How To Make The Perfect Handshake

• Offer your hand early (shows confidence) and tilt your fingers down so you can get palm-to-palm contact. • Use pressure, but in sync with the other person. If someone’s crushing your hand, shift your weight to your right foot. Your hand will move forward, which will loosen the grip. • Maintain eye contact – but not for longer than 3 seconds. • Don’t forget the closing shake. If your first one was wimpy, you can redeem yourself.

How to Say No (Nicely)

Saying “no” to friends, family, and coworkers often means you get to say “yes” to your own needs. Doing so politely means people still like you! Here are ways to say no that won’t alienate others:  When your boss gives you a new assignment: “That project sounds interesting. I already have a lot on my plate, what should I put on the back burner to accommodate this?”  When you’re asked to give to a charity: “I’ve already donated my planned amount this month (or year), but tell me more about this charity for my next charitable round of giving.”  When you’re asked to lend your truck for a move: “I’m sorry, I don’t loan out my vehicle, but let’s talk about the date – maybe I can do the driving myself.”  When you’re asked to run the school bake sale – again: “You know, I think I’ve done the last two. Why don’t we see if someone else can take a turn?”

Even when it will NOT stop raining - 10 Ways to Feel Better

We all want to feel better, look better, and live as if we are a finely tuned instrument, or well-maintained vehicle. Here are some tips I’ll share to get you started on the road to feeling, looking, and living better and increasing your chances for enjoying life. Your age is just a number fight, fight, fight!! 1. Smile. Researchers at Harvard found that people with positive attitudes are more likely to have fewer heart ailments. 2. Take Monday Off. Researchers in New York found that missing a few days of work lowers your risk for stroke by 30 percent…not to mention most heart attacks occur on Monday morning! 3. Eat Oatmeal Cookies. University of Connecticut researchers found that eating oat-bran cookies daily can lower your LDL cholesterol by 20 percent. 4. Go To Bed Early. People who are fatigued have high levels of fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein that reduces blood flow to your heart and brain. 5. Wash Your Hands. German scientists found people with high levels of antibodies from fighting infections also had more clogging of their arteries. 6. Read A Good Book. Need I say more? 7. Meditate 30 Minutes A Day. Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found meditation may reduce depression and anxiety by up to 25 percent. 8. Drink Cranberry Juice. People who drink 8 ounces of cranberry juice a day increase their HDL cholesterol levels by 10 percent…reducing heart risk by 40 percent, according a New Jersey study. 9. Bike Your Blues Away. Biking was found to be as effective at relieving depression as antidepressants reported Duke University researchers. 10. Join A Group. People who have a circle of friends handle stress better and have less heart disease, according to University of Chicago researchers.

House Plants For Every Room

House plants can do far more than simply spruce up the way a home looks. Certain plants wield certain benefits – and many thrive better in some rooms than in others. Put your green thumb to work and get these plants growing where they serve you best! In the living room:  The peace lily removes mold spores in the air and is relatively low maintenance. Though it can adapt to low light, placing it in a well-lit area will keep it flowering almost nonstop.  Colorful or striking-looking plants like cacti or bird of paradise can add a fun touch to this lively space. In the bedroom:  Weeping figs remove airborne toxins and increase oxygen levels, allowing for better sleeping conditions.  French lavender promotes calm and serenity.  If you have ample sunlight, add aloe, which purifies the air. In the bathroom:  Chinese evergreen is durable and the soil should be kept moist – perfect for a humid room!  Ferns thrive in environments with low light and high humidity. In the kitchen and dining room:  Golden pothos are good hanging plants, so they don’t take up precious counter space.  Bamboo is simple to care for and makes for an interesting table centerpiece.  From rosemary to mint, any sort of herb is welcome in the kitchen.

