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| Happy People Win Newsletter |
Volume 7, Issue 1
January 2013 | |
| NOTE: if you are using Outlook to view this and it has strange spaces, please click on "click here to view it in Web browser" at the top and it will look as it was intended to look. ☺ Thanks!! |
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Happy 2013!
I am in the process of setting up my annual goals. Exciting! Like looking through the Sears catalog when I was a kid and deciding all the things I wanted to receive from Santa, this is looking at all the amazing options that I want to do with my life, both personally and professionally.
Last month after the Sandy Hook tragedy I decided to participate in the 26 Random Acts of Kindness. It is actually kind of hard to do this in one day, trust me. I do them randomly all the time when the opportunity presents itself, but that doesn't easily happen dozens of times in a day. You have to get into the mindset.
I wrote my plan on my Facebook wall and two of my old students responded that they wanted to be in on it. The three of us met and while we were figuring out our game plan, we saw an elderly woman dining alone and I told the waitress I wanted to pay for her meal. Her name is Frances, she is 88 and we made her day. I believe she enjoyed chatting with us more than the free meal; she was hungrier for some company. Something to remember. Then on to Marian Cancer Center, smiles-on-a-stick and Christmas glasses for the fabulous staff and patients getting chemo. I cried as we left, very emotional. Definitely puts life in perspective. We then decided to spend the rest of the afternoon thanking the wonderful staff at our local Mental Health, Food Bank and the Animal Shelter for doing all they do for our community. Smiles-on a stick, glasses and hugs. Lots of hugs.
As a result, I decided one of my goals this year is to not only do random acts intermittently, but to do them on a regular basic. I am thinking one afternoon a month. Total win/win. Puts a smile on others faces AND helps MY mental health and happiness.
I hope this year is amazing for all of you. Full of health, happiness and a little magic.
BIG hugs,
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Tips for a Better 2013
Whether finned, feathered or furry, pets are good for your health. People who own pets have healthier hearts and make fewer visits to the doctor. During times of stress, a pet can lower blood pressure. Pet owners are more physically fit and tend to be less lonely and fearful than those without pets. And if you want to get in shape, dogs can make better exercise partners than humans- they never want to skip a walk.
Throw a party.
Social connections - friends, family, neighbors or colleagues - can help you live longer and better. Research shows that people with a consistent, active social life are less likely to experience a decline in the ability to reason and remember. Social ties also have a physical effect. One study found that social activity may help you preserve your ability to perform day-to-day activities as you age. Another study suggests that poor social ties could play a more important role in determining longevity than even smoking, lack of exercise or obesity.
- NOTE: These came from January's AARP Bulletin - IT IS MY MOM's
I am waaaayyyyyy too young to get it.
Be quiet. Really. -
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Physical Wellness
Think Yourself Thin
When that bag of potato chips comes calling, close your eyes and visualize eating 30 of them - the crunch, the salt, the greasy texture. Chances are you won't end-up scarfing nearly as many
as usual. Carnegie Mellon researchers found that when people imagined
eating 30 M&M's or cheese cubes, they were less likely to gorge on the real thing.
"Your brain gets used to a food stimulus after a number of bites," says study author Carey Morewedge, PhD.
"Even if some of those bites are imaginary, taking a lot of them seems to reduce your desire to continue eating." - Abigail L. Cuffey
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Video Break
Over the years, I have posted a lot of information detailing the benefits of taking a short video break. Yes, even at work. It is amazing to me that there are so many great videos that can make you laugh, cry, think
differently, or just be amazed in
just a few minutes.
I will make this a regular column each month, so please send me any short videos that inspire you, make you laugh or cry. Here are a few of my favorites:
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Financial Wellness
A friend posted this on Facebook and I thought it was a great idea, so I am doing it. I bet if we added up the incidentals we buy that we don't need we would pretty easily have the money. One gal said she has zero extra money at the end of the year, so someone suggested she do it backwards, or you can even start in the middle.
Good luck!!
52-week Money Challenge
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Visualize This
Take a half hour each day to sit quietly. You'll feel less stressed and improve your memory, according to new multi-university research. Study participants who had a daily time-out for eight weeks showed growth in the area of the brain associated with memory, empathy and sense of self-and a decrease in the region connected to anxiety. If you struggle to silence your thoughts, let Mother Nature help: Relax outside and concentrate on the sounds of chirping birds, the breeze or crashing waves.
FC 7-11 |
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CHEW GUM
A British study found that people who regularly chewed gum had significantly less work-related and overall stress and depression than those who didn't get this oral fix. Chewing gum may stimulate the vagus nerve, which helps your body relax and increases levels of serotonin, a brain chemical that makes us feel calmer and happier.
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HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW
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Stop Sabotaging Yourself | | |
When faced with a big challenge, it's tempting to anticipate the obstacles that might get in the way, and use them as an excuse not to move forward. But this type of self-handicapping will prevent you from reaching your potential. Here's how to stop it:
- Watch for the warning signs. These include holding back, generating lists of excuses, or excessively focusing on the potential obstacles.
- Articulate goals, not excuses. Use "what-ifs" and "if-onlys" to help generate ideas about how you might remove obstacles. For example, if you think you might fail because you lack a certain skill, find out how to acquire it.
- Manage your negative emotions. When faced with obstacles (and there are always some), you're likely to feel disappointment or anger. Be kind to yourself in working through these emotions and focus on what you can change.
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- OCTOBER 2012 |
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