John Teng carrying two of his children who fell asleep in the middle of a vacation tour.

Recently I attended a dinner party with some of my wife’s some college classmates. One of her classmate’s wife just had their first child and old friends were getting together to celebrate the happy occasion and to see the new baby. We all met up for dinner at a vegan restaurant. I myself am a meat eater, but I am a very curious person and I am always game to try to new cuisine. I will say that the food presentation was very nice, the ingredinets used for my indian curry dish seemed very well thought out, and the food had a lot of flavor. All in all, I felt like I was having a very healthy eating experience, as well as enjoying good company and conversation to boot! The reason that I bring up our healthy eating environent is that the guy friends who showed up at the restarant did not themselves look very healthy. My wife hung out with the smart kids in college and all of them went on to very successful and remarkable careers. But from the the standpoint of overall health, I was reminded that evening that middle age takes its toll on the physical body. Many in this demographic are very busy raising children, climbing the coroporate ladder, and/or starting their own businesses, involved in their communities, all the while trying nurture the relationships to all the important people in tier lives. So it goes as no surprise that it is just that much harder for people during middle age to get and stay in shape as it was when we were younger.

But if there was ever a time in a person’s life when it was more important than ever to be in shape, it is during the middle age years and here’s 5 reasons why.

1. Your lifestyle choices no longer just affect you as you most likely have dependents who are now directly affected by your helath decicions.
2. Weight bearing exercise can help to minimize and even resverse age-related muscle loss.
3. Now is the time to be even more consious of weight gain and heart health.
4. If you’re in a long term relationship, like it or not, part of the reason that you connected with your partner, and they with you, mostly likely had to do with being physically attracted to each other. Yes, I am with you in echoing that there are a lot of legitimate reasons why we may not feel we look as good as we did when we were just dating, but know that doing your best to keep up your looks will go a long way to benefitting your relationships.
5. Many midlifers are still raising children (and grandchildren) and we need to stay in shape to help them, carry them, play with them, and protect them.

Whatever you choose to do to get bqck in shape is up to you. Yes, it’s important to find something that you love to do, but from a practical midlife standpoint, it’s even more important to find something that you have the time to do. Once your medical doctor has reviewed your fitness level and understands your limitations, start by setting some simple goals to move your body aroiund for just a few minutes each day. Maybe it would include walking or jogging around the block ,stretching, or doing some pushups and situps. But no matter what you do, know that being fit is more important now than it has even been so get moving!

And finally, here is a quote about the value of exercise (at any age) that I have held dear in my inspiration book for many years as follows:

“Daily exercise ---as rigorous as possible---is the best antidepressant, mood elevator, memory enhancer, dietary controller, physical health improver, sex-drive enhancer, energy and self-esteem builder that exists.”

-Carol Francis, Clinical Psychologist

Middle age should mark a phase of your life that you stick your neck out and do something new for yourself that breathes some excitement into a daily life focused on the lives of so many other people besides you.

As my “Dancing with the South Bay Stars IV” charity ballroom competition was approaching, my dance partner and I were told about another dance competition that was going to be held about a week afterwads, called the “California Open Dancesport Championships” in Costa Mesa, California http://californiaopen.com/. Stacey and I thought it would be another great opportunity to get out on the dance floor again and compete with the dance routine that we had trained so hard to prepare for. The first photo above shows the dance judges marking our dance routine. This provided us both with wonderful feedback because not only did they give us their hand written scores, but they also added comments about what they liked and what we could improve on for the future.

Here is the link to our official dance scores that evening.

http://www.californiaopen.com/pages/results/Default.asp

And here is our first place medal!

I didn’t start dancing until I was middle age and I didn’t start winning until I was middle age either. I hope my readers feel inspired to learn a new skill and take on an ambitious goal to keep learning and growing and experiencing the excitant of life during this best phase of our lives!

I love to work out! I can’t imagine a life where I could not get to the gym on a regular basis to keep in shape.  Working out to me is almost as important as breathing oxygen! Several years ago, I decided that I wanted to start competing in amateur bodybuilding so I hired a personal trainer who had experience competing in the sport himself.  I made it clear to him from the beginning that my goal was to use the competition as a fun way to improve my health, but that I was not willing to resort to harmful illegal drugs in order to enhance my performance.  From the beginning, I understood the importance of having a personal trainer. As a newly married man expecting our first child right before the date of my first competition, each competition thereafter has become a more logistically complex undertaking as I now have 4 children who need their parent’s attention! Ever more so now than it did during that first show, proper planning is a prerequisite. That means preparing my business suit, and toiletries, and my food during the night before in order to be in bed early enough and get enough sleep to train hard the next day.

The first thing my trainer would ask me to do in the morning was to check my weight and measure my body fat percentage.  These measurements gave both of us a report on my progress as I advanced towards the date of the competition.  If the numbers did not look good, I knew that I had to make some adjustments in my exercise plan, my food intake, or both in order to get back on track.  This regular habit of “accountability” helped keep me focused and aware of my progress at all times.

I gained an entirely new level of appreciation of supplementing my competition foods with Sunrider products as I trained for my first competition. I had to eat the healthiest food possible to in order have the energy necessary to work out at a high intensity. And I also needed a high nutritional food source that did not include artificial ingredients and empty calories that would prevent me from achieving the lean muscle mass necessary to pose on stage!

