The John Tesh Blog

So what's wrong with multi-tasking?

When we multitask, we get stupid.
These days, ask someone if they're skilled multitaskers, and the answer is almost always a resounding YES! It used to be a "buzz phrase" to use in job interviews, and we may feel proud of our abilities to handle so many things at one time!  Too many weeks, months, or even years of being an "awesome multitasker", and we may notice that life feels stressful all the time...not good.  While it's true that many of us are unwillingly pulled in a lot of different directions throughout our day, it's equally true that we should try to STOP.  Why?  According to Reader's Digest, when we multitask, we get stupid.  The brain slows down when it has to juggle tasks.

In one experiment, researchers asked adults between the ages of 18 and 32 to identify two images: colored crosses and geometric shapes, such as triangles. Seems simple enough, right? But when the participants saw colored crosses and shapes at the same time, they needed almost a full second of reaction time to press a button. Even then, they often made mistakes. If the participants were asked to identify the images one at a time—crosses first, then shapes—the process went almost twice as quickly.

Switching from task to task creates other problems. We can forget what we were doing or planned to do. The to-do list in our brains is known as working memory, and it keeps track of all the short-term stuff we need to remember, like an e-mail address someone just gave us.

But the contents of our working memory can evaporate like water in a desert; after only about two seconds, things begin to disappear. Within 15 seconds of considering a new problem, you'll have forgotten the old problem. In some cases, the forgetting rate can be as high as 40 percent. Workplace studies have found that it takes up to 15 minutes to regain a deep state of concentration after a distraction.

This squares with what researchers found when they looked at the work habits of Microsoft employees. A group of them took, on average, 15 minutes to get back to serious mental tasks, like writing reports or computer codes, after they responded to incoming e-mails. Why so long? Typically, the employees strayed off to reply to other messages or browse the Web.

In workplace cubicles, we're safe (most of the time). But out in the real world, multitasking can be dangerous. In 1999, the U.S. Army studied the effect talking on a cell phone had on driving ability. Its conclusion? "All forms of cellular phone usage lead to significant decreases in abilities to respond to highway traffic situations."  This was especially true for older drivers. The older we are, the harder it becomes to screen out distractions. The decline is noticeable after age 40.  And don't get me started on the life-threatening dangers of texting while driving, which may most noticeably distract teens.

What to do with our task filled, lots of balls in the air at once, anxiety laden lives?  This shouldn't surprise you:  Slow down. Multitasking can cause our error rate to go up, as our attention becomes divided. It makes sense to slow down and do things one at a time. The slower approach may actually be more efficient in the long run, and wouldn't it be a nice change in the day to actually feel in control of your time and tasks?

When you go to bed at night, make a list of the most pressing things that will fall on your next day, and be sure to prioritize them.  When you wake up, look at the list, and make sure that the "have to's" on it stay near the top, and the lesser items near the end.  Keeping your day a bit more organized can pay big rewards when you feel like you have good control over your time, your day, your life!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

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It's Monday. If you feel like it's FRIDAY already, maybe you need more sleep.

Ever hear of scheduling a good night's sleep?  Sounds kind of silly, I know, but it might be one of the smartest things you could do for your health.  Why?  Many of us are cheating ourselves out of much needed rest, and it's wreaking havoc on our health.  Between one  job- and these days perhaps two or more!, kids, aging parents, and a host of activities demanding our time, we end up skimping where we should never skimp:  our nightly rest.  From U.S. News and World Report, it's not just daytime drowsiness you risk when shortchanging yourself on your seven to eight hours. Possible health consequences of getting too little or poor sleep can involve so many components of our bodies and health. Here's how the research stacks up:

1) Less may mean more. For people who sleep under seven hours a night, the fewer zzzz's they get, the more obese they tend to be, according to a 2006 Institute of Medicine report. This is where the hunger hormones get out of whack. Leptin, which suppresses appetite, is lowered; ghrelin, which stimulates appetite, gets a boost.

2) You're more apt to make bad food choices, and because you're tired and your body is trying to get energy, you want to eat more to begin with! A study published recently in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that people with obstructive sleep apnea or other severely disordered breathing while asleep ate a diet higher in cholesterol, protein, total fat, and total saturated fat. Women were especially affected.

3) Diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance, its precursor, may become more likely. A 2005 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people getting five or fewer hours of sleep each night were 2.5 times more likely to be diabetic, while those with six hours or fewer were 1.7 times more likely.

4) How about your heart? A 2003 study found that heart attacks were 45 percent more likely in women who slept for five or fewer hours per night than in those who got more.

5) Blood pressure may increase. Obstructive sleep apnea, for example, has been associated with chronically elevated daytime blood pressure, and the more severe the disorder, the more significant the hypertension.

6) We talked about this one last week- your slow reaction time increases your risk of being in an auto accident rises greatly. A 2007 report in the New England Journal of Medicine cites that nearly 20 percent of serious car crash injuries involve a sleepy driver—and that's independent of alcohol use.

