Roll Your Eyes

Want to feel less stressed? Roll your eyes!

Go ahead – roll your eyes. Now keep rolling them with your eyes closed for about a minute. You’ll feel less stressed when you’re done. The trick is to roll them clockwise for 30 seconds, then switch to counterclockwise for another 30. Doing this actually stimulates connections between the two hemispheres of your brain – which leaves you more focused, balanced and relaxed.

Source: The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook

Super Baby

Babies are born with some amazing powers that we lose with age...

Did you know babies can read lips? It’s one of those special powers we’re born with that wears off with age. Because they can’t understand language yet – they have a special ability to decipher some of what you’re saying by sight. They can even read your mind – sort of. They are so tuned in to your expressions that they notice subtle changes that adults wouldn’t. Six month old babies were able to distinguish pictures of two different chimps that looked alike – even upside down. The adults flunked that test.

Another cool baby superpower is – perfect rhythm. At just a few days old, newborns noticed if a drumbeat was off by just a split second. We have that steady heart beat in the womb to thank for that – but some of us lose that gift once we’re out for a while.

Source: Istvan Winkler, National Academy of Sciences

Skip the Multivitamin

Do you really need to take that multivitamin? Nope - according to some new research...

If you force yourself – and maybe your kids – to take that multivitamin every day, you may be off the hook. New research is suggesting that they don’t really help. According to scientists at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, multivitamins failed to prevent cancer, heart disease, and all causes of death in the group that they studied. Kids who took multivitamins did not perform any better, or have any fewer sick days than kids who didn’t take them. A lot of doctors agree, siting multivitamins may give people a false sense of security – and that they are no substitute for a healthy, well balanced diet.

Some experts even say we’re getting too much of what we don’t need with a multivitamin – and that we’re better off checking with our doctors to determine exactly what we need.

Prevention Magazine

Packing Up Summer

Do you really need to store that patio furniture for the winter months?

As most of our socializing moves indoors for the winter – does the patio furniture need to move with us? It depends. Aluminum patio furniture can be left out year round. Just be sure to drain any water out of the frames before covering it. Wood can stay outside too – but you don’t want to cover it. That traps in moisture which leads to mold and mildew. Here’s what you DO want to move inside: wicker, steel, fabric and stone. Wicker and natural stone will expand and contract with the changing temperature which leads to cracking. Steel products usually rust – and most fabrics will just fade and wear too much if left out year round.

Brace for Impact

Are you prepared for a disaster? Survival skills – from real survivors...

 

Most of us won’t land on the Hudson, or get trapped in a mine – but it’s good to have a plan anyway. In order to increase your odds of surviving a crisis there are some basic steps to take. Dorothy Firman, author of “Brace for Impact,” tells us what they are:

• Take a basic safety or survival class - or find a refresher course online. In a disaster, it’s usually someone with training who stays calm and takes charge.

• Pay attention to your surroundings. Count the rows to the exits on an airplane, train or bus – every time - and take note of emergency postings in hotels or buildings. Have a plan AND a backup plan.

• Keep your plans flexible. Survivors often need to change their strategy throughout a disaster.

• Take action. Most survivors think - What can I do? - as opposed to - Why is this happening to me?

• Reflect on your loved ones – or goals you have yet to accomplish in life. It reduces your odds of panicking or giving up. Most survivors report having a specific image or reason that inspired them to fight for survival.

Compliments to the Pilot

If you’d like to compliment the pilot after your flight – “Nice landing” is the thing to say.

Nice landing is probably the nicest thing to say to a pilot as you deplane. That’s because how they land a plane is a good indicator of a pilot’s skill. Most commercial pilots really appreciate the compliment.

If you’d like to know what NOT to say to a pilot – that would probably be asking them for directions as you walk through the airport. Just because they’re in uniform, doesn’t mean they have all the answers.

Source: Commercial Pilot, Joe d’Eon

Uses for Hair Conditioner

If you’ve got a bottle of hair conditioner you’re not crazy about – don’t throw it away!

 Hair conditioner is a good thing to have on hand – and not just for your hair. If you’ve got a bottle of it you don’t use in the shower, hang on to it. Good Housekeeping has a list of other things it can do:




• Polisher. Hair conditioner is great to shine golf clubs, faucets, even pots and pans or appliances – anything that’s stainless steel. Rub it on, then off with a soft cloth.
• Duster. It’s great for removing dust from the leaves of house plants. It seals in some moisture and gives them a nice shine too.
• Makeup remover. A dab of conditioner on a cotton ball removes makeup just as well as pricey makeup remover.

• Lubricant. Use hair conditioner on a stuck zipper, or to remove a stuck ring from your finger.

• Shoe shine. Applying a coat of conditioner to your shoes and boots protects them from salt and chemicals in the winter – and it’s a great leather conditioner year round.

IRS Calling...

Would you know what to say if the IRS called?

The IRS has a new approach with audit notifications – an unexpected phone call. Notifications used to be sent by mail - and we weren’t caught quite so off guard. Here’s what you need to do if you ever get that call:

Take down the IRS agent’s contact information. Then say that you are represented by - or will hire - a tax preparer or lawyer who will be in contact. That’s it. Say no more.

