pressure and improve your mood. How do you do it?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Sit in a bathtub on the edge of a forest.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Sprinkle pine-scented oil into your bathwater.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Walk through the woods, inhaling the scent of the trees.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Envision a forest as you meditate.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "That’s the way it’s done in Japan, where the concept originated.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
  "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
  "question" : "It’s possible to get too little or too much sleep. What’s the sweet spot for most people over age 40?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "6 hours per night",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "7 hours per night",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "8 hours per night",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "9 hours per night",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "That’s the snooze time linked with the best brain health, according to one large study. Guidelines from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allow a little more wiggle room, recommending at least 7 hours up to age 60, 7 to 9 hours at 61–64, and 7–8 hours at 65 and older.",
  "hint" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "Giving up this habit for a month helped people lose weight, sleep better and feel more energetic:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Constant phone scrolling",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Drinking coffee",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Drinking alcohol",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Watching TV",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "One British study found that people who took part in Dry January, abstaining from booze for a month, reaped multiple health benefits months later.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "Decluttering your home can be a real mood booster. Which of these approaches do experts not recommend?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Getting it all over in one big push",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Working systematically through your house",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Putting off buying organizing bins and labels until you choose what to keep",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Getting rid of one old thing every time you buy one new thing",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Instead, try decluttering one space at a time, for 10 minutes a day.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "A positive attitude can help you weather setbacks and improve health. Which of these practices won’t help your outlook?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Putting on a fake smile",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Watching funny videos when you are angry",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Finding silver linings in tough situations",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Letting problems resolve themselves",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "It’s better to take action, say researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "Volunteering is good for you: It can reduce depression, anxiety and loneliness. Which of these is true?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "More men than women volunteer.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The older you are, the more likely you are to volunteer.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "The state with the highest volunteer rate is Florida.",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "About 30 percent of Americans volunteer.",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "According to reports from the U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorp, women volunteer more than men; mid-life adults volunteer more than older and younger people; Florida has the lowest volunteer rate (22.8 percent) and Utah has the highest (51.0 percent).",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "There’s more than one way to meditate. One of the most popular kinds, mindfulness meditation, has two essential features. They are:",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Paying attention to the moment and accepting your thoughts and feelings",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Breathing slowly and stopping intrusive thoughts",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Sitting with your legs crossed and eyes closed",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Chanting a mantra and seeking transcendence",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Regularly practicing mindfulness meditation can reduce stress, according to the American Psychological Association.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "Having close friends can boost your happiness, reduce stress and help you maintain healthy habits. How much time do you have to spend with someone to form a close friendship?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "10 hours",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "40 hours",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "100 hours",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "200 hours",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "A study at the University of Kansas found that it takes 40 to 60 hours to form a casual friendship, 80 to 100 hours to become true friends, and more than 200 hours to become close friends.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
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}, {
  "question" : "Good money management can be a form of self-care, especially in these stressful economic times. What kind of spending is likely to make you happiest?",
  "answers" : [ {
    "answer" : "Spending money fixing up your house",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Spending money on new clothes and shoes",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  }, {
    "answer" : "Spending money on other people",
    "correctAnswer" : true
  }, {
    "answer" : "Spending money on dining out",
    "correctAnswer" : false
  } ],
  "multiSelect" : false,
  "explanation" : "Researchers at Harvard University have found people get the biggest boost from spending money on other people, directly or through charity.",
  "hint" : "",
  "hintLink" : "",
  "questionImgCaption" : "",
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} ]

Quiz Progress

0 Correct

0 Incorrect