7) Your balance can get out of whack, too, and if you're older, you could be 2-4.5 times more likely to sustain a fall if you have trouble getting to sleep, wake up at night, or are drowsy during the day.

8) You may be more prone to depression. Adults who chronically operate on fumes report more mental distress, depression, and alcohol use. Adolescents suffer, too: One survey of high school students found similarly high rates of these issues. Middle schoolers, too, report more symptoms of depression and lower self-esteem.

9) Kids may suffer more behavior problems. Children who are plagued by insomnia, not enough sleep at night, or breathing problems (perhaps associated with obesity, for one), are more likely to have behavioral issues like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or behavior that simply resembles ADHD.

10) The last one is perhaps the most sobering of what your lack of sleep can do- long term, people who sleep 5 hours or less per night could be looking at a 15% greater risk of dying earlier, regardless of the cause.

This goes way beyond taking a weekend morning to enjoy sleeping in.  Turn the TV, the cell phone, or the computer OFF, and give yourself what you'll appreciate much more in the morning:  a great night's sleep.  Try it tonight.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Time to lose your most expensive habits!

We are, as no one in this country can avoid knowing, living in one of the worst economic times we've known since our grandparents and great-grandparents can remember.  But have your spending (and wasting!?) habits come up to speed yet with what you know?

To be fair, even the most careful of us can slip up from time to time and make painful and costly missteps. But what if you continue to leave for work with no foot to spare on the accelerator, consistently let healthy foods wither and rot in your fridge, or regularly forget to pay your bills on time and incurring late fees in the process? 

If any of the above sound familiar, and made you cringe even a little, then it might be high time for an honest self-assessment. MSNBC and The Today Show's following tips can help you break some stubborn and expensive habits for good:

Bad habit No. 1: Letting vegetables and other groceries go bad in your fridge. This is one of those areas of life that’s bad for both our wallets and our souls. We all know that it’s terrible to let food go to waste, especially considering how many people are going hungry all over the world. So why do we do it? Because we’re exhausted and we don’t feel like cooking, that’s why.

The remedy? Be realistic — not optimistic — about how many veggies and fruits you and other people in your household are likely to eat in a given week. Don’t buy too much, especially if you don’t have a game plan in mind about how to prepare everything you’re purchasing. Another possibility: Buy frozen vegetables that can be whipped up at a moment’s notice. It’s the guilt-free ticket to eating your greens without letting anything go bad.

Bad habit No. 2: Driving your car too fast. You may not be feeling the pain from putting the pedal to the metal right now, considering that gasoline prices have dropped so much. Watch out, though: Gas prices are sure to climb again, and that’s when driving like a hot-rodder can hurt. Aggressive driving, hard stopping and accelerating to stops can make almost everything on your vehicle wear out early, and  can also hurt your fuel economy.

The remedy? Train yourself to drive the speed limit, or at least as close to the speed limit as you can handle. Leave your house 10 minutes earlier so you won’t have to be in such a big hurry, and develop tricks for coping with the whole driving experience. Listening to something enjoyable or engrossing in your car can help you slow down and dwell on something other than the gridlock and bad drivers around you. Slowing down also can help you avoid the potential expense and hassle of a speeding ticket.

Bad habit No. 3: Hoarding airline miles and then forgetting to use them. This tip also applies to the various rewards points you’ve accumulated by using certain credit cards. Your miles and points are worth cold, hard cash. Why not make use of them?

The remedy? Resolve to spend a few minutes trolling around online and refreshing your memory about how your different mileage plans and rewards programs work. By the end of this process, you may realize that you’re owed flights to Cancun and a fancy steak dinner — free of charge!

While you’re at it, also remember to find out about any companion fares or buddy passes you may be owed through different airlines’ mileage plans. And if you had to cancel a flight in the past year, make a note on your calendar to use that flight credit before it expires on you.

Bad habit No. 4: Forgetting to cancel free trial offers, magazine subscriptions and other recurring payments that automatically get charged to your credit card. There are plenty of businesses out there that are counting on you to become forgetful or downright unmotivated after you place an order for a product or service. Such businesses benefit big-time if you forget to cancel something you meant to order on a trial basis only.

The remedy? Think hard before you activate a recurring-type service. With trial offers, a company may offer to: send you books, CDs or movies if you enroll in a club; send you the first three issues of a magazine and then charge you for a one-year subscription; or provide free Internet or phone service for 30 days before charging you. Remember to cancel in a timely manner if you don’t want the offer. Pop-up reminders on your electronic calendar can be your trusty friends in this arena.

Bad habit No. 5: Forgetting to pay bills on time. This is a surefire way to get walloped with finance charges and late fees, and to hurt your credit score at the same time. And if your credit score drops, you can find yourself getting locked into higher interest rates for just about everything.

The remedy? If you’re consistently running into this problem because you’re being hit with one bill right after another, you can ask to change your billing cycles to space out the due dates. Most creditors are willing to make such adjustments.

