Health

It’s nearly impossible these days to focus on a task when you are barraged with constant stimuli — smartphones, social media, email, texts, to name just a few. Check out this article with 10 timely tips on how to cut down on distractions at home. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

When negative self-talk gets going, it’s so loud in your mind that reason and logic are drowned out. These mental exercises explore ways to shift focus from bad thoughts and appreciate your achievements and strengths. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® and take a brain health challenge.

When I heard the word 'fiber', I used to think 'boring taste.' But that was before I learned that foods like raspberries, avocados, artichokes, and sweet potatoes were on the list. For more great tasting, high-fiber foods, check out this video and then search on AARP® Staying Sharp®  for recipes with these ingredients. Have high-fiber day!

Need more energy, but don't know where to start? Try the AARP Staying Sharp® Fit & Fun 8-week Challenge. It's designed to help you build healthy exercise habits into your daily routine, establish attainable goals and build on and maximize each exercise activity. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more information and other challenges.

Making time for yourself will help lower your stress and anxiety levels. Find an activity you enjoy. Take a break by yourself. Sometimes just 15 minutes of alone time is enough to reset and re-center yourself, so you can handle everything you need to do. Find ways to clear your mind, slow your breathing and restore your inner calm. Some options include:   Reading a book Meditating Listening to soothing music Going for a walk Share ways you like to give yourself me time by leaving a reply.   Check out the other tips and kick that holiday stress to the curb!   'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #1 Plan 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #2 Set Boundaries 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #3 Moderation 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #4 Practice Gratitude 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #5 Exercise 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #6 Get Enough Sleep 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #7 Practice Kindness ‘Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #8 Spend Time

Kindness has been shown to increase self-esteem, empathy and improve mood. If your holiday season feels stressful or if your anxiety levels are high, try a random act of kindness. It doesn't have to be something big and extravagant. People who give of themselves in a balanced way tend to be healthier and live longer. Kindness can also be contagious!   Do you volunteer? How do you practice kindness?   Check out the other tips and kick that holiday stress to the curb! 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #1 Plan 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #2 Set Boundaries 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #3 Moderation 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #4 Practice Gratitude 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #5 Exercise 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #6 Get Enough Sleep 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #8 Spend Time with People You Enjoy   For additional brain health tips and tools, visit Staying Sharp now.

A strong network of supportive friends is good for your emotional well-being. Carving out time to spend with people you enjoy during the holidays will help lower stress and anxiety levels. Plan a game night, spend time outside by the fire, or have a zoom dinner. There are lots of meaningful ways to spend time with people that fill your cup.   Check out the other tips and kick that holiday stress to the curb! 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #1 Plan 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #2 Set Boundaries 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #3 Moderation 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #4 Practice Gratitude 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #5 Exercise 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #6 Get Enough Sleep 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #7 Practice Kindness   For additional brain health tips and tools, visit Staying Sharp now.

We all know that doctors are pressed for time, which sometimes can make it hard to have productive conversations. Make the most of your next medical visit with Staying Sharp's Seven Tips For Talking With Your Doctor and make sure your concerns are heard. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Believe it or not, remembering names is a skill that you can develop. You can be one of those people, too. All it takes is practice — like any skill that’s worth acquiring. In this Brain Health Challenge from Staying Sharp(R), you’ll learn about techniques and strategies for getting better with names and faces. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

The holidays can come with a lot of ups and downs when it comes to your mood. To lower your stress levels during the holidays, don't abandon healthy habits. Exercise can help boost your energy levels and lift your spirits. Try to include regular physical activity in your daily routine throughout the season.   How do you motivate yourself to exercise when you feel low or stressed? Getting started is half the battle. Once you've done that, notice how you feel after you're done working out.   Check out the other tips and kick that holiday stress to the curb! 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #1 Plan 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #2 Set Boundaries 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #3 Moderation 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #4 Practice Gratitude 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #6 Get Enough Sleep 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #7 Practice Kindness 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #8 Spend Time with People You Enjoy   For additional brain health