Staying motivated and focused for several months at a time building up to a competition date is not easy. Sometimes my kids didn’t want to sleep when I wanted them to, so that meant that no one got to sleep. Maybe a project at work required long hours in the office in order to complete on time. Time zone changes and unfamiliar hotel rooms during my many business trips also tended to disrupt my regular routine. But no matter where I was or what the challenge, I always knew that when I got back to the gym my trainer was going to be waiting there for me to get back on the scale to check my weight and my body fat percentages and to hold me accountable for my progress! With that type of accountability I was almost willing to do pull ups from the hotel shower curtain rods if necessary in order to work out when I was on a business trip! My personal trainer also provided me with valuable encouragement when I felt discouraged with the pace of my progress. Because I knew that my trainer sincerely wanted me to be successful, and that he wanted to help me win the show, part of the motivation that I had to be successful was to do my best to honor my trainer.

I didn’t take first place in that first body building competition, but in my heart I knew that I had done my best to prepare. And most importantly, the training process had helped me to drastically change my physical appearance for the better, as well as helped me learn how to better care for my body. So even though the destination on competition day was not what I had hoped for, as far as I was concerned, the journey itself was the biggest success!

I love to workout.  I can’t imagine a life where I could not get to the gym on a regular basis to keep in shape.  Working out to me is almost as important as breathing oxygen! A few years ago I decided that I wanted to compete in amateur bodybuilding so I hired a personal trainer who had experience competing in the sport himself.  I made it clear from the beginning that my goal was to use the competition as a fun way to improve my health, but that I was not willing to resort to harmful drugs in order to enhance my performance.  From the beginning, I understood the importance of having a personal trainer.  With the added time commitments I now have with helping my wife raise our young children, the only hour that I have been able to consistently find available to exercise is 6:00 am.  That means preparing my business suit and toiletries the night before in order to be in bed by 10:30 am so that I have enough energy to get up at 5:30 am, throw everything in my car, and be in the gym on time to start at 6:00am! The first thing my trainer would ask me to do in the morning was to check my weight and measure my body fat percentage.  These measurements gave both of us a report on my progress as I advanced towards the date of the competition.  If the numbers did not look good, I knew that I had to make some adjustments in my exercise plan, my food intake, or both in order to get back on track.  This regular habit of “accountability” helped keep me focused and aware of my progress at all times.

I gained an entirely new level of appreciation for my Sunrider foods as I trained for my first competition. I had to eat the healthiest food possible to in order have the energy necessary to work out at a high intensity. And I also needed a high nutritional food source that did not include artificial ingredients and empty calories that would prevent me from achieving the lean muscle mass necessary to pose on stage!

Staying motivated and focused for the 6 months up to the date of the competition was not always easy. Sometimes my kids didn’t want to sleep when I wanted them to, so that meant no one got to sleep. Maybe a project at work required long hours in the office in order to complete on time. Time zone changes and unfamiliar hotel rooms during my many business trips also tended to disrupt my regular routine. But no matter where I was or what the challenge, I always knew that when I got back to the gym my trainer was going to be waiting there for me to get back on the scale to check my weight and my body fat percentages and to hold me accountable for my progress! With that type of accountability I was almost willing to do pull ups from the hotel shower curtain rods if necessary in order to work out when I was on a business trip! My personal trainer also provided me with valuable encouragement when I felt discouraged with the pace of my progress. Because I knew that my trainer sincerely wanted me to be successful and that he was available to do whatever he could to help me win the show, I can tell you that part of the motivation that I had to be successful was to honor the my helpful trainer.

And this same principle also applies to any other aspect of your personal development. In middle age we are forced to realize, now more than ever, that nothing is going to stay the same. In fact, my own life seems to be passing faster and faster as each year goes by. And if that is the case for all of us, then that means that either we are going to be moving forward or falling back, now faster than ever! I firmly believe that allowing ourselves to identify good mentors, teachers, doctors, therapists, consultants, coaches, or just someone older and wiser who is willing to offer you advice to help you more successfully navigate the middle age phase of life, will help you and me stay focused on those aspects of our lives to stay in a mode of positive progression throughout our lives as opposed to the alternative.

John Teng

Okay, before you panic, men do not suffer from PMS. They may have to suffer through it with their wives and daughters, but for now, men are spared this monthly curse of emotional upheaval. That said, men do have hormones, and when these levels go haywire, their life can seem to veer out of control.

Researches have been investigating the role male hormones play in the midlife crisis for years and their efforts are beginning to show results. As men age, the chemicals in their brains can be altered. This is usually caused by fluctuating hormone levels. Depending on which chemicals are changed, men can begin to have some crazy ideas and see things differently than what they are. Here are some examples:

• Some men became seriously co-dependent on their spouse. While men are traditionally more independent emotionally than women, some men in their 40’s and 50’s may begin to experience a stronger need to connect with their spouse on a more emotional level. This can even lead to the man thinking that his happiness depends on how she relates to him. If she fails to give him the support and love he expects (which she most certainly will because his expectations are not realistic), he will feel betrayed and become so angry that he will be willing to walk away from the marriage over nothing serious.
• Some men stop thinking clearly. As the middle aged man fights internally with feelings of negativity, he may begin to interpret what others say in negative ways towards him. For instance, a simple remark made by his boss may be interpreted as his inability to get the job done. This skewed viewpoint can quickly cause problems in his relationships with others.
• Some men become more distant. While the middle age man craves support from his spouse and loved ones, he often distances himself from those who can most readily give it. Feeling distant he begins to seek comfort in others – oftentimes inappropriate others.
• Some men become self absorbed. Men who once thought of others before themselves suddenly become self centered and self absorbed in their middle years. This can make them act like real jerks. Reversing back to an adolescent state of “it’s all about me and how I feel right now,” mode, these men begin to center everything in their life around their own thoughts, wants and needs. This skewed point of view may be one reason why the middle aged man acts out with uncharacteristic behavior.
• An inability to see the past as it really was. Unable to face the facts of his life, the middle aged man will sometimes look at his life through a foggy lens. Feeling disenchanted with his marriage or job, he may begin to see trouble where none exists. Small issues become big problems in his mind. This offers him the chance to walk away without regret since he perceives his marriage as “always having been horrible” or his job as being “a big mess.”
• An inability to control feelings of self pity. Middle aged men in crisis are very good at feeling sorry for themselves. Not liking who he is at the moment or how his life is going, he would rather delve into a state of self pity than do anything productive. The worse he feels about himself, the more is apt to act out in inappropriate ways.

