Doing good deeds, family and friends, and laughing. Just a few of the things in life that make me happy. Is the laundry list of things that make us happy the true keys to happiness, or is it something deeper? According to Nick Temple of the Global Ideas Bank, compiler of "500 Ways to Change the World," psychologist Dan Baker has identified six key tools that are essential to true happiness:
- "Appreciation: the outward-bound kind of love that gives everything and asks for nothing, making it pure and strong." Think about the last time you forgot your wallet or purse somewhere and how happy you are when a friend or stranger returned it to you-now that's appreciation!
- "Choice: Anyone can choose the course of their lives, but only happy people do it." When you make a choice, you take control over a situation, you assert yourself, you express yourself, all of which can be both liberating and exhilarating.
- "Personal power: A proactive force that gives individuals the power over their feelings and their fate. It is made up of two constituent parts: taking action and taking responsibility." Much like when you make a choice, you are knowingly taking the wheel and driving.
- "Leading with your strengths: Focusing on strengths, rather than focusing on weaknesses, enables a swifter resolving of situations." It has been proven that people respond better to positive reinforcement. And the law of attraction essentially says that the more you focus on something, the more of that something you get-if it's strength, you get strength; if it's positivity, you get positivity.
- "The power of language: Language can be used in a healthy or horrible way, and words have immense power to constrain or liberate." Be honest and open when you speak to others, and be sure to think before you speak whenever possible.
- "Multidimensional living: Putting energy into the three main components of life (relationships, health and purpose) is the final key." Balance is the key to just about everything!
When evaluating your life, think about the things that make you happy. Where do they fit within these categories? Are there areas for improvement? Perhaps these categories can serve as a guide to set your goals and prioritize, or serve as a catalyst to evaluate your life in general.
Variety is the spice of life, so we've come up with some great activities you can do all year 'round with your loved ones, from children to seniors, to keep things fresh and get the most out of life.
- Set up an e-mail account and help him/her keep in touch with friends and loved ones
- Set up a Flickr account to share photos with friends and loved ones near and far
- Find out what kind of music they enjoy and compile a mix CD for them to enjoy
- Help him/her to write and send letters to friends and loved ones who live far away
- Find out what his/her favorite (types of) books are and check them out at the library and read to them
- Set up a table outside (or somewhere to minimize cleanup) to finger paint
- Create puppets out of small paper bags and put on a puppet show
- Bring a mani/pedi set and offer to paint her nails
- Have a "Recycling is fun" day and help him/her to create bins for recycling
- Help him/her to compile and scan their favorite photos to create a photo book on ShutterFly
This is only the beginning! How do you keep things fresh? Share your ideas with us!
Depending on who you ask, the economy seems to be on the up and up; the housing market appears to benefitting from the tax incentive extension; and unemployment rates are going down. But people are still stressed out. A new survey conducted by Misericordia University and Braun Research found that three in 10 said healthcare costs have led to arguments and tension with friends and family members, and it doesn't help that the holiday season and the long winter season are upon us.
So what gives? We've come up with some great ways to cut costs, reduce stress and get through the winter with a smile (or, at the very least, without a frown):
- Exercise! Even if you get up and walk around the house, wave your arms in circular motions or do some jumping jacks in between TV shows, getting your heart pumping and blood flowing can facilitate the release of happy hormones that can help to boost your mood. Here are some more ways to exercise indoors this winter.
- Spend time with the people you care about. It costs nothing, whether they live next door or thousands of miles away and here's why: you can use Skype to keep in touch, or plan a get-together. Taking some time to visit with friends, family and loved ones can instantly boost your mood, and it can be a great opportunity to vent if you've been feeling down.
- Use couponmap.com to find deals wherever you may be traveling this holiday season, or even if you're not! Saving money is on the top of just about everybody's list these days and knowing that you are saving money can make you feel better.
- Reduce stress for seniors and people with disabilities this holiday season by increasing your home's visit-ability. Being mindful of making your home more accessible for your visitors can make you feel more prepared while allowing them to feel safe and comfortable. It's a win-win all around!
- Take the guess work out of managing your medications by downloading a helpful medication chart. This is a great way to keep tabs on multiple prescriptions and supplements, for you and your doctor, but without having to remember everything.
The winter doesn't have to be a dreary sentence to months locked behind closed doors; there are so many easy ways to stay positive and reduce stress. What do you do in the winter to boost your mood and reduce stress? Weigh in now!
In case you missed them, or maybe you're not even on Twitter yet, we wanted to re-cap all of @brightstarcare's Tweets for the month of November. We strive to share helpful articles, tools and Websites and hope the following will be of value to you. Enjoy!
Among the best browsers for seniors and disabled http://ow.ly/FCmM
How was your Thanksgiving? Did you try any new recipes that will "make the cut" for years to come? We want to hear about them!
Sandwich Generation: Spread Thin http://ow.ly/FClh
Work off some of that turkey without even stepping one foot outside http://ow.ly/FCjk
What kinds of Web health tools would be most valuable to you? Medication charts? Nutrition logs? Weigh in!
Great program! RT @ElderCareRN Healing Relationships, Part 2, on Your Caregiving Journey in 90 minutes: http://bit.ly/16UzDT (via @HueinaSu)
Sandwich Generation Plagued By Disability? http://ow.ly/FC2t
Be sure to thank family caregivers for all they do this holiday season http://ow.ly/FCi5
What are your Thanksgiving traditions? Whatever they are, cherish them. Happy Thanksgiving!