Simple Relationship Tips

A happy, healthy relationship with your significant other doesn’t ride on fancy flowers, heart-shaped chocolates, and an annual celebration on your anniversary. In fact, sometimes it’s the small things that mean the most in a relationship with your loved one. Start small with these ideas. Set the smartphone down. Offer your undivided attention with time set aside for the two of you – no phones allowed! Perhaps this is over dinner in the evenings, in the bedroom, or on a once-a-week date night out (or in). Say thank you. Don’t take your partner for granted. Acknowledge and appreciate even the small things like cooking dinner or doing the dishes. Do something he/she likes to do. Embrace your partner’s differences. Next time you choose a movie together or look for a weekend activity, get out of your comfort zone and try something that’s not generally your style. And, the time after that, encourage your partner to do the same. Dress up. When you go out for a date night, dress up. Don’t fall into the familiar comfort rut. Keep things fun with a little flirtation.

How Big Is One Billion?

Relatively speaking, there is a huge difference between one million and one billion. 1 million seconds = 12 days 1 billion seconds = 31 years or 11,315 days This is why over 70% of Americans think billionaires should pay higher tax rates.

Estate Planning Myths

Just getting started thinking about estate planning? Putting a little thought and effort into estate planning now helps to ensure your final wishes are fulfilled problem-free. Belief: If you don’t have a will, the government takes everything you own. Truth: Without a will or trust, the laws of your most recent home state dictate who receives your assets. Plan: Depending on state laws, your surviving spouse, children, or parents are likely to inherit what you leave behind if you don’t have a will. However, live-in partners, step-children, and other kin will be left out. To ensure your specific assets go to the people you want to receive them, you should outline your wishes in a will or trust. Belief: You have to update your will every time there is a life change. Truth: Some parts of a will “self-adjust” due to life changes. Plan: When putting together an estate plan, discuss possible upcoming life changes, such as adopting a child or buying a home, with your lawyer. He or she can advise under what conditions an update needs to be made to the plan. Belief: The court-supervised probate process of gathering and distributing assets to creditors and inheritors is unavoidable. Truth: Assigning a beneficiary to certain assets helps avoid probate. Plan: If you can assign a beneficiary, such as in the case of a life insurance policy and tax-deferred account, do it. But assets like houses and standard bank accounts don’t allow for named beneficiaries. Creating a revocable trust instead of a last will may help your relatives avoid probate, but make sure everything is actually transferred to the trust. Belief: I’ve created an estate plan, so everything is taken care of. Truth: You should review your estate plan every three to five years to make sure it’s up-to-date and appropriate for your current situation. Plan: Some estate planning documents “self-adjust” due to particular life circumstances, but it’s always a good idea to revisit and close any loopholes. For example, if you recently adopted pets, you’ll want to designate what should happen to them if you die, and if your trustee is no longer an appropriate choice, name someone else in his or her place.

A Really Good Reason To Exercise

After age 40, human brains shrink by about 5% every 10 years. A study reported in ScienceDaily.com suggests you can slow this deterioration with aerobic exercise, which appears to “dramatically increase the size of the left region of the hippocampus.” This part of the brain plays an important role in storing memories and connecting them to our emotions.

Secrets Of Female Millionaires

Did you know there are more women millionaires today than at any time in history? It’s true. Thomas Stanley, author of The Millionaire Woman Next Door, has come up with some interesting facts. The average female millionaire is 49 years old, married, a mother, spends 3-4 hours a week at the gym, and works a 50-hour week. Stanley found three themes that stood out. Female millionaires were responsible for budgeting and financial planning in their households and had a detailed method of tracking expenses. Second, female millionaires focused selling their skills rather than merchandise. Service businesses enabled the women to do what they liked, and work a reasonable schedule. Third, female millionaires viewed themselves as leaders. Four out of five women millionaires focused their attention on the future...and not what had happened in the past. The millionaire women were proactive, and believed it was their responsibility to move situations forward.

