Happiness is within reach; it just boils down to how willing we are to make any necessary changes in our lives to be truly happy.

Although there can be many steps involved in the process of pursuing and achieving happiness, these three will help you start feeling happier today

Step One: Embrace Forgiveness

As long as you’re alive, people will rub you the wrong way. Some people will hurt you intentionally, others unintentionally, but either way, you will get hurt – it’s just a part of life.

It’s human to hold grudges and treat people exactly how they treat us. If they treat us nicely, we treat them nicely; hurt us, we hurt them. That’s how the world seems to work most of the time, unfortunately. But a wise teacher once said, “Treat others how you would like to be treated.”

Bitterness and grudges make the world a very unforgiving place. But who says that’s how we have to live?

Forgiveness increases health and happiness. Psychologists and physicians all around the world preach the wellness and longevity benefits of forgiveness.

Forgiving yourself and others is essential to health and happiness. In fact, you will never be truly happy or fully healthy until you forgive.

Embrace forgiveness.

Forgive people even when they don’t “deserve” it because even if they don’t, you do. Even if they won’t benefit from it, you will.

In addition to being forgiving, try to be less judgmental and critical; you’ll be happier with yourself and others. Have fewer rules and expectations. Offering grace and patience to others makes it easier for you to forgive yourself, letting go of any shame or guilt that’s been haunting you all these years.

Step 2: Take Better Care of Your Health

Health and happiness go hand in hand. It’s so hard to be cheerful and happy when you’re in pain or fatigued.

You can increase happiness simply by drinking more water, increasing physical activity, eating healthier foods, and getting enough rest because these habits boost health.

Being healthy means you have the energy and vitality to live the kind of lifestyle that allows you to do the things that make you happy. Less pain and hurt equals more happiness and joy.

Here’s something else to think about. Being healthier means having more money in your bank account because you’ll be spending a LOT less of your hard-earned cash on medical bills.

Step 3: Spend Time with Other Happy People

Happiness is contagious. The quickest way to be happier is to spend time with happy people.

It’s hard NOT to be happy and optimistic when surrounded by laughter and positivity.

Researchers have found that happiness spreads through three degrees of separation. This means that the happiness of your friend, your friend’s friend, and your friend’s friend’s friend affects your quality and quantity of happiness. So, who are your friends? (and, is it time to consider making some new friends?)

Happiness is attainable; in fact, happiness is already here. We can all be happier starting today by embracing forgiveness, taking better care of health, and surrounding ourselves with happy people.

The post 3 Steps To Jump Start Happiness appeared first on Lifestyle.

Body Pump is a workout that combines aerobics and strength training with lots of repetition. It involves lifting, thrusting, and squatting with light to moderate weights. It’s highly demanding, but if you’re willing to put in the work, you can burn more than 500 calories per session.

Body Pump Class

While you can definitely do a body pump workout on your own, its creator, Les Mills, intended it to be a group exercise. The goal was to get more men involved in studio classes, which are more popular with women.

A typical body pump class is 30, 45, or 60 minutes long. It is broken down into eight sections, and each section focuses on a different muscle group.

After a quick warm-up session, the instructor guides the class through a series of squats, bench presses, deadlifts, lunges, shoulder & abdominal exercises, and, finally, a cool-down session.

You can select the size of the step and weights you wish to use during the workout. This allows you to start small until you’re ready to level up. The classes are set to music to motivate and help you keep time.

Benefits

Body Pump is a total body workout that improves muscle tone and builds muscular endurance. You can burn between 200 and 600 calories in one workout, depending on your fitness level. Therefore, if you are eating between 1600 and 2400 calories a day, you can easily burn a quarter or a third of that and lose weight without reducing your daily caloric intake.

Body Pump workouts boost your metabolism and overall health. Two body pump sessions a week can help to prevent cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, and diabetes

This workout is also great for increasing muscle flexibility and range of motion through resistance training. This can relieve back, neck, and shoulder pain, which is often the result of tight muscles.

