It really does pay to  take care of your mind and body as you grow older. To make this decision to care for yourself will enable you to slow the aging process down somewhat and also allow you to enjoy your older years, maintaining overall fitness and an active brain.

When you take care of yourself, it slows the aging process and you can stay fit and alert well into your senior years.

The major areas to focus on to maintain  optimum health are diet, exercise and activity that keeps your brain active. When you pay attention to these key health elements, you can help yourself to stay young and slow down the aging process.

Here are some excellent anti-aging techniques for you to try daily:

1. Take antioxidants as they are vital to your health. They reduce free radicals that are known to contribute to common diseases in aging individuals.
  Note that fresh fruit and vegetables are an excellent source of antioxidants.  Including a daily vitamin is also important.

2. Exercise and strength training. Exercise keeps your body strong and helps fight off any infection and stops the body from breaking down. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll also get a lot healthier at the same time!

Exercise provides:

* Increased stamina
* Greater muscle strength
* Better balance
* Clarity in thinking
* A stronger immune system

3. Stay alert and sharp. You can keep your brain sharp by being constantly aware of your surroundings. This sounds rather simple, but how often do we let loose and daydream, instead of focusing on the present? When you stay alert, you’re fully present in the moment and you’re better able to make quick and accurate decisions.  Undertake activities such as puzzles and crosswords that help keep your brain active.

4. Try to constantly learn new things. Remember your brain need constant stimulation. You can easily avoid this by keeping your brain active via constant learning and reading.

* A simple tip is to vary your routines and strive to learn something new each day.

5. Challenge yourself. It always helps to use the problem solving portions of your brain. These skills need to be utilized and if they aren’t, will fade over time.  Puzzles and games are a great way to keep your brain active.

6. Don’t stress over health issues. You see statistics everywhere about certain health conditions that are more likely to affect you as you age. Of course it is important to be aware and to always  be checked by your physician, but don’t waste your precious time worrying about an illness you may never get.
* Ease your stress by taking action to strengthen your health instead of worrying.

7. Get an adequate amount of sleep. Getting enough sleep at night is very important for maintaining good health. 6-8 hours every night is the number you should be working toward. Your body and mind need that time to recoup, and you may be more susceptible to stress or disease without it.

8. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Smoking is a guaranteed way of putting your health at risk and not only that, but it ages your skin and the rest of your body. The harsh reality is that you are shortening your lifespan if you choose to smoke. If you do smoke, then I would strongly suggest breaking this habit as soon as possible. When it comes to alcohol, small amounts here and there won’t cause much harm, but drinking can be a slippery slope into disease if you abuse it.

9. Look after your skin.  I cannot stress this enough, you must moisturize and moisturize and stay out of the sun.  The sun quite simply will age and damage your skin, quicker than anything.  Be sure to establish a daily skin care routine and try beneficial anti-aging gels and creams.

10. Reduce grains and sugar in your diet. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables maintains good health and keeps your calorie intake at an acceptable level. Remember, carbohydrates are necessary for your nutrition, but is eaten in excess they contribute to increasing your insulin levels and speeding up the aging process.

If you include these strategies every day, you’ll notice a big difference in the way you look and feel. Getting older doesn’t have to be synonymous with deterioration. Begin right now to take care of your body and mind and it will serve you well in your later years.

By

MaryAnn Roche

How You Can Command the Respect of Others

Do you ever get the feeling that your first name should be Doormat?
Would you like to be able to command the respect of others?
Do you feel as if people take advantage of you on a daily basis? Are you allowing this to happen?

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If you responded yes to one or all of these important questions, it’s obvious that you don’t have the respect of others, but that’s why you’re here to learn!

Respect is something you earn. However, no one deserves to be taken advantage of. Fortunately, it’s possible to change how others treat you!

Implement these simple tips and tricks and you’ll command the respect of others you deserve in no time:

1. Live by the Golden Rule.

Most of us are familiar with the Golden Rule. “Do unto others as you would want done to you” is a wonderful philosophy when attempting to garner respect. Always treat others as you expect to be treated. People will tend to reciprocate and treat you the same way. If they don’t, then you can ease your way out of the relationships over time, if possible.

2. Put yourself first.

An example of this would be telling your friend that you cannot babysit her 4-year old so she can get her nails done because you’re busy with your own personal appointments and schedule.

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* You have to make yourself a priority. If people see that you respect yourself, then you’ll ultimately be respected, too.

3. Use strong body language.

When speaking face to face with others, portray the fact that you’re strong and important. Stand straight, look people in the eye, and speak forcefully but not overwhelmingly so.

* If your body language shouts, “I am important and I respect myself,” you’ll surely gain the respect of others.

* Those people who stare at the floor when speaking, avoid eye contact, and whisper their words are telling others that they don’t believe they deserve respect and attention. Always remember to stand tall and proud; you’re important and you deserve to be recognized!