If you have been married for nay length of time, you know how hormone fluctuations can cause a woman to seem irrational. The same is true for you! Yes, hormones can take normal thoughts and feelings and turn them into stronger, more disillusioned ones. Being able to recognize that a physical issue could be causing your feelings to take over your thinking ability can help you seek the help or make the changes necessary to weather this storm of hormonal upheaval.

Every time you have a negative thought take some time to revaluate. You may feel like your marriage is a mess, but is it? And if it is, are there are better ways of fixing the problems than having an affair or simply leaving.

Life can get tough sometimes but that doesn’t mean they are horrible. Hormones can make us think things are worse than they really are. Changing your perception and your attitude is a great start to getting things back on track without making any big mistakes that will haunt you later.

The mid-life crisis; these are terrifying words that are equated with divorce, overspending, and depression. It is also known as a time when men destroy their life for material things and give up the good things in life, becoming extremely selfish. However, something else has been on the rise with middle aged men, something much more concerning than flashy cars, weird clothes, or even divorce… drug use.

What Is a Mid-Life Crisis?

Before you learn about what impacts a mid-life crisis you first need to know what a mid-life crisis actually is. A mid-life crisis often happens in men who are between the ages of 40 and 60. This is a time in their life when their bodies are not what they used to be, they have a decreased libido, and they have become very uncomfortable in their lives. During a mid-life crisis, many men begin to find a new, sometimes crazy, sense of fashion, buy what they want, regardless of price, become unsatisfied with their marriages, and often become depressed. This can lead to divorce, serious debt, and the loss of a good life due to poor decisions. The mid- life crisis is all about trying to get a quick fix because you feel trapped or unsatisfied.

What Is Considered A Drug?

Any kind of substance you use that is not prescribed to you in order to make you feel “good” is a drug. From illicit substances like cocaine and heroin to prescription drugs like anti-depressants and blood pressure medication can all be abused. Even alcohol can be considered a mind altering drug if you cross the line into alcoholism.

The Statistics

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH) drug and alcohol abuse in middle aged men is growing at a rapid rate. Approximately 62,000 men die of alcohol related issues every year and more than half of children live with at least one parent who has a problem with alcohol. When it comes to drugs, The National Drug Control Agency says that in Washington D.C alone, there were nearly 76 drug related deaths in men between the ages of 35 and 60 (the prime age of mid-life crisis), while there were only 12 deaths in men and woman 21-34. The deaths in the 35 to 60 age range deaths have gone up significantly since 2003 when there was almost less than half of these. So, why is this?

Is There A Correlation Between Mid Life Crisis and Drug Abuse?

The statistics make it seem almost certain; there is some sort of connection between the age of mid-life crisis and drug abuse. When a man enters a mid-life crisis, they feel depressed and unsatisfied; they are looking for a quick and easy fix. This is why they dump things from their old life, such as wives and children, to pursue temporary pleasure such as one night stands or flashy accessories. This is also why many married men have affairs; it is a rush of adrenaline and a quick fix for their needs. Drugs can provide the same type of “relief” that these men are looking for. Yes, some men may be able to try something and not do it again, but for many, one time is enough to get addicted. They become addicted to the high and to the way they can escape their problems when they use.

Beyond a quick fix, drugs also seem dangerous and rebellious, the kinds of activities that draw in men experiencing a mid-life crisis. The thrill that drugs give and the feeling of rebellion is also what gets teenagers hooked. The feel good effects of the drugs themselves, plus the feelings of “getting away with something” only make drugs that more appealing to those trying to change themselves and add more excitement to their lives.

How Do I Stop?

If you are struggling from addiction because of a mid-life crisis, there is hope for you. Find an addiction therapist who can relate to you and really begin to dig deep as to why you feel you need drugs and/or alcohol. They can also help coach you through other aspects of your mid-life crisis. Remember you are not alone, and you can be helped.

Stress. Sooner or later it takes a hold of every one of us. It can make us feel overwhelmed and out of control. It can raise our blood pressure and make us sick. But there’s something else stress can do: it can thrust us forward in life, giving us the energy, motivation and yes, ability to tackle the world. In other words: stress can be good for us.

We have been conditioned to view stress as bad. All we hear is the bad news about stress:

• Causes 80% of all major health problems
• Keeps us from healing from injury and illness
• The reason why 90% of us make a doctor’s appointment
• Costs $300-plus billion a year

It is true; stress can play havoc with our physical and emotional well being. High levels of prolonged stress will make you sick. But that doesn’t mean that all stress is bad. It isn’t.

Stress is completely natural – and necessary. It is a biochemical reaction caused by the body to help us face life’s challenges. Best known as the fight or flight response, stress results in a rush of chemicals released by the adrenal system when the body feels threatened. It is that quickened heart rate and increased awareness when you walk alone in a dark parking lot. Stress is also the body’s way of protecting itself from germs and bacteria. When something invades the body that can make you sick, your immune system reacts by releasing fighter cells to attack the perpetrator before they can do any damage. Stress is also that overwhelming feeling that can make you irritable, anxious and just plain mad when life seems to be spinning out of your control. This is the dangerous kind of stress that, if left unattended, can cause health and emotional issues.