Last but not least, this workout makes your legs stronger and leaner, gives you a tight core, defined biceps and triceps that are not bulky, and makes your waistline smaller, in proportion to the rest of your body.

Get Started

The easiest way to get started is to join a BodyPump class. Being around people with similar fitness goals keeps you motivated, making it less likely you will skip workouts. The class also teaches you how to lift weights and work out safely.

Once you’ve gotten the hang of it, you can purchase the music track, a mat, dumbbells & a barbell and do the Body Pump workouts at home.

Lastly, always consult a physician before starting any new exercise regimen – especially one that involves lifting weights.

The post Body Pump – The Closest Thing to a Magic Workout! appeared first on Lifestyle.

However, stress isn’t always a bad thing. Positive stress kicks your body into high gear by flooding your body with hormones, elevating your heart rate, and boosting your energy as a way of preparing you to deal with the problem.

Good stress only turns into bad stress when you face continuous challenges without relief, thereby becoming chronic stress.

When stress-related tension builds up in your body, it leads to physical health problems such as headaches, stomach upsets, high blood pressure, and asthma, as well as mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

Reducing your stress levels is an important part of being healthy. But it isn’t always easy to do, especially when each day brings a new set of challenges and stress!

Social Relationships

Strong social relationships are a stress buffer. They act as a protective layer and create psychological distance between you and the source of your stress.

Emotional support fills you with a strong sense of self-acceptance, which makes it easier for you to deal with challenges. Friends and family may also offer material and informational support in the form of new ideas and advice. Both kinds of support are invaluable when you’re having a tough time.

Spirituality and Faith

Psychologists agree that spirituality and faith make coping with stress much easier. This is mainly because believers have a Higher Power to lean on and view stress as short-term and external.

Studies have also shown that spiritual practices such as prayer activate the relaxation center of the brain. This gives you a sense of control, which sustains you through stressful events.

Motivation

Stress and discouragement chip away at your motivation and leave you feeling defenseless against life’s challenges. This makes even the smallest problems seem insurmountable.

One way to stay motivated and be less stressed in the face of huge challenges is to break them down into smaller, incremental goals. This can help reignite your excitement about the project.

Limits

It’s not easy to admit to yourself that you have limits. It’s even harder to “say no” to commitments or ask for help. However, all these things are an important part of keeping stress at a manageable level.

If you have trouble knowing your limits, start using a daily planner or calendar. With time, it will get easier to recognize when you need to say “no” to new requests or ask for help.

Stress can snowball easily, and before you know it, you’re constantly on edge and can’t complete tasks efficiently. However, with strong social relationships, spirituality and faith, and reasonable goals and limits, you can take back control of your life.

The post Feeling Stressed? Take Back Control of Your Life appeared first on Lifestyle.

Nowadays, it’s a marketing term used to assign near magical powers to overpriced foods. There is no shortage of food companies that claim to have discovered foods that contain extra-ordinary nutrients. This makes it really difficult to separate the facts from the marketing gimmicks.

The Science

While there’s no scientific definition for the term “superfoods”, it’s generally accepted that most of these foods contain high levels of antioxidant compounds, such as carotenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. These compounds fight the (evil) free radicals that destroy our cells and make us old and ill.

There have been numerous scientific studies on antioxidants and their health benefits. Most of these studies have found that while eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits that contain high antioxidant compounds lowers the risk of several diseases, it isn’t clear if this is as a result of the antioxidants. Furthermore, scientist have not found any evidence that antioxidant supplements help to prevent chronic diseases such as cancer.

There are also questions about the safety of high-dose antioxidant supplements. For instance, high doses of beta-carotene can increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. Similarly, high doses of vitamin E can increase the risk of prostate cancer and stroke. However, this only applies to antioxidants supplements since no questions have been raised about the safety of antioxidant foods.