Improve Your Work Relationships

If you are like most Americans, you’ll spend about one-third of your life working. And if you’re going to spend so much time at work, wouldn’t it be ideal if you liked your colleagues? There is good reason to get along with co-workers: Liking other employees consistently ranks among the highest factors in determining job satisfaction. This isn’t always easy, however. If some of your work relationships could use a little sprucing up, try these tips: 1. Respect time. Avoid hovering around your colleagues’ work areas if they’re on the phone or speaking with someone else, and respect their professional/personal life balance by keeping work issues at work. 2. Avoid gossip. Office politics and the rumor mill can run rampant, and the best thing you can do is to avoid any conversation that is irrelevant to your job. You never know whom you will have to work with – or for – in the future, so do your best to remain professional to everyone. 3. Be polite. The Golden Rule of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you goes a long way in a professional setting. Say hello and thank you, smile, hold doors open for others, and clean up after yourself. 4. Show concern. It is not your job to solve personal problems, but keep in mind your co-workers are people too. Be mindful that others may be having a bad day or issues beyond the boardroom. If you feel comfortable, it’s okay to check in to make sure everything is alright. 5. Welcome the newcomers. Do you remember your first awkward day of work? Make someone else’s first day on the job easier by smiling and introducing yourself. 6. Follow up and communicate. Simple communication goes a long way in helping to facilitate good relations and clear up misunderstandings. Make yourself approachable so others feel they can discuss work-related projects with you. Managers need to set clear expectations with their employees so there is no question about what is expected from each person.

Can’t find your keys (or another small object)?

 Stay calm. Look for the object where it’s supposed to be and in close proximity to that location.  Be systematic. Thoroughly search a select area and then move on. Don’t re-search areas.  Search areas with clutter. Prevent lost time by looking in areas where an item is easy to overlook among other items.  Retrace your steps. Vividly try to walk through the actions, feelings, and context of when you last had the item.  Avoid creating a false memory. If searching with someone else, ask open-ended questions – not questions like “Remember, we saw it in the hallway?”

Start A Family Blog

Stay Connected: You don’t have time to send e-mails, much less cards, letters and photos to keep your family in the loop. You can use Facebook, but why not create your own blog? It’s easy, fun and you can do it as an individual or a group. To get started, check out some of the free blogging hosts, such as www.wordpress.com, www.livejournal.com or www.blogger.com. Each one has templates, instructions and features like custom privacy settings and ability to post from your mobile phone. You can upgrade to a paid account later, if you need advanced features. Here are some keys to success from experienced bloggers:  Keep posts short and to the point (300 words or less).  Include lots of photos (make sure to size them correctly).  Don’t use it to vent (unless it’s entertaining).  Set a date in your calendar so it’s updated monthly (or weekly). Another plus: You can even publish your blog as a book once a year!

Friends—The Key To A Longer Life

According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, men who have lots of friends, social contacts, and relatives live longer, more satisfying lives. In a study of 28,000 men in their early 40s to late 70s, researchers found that men who were socially isolated loners were 20 percent more likely to die prematurely. The socially isolated group also was 53 percent more likely to die from heart related diseases and stroke. Unmarried men included in the study had markedly higher death rates than married men with a strong family support system did. It appears that making friends and nurturing social relationships not only will make you healthier, but it could make you a lot happier too!

The Best Reasons for Playing Golf

• Beats mowing the lawn. • Having a ball is par for the course. • You can play without risk of scandal (most of the time!). • There’s always a doctor nearby. • The worse your game, the better the exercise. • Carrying clubs is socially acceptable. • More fun than doing business at the office. • Putting is such sweet sorrow. • Great excuse to take a walk. • Rather sink a bird than hook a fish. • Old golfers never die. They just putter out. • There’s no par at the 19th hole. • It’s educational. You learn the meanings of such words as slice, shank, divot, bogey, mulligan, hacker, worm burner, and duffer.

Could Owning a Pet Help You Live Longer?