We all know that fresh fruit tastes good, but did you know that berries like raspberries and blueberries have antioxidants, which some studies suggest may positively impact cognitive decline? Check out this recipe for mini berry cream pies for a yummy snack! Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

As people grow older, they lose some of their financial literacy - their basic knowledge about money and related decision-making abilities. Yet their confidence in their financial abilities doesn't diminish, research suggests. Awareness of this blind spot can help you be less vulnerable to making poor decisions.   The best tip I received when it came to expanding my own financial literacy was to identify my spending habits/patterns. Becoming aware of my own patterns allowed me to then change my behaviors and focus on my ultimate goals.   What tips can you share that have helped you stay on top of your finances?

The days are getting shorter, which means the holiday season is almost upon us. Oftentimes, the holidays are accompanied by unwelcome guests - stress, depression and anxiety. They require a dizzying assortment of demands - cooking, shopping, decorating, cleaning, and entertaining. And with the continued COVID-19 pandemic, you may be feeling additional stress and anxiety, or worrying about your loved ones' health.   But with some useful tips, you can minimize the stress that comes with the holidays. Follow along for a new tip every week. You may end up enjoying the holidays more than you thought you would ❤️   Tip #1: Plan A lot of moving parts must come together for holiday celebrations. For those of us that will be hosting or helping with get-togethers, don't fret! Sometimes the tasks involved with planning for a party can overwhelm and negate the fun a party can bring. Before you even start your to-do list, Priya Parker, a group facilitator and author of

Gratitude is a powerful tool that can help relieve stress, especially during the holidays. Research has found that simply feeling grateful, even if you don’t necessarily share those feelings with anyone, can boost your mental health in the long run and have lasting effects on the brain.   Don't save your gratitude just for Thanksgiving! Making gratitude a daily practice will help you reap the full benefits. One way to regularly practice is to keep a gratitude journal. It doesn't have to be time-consuming, just 10 minutes a day can shift your consciousness and help you feel happier.   Do you practice gratitude regularly? What other ways do you incorporate gratitude into your daily life?   Check out the other tips and kick that holiday stress to the curb! 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #1 Plan 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #2 Set Boundaries 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #3 Moderation 'Tis the Season to Curb Stress: Tip #5 Exercise 'Tis the Seaso

We all know that dreaded moment when you agree to one commitment too many. You can’t think of a good way to say no, so you say yes, and immediately regret it as your stress level rises. That's why setting boundaries is so important. Saying yes when you should say no can leave you feeling resentful and overwhelmed. Family, friends and colleagues will understand if you can't participate in every project or activity.   Thinking about setting boundaries is oftentimes easier than actually setting boundaries with others, especially when your M.O. is being agreeable. One tool I like to use is the 3-second yes.    The next time someone asks you for something, make it your intention to wait 3 full seconds before saying yes. It might feel awkward at first, but this countdown will help your stress or nervousness settle. It gives you time to respond rather than react.   Use the time to think through 3 very important questions before you say “yes”: ●︎ Do I&nb

Stress isn't the only thing that becomes more abundant during the holidays. Extra food and lots of booze are everywhere too, which means we are more likely to eat and drink mindlessly than mindfully.   Incorporating fresh, seasonal produce into your holiday meals is one way to keep yourself nutritionally satisfied. Plus, you don't have to feel too bad about overeating vegetables! There are lots of healthy and nutritionally dense ingredients and dishes that can bring you comfort and joy.   Practicing mindful alcohol consumption can be challenging, especially when we are in a celebratory mood. Limiting your alcohol intake is associated with good health. To be mindful, focus on the when, where, why, how much and how quickly you drink. Notice how each drink affects your mood, body, behavior and thoughts. Pace yourself, try having one drink per hour, and have a glass of water in between each drink.   Check out the other tips and kick that holiday stress to the curb! 'Tis the