To Eat or Not To Eat Superfoods

Superfoods may not be as magical as marketers have led you to believe, but eating a diet full of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables is extremely beneficial to your health. It doesn’t matter if these health benefits are the result of other substances present in the same foods.

Antioxidant supplements, on the other hand, are another issue altogether. Since there is little evidence of their effectiveness, they should never be used to replace conventional medicines or a healthy diet that consists of whole foods.

It’s also important to note that antioxidant supplements can interact with certain medications. For instance, vitamin E supplements can interact with blood thinners and increase the risk of bleeding. You should always talk to your healthcare provider before taking any antioxidant supplements.

The bottom line is that if you’re eating a diet that is rich in vegetables and fruits, you don’t have to worry about whether or not you’re getting enough antioxidants. There’s absolutely no reason to go out and spend your entire food budget on costly superfoods like acai or goji berries. Good old broccoli, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, iceberg lettuce, parsley, red peppers, berries and nuts (you see where we’re going with this…) are just as beneficial.

The post Are Superfoods Real? appeared first on Lifestyle.

The FDA, however, has a different opinion. Scientists have yet to find evidence that antibacterial soaps are any better than regular soaps. Some studies have actually shown that antimicrobial ingredients can have negative health effects.

This is why the FDA recently banned 19 chemicals that are used in these soaps. The ban includes triclosan, the most common antiseptic in hand soaps.

(By the way, according to the Mayo Clinic, triclosan is also found in certain older cookware, furniture, and toys to prevent or reduce bacterial contamination. Research has shown that it can be hazardous to human health and harmful to the immune system. It’s even been shown to affect hormone regulation in animals.)

Antibacterial Soaps Have to Adjust to New Regulations

Manufacturers have no choice but to remove the banned chemicals from their soaps. And while there are three chemicals that haven’t been banned – mainly because they are still under study – manufacturers have a limited amount of time to submit data on the safety and effectiveness of these ingredients to the FDA.

However, there’s absolutely no reason to worry. Regular soap and water are all you need to avoid spreading germs and getting sick.

Soap doesn’t have to kill germs to be effective; it just has to physically remove them from your skin!

As you go about your day, bacteria and viruses stick to the oil on your hands. Soap works by chemically breaking down the oil and “freeing” the microbes so that they can be rinsed away easily.

The more soap you use and the longer you scrub your hands, the cleaner your hands will be. This is why the CDC recommends scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds at a time before rinsing them.

Why Regular Soap is Healthier

Using regular soap is actually better for your health.

Antimicrobial soaps contain chemicals that cause mutation of bacteria and contribute to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These ingredients have also been known to cause allergies and disrupt hormonal processes.

Triclosan, for instance, has been detected in the urine, blood, and breast milk of people who use antibacterial soap. Studies have also shown that it can disrupt hormonal processes and impair muscle function by hindering muscle contractions at a cellular level. That’s a high price to pay for something that doesn’t even work!

What are the Alternatives?

You only need regular soap and water to stay clean and germ-free. However, since the effectiveness of hand-washing depends on how long you scrub, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer can come in handy when you’re “out in the wild.”

Hand sanitizers that don’t contain any of the banned ingredients will still be available in the stores. They’re also safer, healthier, and just as effective as antibacterial washes.

The post Regular Soap is Healthier and Safer than Antibacterial Soap? appeared first on Lifestyle.

And if you’re married, your partner can make or break your healthy lifestyle! He or she can inspire you, offer encouragement, and provide accountability, OR discourage you and make your goals seem unachievable.

Here are some tips on how to get your family and friends to support your new lifestyle.

Find Your Biggest Fans

Healthy eating and fitness can be deeply personal; not everyone needs to know about it. All you really need are a few close supporters with whom you can share your progress.

Think back to the last time you made a change in your life. Who supported or motivated you?

Alternatively, is there someone in your life who is living a healthy lifestyle? Does he or she inspire you?

