Nagging Won’T Improve Marriage

Nagging simply doesn’t work, say some psychologists who specialize in marital discord.

“Women make a huge mistake of relying too heavily on words,” says Michele Weiner-Davis, author of “Divorce Busting.” “With a lot of guys, words go in one ear and out the other.”

She suggests, instead of begging him repeatedly to fix the bathroom sink, calmly announce that you’ve called the hideously expensive repairman.

Choose brief written requests over spoken pleas or nagging, suggests Sherrie Schneider, author of “The Rules for Marriage.”

Bottom line they say: Nagging is the result — not the cause — of marital problems. (From April Health)

* Looking for women: The Society for Women’s Health Research, a nonprofit organization, has launched a campaign called “Some Things Only a Woman Can Do” to get more women interested in volunteering for studies and clinical trials to broaden knowledge of women’s health.

Materials explaining the participation process are available by calling (877) 332-2636 (toll-free) or on the Web at www.womancando.org.

The National Institutes of Health also maintains a database of 4,000 clinical trials being conducted at www.clinicaltrials.gov. (From The Washington Post)

* You aren’t Cinderella: If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. The belief that shoes will adapt (or become broken in) to fit a foot is a myth, says the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

The reality is that feet try to adapt to fit the shoe. People who constantly wear shoes that don’t fit properly can develop a variety of problems, ranging from bunions to arthritis. (From the Philadelphia Inquirer)

* Fashion facts: About 60 percent of all American women wear a size 12 or larger. (From April Health)

* Quote of the week: “Life is complicated. A generation ago, it was enough for women to do one thing well — to nurture a family, or join the work force, or manage a home. Today, we do it all — and we’re really good at it. We hurtle through our days as if we’ve been shot out of a cannon. We go to sleep with tomorrow’s to-do list scrolling in our minds. And I think a lot of us are longing for a way to make things simpler.” — Susan Wyland, the editor of the new magazine Real Simple, aimed at busy women. (From April Real Simple)