If you need to remember something – should you write it down or type it?

The next time you need to remember something important – write it down on paper...

According to handwriting researcher Anne Mangen, The process of reading and writing involves a number of powerful senses. When writing by hand, our brain receives feedback from our motor actions, together with the sensation of touching a pencil and paper. This kind of feedback is significantly different from what we get by touching and typing on a keyboard. Writing also takes longer for most people – and that gives the brain more time to absorb and process the important information.

Don’t invest in a big ticket item before checking the weather...

If you’re planning to buy something big, like a car or a house – check the weather first...

It can actually have a big impact on your choice. The phenomenon, known as projection bias, can influence purchases that we might regret later. A convertible car may look a lot more appealing on a warm, sunny day than the one we should be considering for gas mileage or other practical reasons. We may fall in love with that house with a fireplace on a gray or chilly day – and miss one down the street with a pool and central air.

It may not be as much fun, but experts say the best days to go house or car shopping are not bright and sunny ones. We’re much more likely to take safety and security features into mind on rainy days – and less likely to splurge on unnecessary features.

Having a bad day? Kiss someone...

If you're in a bad mood find the nearest person and kiss them...

A simple kiss releases powerful brain chemicals including endorphins and oxytocin. Just be sure to kiss the appropriate person to get the right kind of boost. Kissing someone you know and love will increase your sense of security and well-being. Kissing someone you normally wouldn't will have a different effect by stimulating your adventurous streak and boosting your energy levels. 

Be sure to get a good night's sleep before you get your flu shot...

If you've made an appointment to get your flu shot be sure to catch up on your sleep first...

Researchers at the University of Chicago say that the flu shot will be up to 50% More effective if you're not sleep deprived. 

Taking a nap before or after your shot won't help much. You really need to be well rested for several nights prior to your vaccination for optimal protection. 

Antibacterial products may lead to more allergies...

If you love antibacterial products, choose them wisely...

A report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology suggest some of the ingredients in antibacterial products such as soap, toothpaste and mouth wash could make kids twice as likely to develop food or environmental allergies. 

Experts say we should avoid using too many products with the ingredient triclosan, which they think may interfere with development of the immune system in children. 

A lot of older adults are sun-downing. What it is and why it’s dangerous...

You’ve heard of sleepwalking – but what about sun-downing? 

According to Dr. John Whyte, author of “Is This Normal?” sun-downing is a condition that tends to occur in older adults. Similar to sleepwalking, sun-downers often wander about the house late at night. The difference is, sun-downers a not fully asleep. They’re partly conscious but confused and can even be combative.

Dr. Whyte says you can distinguish sun-downing from sleepwalking by the person’s degree of engagement. Sun-downers can interact with other people while sleepwalkers usually don’t. If you live with a sun-downer, you need to see a doctor. It can be a sign of early-stage dementia. Sun-downing can also be a side effect of medications such as antidepressants, sleeping pills or pain killers wearing off.

We’ve been seeing a lot of news footage of cars submerged in water. How to avoid buying one of those...

Countless cars were victims of Superstorm Sandy...

So what happens to them now? Unfortunately, a lot of them will find their way onto used car lots in the coming months – and they may be hard to spot. Consumer Reports has a few things to look for to spot a flood-damaged car:

• Check the seat-mounting screws to see if there is any evidence that they have been removed. To dry the carpets, the seats must be removed, not generally a part of normal maintenance.

• Inspect the lights. Headlights and taillights are expensive to replace, and a visible water line may still show on the lens or the reflector.

• Check the difficult-to-clean places, such as gaps between panels in the trunk and under the hood. Waterborne mud and debris may still appear in these places.

• Pop the hood and look for a telltale waterline on the sides and back of the engine. Places that are hard to access are less likely to have been cleaned.

• Look at the heads of any un-painted, exposed screws under the dashboard. Unpainted metal in flood cars will typically show signs of rust.

• Check if the rubber drain plugs under the car and on the bottom of doors look as if they have been removed recently. It may have been done to drain floodwater.

Are you afraid of spiders or clowns? How to deal with them...

“I DO believe in spooks, I do believe in spooks, I do, I do, I DO believe in spooks!” 

It seems that the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz was onto something. A recent study about phobias yielded some surprising results. Paranoid participants were asked to repeat specific phrases when faced with their fears. One group verbally affirmed their aversion. Another group used reasonable facts to calm their fears. The last group changed the subject completely. The results: The group that came right out and expressed their paralyzing perceptions, over and over, had lower levels of anxiety in the long run.

The researchers say that verbalizing our fears, repeatedly, is the most effective way to get past them. If you’re terrified of clowns:

• Don’t say: “The clown is just doing his job and can’t hurt me.”