Share Your Reasons

As you change your lifestyle, don’t be surprised if you get some questions or criticism from friends and family members. If that happens, don’t be defensive or launch into a lecture on why healthy eating and exercise are good for you.

Have an honest conversation with them and explain why you’re adopting a healthier lifestyle. Saying something like “It makes me feel better, I have more energy or I sleep better” is more sincere (and convincing) than regurgitating scientific facts.

Share Your Struggles

Changing your lifestyle might trigger feelings of inadequacy and shame in the people around you. They could start feeling that you think that you’re better than they are – which isn’t true. The trick is not to allow emotionally charged situations with your loved ones to either shame or guilt you into quitting on yourself.

Just be honest and let them know that this is important to you. Share honestly about how hard it is to make the changes you’re making. This might make them feel less intimidated or jealous. Who knows, it might inspire them to make some lifestyle changes of their own.

Be the influencer, not the influenced.

Ask for Support

Let your significant other and the rest of the “chosen ones” know that you would appreciate their support. Be specific about what you need.

For instance:

• Ask them to be open-minded about your new eating, exercise, and sleeping habits.
• Ask them to accommodate your food choices by buying food or going to restaurants that are compatible with your new eating habits.
• Ask them to share a meal with you every once in a while.
• Ask them not to pressure you to “have just a taste” if you decline their offer.

Plan Ahead

Always plan ahead to avoid putting your friends and family in awkward situations. If you’re attending a social event, bring something that you can eat. If you’re going to a restaurant that isn’t exactly in line with your health needs, suggest a different restaurant or plan how you will modify the meal to fit your needs. Be positive and cooperative, and everything should be just fine.

Not everyone will agree with your healthy lifestyle or support you…but that’s completely okay. All you really need are a couple of genuine “fans” and a little practice on how to confidently explain to your friends and family why you choose to eat and live healthy.

The post Get Your Family and Friends to Support Your Healthy Lifestyle appeared first on Lifestyle.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a healthy lifestyle just because you don’t have a big budget. It just means that you have to be a little more creative with your food purchases and workouts.

1. Healthy Eating on a Budget

Healthy food doesn’t have to be expensive. There are ways to keep costs down without compromising your health.

Home-cooked meals

The easiest way to cut down on food costs is to make more meals at home. In fact, home-cooked meals generally score higher on the Healthy Eating Index than restaurant meals and takeout.

The trouble is many people don’t even bother to eat healthy because they assume it’s expensive. This isn’t true.

For instance, you can make about 10 servings of rice from a $2 bag of brown rice. That’s about 20 cents per serving; No restaurant can beat that price.

Some cheap and healthy ingredients that are available at just about any store are frozen vegetables, potatoes, canned beans, dried lentils whole wheat pasta, and, of course, brown rice.

Organically grown

If you prefer organic food, you’ll be happy to know that most “organically grown” fruits and vegetables are just as healthy as the “certified organic” ones.

Many farmers grow food without using pesticides and chemical fertilizers but haven’t been certified by the US government – mainly because certification is very expensive. Such food is labeled “organically grown” and is a perfectly healthy substitute for certified organic food.

Discounts and Coupons

Discounts and coupons are an easy way to save money on groceries.

There are tons of websites on the Internet that compile information on discounts and coupon codes. You can sign up for their newsletters and receive regular emails to help maximize your savings.

2. Working Out on a Budget

You don’t need a gym membership to workout.

Try to find a budget-conscious (cheap) boot camp that is held outside and requires little or no equipment. You can burn up to 600 calories an hour without having to spend a fortune.

Alternatively, find out if the community centers or parks in your area offer any inexpensive or free classes that you can sign up for. Even if there aren’t any classes there’ll probably be a free tennis court, swimming pool, or recreational space that you can use.

Another affordable (cheap) option is to simply take a walk or go for a run. There is no greater motivation to stay in shape than how you great you feel AFTER a training session outside in the fresh air.