But let’s look closer at the first two stress reactions discussed. They are what keep you on high alert when facing a dangerous situation, and keeps your body healthy when it is ripe for attack. These types of stress can help you overcome challenges and move forward in life.

The right kind of stress can actually make you a happier person, according to Emmett Miller MD, author of the 10-Minute Stress Manager. In his book, Dr. Miller explains how life feels more fulfilling when a person meets obstacles and overcomes them. A certain amount of cortisol-releasing stress can help you do that. The key to managing your stress is not to avoid it altogether, but to limit it to more natural levels.

People who experience no stress at all in life simply aren’t happy. We all need the charge we get when faced with a challenging experience. That’s what makes life exciting. Overcoming challenges gives us courage, strength and keeps us feeling more vibrant.

So, the next time you feel the tug of stress, don’t fight it. Accept that stress and use it to learn … overcome … and succeed. Yes, stress can be good, so enjoy all that it has to teach you!

Increasing your Hormone Growth Hormone (HGH) can make you stronger, healthier and more fit. The problem is that taking these hormones in supplement or injection form may cause all kinds of health problems. The good news is that you can slowly increase your HGH levels naturally in three easy steps:

1. Learn to Work Out Smarter
2. Maintain Healthy Blood Sugar Levels
3. Sleep Well

The process is simple, yet effective. When you work out in short, intense bursts, your body releases bursts of HGH. And when you can maintain healthier blood glucose levels (without the common spikes and dips most people experience), your body won’t interfere with either the production or release of HGH.

Step # 1: Sort, But Intense Workouts Are Best*

How can you get the most out of your workout? To help boost HGH levels without the risk of supplements, try this simple, yet effective running workout:

• begin with a light three minute jog
• 30-second sprint (start with a jogging pace and finish at 50% max effort)
• Do four consecutive 30-second sprints; be sure to increase your effort with each sprint
• Do three all-out sprints that give it your max effort
• Walk for 3-5 minutes to cool down
• Stretch carefully

* Sprint workouts are very intense on the body so make sure that you get your doctors permission before starting this form of exercise.

Step #2: Keep Your Blood Sugar Levels Stable

Most people experience spikes and dips in their blood sugar levels all day long. This fluctuation is what makes you crave certain foods during the day and also leads to sluggishness and fatigue. Not only is this bad for your overall health and well-being, it can interfere with your body’s ability to produce and absorb HGH. To help your body produce the right amount of growth hormone, be sure to eat plenty of non glycemic foods. This will help keep your blood sugars stable throughout the day, and allow your body to utilize the HGH it is producing.

Step # 3: Sleep a Solid Eight Hours

Of course, we all know that quality sleep is important to good health, but did you know that HGH is mostly secreted and absorbed at night? When you reach a deep sleep your cells can absorb the hormone more easily, offering its full effect.

People think that they can stay up late into the night working (or playing) and it won’t affect their health and well-being. This may have seemed the case when we were younger, but as we age, our body needs this time to rejuvenate itself more than ever before.

Sleep is especially important when it comes to maintaining proper HCG levels. Men get one HCG boost every day; and that comes about two hours into your sleep cycle. The rest of the night is spent absorbing those hormones. Skimp on sleep and you could be starving your body of HCG! Most experts agree that eight hours of quality sleep is essential for optimal health, so be sure to clock in at least 8 hours.

Beating middle age health problems and gut expansion can be done, especially if you work hard to increase your HCG levels naturally. Follow these simple tips and watch as your energy levels rise and your waistline decreases. You will feel stronger, healthier and more vibrant.

When you were younger sleep seemed unimportant. Then you had kids and you longed for just a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Now, as you enter middle age, you may revert back to that feeling that there is too much to do to worry about getting eight solid hours of shut eye every night. Don’t fall for this fallacy! Sleep is vital to good health and a good outlook on life. Without enough quality sleep your body will begin to wear out and your mind will begin to wear down.

The human body uses sleep time to not only relax, but rejuvenate. It is during sleep that our cells can repair problems. They can’t do it while you are awake and running – they have other things to worry about then. Fail to get enough sleep and you will deprive your cells of this all-important rejuvenation time. You are going to feel older, more tired and more stressed.

Even if you think missing an hour or two of sleep won’t hurt you, consider that those hours must be made up. If they’re not, your body won’t have the chance to take care of itself.

Want to make the most of your sleep time? Here are a few tips on getting a better night’s sleep:

1. Adopt an evening relaxation plan. Prepare your body for sleep by doing something relaxing.
2. Go to bed at the same time every night (and get up at the same time every morning. Don’t stay up late or sleep-in on weekends. That’ll just disrupt your sleep pattern.
3. Avoid Caffeine – especially from mid-afternoon onwards.
4. Avoid alcohol in the evenings.
5. Stay away from stimulating activities at least 2-3 hours before bed (for some people this even means watching TV).
6. Exercise regularly.
7. Change your attitude about sleep.
8. Avoid hard or bouncy pillows that may strain the neck.
9. Back sleepers should place a pillow under their knees.
10. Sleep on a firm, but not a hard mattress.
11. Use lumbar support (a rolled up towel will do).
12. Make sure that your bedroom has a good sleeping temperature.
13. Do some deep breathing or other relaxation exercise during the first few minutes of lying in bed.
14. Consider including in a short afternoon nap – this can help you from getting overtired until nighttime.

