Managing your stress...

Some of you may have joined in 'My Blog' a little later in the year (Hippo) myself  may not know that I have several other senior friends. Some of their names are 'Seahorse' ( bookworm) 'Aurora', 'Alveus', 'Unshelved' (retired librarian) and Rainbow plus few more. So we decided to pool some of our methods and that we use for different situations and share ideas. We are also great at socializing and providing support to each another.We have recently kept a list of suggestions for stress relievers that I will share with all of you.

1. Learn assertive training      
2. Don't procrastinate
3. Aroma therapy
4. Plant (new) in a pot
5. Listen to music
6. Be mindful
7. Jounaling
8. Drink green tea
9. Repeat and review list
10. Eat well balanced diet


You must have the three elements of 'Mindfulness' : Intention, Attention, Attitude to receive some stress relief.

Do you live in the moment?

'Living in the moment' is also called mindfulness. It is a state of open active attention on the present. When you are mindful you tend to observe your feelings from a distance without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life go by without living it -mindfulness means living in the moment and you will awaken to the experience. You are not your thoughts but you become an observer of your thoughts.
Awareness that emerges through paying purposeful attention.
There are three components of mindfulness and they are Intention , Attention, and Attitude. Mindfulness is a form of meditation. Interesting-think about it... more on this topic tomorrow night...

How do you solve a problem?

If you have been keeping up with your intellectual stimulation in the past then problem solving should fall into place. You need to overcome the obstacles and find the best solution. Your actions depend upon on the  problem for which way you would  tackle it and then develop a plan and organize your knowledge. Sometimes we skip steps to be taken and then run into road blocks or experience serious consequences that will remain in place until a solution is found. First step is to identify the real problem and then define the problem; Second step- is the time to put your thinking cap on and come up with a strategy to solve the problem. Third step is once one has the strategy then one needs to organize the information that you have found available; Fourth step is the time for you to decide whether or not it should have priority. If it is important you may need some input from others and also resources from other sources before you can find a solution. If it really isn't important then don't spend time seeking assistance from other resources in order to find a solution. Fifth action in your plan is keep track of time spent in trying to solve the problem. If you don't come up with solution in good time then time to re-evaluate  your methods.
Last but not least if you can come up with the best solution -you followed each and every step and will experience success. These six steps to a solution could be used with most types of problems.

Are you intellectually active?

It is important to remain intellectually active. It is a no brainer
'if you don't use it -you lose it'...(somewhat of a pun). Cognitive and intellectual stimulation makes the neural connections stronger in your frontal lobe, thus improving your communication skills and your ability to solve problems. Your rational decision making skills which affect your health  improve upon maintaining your intellectual abilities.. This particular area is one of the first to diminish as you age. The more intense and frequent the healthy game playing  the greater the gain. Intellectual stimulation lowers your inclination to react with anger or fear. The more you imagine what you want ,the more likely you will achieve it. Spend your day involved and engaged in many intellectual activities as you can... solve some problems if you can... There's a multitude of activities that you could pursue-read books, take a class, attend a lecture, dancing lessons, but be sure to make your pursuits enjoyable not stressful.

All of these activities will exercise your brain... Have fun!

The Brain that changes itself-

What do you think of when you are asked 'What is your definition of nature'? Some say it consists of forces and processes that produce and control all the phenomena of the material world. Others think it means the world of living things and the outdoors. Is the brain a part of nature?
Today, it was brought to my attention - the three great ideas of nature.

1. Nature as like a vast organism (held by the ancients,some non- western cultures)
      a. All things insofar as they moved were thought to be alive.
      b. Insofar as they were ordered were thought to partake in intelligence.
      c. Insofar as they occupied space, were thought to be made of material or atoms.

2. Nature as a vast mechanism-this spurred on the new physics of Galileo, led to the idea that the 'brain' was a machine. Socrates thought the brain was mechanistic and could be altered.

3. Nature as a changing process began with fossils.

I find the 'Brain and how it functions' a most interesting topic which we can be well informed by reading the most interesting book ' The Brain that changes itself ' written by :
Dr. Doidge M.D.( Psychiatrist and Researcher and Author)
Sunday night  I will talk more about how you and I can change our brains by using our mind so as to give us a more positive result as we get older and have natural age decline.