However, if you would rather work out at home, consider buying used gym equipment from Marketplace.

A healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to cost a fortune. If you really want to be your healthiest you, don’t let cost stand in the way. Just get a little creative and think outside the box!

The post A Healthy Lifestyle Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune appeared first on Lifestyle.

You’re worth taking care of because your life and happiness matter, too.

People seem to really struggle with what it means to be selfish and selfless.

They think it’s selfish to take care of themselves. And somewhere along the way they’ve been led to believe that true selflessness means doing everything for everybody else at their own personal expense. So they never really do anything for themselves because it makes them feel guilty and, well, selfish!

Balance
I know. There’s a fine line between selfishness and selflessness that we must be careful not to cross unless we’re planning on joining Narcissists Anonymous. So let’s get clear about what we’re talking about here.

Sound Like Anyone You Know?

Person A
Let’s call her person A. She cares only about what she wants and organizes her life around the center of the universe which is – you guessed it – her.

She sees people and their requests as interruptions. She feels put off. And because it might interfere with her getting what she wants, she refuses to help. Her time is her time and she keeps it all to herself. She’s selfish. Narrow minded, too.

Person B
All day long, person B runs around with his hair on fire doing/getting everything that everybody else needs or wants.

He has very little freedom because he allows other people to control his daily agenda. They tell him where to go. They tell what to do. He’s doesn’t have a minute to himself to think because he’s busy.

Some people would describe his actions as admirable, maybe even sacrificial. They’d be quick to place him in the category of selflessness. Maybe. But I’m not so sure.

What I do know is that person A and B represent two extremes and what we need to do is meet somewhere in the middle. Balance.

Leading Yourself With Balance
Go ahead and take care of others. Meet their needs. Give. Serve. Live for something bigger than yourself. BUT while doing so, you MUST allocate some of your time and energy to taking care of yourself.

Sometimes you not only deserve a break but NEED a break. Learn to say no. Learn to be COMFORTABLE saying no.

If the needs and requests of others are unrealistic or have become just way too much, say no.

You’re not Atlas. The world WILL survive if you give your shoulders a rest every once in a while.

You matter. Your life matters. So build time into your day or week just for you. You require time to relax. You need a break from added stress and pressure.

Here’s the really cool part: Taking time for yourself affords you the energy and emotional strength to give MORE of yourself in the long run. Otherwise, you’ll burn out and start giving less and less and less until there isn’t anything more to give.

A person who has nothing left to give will often feel overwhelmed and depressed. It’s not unusual for them to become angry, bitter, resentful, and frustrated with the world. Why? Because they don’t know how to effectively walk the tightrope between selfishness and selflessness.

A Lifetime Of Selflessness
Authentic selflessness meets the needs of others AND also the needs of ourselves.

Maintaining this give-and-take balance makes our service to others sustainable because we’re also taking care of ourselves throughout the journey.

When we don’t care for ourselves, eventually we lose the ability to care altogether.

Which would you rather prefer, being selfless for a little while or for your entire life?

Authentic Selflessness 101
One of the first things you need to decide when choosing to be selfless for the long haul is your boundaries.

So what are your boundaries?

How much access to your life will you give?

What’s off-limits?

WHO is off limits?

At what point will you call “time out” for yourself to rest, recover, and recharge so you can continue serving?

Taking care of yourself and others is a dance that requires delicate balance.

Some people serve to the point of burning out because they think that if they take a break people won’t like them anymore.

The truth is people know what it’s like to be stressed, exhausted, and burned out. They will respect you even more for making your life a priority. And they will value you and your help even more too.

Create and implement your boundaries to keep selflessness vibrant and alive.

Strive to avoid extremes of selfishness and selflessness.

Be a person of strength for yourself and others.

The post Take Care of Yourself Much? appeared first on Lifestyle.

So many people wish for a new life but for whatever reason they don’t go after it.

