Living Well IDEAS
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Living Well IDEASWant to live long, live well, and live happy? We got IDEAS for you!
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Amy Blankson is the CEO of Fearless Positivity and author of The Future of Happiness. She believes that “no matter where your baseline for happiness is today, you can always increase your overall happiness level.” In this article, Blankson offers some insight into simple ways you can inject positivity into your day.
(BPT) - Work demands paired with family demands make modern life extremely busy. Meetings, deadlines, housework, kids' homework, practice and much more all vie for your time. What's the secret to keeping on top of it all? Research shows the power of positivity can work wonders in managing stress, staying productive and boosting happiness. Four out of five people agree positive thinking can help improve their lives and start the morning off on a positive note, according to a recent survey of American workers to gain insight into the impact of positivity in the workplace conducted by The Original Donut Shop Coffee. The good news is that a resounding 88% of Americans consider themselves positive people, but they think there is room for improvement. In fact, 69% wish they could be even more positive! “Positive individuals are three times more creative, 31% more productive, and 23% less fatigued,” says Amy Blankson, CEO of Fearless Positivity and author of “The Future of Happiness.” “No matter where your baseline for happiness is today, you can always increase your overall happiness level.” Blankson offers some insight into simple ways you can inject positivity into your day: Set intentions early Take a moment to shift your focus in the morning. What do you want to get out of your day? It’s so easy to fall prey to the tyranny of urgency. Hold the emails, texts, calls and messages and spend just 2 minutes grounding yourself in a positive practice like meditating or journaling. You'll set yourself up for greater happiness in the long run. Get creative If you feel like you don't have the time or discipline to keep a gratitude journal, try looking for a "gratitude trigger." For instance, every time you stop at a red light, say one thing you are grateful for. This habit is great to pass time on commutes and is also a good practice to share with your children when they are in the car with you. Think to the future Try saying "future-forward gratitudes" in the morning. These are the things you are excited about for the day ahead, such as a meeting, lunch or special project. This practice helps prime you for positivity during the day and gives you an anchor point for reflection at the end of the day. Connect remotely While more people are working from home, 45% of them consider themselves a positive person versus 75% of people who work in the office, according to the survey. One way to stay connected and spread positivity with coworkers when you’re not in the office is by taking a few minutes each day to text, email or call a coworker to thank them for something they did. Move beyond off days Don't get hung up when you have a negative day. The most important part of creating a new habit is having the courage to restart when you have an off day. Happiness is not a state of mind; it's a mindset that develops over time. The best way to elevate your mindset is by training your brain to look for positive information in the world around you that you might have missed. Pay it forward Individuals who pay it forward through praise and recognition express that they have greater feelings of happiness, satisfaction and relatedness. However, even more importantly, both givers and receivers inspire others to want to give, which creates a powerful network effect. Positivity sweepstakes Nearly seven in 10 people agree they have a co-worker that is very positive and helps them get through the workday, and almost 75% said they often receive appreciation from their coworkers, according to the survey. If you have someone who is always brightening your day, you can show gratitude by nominating them for a chance to win some great prizes. Here's what you need to do: Fans can visit brewpositivity.com between Oct. 28 and Nov. 22 to nominate a colleague for a chance to have their positivity rewarded. Twenty-five individuals will have a chance to win $200 and a one-year supply of The Original Donut Shop Coffee. For the kind nomination, the nominator will also have a chance to receive a one-year supply of The Original Donut Shop Coffee!
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 Nearly seven out of 10 cigarette smokers want to quit for good. Here's tips how - from ex-smokers! If you're still smoking and would like to quit, you're not alone. Nearly seven out of 10 cigarette smokers want to quit for good. Although each person's journey to a tobacco-free life is different, knowing what's worked for others could help you find what works for you. Participants from CDC's Tips From Former Smokers campaign share what worked best for them in their journeys to quitting smoking. (BPT) - Since the Surgeon General released the first report on smoking in 1964, the smoking rate among adults has decreased from 42 percent to 15 percent. Though great strides have been made, more than 36 million adults in the United States continue to smoke cigarettes, claiming nearly half a million lives a year and leaving 16 million others to live with an illness or disease caused by smoking. There are now more former cigarette smokers than current smokers in the United States, and more than half of all people who have ever smoked have quit, according to the CDC. If you're still smoking and would like to quit, you're not alone. Nearly seven out of 10 cigarette smokers want to quit for good. Although each person's journey to a tobacco-free life is different, knowing what's worked for others could help you find what works for you. Participants from CDC's Tips From Former Smokers campaign share what worked best for them in their journeys to quitting smoking. Choose a quit date and support team Tiffany Roberson, 35, of Louisiana started smoking when she was just 19, despite having watched her own mother, a smoker, die of lung cancer. Over the years, Roberson tried to quit multiple times but struggled to stay quit for good. When her own daughter turned 16, she was inspired to try again. This time, a combination of tactics helped her succeed.
Create accountability Beatrice Rosa-Swerbilov, 40, from New York tried her first cigarette at just 7 years old, and became a regular smoker at age 13. Although she had tried many times before, she quit for good after her 11-year-old son wrote her a letter asking her to quit smoking. Here are her success strategies.
Manage stress Amanda Brenden, of Wisconsin, began smoking in fifth grade and was a daily smoker by age 13. She would duck outside during the day - even during Wisconsin winters - to smoke. By college, she was smoking a pack a day. When she got engaged and found out she was pregnant, she tried to quit, without success. The stress of being a pregnant college student drove her back to cigarettes. Her daughter was born two months premature and today still struggles with asthma. Breathing problems like asthma are common in premature babies.
Substitute positive for negative James Fulton, 40, of New York, began smoking at 14 to emulate his father, a smoker who was well-respected in their community. When decades of smoking began to affect his health, Fulton created a plan for quitting that included replacing negative behaviors with positive ones. When he felt a craving for a cigarette, he used a nicotine patch or chewed sugar-free gum. He's learned to rely on exercise, becoming an avid cyclist and swimmer. Rebecca Cox-MacDonald, 57, of Texas, also found exercise to be helpful in quitting. Surrounded by a family of smokers, she started smoking as a teenager. Multiple events inspired her to try quitting a final time; her father died of a smoking-related illness, she watched the health of other relatives who smoked deteriorate, and she developed severe gum disease-a risk for smokers-that required her to get bone grafts and dental implants. She quit and committed to a healthier lifestyle that included regular exercise like running and getting treatment for the depression that had been a major factor in keeping her smoking. Conclusion The CDC's Tips From Former Smokers campaign brings together science-backed health information and quitting tips drawn from the real-life experiences of former smokers. For more information about how you can quit smoking, including tips from successful former smokers, visit the CDC's Quit Guide online. KEYWORDS
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