It’s time that you took sleep seriously!

If there is one thing the middle aged men and women seek, it’s happiness. Tired of simply getting through the day, they want to rediscover the joy that life has to offer. The trouble is, so many of them don’t know how to find happiness.

If you are stuck in a middle age rut and need a jolt toward a happier day – and life – try some of these simple tips:

• Laugh More. Stop growling. See the humor in yourself (and in your life) and make an effort to smile and laugh more.

• Adopt a better attitude. Yes, life is sometimes going to throw you some lemons, so give them a squeeze and make some lemonade. Stop letting disappointments turn into tragedies. Adopt a better attitude. You may be surprised at how much better you feel when you make a conscious effort to turn a bad day into a good one.

• Stop trying to be perfect. No one is and no one can be. Accept your limitations and accept the fact that sometimes you simply cannot do something. When that becomes apparent, shrug your shoulders and delegate that job to someone who can better manage it.

• Find something to be grateful for every day. It doesn’t have to be a big thing (maybe just the fact that you didn’t oversleep this morning and miss your early meeting). By looking around to find things to be thankful for each day, you are going to force yourself to take a closer look at all of the small wonders you normally pass by without noticing.

• Accept yourself for who you are – flaws and all. Stop trying to be everything to everybody. Yes, it is important to be a good employee; a loving spouse; a thoughtful dad, but that doesn’t mean you have to fix every problem or make everyone’s life perfect. Be kind … be gentle … be compassionate … and be helpful. But don’t take on everyone else’s problems and become the master fixer.

• Find the fun in life. Too often we find ourselves stuck trying to just get the job done and have forgotten that life is actually supposed to be fun. Yes, that’s right, life is fun! Forget raking those leaves. Forget getting a head start on that report for work. And forget cleaning the garage. Take the afternoon and do something fun, either alone or with someone you care about. Go fishing; go biking; or simply spend the day playing cards with friends. Today is the day to laugh, love and enjoy!

Life isn’t supposed to be all drudgery. Sure, there are going to be meetings you dread; responsibilities to handle; and chores to get done; But if you want to be happy, you are going to have to let go of some of that and find activities to enjoy; moments to cherish; and people to share it all with. Now, clear that calendar and start enjoying your life again!

You want to live a long life. Who doesn’t? Whether you believe in heaven and hell, a glorious afterlife, or that death is simply the end; you want to make your best of the time you have on this earth and the time you have as… you! There will never be another you and many have made it their goal to become a Centenarian and live to (or even past) 100; soaking up as much time on this beautiful planet as they possibly can. The question is, how can you accomplish that? How can you, a normal person, have the best chance to live 100 years old ? Here are 5 ways that you can improve your health and your life to help you have a better chance of living to 100!

1. Learn To Channel Stress

Stress is a big problem in life for everyone and you start to be impacted by it at a very young age. For many people, stress is simply a fact of life and an everyday annoyance, but too much stress could possibly have a negative effect on your physical and mental health. Stress can cause anxiety or depression, can cause you to over eat or under eat, and can even make you perform tasks at a lower efficiency than you are truly capable of. None of this is good, and there are many other negative effects that stress can create in your life. You can eliminate stress by taking up relaxing and enjoyable activities like gardening, yoga, or music.

2. Eat Omega-3

Consuming the proper amount of Omega-3 can have really amazing health benefits. This is the chemical that helps improve brain function, reduces your risk of cancer, and even helps to protect against diseases like arthritis. There are possibly even more health benefits that have not yet been discovered. So, eat some fish or a handful of nuts! It can only make you smarter and healthier!

3. Maintain A Youthful Self Image

Try and see yourself as young, vibrant, and active. Yes, you can admit that you are aging or that there are things you may not be able to do anymore. However, do not think you shouldn’t go on your evening walk anymore or that you need to become a recluse who sits in their home all day watching TV. There are a lot of ways that you can continue to be a part of your community, even as you get older. The more active you stay and the more youthful you think you are, the better chance you have of increasing your ability to live longer.

4. Get Enough Sleep

Sleep is a big deal when it comes to staying healthy and many do not get the amount of sleep that they really should. Not getting enough sleep will lead to a decrease in energy and can even lead to pretty serious health problems.

5. Set Goals and Try To Achieve Them

Setting challenging yet realistic goals will help give you a sense of meaning and something to do even when it looks like you are not useful anymore. This is especially important as you begin to get older. Without goals, as you get older you will begin to become less active and end up simply waiting for death. Of course, this is not good and is not helpful when it comes to trying to live a long life. By setting goals you continue to challenge yourself, your mind, and your physical limits. Goals at any age give purpose and a meaning to life.

These 5 tips will help you lead a long, healthy, and happy life. If you want to live to 100, these 5 tips combined with proper exercise and diet can help you live to your goal but possibly past it.

Everyone knows that music is a form of human expression and that there are some people who claim that the art has saved their life. There are many who claim that without the bands they love, the songs they compose, or the friends that they made through the arts; that they would not be the same person that they are today. Did you also know that music has other benefits as well? Did you know that it can help you live the long life that you have been dreaming of? Make sure that music is constant in your life and who knows—maybe you will live to even be 100?

Music Reduces Stress

One of the biggest killers in the world is stress, which can cause multiple physical and mental health problems. Music has been known to be one of the biggest stress relievers that can be used because there are so many different facets. Playing an instrument, writing your own songs, or simply listening to music online can help to reduce your stress levels. Music allows you to release emotions that you otherwise might not be able to. Play happy music in the background while you work on a stressful project. And play soft music while you prepare to eat a romantic dinner with your sweetheart. There are so many ways to incorporate different forms of music into your life for stress relief and you should try and use as many as possible.