Enjoy your Day

Gone to Brain Symposium

DO YOU PLAN AHEAD?

In order to maintain cognitive abilities you must use all your senses. Engage in interesting and novel activities and experiences. Very beneficial for your brain. Games that you are required to plan ahead are excellent games to participate in with others. Chess, checkers etc. and also activities such as painting (art)
Ballroom dancing, old country dancing, learning a new language. Even maintaining your daily menu  as good nutrition requires good pre- planning.

Have a great evening and tomorrow... and do a little planning for tomorrow..

Family Day

I sure hope that you all had a plan for today. My blog is about my family day...I went to coffee about 9AM and I had a visit with my friends 'Unshelved', Seahorse, Aurora, Alveus, Rainbow and several more...good people. At noon I hosted a birthday lunch for my grandson Jacob and my daughter Lara. It's wonderful to have the opportunity to get together as frequently as we do. I feel very fortunate. My grand children are growing up as kids do and at all of our birthday 'get- togethers' I take a picture of their shoes in my hallway- my, how their feet grow. I wish that we all could have been here but not possible due to distance. Continue to enjoy 'Family Day' and we will talk tomorrow.

Energize your life-challenge #8

Energy spent has been linked to a longer life. Exercise routinely even three times per week or daily if possible. The more energy a person expends in a day, the longer they will live. Any activity that increases total amount of calories burned will increase your longevity. So get moving a little more regularly...

Enjoy Family Day.....

My weekend...

I just returned from attending a very beautiful ballet 'Cinderella'
performed by Alberta Ballet at the Jubilee. The ballet is fantastic
-full of dance and expression.

Long Weekend-Be Happy!

Have a great sociable long weekend
1. Tell some good stories
2. Eat for your brain
3. Turn off the TV once and a while
4. Read something different
5. Play some games-scrabble, cranium, monopoly
6. Exercise your body in order to exercise your brain
7. Enjoy where you are at - for this point and time






                        Have a great weekend !

Do you need to make a change?

When anything you do becomes second nature, you need to make a change. The basic principles of brain fitness consists of variety and curiosity. If you can do a puzzle with your eyes closed or have a particular skill that becomes extremely easy then it's time for a new challenge so that your brain can have a real workout. You require curiosity about the world around you, how it is working and how you comprehend it. When you learn a new skill; your memory comes into play.

Become involved and integrated.

Perception, communication, emotion and empathy are all necessary for survival. Increase number of social events that you become involved in at your home or a gathering place. Become more integrated and involved. Attend some parties, classes and family gatherings. Join in conversation and also be a good listener. Start or maintain a hobby and develop friendships. Get together with family if you have family available or perhaps you could have small share in someone elses' family.

                                                  Family day is arriving.
Make some plans to socialize.....

Longevity boosters...

Did you know that positive attitudes affect longevity?  A low blood pressure will increase your years by 4. Low cholesterol readings also by 4 years. A good healthy weight anywhere from 1-3 years. Refraining from smoking by 14 years. Regular exercise by 1-3 years. Do not forget to smile on a regular basis. When was the last time that you permitted yourself time to focus on happiness for a period of time?

Did you smile today?

Dark chocolate will help make you happy. I think one small piece of chocolate once or twice a week is adequate for a person. Other medical authorities suggest that once a day is quite alright. Dark chocolate contains the super group of antioxidants named flavonoids. These are antioxidants found naturally in plants. That is why it is important to eat your fruits and vegetables.

Be Positive-Challenge #7 -Smile more often...

Did you know that how you perceive aging, affects how long you will live? People surveyed in a study with positive perception of their own aging lived 7 and a half years longer. This effect remained after other factors such as age, income, gender, health status and lack of socialization were controlled. Begin looking forward to aging while you are still in your younger years and it will have a tremendous affect on your life expectancy. People should get better,wiser and more mature as they age, but society prizes youth and beauty above all. Older people tend be more in touch with spirituality and the priorities which have great depth. Follow a simple, healthy lifestyle will enable one to preserve their health and energy for a long life.
This week I challenge you to 'Smile more often'-make the extra effort.          SMILE !   SMILE !

Weekend... Have fun..

Do not forget to enjoy yourself . Sometimes, you have to make an effort
re :socializing, physical activity,

weekend off---talk to you on Sunday....