You’ll often overhear them saying they want to change…they need to change…that they’ve had enough and can’t take it anymore! It’s common for them to go through this “new me” process on January 1st, but by January 2nd their resolve is already wavering. I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been there.

Change can be so hard, especially when it’s more of a wish than a commitment, or when you feel stuck and are just trying to survive another day in the trenches.

One of the most common reasons why people don’t experience lasting change is because they try to change too many things all at the same time!

Life is complex with a lot of moving parts. We’re complicated creatures with physical, mental, emotional, relational and spiritual dimensions.

But let’s make it really simple. How satisfied are you with your life? When you consider your physical health, relationships, career, finances, spirituality, emotions, or other aspects of your life, are you happy?

You’re probably happier with certain things than others.

What direction are your choices taking you?

If nothing changes, where will you end up – and is that where you want to be?

A GLIMPSE

Let’s just consider the physical dimension of our being and get a glimpse of where lifestyle choices are taking certain people. (These statistics change often and might have already changed by the time you read this post.)

In the United States:

• 2500 people die daily of heart disease. Average years of life lost? 14.2 per person.
• 1500 people will die today of cancer.
• 2 people are diagnosed every 10 seconds with type-2 diabetes.
• 24 million people in the U.S. have diabetes and over 57 million have pre-diabetes.
• Estimates suggest that 1 in 3 children born in 2000 will develop type-2 diabetes.
• 34% of Americans are obese. 33% are overweight. Obesity can shorten life by 10 years.

We Are What We Choose.

We make our choices and then our choices make us (talk about raining on our parade!).

Despite amazing advances in medical research and treatment, 80% of the chronic, non-communicable diseases from which people suffer are the results of their lifestyle choices.

But Here’s the Good News…

We have the power to turn things around by simply making better choices. We are in charge of the quality and destiny of our life.

New life, a better life is just one choice away.

THE WHOLE PICTURE

We must keep in mind that when we talk about health, we’re talking about the whole person – the mental, physical, and spiritual dimensions.

We long for abundant health in mind, body, and soul, not just body. Here on the website and television show, Lifestyle, we discuss total-person health because people can be disease-free but not well.

Abundant life is having the energy, vitality, and strength in your whole person to live life to the fullest!

Abundant health is having energy to burn.

It’s having a reason to get out of bed in the morning!

It’s having the physical, emotional, and spiritual resources to squeeze every ounce of juice possible out life!

There’s more to health than diet and exercise. There’s more to health than disease prevention. True wellness involves the whole person.

Take a quick inventory of your life. Where might be a good place to start with making change? What one new choice could you make today?

Maybe change begins by focusing on a key relationship, or by moving your body more, or by eating less of certain unhealthy foods; or maybe it starts with blocking off a day just for yourself to think, plan, dream, or feel alive!

I don’t know what it is for you or where you need to get started because that is something that only you know, but I’d like to leave you with these encouraging words from General Colin Powell: “None of us can change our yesterdays, but all of us can change our tomorrows.”

Tomorrow begins today…and all it takes is making a new and better choice in some area of your life where you want to be happier and more satisfied.

Legal Disclaimer: The information contained on this website, Lifestyle, or in any email communications, is for education purposes only and is not intended to replace the counsel, treatment or advice of your physician, therapist or any other professional whose services you have obtained or are contemplating obtaining. Faith For Today Television and Lifestyle.org urges you to consult your primary care physician before making any lifestyle changes.

The post New Choice = New Life appeared first on Lifestyle.

Our brains are the command center of our lives and are essential for the quality of our physical, emotional, and mental performance. Chronic stress, poor diet, smoking, and excess alcohol take a severe negative toll on our brain’s functionality. 

These habits also contribute to high blood pressure, cognitive decline, and dementia.

But you can always learn new habits and strategies and change your life. Here are 8 tips to prime your brain for success and unlock your best future.

Mediterranean Diet (MeDi)

High-quality foods are essential to your brain health and physical fitness.

