Holiday's are vital for us to stay sane and function. We need rest, but we also need to be stimulated with stress free activities. Here are ten ways to really make the most of your time away or even holidays spent at home:-
1- Plan the time before you leave for your holiday. Try and get things ready before you need to rush to the flight or to get to a site before 8pm etc. There is no point starting a holiday stressed, this will mean stress will continue indefinitely.
2- Are you going to relax or have none stop activities. Maybe you should do both? By having time to relax and time to let go you relieve stress effectively. exercise will increase your metabolic rate which will help you feel more positive. Combining this with relaxing activities will mean you get the stress free time and healthy rewards of activity. This is important if you're day job is sedentary.
3- Book activities before you go. There is nothing worse than turning up to an activity park or even a beaty spa to find there are no bookings left. You have just wasted all that time and money getting there so make sure you have things to do.
4- If you have kids try and book them into some activities that they can do unsupervised so that you get some time to yourself.
5- Also having one or two activities where you split the family in two or each partner has time to themselves ensures that cabin fever doesn't set in and ruin you're holiday. Think the Shining holiday sun and not 'The Shining' the film for your holiday!!
6- Arrive with your phone off metaphorically or literally. Don't be tempted to answer business calls on holiday. If you have to check emails allocate one or two hours max per week to deal with business. Remeber this is a holiday. If you are a workaholic 'get a grip' or don't go on holiday. Why spend all your hard earned money on a holiday and then spend half of it attending to work issues. Consider leaving your phone or laptop or ipad at home.
7- Try and find time to appreciate the culture of wherever you go. Remember this may be the only time you ever come to this place, make it a trip to remember with vivid memories as well as lounging about. We all need time to lounge but don't just do that.
8- Why not spend one day exploring nature and really getting to grips with wherever you are including being in the UK. There is some stunning countryside near you wherever you are so go and find it and cherish the time with your loved ones and take a picture to remind you of the beautiful places you have been.
9- Don't just flash your camera though, why not get some pens and pads out. Have a coffee and get your kids to sketch the view. Any meaningful way you can engage with the landscape or city around you is to observe it and draw it. It doesn't have to be good, but by taking the time to draw something will en-grain it in your memory forever
10- Let your kids make choices. Let them feel like this is their holiday too. By giving them options and explaining the costs and benefits of each option you enable them to understand the value and cost of your holiday. They will then be more interested in it and may be you will have a more peaceful time (maybe, I make no promises!!)
Have fun whatever you do and remember its your holiday so do whatever you want and enjoy it, don't waste it.
Thursday 29 November 2012
Tuesday 27 November 2012
ten ways to improve your memory
Memory is something we all have, but some of us forget to use it! How do we improve it, can we improve it? Here are some suggestions that psychologists think can help us do just that-
1- The brain as they say is a muscle so use it. Join a brain training website to get the neurons firing. We learn to forget by not using the paths in our brain that become habitual paths. That's why when we learn a skill but then don't do it for a while it takes time to relearn those memorised patterns that are in our brains
2- Try not to rely on you phone to tell you everything. Try and think and see if you can remember yourself. By not relying on search engines or databases on our phones we train our brains to demand more from our memory and this helps us to have more confidence in our memory. The more you ask of yourself the more you will get back.
3- Get regular sleep. This helps to boost blood circulation and keeps blood sugar levels stable which aid all our brain functions.
4- Exercise. When we exercise we reduce the chance of getting diseases that effect our memory like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Exercise helps protect brain cells.
5-A strong social network can aid memory as we have to keep larger networks of people in our minds daily. Having a good support network around you also helps improve your health which is vital to memory skills.
6-Have hobbies or interests. Learn new skills to strengthen your adaptability and ability to learn new things an retain them.
7- Enjoy yourself. Studies show that laughter can increase our ability to think freely which helps us access information, remember jokes, anecdotes and other social information that enhances memory skills.