Handling the call like this protects you in two ways. Some people say more than they should if they are caught off guard. Also, in some cases, calls like this could be a scam. It’s in your best interest NOT to supply the caller with any personal information.

Source: Mark S. Heroux, JD, Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP

Type D Personality

Are you a type D personality? If so – it’s not a good thing...

Type A and B personalities are pretty well defined – but what about those type Ds? A type D personality can have a serious cause for concern. The D stands for distress - and some people are chronically in it. Psychologist Johan Denollet describes a type D personality as Eeyore – the sad, self-conscious donkey in Winnie-the-Pooh. Type D personality traits include social inhibition, negative self-image, depressed mood, anger and hostility. Type Ds also tend to have poor health habits and avoid medical checkups.

If you or someone you know is a type D, then it’s time to seek professional help. Techniques such as guided imagery, meditation and yoga have been found to be pretty effective for managing mood, stress and hostility in type D personalities.

Addicted to Love

Are you addicted to love? Some people really are...

There IS such a thing as love addiction – and it’s not much different than a drug or alcohol addiction. It’s hard to spot at first, in a new relationship when it’s normal to be infatuated with each other. However, if the relationship hits the rocks, someone addicted is bound to struggle more. The symptoms are similar to any withdrawal. If you’re craving that person, experience physical pain being away from them, and it’s taking over other aspects of your life, you’re addicted.

And it’s not just for teenagers - it can happen at any age. Short term chemical therapy can help, but many people stay on it too long – and experts say that can be dangerous with an addictive personality. Conventional psychotherapy is still the safest and most effective way to deal with a love addiction.

Long Hot Bath

When is the last time you took a bath? A good long soak can put a shower to shame…

There’s no doubt that a shower is convenient and can take a lot less time than a bath. But if you’ve got a tub – consider a good long soak. Sitting in a steamy bath for 20 minutes rids your body of 22% more pollutants. Hot water dilates the pores and blood vessels, helping toxins escape. 

A hot bath can also boost your immune system, reduce stress, and improve circulation. Enjoy a good book or some music, add some bath oils or salts and submerge all your senses.

Source: Environmental Health Center, Dallas

Not Just Friends

Are you behaving yourself online? We’ve got a list of things that could mean trouble...

Infidelity is nothing new – but some of the lines have been blurred where online is concerned. So how do you know if you’ve crossed the line? Answer these questions:

• Would you be upset if your partner saw that email?

• Would it be awkward taking that call in front of your partner?

• Do you need to delete your Internet history before signing off?

• Would you be uncomfortable sharing ALL your email addresses and passwords?

According to Shirley Glass, author of “Not Just Friends,” if you answered yes – trouble is brewing. She says, in a healthy relationship there should be nothing to hide, even online. The moment one person starts flirting with secrecy, is the moment the problems begin.

Feline GPS

The whiskers on a cat are pretty high-tech...
A cat’s whiskers are pretty amazing things. They’re like built in navigation, mood indicators and measuring devices. They’ve got the whiskers on their face – and a few more sets on their eyebrows, chin and on the back of their front legs. They’re rooted deep near nerves and blood vessels and are so sensitive that they can detect the slightest directional change in a breeze. The reason a cat can slink through a dark room without bumping into anything is because those whiskers detect a change in air current when an object is near.

The most valuable function of those whiskers to a cat – is as an automatic measuring device. They’re roughly as wide as the cat’s body. You’ll see a cat test a space a few times with its whiskers before determining if it’s a good idea to enter.

Interview Warning!

There are some job offers you might want to consider turning down...

A job interview is not just a chance for a potential employer to like you - it goes both ways. Here are a few interview red flags to watch for:

• Off-site interview. If the company has a local office but the interviewer insists on meeting you elsewhere, there's a good chance they've got something to hide about the work environment.

• The interviewer is late. Most companies treat good candidates with MORE care than actual employees. Someone who has trouble squeezing you in may also have trouble in giving you proper training and feedback once you get the job.

• Group interviews. This can be an indicator of lazy managers who don't take hiring policies seriously. It's easy to overlook quiet, efficient candidates in a group setting that often has a loudmouth or two.

• Badmouthers. An interviewer who openly complains or badmouths the company you're interviewing for, is likely to do the same to you behind your back.

Source: Dimitri A.C. Ly, Career Advisor

Taking Credit from a Baby

Have you checked your child's credit lately? There's a scary new trend in identity theft - and we'll tell you what to look for...

Identity thieves might be posing as your kid. Babies and young children are easy targets because they're usually not using their social security numbers yet - and probably aren't checking their credit. Jeff Lanza, retired FBI special agent, explains that thieves generate numbers that aren't active - those usually belong to kids. They take those numbers and sell them to crooks that rehab their own credit using that number. The frauds then open lines of credit and charge cards to buy big ticket items that your child might not know about for years.

To find out if your child's number has been used, run a credit check on the social security number. You can do it for free at annualcreditreport.com.