The Mediterranean diet focuses on plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans, fish, whole grains, and healthy oils like olive and avocado. 

Based on a study of 502,536 participants, people who followed the principles of the MeDi had a 23% lower chance of developing dementia. Research has also found that the MeDi may improve cognitive capabilities, such as memory.

Tame Stress 

Chronic stress harms brain function. Yale Medicine defines chronic stress as “A consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time.” 

There are many causes of chronic stress today because life is busier and more complicated than ever. These include life changes, unfulfilling jobs, economic distress, and family dysfunctions. 

When stressed, the brain increases glucocorticoid production, including the stress hormone cortisol. 

The mind goes into overdrive and starts worrying about the future and everything that might go wrong, causing panic and anxiety. 

Reading the Bible and praying have a calming effect on the mind that keeps us anchored in the present. Practicing Mindfulness helps us stay focused on the present rather than dwelling on the past or situations that cause us to worry. Other key concepts include paying attention to our surroundings, accepting ourselves, and focusing on our breathing.

Physical Activity

The Center for Creative Leadership asked over 1,500 executives how exercise impacts their performance. Approximately 90% said that physical activity “clearly impacts” their performance, 12% reported “some impact,” and no one reported zero impact.

They reported regular exercise improved mental clarity, focus, alertness, and problem-solving.

In addition to improving your brain, exercise has physical benefits such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, reducing anxiety, improving sleep, decreasing insulin resistance, and strengthening your immune system.

Be Mentally Active

People who don’t “exercise” their brains are at significant risk for early cognitive decline. You can do many activities to give your brain a workout, such as reading, memorizing scripture, learning a new language, playing games, or working on a jigsaw puzzle.

Sleep Well

The importance of sleep and its effect on brain health is huge! When you get good quality, deep sleep, the brain repairs itself and rejuvenates your immune system. In REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, the brain compiles details you learned during the prior day.

Inadequate or insufficient sleep can contribute to feeling exhausted, cause concentration, mood, and memory disorders, and suppress the immune system.

You know the drill: create a bedtime routine by going to bed at the same time nightly and waking up at the same time in the morning. Over time, this will help set your internal clock and become a regular sleep pattern. Also:

• Turn off your electronics at least two hours before bedtime. This includes cell phones, computers, and social media.
• Eliminate caffeine after 12:00 p.m. The most common sources of caffeine are coffee, tea, soda, and chocolate.
• Avoid eating before bedtime to prevent gastrointestinal issues that may keep you awake.

Stop Smoking

Although people feel that cigarettes or cigars help to calm them and are pleasurable, they pose severe risks to brain functionality. 

A study by the American Heart Association (AHA) found that smoking is associated with cognitive decline, leading to worsening performance. You deserve better. So do yourself a huge favor and stop smoking.

Be Socially Active

Social connections can help reduce stress and depression and prevent memory loss. Look for ways to interact with others, especially if you live alone. 

Brain atrophy has been linked to a lack of socialization. 

Interpersonal relationships and being socially active enhance physical well-being and strengthen brain health. 

Find Inspiration

How often do we take the little things in life for granted? We often overlook these special moments of inspiration, which can be so good for brain health. 

For example, Psych Central says watching the sunrise gives you a feeling of awe, bolsters your mood, and helps you have a “big picture” mentality where we view situations broadly rather than focusing on limited details. It opens your mind to evaluating scenarios entirely rather than breaking them into detailed parts. 

People may also find inspiration from art, visiting a park, or watching the sunset.

Conclusion

A healthy brain keeps our sensory, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and motor functions working smoothly. Good habits such as eating properly, being physically, mentally, and socially active, and getting sufficient sleep are essential to overall well-being and life satisfaction.

The preceding tips can boost brain health, priming your mind for success and well-being so you can unlock your best life!

The post 8 Ways To Prime Your Brain For Success appeared first on Lifestyle.