8- Eat well. Eat healthy foods that are high in vitamins and omega 3 foods such as oily fish or peanuts. Moderate red wine consumption, low saturated fat diet and eating vegetables all helps stave off Dementia an related conditions.
9- Use memory walks or 'mnemonic devices' to remember things. so to remember specific things you can use familiar places to make a mind map. So if you try and remember say the word 'mobile' you think about your room, and something in it like your bedside table and link the two by creating a memory walk 'I walked in to my room and to keep mobile I paced round the room' The word is now part of an event, which is much easier to remember than a word with no context.
10- Don't watch tv all day. Take part in activities, be proactive in your life so that you don't float through life as a spectator. By being involved in life you create stronger connections both physically and mentally that allow you to remember things quicker because you access them more often. This is brain stimulation rather than brain sedation (watching too much TV)!
Do you have memory techniques that work for you, drop me a line, I would love to know what everybody thinks. Talk to me people!!
1- The brain as they say is a muscle so use it. Join a brain training website to get the neurons firing. We learn to forget by not using the paths in our brain that become habitual paths. That's why when we learn a skill but then don't do it for a while it takes time to relearn those memorised patterns that are in our brains
2- Try not to rely on you phone to tell you everything. Try and think and see if you can remember yourself. By not relying on search engines or databases on our phones we train our brains to demand more from our memory and this helps us to have more confidence in our memory. The more you ask of yourself the more you will get back.
3- Get regular sleep. This helps to boost blood circulation and keeps blood sugar levels stable which aid all our brain functions.
4- Exercise. When we exercise we reduce the chance of getting diseases that effect our memory like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Exercise helps protect brain cells.
5-A strong social network can aid memory as we have to keep larger networks of people in our minds daily. Having a good support network around you also helps improve your health which is vital to memory skills.
6-Have hobbies or interests. Learn new skills to strengthen your adaptability and ability to learn new things an retain them.
7- Enjoy yourself. Studies show that laughter can increase our ability to think freely which helps us access information, remember jokes, anecdotes and other social information that enhances memory skills.
8- Eat well. Eat healthy foods that are high in vitamins and omega 3 foods such as oily fish or peanuts. Moderate red wine consumption, low saturated fat diet and eating vegetables all helps stave off Dementia an related conditions.
9- Use memory walks or 'mnemonic devices' to remember things. so to remember specific things you can use familiar places to make a mind map. So if you try and remember say the word 'mobile' you think about your room, and something in it like your bedside table and link the two by creating a memory walk 'I walked in to my room and to keep mobile I paced round the room' The word is now part of an event, which is much easier to remember than a word with no context.
10- Don't watch tv all day. Take part in activities, be proactive in your life so that you don't float through life as a spectator. By being involved in life you create stronger connections both physically and mentally that allow you to remember things quicker because you access them more often. This is brain stimulation rather than brain sedation (watching too much TV)!
Do you have memory techniques that work for you, drop me a line, I would love to know what everybody thinks. Talk to me people!!
Ten ways to be Healthy
Health is the most important thing we have as it enables us to do everything else. I know through periods of illness myself and major surgery that not having your health changes everything and makes you aware that without it your life wont function as you want it to. So here's ten ways be healthy-
1- Sleep regularly for 8 hours a night. Don't stay up when you know you are tired, discipline yourself to sleep when you need it.
2- Have some kind of routine. This can be flexible to an extent, but your body thrives off routine. It helps you stabilise your organs and like exercise keeps all your bodily functions working optimally.
3- Eat when you are hungry. Don't put off eating, thinking it will make you thinner or healthier, it just means when you eat your body will pile on the fat content or sugar content of the foods you do eat because your body stores these things more when you starve it, because without regular food it wonders where the next meal is coming from so stores more fat, sugar etc than it would otherwise do so.
4- Enjoy fatty foods, but don't eat large amounts in one day. Spread out your treats so you can have one everyday. Denying yourself nice food will mean you binge on them later and will put on weight. This is not healthy.