Are you being accommodating to a senior relative this holiday season? http://ow.ly/FCfF
Helpful Checklist as You Visit Aging Parents this Thanksgiving http://ow.ly/ET2u
Promoting Online Accessibility: YouTube adds automatic captions to videos http://ow.ly/FdSG
RT @shellyasun Disaboom on Top 8 Free Browsers for Seniors and Disabled http://ow.ly/F1uf about 1 hour ago
Very helpful, thanks for sharing! RT @momlogic eady. Set. Cook!! The World's Fastest Turkey Recipe http://su.pr/6NHmkz
Accessible Travel: See the World from an "Elderhostel" http://ow.ly/DKKV
Why grandma and grandpa should be online http://ow.ly/EWqD
The Continuing Car Key Debate http://ow.ly/EUMP
Fight Cabin Fever this Winter: Fun Indoor Activities http://ow.ly/DKLV
Smartphones helping older adults http://ow.ly/EU1T
Visit-ability: How are you accommodating a senior relative this holiday season? http://ow.ly/ETRE Share now!
RT @shellyasun Stressed today, sick tomorrow http://ow.ly/ET4s
Just because it's winter doesn't mean you can't think, 'Spring!' Seniors, add gardening to your list of things to do http://ow.ly/DKIn
Keep Things Fresh: Fun Activities for Seniors http://ow.ly/DKGs
What do you think? RT @shellyasun A glimpse of the future: Robots aid Japan's elderly residents http://ow.ly/DKzN
RT @brightfran Going high-tech to track Alzheimer's patients http://ow.ly/Dqmc
RT @aarpbulletin Just one heart attack leads to 725 X-rays http://ow.ly/D9X0
Exercise your mind muscles http://ow.ly/D3K7
Putting family caregivers at ease http://ow.ly/CTFP
Safety First: Stock up on salt sooner than later to prevent walkway slips. Click for more on senior home safety: http://ow.ly/CTDY
Exercises for even the longest winter days http://ow.ly/CTCX
RT @shellyasun Who is your aging hero? http://ow.ly/CTA0
Senior Visit-ability for Holiday Celebrations http://ow.ly/CTxN
Omega-6 fatty acids: Can they cause heart disease? http://ow.ly/CTmH
How You Can Help the Elderly During the Holidays http://ow.ly/CTme
In Reversal, U.S. Urges Mammograms at 50, Not 40 http://ow.ly/CSVQ
What do you think about the concept of publishing public report cards for doctors? http://ow.ly/CMRp
Vitamin D Shows Heart Benefits in Study http://ow.ly/CMNm
Most Key Players in Senior Citizen Health Care Back House Plan Headed to Senate http://ow.ly/AN6y
Helpful! RT @eCareDiarySusan eCare Diary presents a series on financing long term care topics. The 1st: reverse mortgage http://ow.ly/AK8v
Support family caregivers - in November (Nat'l Caregiver Month) and beyond http://ow.ly/AKas
Should doctors get report cards? http://ow.ly/AJZk Weigh in now!
RT @brightfran Senior Transportation a Critical Need http://ow.ly/AO5z
RT @aarpbulletin Part D: A Step-by-Step Guide to Medicare Drug Plan Finder 2010 - http://bit.ly/2VSNQI #MedicarePartD
How to Find Disability-Friendly Travel Locales http://ow.ly/AJ1u
RT @mike_gamble Psychologists Suggest Ways To Include The Aging Population In The Technology Revolution http://ow.ly/zUgi
RT @GilbertGuide Emerging Trend - The Home-Bound Elder Care Patient http://ow.ly/zU3t
Getting the best deals on prescription drugs http://ow.ly/zzB4
RT @HealthSociety SFDA: Diabetes drug Byetta tied to kidney problems http://bit.ly/2CYH0
RT @VibrantNation 9 ways to make new friends after 50 http://bit.ly/1ZBOv3
RT @goodhealth New study finds that people who exercise don't necessarily lose weight http://bit.ly/47Rg1N
Attorney Weighs In: Legalities of Patient Choice http://ow.ly/yXto
RT @aarpbulletin Overweight? Blame a Caveman - Humans are genetically predisposed to be sedentary - http://bit.ly/3RsoFH
RT @shellysun Supplemental Caregivers Key for Hospice Care http://ow.ly/yG31 #nationalhospicemonth
Study: Women Who Drink 2 or More Diet Sodas Daily Double Their Risk of Kidney Function Decline http://ow.ly/yG1K
10 warning signs of Alzheimer's http://ow.ly/yIlN #BrightStar
RT @HealthBizBlog Today is World Pneumonia today, to draw attention to the leading killer of young kids http://ow.ly/yHtm
Alzheimer's Awareness: Why bother? http://ow.ly/yG1c
Homecare and Freedom of Choice: "There's no place like home." http://ow.ly/yDBt
Is there something missing? Perhaps a topic of interest that you didn't see here? Let us know - we want to hear from you!
The state of the economy and unemployment coupled with a growing number of people who are uninsured make a recipe for disaster for those who are most vulnerable to scams. Some sneaky scammers will use the name of senior care organizations and claim to offer secondary health insurance services, asking for credit card and other financial information. We've said it before, but we can't emphasize enough that you should be weary of distributing any financial information to somebody with whom you are not familiar. This is a scam, pure and simple.
So what can you do to prevent you or someone you know from falling victim? Pass this information along to people you know-friends, neighbors, family members. Have you or has someone you love been the victim of scammers taking advantage of seniors? Share your experiences with us!