Music Expands the Mind

If you want to live a long life then you need to understand the importance of continuing to learn. The more you learn the more of a purpose you have to remain on the earth and continue your quest for knowledge. Stay thirsty for new ideas, technologies, and always look to expand your intellectual horizons. Even when you reach your 80’s and 90’s look around and learn from everything, including those younger than you. A great way to expand your mind is to use music. Every generation has their own style of music that influenced them and themes that were prevalent during important major periods of their lives. Music themes can include love, equal opportunity, peace, or the fight against racism. Many artists have heavy hitting themes in their music when you listen carefully. Music can also expand your artistic horizons. Maybe you are not the biggest fan of rap, but listening to it and researching it will open you up to an entirely new culture. Music is one of the ways that you can keep learning no matter how old we are.

Music Improves Sleep Quality

As stress and anxiety are two of the leading causes of sleeplessness, listening to something calming can actually make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. .

Music Can Boost Your Immune System

One thing that often harms you as you grow older is sickness. Listening to music everyday can help reduce the hormone cortisol which is actually responsible for many serous health conditions.

Music is a big part of many people’s lives, however, many do not know the benefits they are getting by simply putting on their headphones. So improve your chances of living a healthy happy life by listening to a few of your favorite songs every day!

Every so often we all find ourselves with a “glass half empty” mentality. However, for a lot of people, this mentality goes beyond one or two days and encompasses their entire life. You may even be one of these people; those who wonder if there is any positivity left in the world and if you are crazy for seeing so much anger, cruelty, violence, and negativity in your life. Yes, there is plenty of negativity in the world, but there is also a lot of good. When you see the news story about the shooting downtown, remember that a block over someone was falling in love, getting back on their feet, acing a test, or getting the job of their dreams. For every negative thing in life, there is something positive to counter act it. We can’t entirely insulate ourselves from negativity, but we can certainly spend more time focusing on the positive! Here are a few of the benefits of being an optimist and focusing on the positive.

1. It Improves You Social Life

No one wants to be around a habitually negative person, always telling you how life is boring and difficult and how violent the whole world is becoming. Everyone would much rather be around someone that, in spite of the bad, can smile and say “yes this situation is not great, but did I tell you about the awesome thing I saw happen yesterday?” Being optimistic will make you more approachable and more likeable, giving you more friends to interact with.

2. It Reduces Anger and Frustration

Always seeing the world in a negative light can make you angry and frustrated. If you always think your spouse is doing something wrong, or your kids are worse than the neighbors, or that work just is not going the way it should; you are going to grow increasing frustrated. This type of ongoing frustration eventually leads to hurt feelings and anger in many of your relationships. Optimism helps you to look past the little faults and focus on the good, such as how lucky you are to have a loving and supportive partner in your life, how happy your children are, and how fortunate you are for having a well-paying job. Positive thinking will turn your frown upside down and promote happiness instead of frustration.

3. It Helps You To Welcome Change

Being optimistic is a great way to help welcome either wanted or unwanted change in your life. By looking at the positive, you will reduce the anxiety and stress that comes with big changes or decisions. If you simply look at all the negatives about each decision you will ultimately become paralyzed and not be able make an informed decision. Instead, try to focus on two positives for every negative that you see. This way, you can make informed decisions but not become paralyzed by the negative thoughts that surround those decisions.

4. It Sets Your Mood

If you start your day with positive thoughts you are more than likely to be happy and cooperative throughout the day. Think about it, if you wake up feeling mad or upset, your mood will most likely be gloomy throughout the rest of the day. Why could this not work in the reverse? Try your best to wake up and look at the positive, starting your day on an optimistic note!

5. Makes You More Likely To Be A Centenarian

Although scientists do not know why optimists live longer, they have done analysis of several different groups of people and the results are always the same. It seems as though those who are positive, and who live their lives as optimists, have a better chance at reaching the 100 year mark.

6. Gets You More Job Offers and Promotions

Just like how your friends can feel and see your optimism, so can your boss, or your possible future employer. So, maybe it is not just about how much experience you have or how polished your resume is, but also about your attitude and your outlook when going into an interview. Optimism and positivity also help your productivity in your current job, which can get you noticed for promotions and other accolades. Research has also shown that those who are more optimistic are more content with their jobs and are happier even working jobs that are well below their skill level or expertise.

7. Makes You Better at “Bouncing Back”

Dr. Martin Seligman in the Positive Psychology Center of University of Pennsylvania has done research about the “bounce back” ability of those who are optimistic versus those who tend to be more negative. The research showed that those given negative reinforcement in tasks are more likely to perform more poorly than those who are given positive feedback. This means that those who are given positive feedback, can then think more positively about themselves even in the midst of failure, and have a better chance of bouncing back more quickly than those who are pessimistic.

So, if you are not an optimist are you doomed? Are you going to forever live in faulty relationships with dead end jobs and the inability to make your life better? Of course not! Optimism and positive thinking can be learned so make the personal commitment to focusing more of your thoughts on the brighter sides of life!

Everyone wants to live a long life right? You want to boost your chances of not only seeing your grandchildren but your great-grandchildren. You want to see how the world advances and what technological feats the human race achieve. Believe it or not, living a long life it not just wishful thinking anymore, it is actually possible. There are many people who live to be 100 or even older throughout the world and the number of these centenarians grows ever year. So, how can you join the ranks? How can you live to be 100 or more and still be happy, healthy, and enjoying life? Here are 9 activities that promote mental and physical health and well-being that have been linked to living longer and helping centenarians throughout the world.