5- Walk everyday for at least an hour. Get your cardiovascular system working. Its like pushing a car. Once you get it moving, its easier to keep it moving. If you get your muscles and endorphines going they will serve you through the day. This is why daily exercise is so important because it promotes 'happy chemicals' that if topped up daily will serve you well later on. Health brings more health.
6- Don't neglect your brain. Stimulate your mind as well as your body to be healthy. Having a healthy mindset and positive influences on your life will help you be more active.
7- Have a strong social life. Social contact has been proven to lower stress levels over time and promotes health. People who feel part of a community are more likely to live longer than loners.
8- Remember to top up your vitamins with vegetables with your meal and starting the day with an orange before breakfast or even a tangerine will help you regulate your blood sugar levels.
9- Eat a big breakfast. Eating fatty foods in the morning means you are less likely to binge later and you have more time to burn it off during the day. Eating a large breakfast also gives you more energy to exercise during the day. Remember to top up during the day though. Keep eating small regular top ups to avoid troughs in energy levels that can be dangerous.
10- Do some strenuous activity twice a week like cycling or running or even cleaning the house or a hobby such as DIY. Just make sure you push yourself. If you aint sweatin' your aint gettin' healthy. So in conclusion, a balance of moderate exercise and strenuous bursts will help build muscle strength and keep your heart and lungs strong.
Hope this helps, any suggestions people? Any healthy routines that you swear by? would love to know.
1- Sleep regularly for 8 hours a night. Don't stay up when you know you are tired, discipline yourself to sleep when you need it.
2- Have some kind of routine. This can be flexible to an extent, but your body thrives off routine. It helps you stabilise your organs and like exercise keeps all your bodily functions working optimally.
3- Eat when you are hungry. Don't put off eating, thinking it will make you thinner or healthier, it just means when you eat your body will pile on the fat content or sugar content of the foods you do eat because your body stores these things more when you starve it, because without regular food it wonders where the next meal is coming from so stores more fat, sugar etc than it would otherwise do so.
4- Enjoy fatty foods, but don't eat large amounts in one day. Spread out your treats so you can have one everyday. Denying yourself nice food will mean you binge on them later and will put on weight. This is not healthy.
5- Walk everyday for at least an hour. Get your cardiovascular system working. Its like pushing a car. Once you get it moving, its easier to keep it moving. If you get your muscles and endorphines going they will serve you through the day. This is why daily exercise is so important because it promotes 'happy chemicals' that if topped up daily will serve you well later on. Health brings more health.
6- Don't neglect your brain. Stimulate your mind as well as your body to be healthy. Having a healthy mindset and positive influences on your life will help you be more active.
7- Have a strong social life. Social contact has been proven to lower stress levels over time and promotes health. People who feel part of a community are more likely to live longer than loners.
8- Remember to top up your vitamins with vegetables with your meal and starting the day with an orange before breakfast or even a tangerine will help you regulate your blood sugar levels.
9- Eat a big breakfast. Eating fatty foods in the morning means you are less likely to binge later and you have more time to burn it off during the day. Eating a large breakfast also gives you more energy to exercise during the day. Remember to top up during the day though. Keep eating small regular top ups to avoid troughs in energy levels that can be dangerous.
10- Do some strenuous activity twice a week like cycling or running or even cleaning the house or a hobby such as DIY. Just make sure you push yourself. If you aint sweatin' your aint gettin' healthy. So in conclusion, a balance of moderate exercise and strenuous bursts will help build muscle strength and keep your heart and lungs strong.
Hope this helps, any suggestions people? Any healthy routines that you swear by? would love to know.
Monday 26 November 2012
Ten ways to be happier
This is a tough one, its also very subjective but here goes...