• Do say, over and over again: “This hideous circus clown is creeping me out, and I’m afraid that he is getting way too close to me.”

Confirming your fears to yourself can be a lot more soothing than denying them or trying to convince yourself that there is something wrong with YOU.

Don't just clean your house - sing to it...

That broom can double as perfect microphone prop...

The next time you're sweeping the floor strike a pose and belt out of tune. Researchers at the University of California, Irvine, say that folks who sing while cleaning the house do a more efficient job. Singing loud or cranking up the radio will actually help you stay on task. Those who tried it even found themselves cleaning more aggressively in actual rhythm with the music

Is it better to take your aspirin in the morning or at night?

If you take daily aspirin to protect your heart you should really take that at night...

According to a Spanish study, aspirin therapy is more effective when you work it into your evening routine. Researchers say our bodies absorb aspirin too quickly in the morning to have an effect on our blood pressure. When taken at night, aspirin can help to lower your blood pressure and add a little extra protection against heart disease. 

Brace yourselves – holiday stress is right around the corner. What people are dreading the most...

Are you stressing out about the holidays yet? 

It sets in earlier each year, now that retailers start pushing the merchandise and decorations the day after Halloween. A recent survey by Franklin Covey asked over 15,000 customers what sets off the stress – and here are the results:

• 87% admitted they’re dreading holiday activities.

• 85% are worried about what gifts to buy.

• 77% fear overeating.

• 74% are afraid they’ll spend too much money.

• 50% blame their seasonal stress on holiday traffic and crowded stores.

• 15% are stressing out about taking time off from work or running out of time.

If you’ll be glad when it’s all over – you’re not alone. 49% confessed they'll feel relieved when it’s all over.

Cranberries are back! Why you should start using them up...

Cranberries are surfacing again in the produce aisle – and you should really pick up a bag or two...

They’re pretty, add a nice zing to many dishes – and are super good for us. Cranberries contain compounds that help prevent bacteria from taking hold in our bodies. And don’t forget the antioxidants. Cranberries are loaded with them and have more antioxidants than the most commonly eaten fruits. We should all be eating more of these little red gems that help protect us from heart disease and cancer.

Don’t be surprised if you see cranberries popping up in the dental care aisle too. They’ve been found to prevent plaque from adhering to our teeth and help to prevent periodontal disease. Several manufacturers are scrambling to get their cranberry pastes and mouthwashes on the shelves this season. 

Goodbye October, hello Movember! How women really feel about the hairiest month...

Movember is here again...

More men are skipping the shave this November to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues. So what do the women think? It’s good news for the guys who are growing. 80% of American women like the idea. 

If you’ve just started your Movember look, have fun with it. Any growth for awareness is what counts. Come December, you might need some grooming. Most women say they like a trimmed mustache and goatee the best. The full-blown beards are a bit too much, the chin strap is not quite enough and the soul patch is the least preferred.

What’s harder to resist than cigarettes and sex?

Would you rather abstain from sex – or from Twitter? 

According to a recent study, more people found it more difficult to go without social media than go without sex. Men and women, age 18 to 85, were asked to track their cravings on a smartphone for a week. At the conclusion of the study, the researchers calculated the results and found that the volunteers cited the pull of checking social networking sites, like Facebook and Twitter, stronger than that for sex, food, cigarettes, alcohol and shopping sprees.

The researchers say at the rate we’re going, social networking is likely to become a disruptive force for many to reckon with – and may take a similar toll on relationships, careers and mental health as alcohol, drugs and other addictive behaviors.

Straws Suck!

Have you heard? Seemingly harmless drinking straws are bad for the environment, your looks and your weight...

Plastic drinking straws have become an American sensation. Head into any European restaurant or bar and you’ll most likely be forced to drink your drink the old fashioned way – right from the glass. 

According to SimplyStraws.com, Americans sip through roughly 500 million plastic straws a day – and that may be a conservative estimate as it does not include the little straws attached to juice boxes and milk cartons. That’s a lot of plastic waste piling up in our landfills after just one use. If you’d like some inspiration to stop sipping from straws, here are 5 good reasons:

• Sipping from straws causes wrinkles. All that puckering just enhances those little lip lines.

• Drinking straws can leave you with gas and weight gain. We drink a lot faster through a straw and you’re swallowing more air with your beverage.

• Many plastic straws contain the toxic chemical BPA – which can leech into your beverage, especially if it’s warm.

• Plastic straws are not bio-degradable, not washable and shouldn’t be reused. What a waste.

• Many fish and birds are attracted to colorful drinking straws, with deadly consequences.