1. Having Knowledge of Health

One thing people are famous for is ignoring the warning signs of their body. Many people would rather take their chances than go to the doctor and have the chance of being told bad news. Others simply do not want to change their lifestyle. This is not helpful to wanting to live a long life, in fact it is exactly the opposite. Not having a good grasp on your health and altering your lifestyle to help yourself is how people die young or end up in pain as they get older. Know your body and take the warnings signs seriously. The quicker you know something is wrong, the easier it is to fix it and move on. This is true of many things in life, but especially for the body, which can degrade rapidly if not taken care of properly.

2. Becoming Spiritual

When you hear the word spiritual you probably get a lump in your throat and the urge to throw yourself out the nearest window. Maybe you already believe in a higher power or maybe you are a strong willed atheist, or maybe you simply do not care either way. What people fail to realize is that spiritual and religious are not the same thing; it is religion that many are scared of, not the spiritual experience. Yes, you can be religious and spiritual at the same time, but you can be spiritual without necessarily believing in a higher power, like God. Believing in anything more than just yourself is a key to being spiritual. Many people hold reverence for life or believe in the powers of nature. These beliefs have been linked to clarity of mind and longer lives.

3. Maintaining a Healthy Diet

Of course, taking care of your body is going to be one way that you live longer. The better the foods you eat, the more likely your body is getting the nutrients it needs without all the chemicals is does not. Those who eat double the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables live longest, according to several health studies.

4. Having A Positive Outlook on Life

It is true that pessimistic people do not live as long as those who are optimistic about life. Those who maintain positive thoughts even in dark times are more likely to look ahead and not be focusing on what makes them upset. They are more likely to want to live longer and get to that next great part of life. Joy, laughter, and happiness are all part of living a positive life.

5. Be A Social Butterfly

It is no secret that most women live longer than men, but why is that? Researchers suggest that women are more emotionally invested in the thoughts and emotions of their friends. They often are a part of large groups that share anything and everything with each other, but men are every different. Men often have a very close knit group of friends as they get older, and men are not nearly as emotionally invested in each other as women are. Having close friendships can actually give you a reason to live, helping you to extend your life.

6. Connect With Nature

Nature is all around you and can be a great source of happiness and respect for life. By helping to keep the planet healthy, you can also help keep yourself healthy! Work to protect mother earth, reduce your carbon footprint, and keep fresh water lakes and streams available. What you do right now will have an effect on your life as well as the lives of your posterity.

7. Find A Creative Hobby

Creativity is a big part of having a purpose in life and keeping your brain stimulated. Sports, music, writing, and art are all some of the creative hobbies that you can do at any age to help promote your mental health and stability. Having a hobby you enjoy also keeps you from getting bored and falling into a monotonous routine. Keep your brain alive and your creative juices flowing! There is so much you can do, even when you reach old age.

8. Be Active

You can’t just eat right and stimulate your brain, you need to keep your body healthy. Stay physically active and challenge yourself in new ways as you get older. Take care of your machine and your machine will take care of you!

9. Spend Time With Those Who Are Young

A big part of living a long life is not getting behind in the times. Spend time with those who are young, but not simply to patronize them or give them wisdom. You can learn things form them, too! Connect with them through similar interests and learn from them about new technologies and things that are popular. Not only will you end up being the “cool grandparent,” but you will also keep yourself feeling young.

Your imagination forms when you are a young child and is active through your lifetime. Your imagination is how you space out and imagine different scenarios. Your imagination contributes to your dreams, and helps you create stories within your mind. Did you know that this amazing tool that you are given at birth is actually a key to helping you live a long and full life? It is true! And here are four reasons how:

1. Stimulates Your Brain

What is imagination? No it is not just what gets little kids to believe in imaginary friends or causes a teenage girl to doze off in class thinking about her favorite band member. Imagination is much greater than that and spans through your entire life. It is the act of manipulating facts and images that you already know, to then help create unique and sometimes unusual stories.! Why we have an imagination is not quite known yet, but researchers work every day to try and figure it out. What is important to remember is that using your imagination is like a workout for your brain, and the more you use it, the happier and healthier that part of your brain will be. Daydream to stimulate your brain and build power!

2. Makes You Happier

How often you use your imagination and what you imagine can actually effect your perception of life. Researchers at the Karolinska Institute who focus of finding out more about the biology of the human body, took their research to another level when they looked into the imagination. Their findings showed that subjects who used their imagination frequently and created ideal scenarios in their minds actually imposed those scenarios into their real lives. They used what happened in their imagination to alter what happened in their life. If they could not actually alter situations in their life, they used the “good feelings” from those images to promote happiness in their lives. Like many facts surrounding imagination and functions of the brain, it is unknown why this is true, but time and time again research shows it to be true.

3. Can help Enhance Your Memory

As you get older, your memory begins to fade and that can take a toll on your mental health. When your mental health begins to degrade, so does you physical health; which leads to medical complications and a possible early death. The more you work your memory, the better chance you have of maintaining your mental health. So use it if you don’t want to lose it!

4. Promotes Self-Discovery

Self-discovery is prominent through each phase of life. Each phase of your life is often accompanied by wonderings about who you are or what you should be doing at that point in your life. This is completely normal. However, getting lost in these questions is a problem and can lead to a lot of emotional and mental damage; which is not helpful to those wanting to live a long and full life. Imagining and daydreaming allows you to think about what your life could be depending on the path that you take. Everyone needs to go through the journey of self-discovery as those who do seem to live healthier lives that are full of happiness and content feelings.