1- Choose goals that are realistic. You can have dreams but these are not to be confused with goals. They are linked yes but goals are practical things, acts, efforts. Dreams are more than this and come from goals
2- What Goals are important and which ones should be avoided. If it is your goal to be happy then this is probably closer than you think, but because you feel unhappy these negative thoughts cloud the issue. If happiness is being content then you can be happy now. Yes you may have goals but they don't need to take over every minute of your life
3- Avoid thinking about what you have not managed to do and think about what you have done. This could be a holiday that you enjoyed. Think that you will go back someday, you can start planning goals to make this happen and this will make you feel happier
4- When evaluating whether you are happy are you able to differentiate between happy and ecstatic? If not then you are over analysing happiness. It certainly is not getting high on drugs because there is always a come down after, so drugs give a feeling of ecstacy or even contentment, but if this feeling only lasts as long as the drug then this is not you, its how you want to be but feel that drugs are the only way out of misery. Instead look at ways into happiness. Really contemplate this.
5- Don't worry about what you cannot control. This does not mean just take crap off people but it does mean understanding how to deal with it and how we can change it. People will always try and wind us up, especially when we feel or look weak or run down. Remember that in your darker moments you do the same to others and by understanding their behaviour, your empathy will bring you peace, which is an integral part of happiness.
6- How to tell what dreams are false. 'I want to be a millionaire' is a dream but what would you feel like if you had millions? Often when I think about this I realise that money really is only about security. Security is obviously important but it is not essential to be happy. Maybe a real dream would be 'I want to be financially independent' This is a goal that is real and can be achieved by most of us if we work toward which will give you security which will help you feel at peace which will in turn help you feel happy. But many people are happy and own nothing and this is not false either, they align their happiness with life as lived as opposed to life as others want to live. So it depends how high you aim and how low your threshold for unhappiness is. You have to start thinking about what you define happiness in your particular life. Only you can do this.
7- Have you abandoned religion and feel like you lost something? Well you did. You lost the sense of community that religions bring, a sense of belonging and with people to fall back on in hard times. Can you think of things that you are passionate about that you could share with others? Can you find friends that do or think like you that can help give you that support network that your family can not always fulfil. Happiness is definitely linked to other people. We help each other. We are stronger together and we are weaker when we withdraw from social activities. Share your time with others, help a charity and you will feel your head lift a little.
8- Never judge your future on your past. The fact that you make a mistake one day does not mean you will make it today. Happiness is linked to your ability to build on your strengths and work on your weaknesses. If you find it hard to do a task that you need to do, practice and feel accomplishment when you succeed. Helplessness and misery come from getting into negative thinking patterns. I surprised myself the other day when I did a task I find difficult and got it right. This made me realise that my inability was mostly in my head, knowing I could improve made me happier. We can all improve and if you are at rock bottom then you will either stay there or you will improve. As you learn to improve you gain happiness through increased personal strength
9-Love your family, You may have let them down or they may have let you down. Beginning to accept that you are human will make you happier. Spend time with them doing quality things like going out for a walk or coffee. Don't spend dead time watching TV with family all the time, this leads to drudgery and taking family for granted. To be happy we should feel that we are doing our best in family life and that we belong and are loved. If you are not loved, share your love and people will respond back. This will increase happiness.
10- Keep trying to achieve your goals but don't try to be happy. Happiness is so linked with all the things and people in your life that it is bound to fluctuate but remember to build on your successes and learn from you rmistake's when you can. Don't judge your happiness by others lives, this is very very important.
