5 Ways to Beat Stress

When we’re stressed, we’re less able to focus and we’re doing damage to our overall health. Here are some science-based methods for de-stressing quickly. • Breathe – Stress makes us take short breaths. Concentrate on deep breaths through the nose, exhaling through the mouth, for several minutes to increase oxygen flow and reduce tension. • Pattern Reset – Forcing your brain to focus on something else, such as the repetitive task of doing dishes or knitting, can help get your mind off whatever’s bothering you. • Go for a Walk – Not only will a 10-minute walk physically remove you from any stressful situation, the exercise releases stress-relieving endorphins in your brain. Dancing to your favorite song works, too. • Take an e-Break – We love technology, but it can also cause a huge amount of stress. Turn off your phone or computer to increase your ability to relax, and don’t leave your email inbox open all day. • Have a Snack – It’s important to be mindful about snacking (stress eating is nobody’s friend), but some nibbles can be helpful. Potassium can help modulate blood pressure, which can in turn reduce stress levels, so have a banana. Something like a handful of nuts offers a satisfying crunch and the energy your brain needs to get past the stress.

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.

Service to Others is Service to Self

” Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth” – Muhammad Ali. Serving others doesn’t just help the people we’re supporting, it often enriches our own lives in powerful ways. Just think of how much support you have received from people like your grandparents, parents, and close personal friendships and it is easy to see how you can repay that by making a commitment to be in service of other people in your life. Here are just a few of the benefits: 1. Happiness and fulfillment. Acts of service stimulate the release of fee-good brain chemicals like dopamine which boost mood and create a lasting sense of purpose in your life. 2. Stronger relationships. Helping others builds trust, empathy and connection, expanding your social circle and deepening existing bonds. 3. Improved health. Studies show that people who volunteer or regularly serve others have lower rates of depression and even some chronic illnesses. 4. Sense of meaning. Being part of something bigger than yourself provides a deeper reason to get up each day. We all have something special to share with others. There is always someone in more need than us. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” Luke 12:48 If you look around, you will see countless examples of people giving to others, paying it forward and making the world just a little better. A better world ultimately benefits everyone, including us. “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person that is nearest to you”. – Mother Teresa