Scientists have been telling us for years how beneficial yoga is for our mental and physical health, but how does doing yoga achieve these benefits? Read this blog that details how studies suggest that regularly doing this popular mind-body practice may help reduce age-related mental decline. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Grocery shopping habits changed a bit during the pandemic. Many are spending less time in the store and shopping less frequently. Grocers have started using some sly tricks to get you to spend more.   To avoid falling for those tricks, it’s wise to have a grocery budget and to stick to it. Here are some simple tips to follow to set your budget:   Track your current spending – First, you’ll need to figure out what you are spending on food to decide what you should be spending on food. Avoid eating out, unless you’ve budgeted for it – Frequently eating out is a quick way to ruin your grocery budget. Set a limit and adhere to it. Plan your meals – Ensuring you have a purpose for each item you buy will help you avoid food waste. Not every meal has to be a fine dining experience, don’t be afraid of keeping things simple. Keep a fridge grocery list – Keeping a magnetized notepad on your fridge enables you to write down items you need as you run out. Stick to your list when you are

I have no stress around the man made holiday season. I read my Bible and I have never read that Christ was born in December 25th. It is all about money, and not the true reason of Christ. I try to live the love of Christ every day. Not on one day of the year.✝️😊

Looking at old photos can help trigger past memories, and y'all shared so many remarkable and special memories during our first ever Memory Contest, especially when it came to TV Dinners! I had so much fun reading your replies. One of my favorite tv dinner memories came from @slywlf54: As a kid, growing up in a 6 flight walk-up on the east side of Manhattan, we were too poor to get these often, so they were always a treat. Mom, sad to say, was - shall we just say - an indifferent cook, at best. Everything was always over-cooked to dry tastelessness, and minimally seasoned. Also, these happy little trays contained dessert - an otherwise seriously rare event. Eventually, I grew up enough to take Home EC, and take over much of the cooking - a relief all around - but while I haven't had one in years, just the thought is a bright spot in an otherwise dingy memory.   Let's keep the nostalgia going ⬇️ Do you remember these knobs? How would you caption this photo?&nbsp

There is always something to stress over…kids, the stock market, health-related issues, and the list goes on. Check out this article on managing stress that shares 4 simple strategies for keeping your mind healthy, positive and ready for new adventures. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Think you’re bad at remembering names? Well, it turns out you’re probably worse at remembering faces. You may be able to improve your ability to remember faces and names by using a simple strategy. How? When you meet someone new, simply focus on a facial feature that stands out to you. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

When I'm tired of making the same recipes, I grab my take out menus and place an order. Now you can make your own 'take-out' Vietnamese, Thai and Tex-Mex meals and you may save on calories and dollars with recipes found on Staying Sharp®, an AARP member benefit.

Did you know there are daily routines that could be undermining your cognition? Check out The 7 Worst Habits for Your Brain to learn more.   We’ve all been stuck in a rut before. It’s important to recognize that you’ve adopted an unhealthy daily habit to get yourself out of it. What do you do to alter your harmful behavior?   I’ve been trying to be better about checking my phone constantly. There’s so much going on and I often find myself overwhelmed, yet unable to turn away. It stems from my anxiety, and the habit is triggered by certain newsworthy happenings. On way I’ve been training myself to curb this habit is by setting boundaries with social media. I leave my phone on another table, on silent and facedown when I’m working to avoid getting sucked in. When something anxiety-inducing happens, I take a walk outside to process and clear my mind.   Share ways you’ve kicked bad habits by leaving a reply. Learn additional ways to take control of your brain health with Sta

Yoga is everywhere these days, and there's a reason for that! It provides copious amounts of health benefits and comes in a variety of levels and styles to suit any age or mobility.   Here are 5 surprising health benefits that come from practicing yoga:  Research shows that yoga offers a better way to ease depression and anxiety than walking as a form of exercise. It helps ward off age-related cognitive decline in important areas of the brain. Yoga poses and meditation also boost recall ability and other cognitive skills, according to a study published in the May 2016 issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. Adding yoga to migraine treatment may be more effective than medication alone at reducing the severity and frequency of these often incapacitating headaches. Yoga can be used as a tool for healing past trauma. Learn more about the health benefits of yoga and find additional ways to manage stress and deal with life's setbacks with Staying Sharp®, an aw