1- Choose goals that are realistic. You can have dreams but these are not to be confused with goals. They are linked yes but goals are practical things, acts, efforts. Dreams are more than this and come from goals
2- What Goals are important and which ones should be avoided. If it is your goal to be happy then this is probably closer than you think, but because you feel unhappy these negative thoughts cloud the issue. If happiness is being content then you can be happy now. Yes you may have goals but they don't need to take over every minute of your life
3- Avoid thinking about what you have not managed to do and think about what you have done. This could be a holiday that you enjoyed. Think that you will go back someday, you can start planning goals to make this happen and this will make you feel happier
4- When evaluating whether you are happy are you able to differentiate between happy and ecstatic? If not then you are over analysing happiness. It certainly is not getting high on drugs because there is always a come down after, so drugs give a feeling of ecstacy or even contentment, but if this feeling only lasts as long as the drug then this is not you, its how you want to be but feel that drugs are the only way out of misery. Instead look at ways into happiness. Really contemplate this.
5- Don't worry about what you cannot control. This does not mean just take crap off people but it does mean understanding how to deal with it and how we can change it. People will always try and wind us up, especially when we feel or look weak or run down. Remember that in your darker moments you do the same to others and by understanding their behaviour, your empathy will bring you peace, which is an integral part of happiness.
6- How to tell what dreams are false. 'I want to be a millionaire' is a dream but what would you feel like if you had millions? Often when I think about this I realise that money really is only about security. Security is obviously important but it is not essential to be happy. Maybe a real dream would be 'I want to be financially independent' This is a goal that is real and can be achieved by most of us if we work toward which will give you security which will help you feel at peace which will in turn help you feel happy. But many people are happy and own nothing and this is not false either, they align their happiness with life as lived as opposed to life as others want to live. So it depends how high you aim and how low your threshold for unhappiness is. You have to start thinking about what you define happiness in your particular life. Only you can do this.
7- Have you abandoned religion and feel like you lost something? Well you did. You lost the sense of community that religions bring, a sense of belonging and with people to fall back on in hard times. Can you think of things that you are passionate about that you could share with others? Can you find friends that do or think like you that can help give you that support network that your family can not always fulfil. Happiness is definitely linked to other people. We help each other. We are stronger together and we are weaker when we withdraw from social activities. Share your time with others, help a charity and you will feel your head lift a little.
8- Never judge your future on your past. The fact that you make a mistake one day does not mean you will make it today. Happiness is linked to your ability to build on your strengths and work on your weaknesses. If you find it hard to do a task that you need to do, practice and feel accomplishment when you succeed. Helplessness and misery come from getting into negative thinking patterns. I surprised myself the other day when I did a task I find difficult and got it right. This made me realise that my inability was mostly in my head, knowing I could improve made me happier. We can all improve and if you are at rock bottom then you will either stay there or you will improve. As you learn to improve you gain happiness through increased personal strength
9-Love your family, You may have let them down or they may have let you down. Beginning to accept that you are human will make you happier. Spend time with them doing quality things like going out for a walk or coffee. Don't spend dead time watching TV with family all the time, this leads to drudgery and taking family for granted. To be happy we should feel that we are doing our best in family life and that we belong and are loved. If you are not loved, share your love and people will respond back. This will increase happiness.
10- Keep trying to achieve your goals but don't try to be happy. Happiness is so linked with all the things and people in your life that it is bound to fluctuate but remember to build on your successes and learn from you rmistake's when you can. Don't judge your happiness by others lives, this is very very important.
Ten ways to survive Christmas
OK, so you have no money and its not even December and you are thinking- How am I going to survive Christmas? How am I going to enjoy Christmas? How is my family going to enjoy Christmas knowing I am low on money? Here are ten suggestions for all you survivors out there-
1- Either buy now or buy in Christmas week. Don't wait till mid December because that's when prices will be at their highest. Either buy now when prices are average or wait till the retailers drop the prices in Christmas week. If you know what you want to buy and know where you can get it then as long as its not 'the years hottest new thing' that could run out fast then you can usually save cash by waiting for the price fall nearer Christmas. If you can brave the high street then Christmas eve is the time for bargains.
2- Buy everything in one store and get a store card before you do so that you can save on bulk buys. This work's with stores online and on the high street. Examples are Amazon discounts and gift cards. If you buy in bulk you can get further discount vouchers that can be useful in the new year.