What would you say if you could buy a medicine that lowered your blood pressure, improved your cardiovascular health, reduced your anxiety and stress, and made you happy...everyday. Would you buy it? We know how much love and affection pets can bring to our lives, but there’s more. Scientific studies have found that having a pet can significantly improve your health. Here are 5 ways a pet can help: 1. Heart Benefits. The American Journal of Cardiology reports pet owners are more likely to survive a heart attack than those who don’t own a pet. Another study found people who owned a dog were more likely to be alive one year after a heart attack. 2. Lower Blood Pressure. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that pets help lower blood pressure (and heart rates). An American study found men who owned a cat had a lower resting heart rate and lower blood pressure than men who didn’t own a cat. And after a stressful event, their blood pressure returned to normal more quickly. 3. Mood Elevator. People, particularly seniors, who own pets are less likely to be depressed and lonely. Pets can provide companionship, humor, and add playfulness to our daily lives. 4. Kids and Health. Research presented at the 10th International Conference on Human Animal Interaction 2014 found that children who have pets have fewer sick days. They also reported that children who had pets had higher levels of self-esteem and functioned better emotionally. Research studies also found that children with pets coped better with divorce. 5. An Exercise Buddy. Dogs need regular exercise, which also gets their owners walking. This can improve their overall health. As an added benefit people improve their social network as they socialize their pet. Owning a pet requires your time and a financial commitment. If you’re not ready for that responsibility, it’s best to hold off.

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Credit Card Rewards

These days most credit cards offer some kind of rewards to entice you to use them. Here’s how to use them to your best advantage:  Get the right card for you, and use it for most of your purchases. Do you want airline or hotel points, merchandise points, or cash back? Do your research and choose what meets your needs. Be sure to compare potential annual fees, interest rates, limited time offers, etc.  Keep track if and when your points expire. Redeem the points as soon as you can, or you may forget you even have them.  Check out the card’s other perks. You may be focused on earning points, but the card may offer other things like purchase protection.  Read the terms and conditions. Credit card companies may change their terms and notify you by a letter you might not pay attention to. Read it, and if you don’t like the changes, get a different card.  Pay off your balance on time every month. The rewards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees on your purchases.  Make sure you understand the rewards program. If you get confused (you aren’t alone!), call the company’s Customer Service Department for clarification. Ask for help to make sure you are getting the benefits you are entitled to.  Go to the card company’s web site and follow them on social media. You may get tips on special promotions or points for participating in surveys.

Road Safety: Defensive Driving

Being a safe driver is about more than just obeying the speed limit. There are skills known as “defensive driving tactics” that can help keep you out of trouble on the road. Here are a few defensive driving techniques anyone can do:  Pay Attention to Your Surroundings – You might think you already do this, but driving is something most of us do by motor memory (especially on a boring commute). It’s easy to get distracted by a song on the radio or a bird flying by. Stay alert and you’ll be more prepared if something appears in front of you on the road. This also means putting down the phone. If you need to take a call or send a text, pull over (please!).  The 2-Second Rule – In order to maintain a safe following distance behind the car in front of you, choose a roadside landmark (like a tree or a road sign). When the car in front of you passes it, start counting “one Mississippi, two Mississippi.” It should take you two seconds or more to reach the same landmark. If you get there sooner, you’re following too closely.  Avoid Blind Spots – You probably know where the blind spots are in your own car, and you’re accustomed to compensating when you need to back up or change lanes. You can’t count on everyone else to do the same in their own cars, however, so to be on the safe side you should avoid driving in another car’s blind spots. If you can’t see the other car’s side mirrors, assume that they can’t see you.  Expect the Unexpected – Even when you have a green light, make sure there isn’t someone running a red coming the other way. Even if the car in front of you doesn’t have a blinker on, be prepared in case they make a sudden lane change. Even if you assume the car behind you will slow down as traffic is building, keep an eye on your rearview mirror just in case.

Could It Be A Cold?

Beyond common cold symptoms, the body is excellent at communicating when something’s not quite right. Here are several surprise symptoms that could indicate you might have a cold – and a few signs you may have something else. It could be a cold if:  Your senses of smell and taste aren’t up to par.  You are thirstier than usual.  You feel muscle aches and pains in unusual places, such as the scalp.  You have particularly vivid or unusual dreams.  You find it hard to focus on a task or aren’t interested in socializing.  Your eyes are more sensitive to light than normal. It might be more than just a cold if:  You suffer from severe headaches.  You just returned from a trip, especially if you were abroad.  You continue to experience many symptoms after four days.  You experience a low-grade fever for several days.  Your symptoms are in one location, such as the throat or an ear.

