Healthy Living

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

We know a healthy lifestyle includes exercise as one of the six pillars of brain health, but what role does stretching play? Taking regular stretch breaks is one of the easiest ways to get your body moving. Check out this short video showing an upper-body stretch routine and give yourself some love. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

As I get older, I'm keeping my body active, but how can I stay young at heart? Well, it's all in the attitude, baby! No need to let gray hair and wrinkles keep you from feeling young and enjoying all the things that make you happy. Surround yourself with friends and count your blessings every day. Why? Check out this study that reports how feeling younger than your real age may translate to a longer life. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Most people have their own way to go about solving a problem. Some like to write down potential solutions, others will take a walk and let the issue noodle around in their brain. Read this article that describes a deceptively simple problem-solving strategy called the Five Whys. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Sometimes, we forget that a healthy state of mind is just as important as having a healthy body. Now, you can take advantage of Staying Sharp's month-long series of brain health challenges that focuses on building the foundations of mental wellness, with four distinct challenges to explore and take at your own pace. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Even small changes to the foods you eat can add up to help you meet your weight-loss goals. Here are five tasty, nutritional swaps that will cut hundreds of calories from your diet per meal, without leaving you hungry for more food. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

If you’re like most people, you turn to your friends for support during emotionally painful times in your life. Those close relationships might help you tolerate more than just breakups and bad bosses. Check out what this blog says about new research that suggests that your network of friends can help you tolerate physical pain, as well. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Well, one way is to start using these must-have food spices including ginger and saffron that not only add flavor to your favorite dish but can also help to stimulate those feel-good chemicals in the brain too. What's your 'go to' spice in life? Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

Summer is a great time to explore new foods, fresh from the farm. Skip the bagged lettuce and explore how you can turn tomatoes, onions and cucumbers into a fresh, garden salad. There are plenty of recipes waiting for you on Staying Sharp®, an award winning brain health program  and an AARP member benefit. Learn more today!

I remember listening to my grandparents complain about being cold in the house, so is it true that aging makes us feel colder? This article explains that the part of the brain that coordinates heat regulation in the body is the hypothalamus, but scientists are still working out the specifics of how, why and what role it plays in our changing perception of cold. Until then, the best way to beat the cold is to bundle up, turn up the thermostat, or perhaps book a flight to a warmer climate. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

We can all look back at moments in our lives when we needed to stay strong in the face of uncertainty. Now you can take advantage of a refresher in how to become more resilient in life. Listen to this audio interview with mental health counselor and AARP expert, Rachel Noble, as she shares how to become more resilient and why happiness is a choice.

You know health goals are worth the effort, but doing the work to achieve those goals might take some perseverance. That’s where pairing up with a buddy can help, so check out these 'How To' tips to get started. Why? Results from the study in this article suggest that with social support, people were 95 percent more likely to complete their workout programs. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

While staying safe at a gym took on a whole new meaning during the pandemic, if you're thinking about getting back to a fitness regimen this summer, you'll be wise to consider the more pedestrian dangers involving treadmills and bench presses — especially if you're over 50.   Check out these smart ways to avoid common mistakes that can lead to injuries.   How do you avoid injury while exercising? Share your tips with others now.   Strength training is also a great way to build muscle and bone density to avoid injuries. Learn more and get started today!

Onions, a staple in many cultures, are a nutrition powerhouse. This blog reports on a Harvard study that suggests that onions may help protect our brains as we age. They’re loaded with vitamin C, flavonoids, potassium and B vitamins. And it’s those B vitamins that may be beneficial for your brain. Visit AARP® Staying Sharp® for more brain health information.

JohnB won with this tip in our AARP Rewards Healthy Plate contest during Week 2, with a great tip worth sharing for all!  "Fresh foods only no more pre-packaged frozen meals loaded with chemicals and preservatives. Replaced with whole wheat pasta, faro, lentils and couscous. Goodbye to sugar and sweet desserts with every meal. We have replaced with fresh fruits and berries!"   Although our contest is over, you can still share your tip on what foods are good to eliminate for a healthy plate!   Check out The Right Way to Freeze Fresh Foods for Later to learn more about prolonging the life of your fresh foods and earn AARP Rewards points.