TODAY

There’s a superhero inside you! It’s that version of yourself you like the best – more confident, self-assured and wise – that sometimes shines through, but which you can practice to bring out all the time, says Todd Herman, a performance coach and author of “The Alter Ego Effect.”

Ask yourself: What are the traits that I want to exhibit most when I’m out there and who has them? It’s anyone you might be inspired by. Then channel that person to trigger the specific traits you admire. For Herman, it's Mr. Rogers, an alter ego he assumes at home to become a patient dad after an intense day at work. “Use your imagination to play with a new idea of who you are and what you can do, so you can create a different result,” Herman says.

Follow the link to see his advice on how to access your alter ego.

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Even when we know people’s names, why do we go for days without using them? By using someone’s name, you help them feel seen and acknowledged — and that’s an act of kindness. According to kindness.org’s research in collaboration with the University of Oxford, doing a kind act increases happiness, well-being, trust and compassion. And it can have the same powerful effect on those who receive the act. Try it, and put a smile on both your faces.

It is possible to become a morning person – even if you’re a devoted night owl. A recent study commissioned by scientists in the U.K. and Australia, found that 22 participants who shifted their sleep habits for three weeks had better cognition, physical performance in the morning and experienced less stress overall.

By waking up earlier and going to sleep earlier, they adjusted the hours where they were the most productive. They followed a few additional rules too. Click the link below to read more.