4. Speak positively.

In addition to having strong body language, the words you use to express yourself are also extremely important when trying to earn the respect of others. Learn to speak in positively and authoritatively. Don’t be boastful, but don’t demean or belittle yourself either.

* Leave the impression that you’re intelligent, well spoken and confident. If you portray yourself in this manner others will treat you the same way.

5. Surround yourself with the right people.

Let’s face it: there are people in this world who are disrespectful to everyone and everything. No matter what you do to command respect, nothing may work!
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* You may need to take some time and rethink those you’re spending time with. They may not be the kind of people who have your best interests at heart.

6. Stand up for yourself.

If people are disrespectful to you, how do you respond? Do you say something to the offending person or do you just go on with life? People treat us in the way we allow ourselves to be treated.

* If you confront the person and voice your opinion and unhappiness, chances are good that person won’t treat you that same way in the future. It’s not about being confrontational, but a simple “I don’t appreciate how you’re speaking to me” can go a long way.

Final thoughts on getting the Respect you Deserve

We all have a desire and need for respect. By making some small changes, you’ll be able to open yourself to receiving the respect of others, while learning how to also express your respect. Use these techniques in all interactions every day to command the respect of others and gain the respect you deserve.

By MaryAnn Roche.

How to Develop Your Strengths

Have you worked out how to develop your strengths?

Everyone has unique talents and strengths, but whether we’ve discovered and actively developed them is the real question! Maybe we’ve been told that we’re good at something, but we let our skills go untapped while we wait for the confidence and courage to take action.

There are even some people whose self-esteem is suffering to the point that they truly believe they don’t possess any talents at all! If this is you, please believe that your talents are there, just waiting to be revealed to you!

These tried and true strategies will help you develop your strengths to their full potential:

1. Research.

Perhaps you think that you’re strong in one area, but you aren’t completely sure. This is where you need to look into things that interest you or that you believe you might be good at. See what resources are available and what it would take to make the commitment to strengthen your strengths.

2. Patience.

Developing your strengths to their full potential won’t occur overnight. To fully develop a talent, you must be patient. Patience is not easy and many of us tend to struggle with it. But if you can be patient, you’ll definitely reap the benefits at the end of the process.

* A useful way to think of developing your talents is to consider it as a journey. It may take a while, but you’ll learn a lot along the way.

* You’ll make mistakes and celebrate milestones, and by the time you’re done, your strength will be fully developed to the peak of your abilities.

3. Set goals.

People are more successful when they set goals. Write down what you’d like to accomplish and what date you’d like to achieve this by. Remember to be realistic and review your goals frequently to keep yourself on track.

* Post your goals in places where you’ll see them throughout the day. The refrigerator, bathroom mirror, and your computer monitor are a few ideas. This will not only keep you on track, but it’ll also motivate you to reach these goals as quickly as possible.

4. Believe you can do it.

Confidence can be one of your greatest strengths and assets. When trying to improve yourself in any capacity, if you truly believe that you’re able to accomplish anything, you’ve won half the battle.

* The battle with your mind is often greater than any challenge you face in reality.

* You may have tough days when you’re unsure of yourself, but as long as you get back on track quickly, you’ll build momentum. Remember, you can do this!

Final Thoughts on Developing Your Strengths

Strengthening your strengths may be a daunting and overwhelming journey at times. And, yes, it will take some work. But everything worth anything involves hard work!

It’s important to focus on the big picture and remember the rewards you’ll enjoy once this process is over. Also, ensure that you have the unwavering belief that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. By possessing these two attributes, you’ll be on the road to success in no time!

Use the above suggestions to develop your strengths and feel better about yourself today!

By MaryAnn Roche

5 Top Tips to Breaking Bad Habits

I can hear Billy Fields in my head…..”Cant help myself….Bad Habits”

But I’m here to give you some great top tips on how you can start breaking bad habits today!

Let’s face it: we all have a bad habit or two that we would like to get rid of! Whether it be smoking, biting our nails, overeating, or a host of other afflictions, it may be easier to eliminate it than you imagine.

With a little perseverance, willpower, and determination, you can be free from that nasty little habit!

Here are five strategies that can help start Breaking Bad Habits:

1. Commitment.

Make sure this is something you truly want to accomplish. It’s wonderful to “talk the talk,” but you’ll need to back that up by “walking the walk” as well. Be honest with yourself. Do you truly believe that this is the right time to kick your bad habit? Remember, it has to be done for the right reasons.

* Don’t let yourself be pressured by others. Search your soul and be certain you’re doing this for only one person – you! It’s your time and energy you’ll be using to make your goal a reality, so make your decision carefully.

2. Start a journal.

Jot down every time you practice your bad habit. This isn’t to be used as a punishment, but to give you more of an idea when your undesired behavior is occurring, so that you can better devise ways to break it.

