 |
 ATTITUDE |
|
 |
| |
Your attitude
is your reaction to what life hands you,
and it can be positive
or negative. Your attitude is
under your control and can be
changed. You have a
choice every morning when you wake up – choose
to be happy or
not happy.
|
| Be Optimistic |
| |
Researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. found that optimistic people had a 50% decreased risk of early death compared with those who leaned more toward pessimism. The results, published in the August 2002 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, make sense: Those with a positive outlook on life are probably less stressed, better equipped to deal with adversity and, consequently, healthier. Optimists also tend to have lower blood pressure than pessimists, which, again, is most likely related to how positive thinkers respond to stress. Source: Forbes.com
|
| Challenge Yourself |
| |
If we cease to learn, we get into a rut, which
leads to aging. Find something you don’t know how to do - a
new computer program, a foreign language, a new craft, playing the
piano - and challenge yourself to do it. Continual learning will
keep your mind fertile and young by stimulating neuron activity in
the brain. Retirement isn't about doing nothing - it's about doing
new and different activities.
|
| Avoid Stress |
| |
 Long-term exposure to adrenal stress
hormones may boost brain aging in later life. Exercise, yoga and prioritizing what’s important in your life can also help reduce stress. |
| Soak for Relaxation |
| |
 Soaking in a tub, jacuzzi, or spa can heal the mind, body and soul
and reduce stress. Water is nature's natural healer and brings calm
to the stress of the day. Epsom salts and lavender herb are beneficial
additives to the bath water. To enhance the experience, put on some
favorite music. Make yourself a cup
of warm tea. Light aromatic candles, and dim the overhead light.
|
| Simplify Your Life |
| |
Simplifying your life can reduce stress and help you live a
more balanced life. A
few suggestions from Simplify Your Life by Elaine St. James are:
- Reduce the clutter in your life
- Build a simple wardrobe
- Take a vacation at home
- Don't answer the phone just because it's ringing
- Turn your hobby into your job
- Take time to watch the sunset
|
| Meditate |
| |
Meditation
has positive health benefits that include improved energy and calmness
of mind. Research now shows that  meditation also increases levels
of melatonin, an important hormone that supports the immune system,
promotes deep and restful sleep, slows cell damage and aging, improves
energy and may even inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Although there
are various approaches, basically the body is consciously relaxed
and the mind is allowed to become calm and focused, usually through
concentrating on one's breathing.
|
| Relaxation Advice |
| |
To nourish your inner self during the day, schedule 5 minutes to focus on your
breathing. Relax each muscle one at a time, concentrating on the tension areas.
Just a few minutes will increase your endurance and reduce stress, which will
show in your appearance. Feeling beautiful often translates into looking beautiful.
|
| Chill Out |
| |
A study led by the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 2002 found that men who were classified as having the highest level of anger in response to stress were over three times more likely to develop premature heart disease when compared to men who reported lower anger responses. Furthermore, they were over six times more likely to have a heart attack by the age of 55. One possible explanation for these dramatic findings is the correlation between anger and high blood pressure, a condition that commonly develops in highly stressed individuals. The lesson here is simple: Try as much as you can to let the unavoidable, everyday stresses roll off your shoulders. Source: Forbes.com
|
| Smile, Don't Frown |
| |
 Depression
can hinder your immune system and slow recovery to health. Be aware
of your mental and emotional states and smile often. Great quotes
to remind you to smile:
- The world always looks brighter from behind a smile. ~Author
Unknown
- A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks. ~Charles
Gordy
- I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. ~Author
Unknown
- Wear a smile and have friends; wear a scowl and have wrinkles.
~George Eliot
- Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a
gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa
|
| Change the Way You Think |
| |
Don't sweat the small stuff—make life about what you do,
not what you don't do.
|
| Laugh a Lot |
| |
 Humor enhances quality of life, assists in stress management and serves as a coping mechanism. Researchers in Japan found that laughing while dining can reduce spikes in blood sugar, which can help keep obesity and type 2 diabetes in check. |
| Expect Ongoing Energy
and Endurance |
| |
We must learn to break tradition and destructive mythologies about
aging. In terms of physical strength, we can continue to expect ongoing
energy and endurance instead of settling into the proverbial rocking
chair.
|
| Be Spontaneous |
| |
Stay young by not allowing yourself to get set in your ways or
become frozen or rigid in your thinking. Always be willing to try
something new or do something in a new way. When you take a journey,
take a different route. You may encounter wonderful adventures along
the way.
|
| Find Time for Fun |
| |
Nourish your spirit by always finding time for fun. Join a club
doing an activity you enjoy, play on a team, or just spend time around
children. Kids always laugh and enjoy life to its fullest. Actually
schedule and put time for fun into your calendar.
|
| Do Some Mind Aerobics |
| |
Minimize those memory lapses, or "senior moments", by giving your memory a workout. Some activities that will help reduce the risk of developing senile dementia are:
- Get organized: Designate a place for important items such as
keys and checkbooks. Keep checklists for things such as daily
medications or items to pack when you travel.
- Watch less television: Experts say too much
TV watching weakens brain power.
- Jot down new information: Writing helps transfer items from
short, to long-term memory.
- Devise memory strategies: Make notes
or underline key passages to help you remember what you've
read. Invent mnemonics formulas to help you remember things.
- Solve brainteasers: Crossword puzzles, card games, and board
games such as Scrabble improve your memory.
|
| Assume the Best About People |
| |
Try to find the positives and assume the best about people. Usually
when you do this, they will tend to demonstrate their best kind of
behavior when they are around you. This will help you develop a positive
mental outlook. As Ghandi said, "We must be the change we wish to
see in the world."
|
| Express Those Emotions |
| |
There is a mind/body connection and your body responds to the
way you think, feel and act. Suppressing negative emotions can lead
to physical health problems, increased anger, and depression. Talk
to friends, relatives or your doctor, write in a journal or a blog
to express them freely.
|
| Find What You Love - And Do It! |
| |
 Give yourself a reason to get up in the morning and get moving.
It's all about attitude. When you feel good and are happy in what
you're doing, you'll look better too.
|
| Endorphins |
| |
 Some scientists claim that endorphins enhance our immune system
and have anti-aging effects. Production of endorphins, which are
naturally occurring hormones resulting from exercise, enhances feelings
of well being, energy and health. Eating chocolate and hot chiles
are also said to produce endorphins.
|
| Set Goals |
| |
Set goals for yourself to make healthy lifestyle choices to promote
vitality and longevity and enhance a strong mind, body and spirit.
Goal setting will help fill your mind with worthwhile thoughts, order
your life to live for today, and plan for the future.
|