Reading is a hobby for some and a chore for others. Some do it because they enjoy it, while others do it because they have to. However, as you get older it is important to not give up reading. Even if it is not entirely enjoyable, you should strive to try and read as much as possible. Reading can stimulate you mind, gives you new knowledge, transports you to other worlds, and gives you something to do on those days that are just boring. So, why exactly does reading matter for your life?

Here are a 7 reasons that you may want to consider making your reading list just a tad bit longer.

1. It Expands Your Horizons

With so many different genres to choose from, you can expand your horizons significantly just by picking up a new genre of book every week. Crime dramas, mysteries, autobiographies, and science fiction are all completely different from each other, and the stories that you can read in these genres are basically unlimited. By expanding your reading, you can view a whole new world.

2. Turns You into a Critical Thinker

Reading requires you to read and then think about what is being presented to you. This is especially true of mystery novels that require you to think and reflect on clues to hopefully figure out the mystery. Other genres also require you to think about what you are reading and pick it apart to really get at the details and the meaning of the writing.

3. It Fills Your Mind

Books, magazines, articles, blogs, and many other sources of reading allow you to extend you knowledge base and learn about many different areas of study. From reading you can visit countries you have never been, explore the inside of plants and their biological functions, and even solve crimes alongside of professional FBI agents. There is unlimited information available through reading, and by aiming to read every day or every week you can greatly expand your personal knowledge.

4. It Is Interactive

Reading is not just about sitting on your couch and reading words on a page. It is about using your mind to piece together facts and clues to comprehend what you are reading. By comprehending what you are reading, you can let your imagination take over and transport you into worlds that only exist in the imagination! Reading requires you to be an active participant while using your imagination, thus making it interactive and stimulating for your brain!

5. It Reduces Stress

Reading is a leisurely activity that engages your mind completely. Many people cannot focus on anything but the book that they are reading once they get into it. This is why the activity is so beneficial as a stress relief. Reading allows you to forget about a lot of the stressors in your life, at least for a little while. That is why many people say they are extremely relaxed after reading a good book and can get on with their day without feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders.

6. Increases Vocabulary

Although this is mostly true of younger children, even those who are middle aged or older can increase their vocabulary with frequent reading. Why? When you read and find a word you do not know, you cannot simply skip over it. Your mind will unconsciously take context clues from the text to give you the meaning of the word. That is why those who read a lot will often have a rich vocabulary.

7. Improved Writing Skills

Reading and writing go hand in hand, and researchers have been able to prove that the more you read, the better your writing skills. Not only can those who read frequently write more professionally than those who do not, but they also have better spelling and grammar.

Even if you do not like reading, you have to admit that the benefits of it are fantastic! If you anticipate living a long, healthy, and happy life then reading will be your best friend. It is a great leisurely activity that helps to stimulate your mind and to absorb knowledge that you would not have had before. Reading at night or in the morning is most popular and can even help with the stress relief affects. If you already enjoying reading, then congratulations…read on, and improve the quality of your life!

At some point in your life you probably heard the phrase “laughter is the best medicine.” Often this was told to you at times when you were hurting either emotionally or physically. Odds are, you have just ignored this advice through most of your life, simply believing it was something they told you to make you feel better. But, what if there really was some truth to that saying all along? What if laughter really IS the best medicine?

Laughing Statistics

According to research, laughing 100 times a day is the equivalent to 15 minutes of bike exercise because it uses muscles that we tend not to use such as the diaphragm, parts of the throat, and certain stomach muscles. Laughter is a great stress reliever and has been proven to help lift your mood when you are feeling blue. Laughing also helps promote blood flow, and prolonged deep laughter can clear old air from your lungs. Laughter also strengthens social bonds because it is a universal language understood by everyone. So, why does laughter do this? What is the secret between laughter’s seemingly magic powers?

Why Is Laughter So Healthy?

Professor Robert Provine who teaches at the University of Maryland says that no definitive research has been done about laughing. What does this mean? It means that everyone knows laughter is good for you, but they don’t know why. Yes, it reduces stress and helps your blood flow, but why? No one has really looked into this, yet. What is known is that when you laugh your muscles contract, your blood pressure and pulse shoot up, and you breathe heavily which increases oxygen flow. Laughter also burns 50 calories if you laugh continuously for 15 minutes. So, it may not be known why laughter is beneficial, but we know that it is.

How to Increase Laughter In Your Life

With laughter having so many beneficial properties, your goal should be to laugh, not only because it’s fun but also because it is healthy. So, how can you increase the amount of laughter in your life and bring on those amazing benefits?

1. Decide That You Want To Laugh: Many people do not laugh because they don’t want to. Be comfortable laughing at yourself and your own mistakes, laugh with your partner, laugh with your kids. Just find excuses to laugh, and let yourself find the humor ,no matter how frustrated you may be with a situation.

2. Be with Kids: Children are a big source of laughter, they just do so many funny things! Children are also known to laugh for no reason; laugh along with them. Immersing yourself in a child’s life for a few hours can help you laugh and bring you joy. This is the perfect reason to offer to spend time with your niece or nephew for a day or look after the neighbor’s 3 year old on a Saturday.

3. Tell A Bad Joke: Nothing makes you and other people laugh more than a bad joke. Something that’s played out or is just a stupid pun should do the trick.

4. Gravitate Towards Laughter: If you are at a party, dinner, or other social gathering and you see a group having fun and laughing, try and join them. Sit or stand with them and let them absorb you into their conversation. You will have a lot more fun than you would be yourself and it will also help put some laughter in to your life!