* Include your thoughts and feelings that precede or accompany the behavior. This can give you an idea if you’re doing this when you’re under stress, bored, tired, and so on.

Though it may seem time consuming at first, recording these thoughts and actions can be a wonderful tool to speed up your success in breaking the habit.

3. Choose an alternative behavior.

This behavior can either remind you of your desire to quit or be a permanent replacement of your bad behavior with a desirable one instead.

* For example, a friend of mine once put a rubber band on her wrist when she was quitting smoking. Each time she had the urge to light up a cigarette, she would snap the rubber band on her wrist instead. Naturally, this was only temporary to remind her not to smoke.

* Some more ideas are to take a walk, read a book, sing a song, or cook. Any activity can be used as an alternative behavior. Of course, you don’t want to replace one bad habit with another one, but anything that can redirect your focus works well.

4. Start a replacement schedule right away.

Start immediately replacing your bad habit with your alternative, but a gradual shift may work better for you than a complete change.

* You may want to start with once a week, then maybe twice week, then three times, until you’re consistently practicing your alternative behavior instead of the bad habit.

* Remember, this won’t happen overnight, so please practice patience. People learn different behaviors at a different pace. Don’t be discouraged if your best friend stopped smoking in three weeks and you’re on your fifth week and still craving a cigarette.

5. Don’t keep this a secret.

If you’ve made the decision to break a habit, tell others. This is the time when you need the support of your family and friends to help you be successful.

* Whether you succeed or not, you’ve taken a major leap in a positive direction. That’s why it’s so important to share what you hope to accomplish with family and friends. Those who love you will be there to encourage you, offer support, and help you wherever they can.

Final Thoughts on Bad Habits….

Breaking a bad habit can be difficult, but it isn’t impossible. Use these techniques to make your journey easier, then celebrate your accomplishment when you’ve succeeded – you deserve it! So, to change the Billy Fields lyrics….”I can help myself…..Breaking Bad Habits“…..lol – have a great day!

6 Simple Ways to Overcome Boredom

Looking for ways to overcome boredom?

Everyone at one time or another has experienced some degree of boredom. Children are usually the quickest to say “I’m bored,” but as adults, we experience our share, too.

Don’t you sometimes wonder why you feel bored? It may be a feeling of laziness, exhaustion, or even a lack of mental stimulation.

Whatever the case may be, we all want to keep our mind and body at its peak. We also want to be an active player in our own lives. When we’re feeling bored, neither of these needs is being met.

However, with a bit of creativity, there’s no reason why you ever need to experience boredom!

Here are some simple suggestions to help you conquer boredom and liven things up:

1. Read.

This sounds rather obvious, doesn’t it? Well, it is! But it’s often the simplest ideas that are the most powerful. 


* Reading is a wonderful activity for the mind that can transport you into another time, place or situation. With so many genres to choose from, reading can be most interesting and even intoxicating.

* If you’ve never been an avid reader, it’s possible that you simply haven’t found the right book. Experiment until you find the one that gets you hooked. You can also explore audio books and podcasts to keep your mind busy.

2. Sing.

You may not sound like Whitney Houston, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying music. Play some of your favorite tunes and sing at the top of your lungs!

* Music provides fun, relieves stress, and can help you forget that the word “bored” was ever in your vocabulary!

3. Cook.

Get in the kitchen and try some new recipes. Remember, this isn’t about perfection. It doesn’t make a difference if you’re a four star chef or can’t cook worth a dime. This is about keeping the boredom at bay, while being an active player in your life.

* Try a new recipe each week to add some interest to your dinner menus.

4. Adopt a pet.

Animals are wonderful companions. They’re loving, non-judgmental, and provide us with unconditional love. Animals also keep us feeling active and young. Most importantly, though, they keep us busy.

* If you have a pet as a constant companion, you’ll never feel alone and you’ll make many wonderful memories together.

5. Cultivate your mind.

Boredom is something we allow and hold control over. By actively using our mind, boredom won’t be a concern again. Try expanding and cultivating your mind by taking a day trip to a museum, going to an art exhibit, or seeing a play.

* Do something you’ve never done before. Find an activity that brings you new knowledge and skills. You may even discover some new talents you didn’t know you had when you take the initiative to try new things.

6. Take advantage of the Internet.

 The Internet is a pantheon of information, and can be a great “boredom terminator,” but there’s also a lot of mindless drivel. If you decide to spend time online to combat your boredom, use that time wisely.

* Each time you use the computer, attempt to walk away knowing something new. It’ll not only keep you busy, but you’ll expand your mind as well.

No one enjoys being bored….

but thankfully there are countless ways to overcome boredom and get our mind and body active again. Use these tips to get you started, and enjoy a myriad of wonderful benefits in the process.