Teaching Kids Life Skills

Teaching kids how to approach and solve life’s challenges is one of the biggest jobs parents face. Here are a few tips to help your children (or grandchildren) grow into self-sufficient and responsible adults: • Teach Kids To Look For Solutions. When kids are faced with a problem, have them identify several options and solutions. Then you can help them choose which solution works best. • Teach Kids Responsibility: Let kids know they are responsible for their actions. They have to do their homework, but you can offer them two “positive choice” options: Do you want to do it in 15 minutes or 30 minutes? Teach them how to organize, and give them the tools to stay organized (calendar, palm pilot, notebook). • Teach Kids How To Make Good Choices. Giving kids choices empowers them to make their own decisions. Have them weigh the pros and cons of their choice, and let them make the decisions. • Teach Kids How To Deal with Failure. Teach your children that failure is not personal, permanent, or pervasive (i.e. losing a soccer game doesn’t mean you’re bad at other things as well). Developing a positive explanatory style early in life will help your children live a happier, healthier and more successful adult life.

10 Ways To Live Well

We all want to feel better, look better, and live as if we are a finely tuned instrument, or well-maintained vehicle. Here are some tips I’ll share to get you started on the road to feeling, looking, and living better and increasing your chances for enjoying life. Your age is just a number fight, fight, fight!! 1. Smile. Researchers at Harvard found that people with positive attitudes are more likely to have fewer heart ailments. 2. Take Monday Off. Researchers in New York found that missing a few days of work lowers your risk for stroke by 30 percent…not to mention most heart attacks occur on Monday morning! 3. Eat Oatmeal Cookies. University of Connecticut researchers found that eating oat-bran cookies daily can lower your LDL cholesterol by 20 percent. 4. Go To Bed Early. People who are fatigued have high levels of fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein that reduces blood flow to your heart and brain. 5. Wash Your Hands. German scientists found people with high levels of antibodies from fighting infections also had more clogging of their arteries. 6. Read A Good Book. Need I say more? 7. Meditate 30 Minutes A Day. Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found meditation may reduce depression and anxiety by up to 25 percent. 8. Drink Cranberry Juice. People who drink 8 ounces of cranberry juice a day increase their HDL cholesterol levels by 10 percent…reducing heart risk by 40 percent, according a New Jersey study. 9. Bike Your Blues Away. Biking was found to be as effective at relieving depression as antidepressants reported Duke University researchers. 10. Join A Group. People who have a circle of friends handle stress better and have less heart disease, according to University of Chicago researchers.

5 Ways To Strengthen Your Immunity Against Colds & Flu

Don’t let a COLD or FLU get to YOU this season. The human body has many ways to naturally fight infection, but you need to give it all the help you can. Here’s how to boost your immunity and fight off those nasty germs:  Eat healthy food. Load up on fresh fruits and veggies like leafy greens. Avoid sugar because it can interfere with the enzymes you need to boost your immune system.  Supercharge your body. Your body can naturally kill a virus. So spring into action during the first 24 hours to combat illness. Once you feel a few symptoms, start drinking filtered water, broths, and soups with lots of garlic, onions, and spices. Take supplements like echinacea, vitamin C, and elderberry.  Breathe clean air. Avoid smoking, air pollutants, indoor dust, and ash from fireplaces that can irritate the lining of your nose and throat.  Avoid sick people. It sounds obvious, right? But it’s easy to forget. Try not to be in the same room, breathing the same air as someone ill for long. Wash your hands frequently and disinfect everything they touch.  Get a flu shot. The Centers For Disease Control & Prevention recommends that everyone who is at least 6 months old get the seasonal flu vaccine. It protects against 3 flu viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season.

