Grattitude is Attitude

You likely say "thank you" several times a day - to the barista pouring your coffee, to the co-worker holding the elevator door or to the cashier handing you a receipt. But what does it mean to be truly thankful or to live a life of gratitude? Gratitude is an attitude - a sense or appreciation to the gifts in your life, from the basic comforts of a home to the people who are important to you .

Research shows that practicing gratitude can make you happier and healthier emotionally and physically. This happens in part because thankful people tend to take better care of themselves by exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet and seeking regular medical care. Expressing thankfulness also builds positive feelings that are supplied in part by oxytocin, a hormone that prompts feelings of goodwill, empathy and kindness.

In addition, a study conducted suggest that the positive personal attrib- utes linked to expressing gratitude may actually help prevent heart disease.

Researchers have also found that people who regularly express their feelings of gratitude tend to:

 

• Get more and better sleep at night
• Spend more time exercising
• Have fewer headaches, nausea, pain and other physical symptoms of illness
• Be more alert, attentive, enthusiastic and energetic
• Have greater resistance to illness
• Experience less stress
• Have a greater sense of well-being
• View life as pleasurable, interesting and exciting

 

If practicing gratitude doesn't come naturally to you start by calling a friend to express appreciation for your friendship, writing a short thank-you note or tak- ing a few minutes each night to reflect on the gifts in your life. Changing your behavior in this way can change your attitude and feelings!

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Shrink your waistline & Grow your family time.

There has been an increasing trend in the Unites States toward comsumerism, a trend that is reflected in more people eating out, and the use of convenience and functional foods. Fast-food restaurants have become very common. The growth and popularity of fast food has come to be known as the "McDonaldization" of America. In the United States, eating in these restaurants has decreased slightly among heavy users in the 18-34 age group, but has increased among other groups.

You may ask, How can these trends be reversed? One step is to start eating dinner at home. Saving money by NOT dining out has it's obvious advantages, but the are other noteworthy benefits of making the choice to cook at home are listed below.

 

1. Healthy Lifestyle- Overall cooking at home is much healthier than dining out. Food consumed at restaurants typically has a lot more calories and fatthan food you may prepare at home.

2. Lower Health Care Costs- Consumption of fatty and high caloric foods can lead to diabetes and heart disease, among other health issues. Eating healthy will save you a lot of money on healthcare related costs

3. Family Time- constantly on the run eating out contributes to losing quality time with loved ones.

4. Knowing What You Eat- For anyone with food allergies, worrying about whether food is accidentally cross contaminated would be a concern. Cooking your own food at home alleviates any doubts as to what your are truly eating.

5. Reducing Temptation- Anyone who desires to change their eating habits dread dining out with friends.

6. Increased Energy- Eating in allows you to plan out healthier meals. Buy healthy so you eat healthy! Focus especially on green vegetables for increased energy

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Back to the Basics

The joys of grilling, vacationing, spending time with family, going to amusement parks, beaches and relaxing provides a great feeling. Unfortunately, summer is coming to an end. It's time to get ready to turn the clocks back, refocus by developing and enforcing a daily regimen. The following tips will help the entire family maintain a healthy lifestyle.

 

Eat Healthy

• Eat a variety of fruits, vegetable and whole grains everyday

• Limit foods and drinks high in calories, sugar, salt, fat, and alcohol.

• Eat a balanced diet to help keep a healthy weight.

 

Be Active

• Be active for at least 2½ hours a week. Include activities that raise

your breathing and heart rates and that strengthen your muscles.

• Help kids and teens be active for at least 1 hour a day. Include

activities that raise their breathing and heart rates and that strengthen their

muscles and bones.

 

 

Protect Yourself

• Wear helmets, seat belts, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

• Wash hands to stop the spread of germs.

• Avoid smoking and breathing other people's smoke.

• Be ready for emergencies. Make a supply kit. Make a plan. Be informed.

 

Manage Stress

• Balance work, home, and play.

• Get support from family and friends. • Stay positive.

• Take time to relax.

• Get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. • Get help or counseling if needed.

 

Get Check-Ups

• Ask your doctor or nurse how you can lower your chances for health prob-

lems based on your lifestyle and personal and family health histories.

• Find out what exams, tests, and shots you need and when to get them.