3- Buy food now that's reduced, e.g. Turkeys then freeze them till Christmas Eve. This works with most foods so try and get those discounts and bargains now to spread the cost of Christmas.
4-Join a Christmas saving scheme such as Park at getpark.co.uk, which enables you to spread Christmas over the whole year, but beware, you still need to be cost conscious and be frugal and sensible about how you use this scheme.
5-Buy things for your kids that are fun and useful. So that your family gets added value out of this Christmas. Obviously get things they will love, but will they love a toy that loses its appeal after the holiday or will they thank you for buying them a bike or sports gear that will serve them year round
6-Don't buy a Turkey, get another cut. Do you like Turkey? or do you prefer beef? You can get some great deals on some great cuts of meat that perhaps don't sell so well, but if you like them then why not?
7- Make your own Christmas Decorations. Its more fun and is a great way to spend time with your family. It will also feel better than tacky trash on Christmas day.
8- Make your own Christmas cards by cutting up your old Christmas cards and customising them. Cards are works of art, add your own creativity by recycling and adding a bit of you or your childrens personality to the cards that you send. Its more personal and its virtually free.
9- Buy online and save on petrol and parking fees. But do suppirt your high street if you know where to look for bargains. You can get some excellent second hand items that look like new such as books and traditional toys or jewellery. Dont think that presents have to be brand new. If they are thoughtful and hit the mark then that's all that matters.
10- Set your budget. This will help you siphon through the trash and find the best deals. I did this and found that having budgets in mind made me really concentrate on getting good deals and still getting what I wanted.
Good luck everyone and have a great Christmas and all the very best for the coming New Year!
1- Either buy now or buy in Christmas week. Don't wait till mid December because that's when prices will be at their highest. Either buy now when prices are average or wait till the retailers drop the prices in Christmas week. If you know what you want to buy and know where you can get it then as long as its not 'the years hottest new thing' that could run out fast then you can usually save cash by waiting for the price fall nearer Christmas. If you can brave the high street then Christmas eve is the time for bargains.
2- Buy everything in one store and get a store card before you do so that you can save on bulk buys. This work's with stores online and on the high street. Examples are Amazon discounts and gift cards. If you buy in bulk you can get further discount vouchers that can be useful in the new year.
3- Buy food now that's reduced, e.g. Turkeys then freeze them till Christmas Eve. This works with most foods so try and get those discounts and bargains now to spread the cost of Christmas.
4-Join a Christmas saving scheme such as Park at getpark.co.uk, which enables you to spread Christmas over the whole year, but beware, you still need to be cost conscious and be frugal and sensible about how you use this scheme.
5-Buy things for your kids that are fun and useful. So that your family gets added value out of this Christmas. Obviously get things they will love, but will they love a toy that loses its appeal after the holiday or will they thank you for buying them a bike or sports gear that will serve them year round
6-Don't buy a Turkey, get another cut. Do you like Turkey? or do you prefer beef? You can get some great deals on some great cuts of meat that perhaps don't sell so well, but if you like them then why not?
7- Make your own Christmas Decorations. Its more fun and is a great way to spend time with your family. It will also feel better than tacky trash on Christmas day.
8- Make your own Christmas cards by cutting up your old Christmas cards and customising them. Cards are works of art, add your own creativity by recycling and adding a bit of you or your childrens personality to the cards that you send. Its more personal and its virtually free.
9- Buy online and save on petrol and parking fees. But do suppirt your high street if you know where to look for bargains. You can get some excellent second hand items that look like new such as books and traditional toys or jewellery. Dont think that presents have to be brand new. If they are thoughtful and hit the mark then that's all that matters.
10- Set your budget. This will help you siphon through the trash and find the best deals. I did this and found that having budgets in mind made me really concentrate on getting good deals and still getting what I wanted.
Good luck everyone and have a great Christmas and all the very best for the coming New Year!
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