Quick Appliance Fixes

Appliance repair experts say that up to 25 percent of repair calls have simple solutions. Try these fixes before calling the appliance repair service.  Refrigerator is not cold. If you can’t get the refrigerator cold enough by lowering the setting, try looking under it. You probably have dirty condenser coils. Unplug the fridge, remove the grill and vacuum the coils to remove dirt and dust.  Dishwasher is not running. The float switch inside the dishwasher tells it when enough water has entered and when to begin washing. See if the switch is jammed in the up position from objects like forks.  Weak vacuum suction. If cleaning the filters and bags doesn’t help, check the hose for an obstruction. Drop a coin in one end and if it doesn’t come out, try to dislodge the debris with a broomstick.

How To Get Ahead By Increasing Your “Likability”

Being liked puts you on the fast track to success in everything you do. You are naturally likable by being genuine and sincere, but here are some simple tips that can give you a psychological advantage and result in people liking you even more: • Like yourself first. Be confident in your strengths. Your likability increases as you increase your ability to like yourself. Smiling and sharing your positivity will bring out the same in others. • Maintain eye contact during conversations but keep it in balance (about 60 percent of the time). Nod your head when you’re speaking and people will be inclined to agree with you. • Demonstrate that you like people. Remember their names and use them. (One trick to remembering names is to say the name to someone else.) If you ask a question, give the person time to respond. Remaining silent and waiting for an answer can be especially useful in negotiations. • Learn active listening. Do this by a) paying attention; b) using body language to show you’re interested; c) giving feedback, such as rephrasing what a person says to you to show that you understood them; d) asking questions, but not interrupting; and e) giving your opinion respectfully. If you disagree with someone, look for ways to find common ground. • Don’t overdo it. You don’t need everyone to like you to be successful. Aim to increase your likability factor to the people who matter to you (and your success) most.

Over-Extended On Your Home?

Are you “house-rich but cash-poor”? In other words, you spend so much on your mortgage (and building equity) that you don’t have cash to spend on other needs. The key is to get back into financial balance. Each case is different, so do your homework and consider these actions:  Sell your house and buy (or rent) something smaller. Sounds drastic, but it frees up assets and is particularly relevant if you are close to retirement.  Refinance your current mortgage (mortgage rates are down to near historic levels). Talk to John Porter at Mortgage Masters (206-954-8736 or john@mortgagemasterwa.com) to see if this option would be beneficial to you. He would love to help!  Look into a reverse mortgage (if you’re 62 or older). This lets you access your equity but there are up-front costs and you’ll want to remain in your house for the rest of your life. Talk to a financial planner to fully understand this option.

How To Prevent Sports & Exercise Injuries

Millions of people experience a sports or exercise injury each year. Shin splints, pulled muscles, aching kneecaps, and strained hamstring muscles are common when you begin a new exercise program or put too much stress on your body. Here are tips to avoid getting hurt when exercising or playing sports: • • Have A Fitness Test: A visit to your doctor is important if you are starting a new exercise program. Your doctor may find an undiagnosed heart condition or other disease that will require workout modifications. • Know Your Body: It sounds basic, but many fail to make adjustments to account for known body weaknesses. For example, if you have knee problems you may want to try a stationary bike instead of a treadmill. • Wear Proper Attire: Wear proper shoes that fit and grip the ground to avoid slipping or tripping. Workout clothes that keep you warm but not hot are best to avoid getting overheated and passing out. • Act Your Age: When you get excited about a new workout or sport, you can do too much, too quickly and push yourself too long. Work with a trainer, and make sure you’re using the correct technique. • Feed Your Muscles And Hydrate Your Body: A high protein meal one hour before your workout will give you the fuel you need to keep going. Thirty minutes before you exercise, drink about 16 ounces of water. Drink more water during your workout to replace the fluids you’re losing. • Know The Injury Warning Signs: If you have any of the following for more than 48 hours, see a physician: joint pain (including swelling, redness and heat), reduced range of motion, or numbness, and tingling.