• See your doctor or nurse as often as he or she says to do so or her sooner if

you feel sick, have pain, notice changes, or have problems with medicine

 

Find more useful articles like this at DRM International Learning Center

 

Tips for Getting Rid of Stress

Who You Gonna Call?

Stress Busters!!

 

Here are a few simple things you can do to relieve stress in your life.

 

Simplify - Cut your "To-Do" List in half. Prioritize.

Give Away your Cape - If you have not figured it out by now you ARE NOT a super hero possessing super- natural capabilities. Surrender to limitations and conditions.

Laugh - Humor can heal; besides it's fun to do. When a person laughs the autonomic nervous system takes a break allowing the hear to relax. Laughter also boosts the immune system.

Stop Juggling - In today's society multi-tasking in inevitable; however your are not a circus performer. Once again prioritizing and time management is the key.

Think Globally - This doesn't mean take a oversees trip, although traveling can be relaxing. Compared to other problems in our world today like poverty, famine, and disease, the things we stress about can be pretty minor.

Shift your perspective. There can be worse scenarios so don't beat yourself up if you for get to complete a task.

 

Get more tips and information at DRM International Learning Center. DRM specializes in Home Health Care and CNA Certification Training

 

Back to Work Smiling

It's amazing how someone can put a smile on your face after a long, hard day at work. And, the last place you expect to be greeted with a smile is at a super store, especially by someone who should

be living happily in retirement. Some, however, take the new job of greeter very seriously...with a huge grin on their faces. They can make the stress and strain of a hec- tic day melt away like wax on a lit candle as they warmly welcome you into the bustle of places like Meijer and Walmart.

Often, you can walk into one of these mega shops and experience a respite from life's grind when they say, "Hello," and hand you a shop- ping cart or sales flyer. They seem to really mean it, and it's refreshing. Next time you're at Sam's Club or one of the other super stores, and the greeter welcomes you, take a moment to drink in the greeting and offer a smile in return

- From the DRM International Learn Center Archives

Working After Retirement

Have you given any thought to what you're going to do to oc- cupy your time once you retire from your primary occupation? Many people look forward to having an opportunity to retire, only to realize that they were really much happier when they were gainfully employed. More and more, retirees are choosing to pursue new occupations following retirement.

There are many reasons why retirees choose to go back into the work force. Many miss the mental stimulation of work responsi- bilities and contacts. It isn't unusual for retirees to spend a significant amount of traveling, golfing, and pursuing other hobbies only to find themselves bored and ready to go back to work. For some people, returning to work after retiring is a simple matter of financial ne- cessity. Others may be able to support themselves on their retirementincomes, but miss having additional disposable income to use for travel and other extras.

Most retirees don't want to return to the same highly stressful, full time occupations they left, but still find the idea of con- tinuing to work during their retirement years to be very appealing. The good news is that the workplace is welcoming retirees back into the fold with open arms. As employers are facing the impact of retiring baby boomers on the labor pool, they are thrilled by the increasing numbers of skilled, mature workers who are ready to come back to work.

Progressive employers are restructuring positions so they meet the needs of retirees who want to return to work. In many cases, companies are offering retirees part-time hours, flexible scheduling, job sharing, and even home based job opportunities. Many companies provide computer training and on the job mentoring programs for retirees interested in mastering new lines of work. These accommo- dations make going back to work feasible and appealing to retirees who want to keep working, but not at the same pace as they did during their younger years.

 

There are many opportunities in the modern workplace for individuals who want to enjoy the benefits of retirement and the rewards of continued employment at the same time. Going back to work after retiring offers an opportunity for retired individuals to apply what they know in a new occupation, as well as a chance to learn new skills. Seeking a post-retirement career is a terrific opportunity to stay active and continue to earn money doing work that you enjoy while also maintaining a flexible sched- ule and the freedom to pursue other interests

 

 - Mary G. White, M.A., SPHR is the Training Coordinator for Mobile Technical Institute & MTI Business Solutions (http://www.mobiletechwebsite.com), where she specializes in human resources, management, customer service, public relations, and marketing training. She teaches open enrollment classes for MTI, provides on-site corporate training, and fre- quently speaks at conferences and association meetings. She is also the author of 101 Press Release Tips in the LifeTips book series. In addition to training, MTI provides a variety of consulting services, including custom database development and website solutions.

 

Exerpt from DRM Newsletter - September 2008 - From the Archive