Sense of smell..

Smell was the first sense that animal life developed and is also known as the most nostalgic sense. A particular fragrance can remind you of an experience in your past. Smell takes a direct route to the limbic brain. It is there that emotional memories are processed and where stress hormones do serious damage.
The sense of smell is the first sense to diminish in older folks. Unlike most senses,molecules of the object detected come in contact with the brain. Many of the essential oils create different emotions within the brain
and thus different consequences.

Go the extra mile... Challenge #6

Neurogenesis

The ability to generate new brain cells requires exposure to mental stimulation, nutrition, physical activity, socialization and spirituality. This occurs in the 'hippocampus' section of the brain
Could be a new language, a new skill or improve your skills in a subject by taking a more advanced course. Try a more difficult level of sudoko or crosswords than you are used to... Perhaps begin  knitting again, or work with your non dominant hand or wear your watch on the other arm for a week.Take  dancing or skating lessons. Buy a pedometer-10,000 steps daily and walk at least 10 km. a week. If possible and safe, try the stairs often(good for the cardio) or swim that extra length. I challenge you to go the extra mile...

Beware of life stresses... Challenge #5

Try and eliminate your life stresses. The differences between males and females are many; A major difference is that men 'fight' and woman 'tend'. 'Flight or fight'. Use the power of music, surf the web, participate in computer brain games and programs. You do want to avoid chest pain as it could affect the brain and the heart. Learn a new language, Travel in creative and different ways even to your own home. It's all called mental stimulation

A touch of Spirituality...

Challenge #4

For a start, perhaps you should be a little flexible and change your routine, break off old habits. Above all, keep a positive attitude. There are some people in this world that focus only on the bad before the good. A tip would be to steer clear of  those types of folks in our society. They can get you down. Time to begin to develop and maintain your 'sense of purpose'. Make sure you get plenty of sleep. Take at least 30 minutes a day to be 'Your time' when you do not perform any kind of task. Slow down.
Prayer  and or meditation daily if desired.

February challenge #3

This is a huge challenge-please work at it-you will begin to improve your diet gradually but it can be done..

Your challenge involves nutrition for brain and body health.

1. Firstly decrease your utilization of processed foods.

2. Increase your consumption of antioxidants.

3. Increase your omega 3's to 3 times a week- (fatty fish)

4. Eat with utensils-provides a healthier procedure for consumption.

5. Eat with friends or amidst people at least 3-4 times a week.

Good luck....

Saturday night off...

It's my night off....I am thinking of some more challenges for brain and body health..

Do you have plans for Saturday?

I sure hope you have some plans for Saturday. It is fun to look forward to a pleasant and interesting day ahead. If you visit a market or go to a show with a friend maybe you will go for a treat in the mall or maybe lunch or a dinner. You may meet an old friend or maybe you could just 'people watch'. Ask a friend to go for a walk and then maybe back to your place for tea or go to a craft sale, art gallery or museum. If you want to go window shopping or the real thing choose if you wish just for a quiet day or to meet someone else to go along with you..
Anticipation is an emotion made of pleasure and excitement. So remember to have a great day on Saturday.
I am meeting 'Seahorse','Unshelved', 'Alveus' and 'Aurora' for coffee and then we're going the market

to peruse it for fresh green vegetables for the salad we are preparing and taking to a fund raising potluck.

February Challenge # 2

# 2 challenge- I am a big fan of 'Sudoko'- you must try to challenge your brain with a puzzle that you have to really work at it-in other words -more difficult than previously attempted and completed.
Complete a brain puzzle today such as:

1. sudoko

2. crossword puzzle

3. anagram

4. begin a jigsaw puzzle

5. word jingles

Good luck and have fun.....

Let's get physical !

Exercise can improve your cognitive health.
Choose one or two tips listed below- to get you on the move during the month of February,
1. Go for a walk daily (7000 - 10,000 steps )
2. Take the stairs carefully instead of elevator or escalator.
3. Move around during commercials on TV. Turn off your TV a little more than usual
4. Scrub your floor,clean your windows
5. If you have a bicycle -use it safely
6. Go dancing or take lessons of an active activity

You will be activating your brain such as; improving your memory, maximizing your attention span and thinking faster. I will be back tomorrow... another challenge...
Do not forget about the groundhog tomorrow AM