But if a hectic schedule or a lack of planning are to blame, then try turning to those pop-up reminders on your calendar again. Just take a few minutes each month to make notes to yourself about when key bills are due, because the consequences for late credit-card payments can be especially severe; pay past the due date just once and your interest rate can skyrocket to punishing levels.

Bad habit No. 6: Engaging in ‘retail therapy’ when you’re feeling bored or feeling blue. If shopping-for-stress-relief is your cup of tea, then this tip is for you. Sure, shopping can be an enjoyable diversion every now and then — but not when money is very tight. Then those fun-but-fleeting shopping trips will just add to your anxiety levels, especially when your credit-card bill arrives in the mail.

The remedy? Make up your mind to lay off the unnecessary shopping excursions for a while. Buy only what you need during this stressful period of time — not what you want. If you simply must get a little bit of shopping in, visit a thrift store and vow to spend no more than $10. Many thrift stores offer regular weekly deals that are unbelievably good. For instance, all clothes tagged with stickers of a certain color may cost 99 cents on a certain day of the week.

If you’re worried that your spending is so out of control that you can’t wrestle with the problem alone, try attending a Debtors Anonymous meeting. This 12-step program provides support and guidance the way Alcoholics Anonymous does. 

Bad habit No. 7: Paying for services that you might be able to do yourself at least some of the time. It’s unlikely that our Depression-era relatives would be able to comprehend the notion of paying other people to clean our homes, maintain our lawns, wash our cars, color our hair and paint our toenails and fingernails for us. Granted, you may have legitimate reasons for hiring people to provide a number of these services for you — or for your aging parents. But what should you do if services like these are beginning to bust your budget?

The remedy? In all of these areas, it’s important to know yourself. Would your appearance, home, yard and vehicle suffer from extreme neglect if you failed to pay for the above-mentioned services? If so, it may not be the best idea to make a ton of extreme lifestyle changes all at once.

But consider these questions: Could you save money by reducing the frequency of some of these services? Could you try handling these tasks yourself at least some of the time?

Bad habit No. 8: Buying stuff at top dollar without even trying to be a bargain hound. This tip applies to books, clothes, exercise equipment, outdoor gear … everything! It’s always possible to time a sale or buy something gently used for a fraction of the top-dollar price. Retailers are counting on you to make impulse purchases of nonsale items — but you don’t have to give in to that temptation.

The remedy? Here are several tactics for you to consider:

• Shop at the right time. The stores you love will have several big sales throughout the year. With some advance planning, you can time things so you shop only during the best sales.
• Shop online the right way. Visit the Web sites of your favorite stores and click on any link that says “sale,” “new markdowns” or “final clearance.” You could find items that used to cost $100 or more now in final clearance sections for $10 or $20.
• Hunt down additional discounts. When making purchases online, stay on the lookout for areas where you can enter a “promotional code,” “discount code” or “coupon.” If you spot such an option, open a Web browser in another window and do a quick Internet search for the retailer’s name along with the same catchphrase used on that retailer’s Web site. Your search could yield a coupon code that could help you save even more on your purchase.

Weekends can be very tempting times to overspend.  We're out running errands, making mental checklists of everything we'll need for the upcoming week, when out of the blue...whoa!  I saw that Spring jacket last week, and today it's on sale!  You get it- be careful! Don't start Monday feeling guilty or anxious about what you bought on Saturday!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Forgive your way to better health.

Imagine a common situation most of us have been in:  you're on the way to work; a car  comes out of nowhere, forcing you to slam on your brakes in order to avoid an accident, and you miss the exit you need to get to the office on time- when this particular morning, you have no time to spare.  Oooo...feel that familiar anger?  And what about the anger you may feel for a much greater wrong that you've experienced in your life?  Forgiveness is not an easy thing, and it is a powerful force, and worth whatever effort you put into it.

Research has shown that hostility increases risk for heart disease. But new research shows that forgiveness can moderate these dangerous effects on the heart. People who blame others for their problems have a higher incidence of chronic pain, cardiovascular disease and live with the sadness and negativity stemming from anger.  Fred Luskin, PhD and co-author of Forgive For Good:  A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness, spells out the two primary reasons forgiveness is so good for us in Bottom Line Secrets:

Forgiveness reduces chronic stress. Self-generated, chronic stress triggers negative physical changes, including increased blood pressure and heart rate and decreased immune function, all of which eventually lead to disease.

Forgiveness increases one’s sense of control. Feeling in control is crucial to health. It moderates the stress response because one is less likely to panic and overreact to situations. Feeling helpless can make you ill. When you learn how to forgive, you develop the emotional confidence to “get over” any difficulty.

DEFINING FORGIVENESS

Being forgiving does not require you to be an emotional doormat. You don’t have to condone an unkindness…forget that something painful happened…excuse poor behavior...and/or deny or minimize your hurt.

Nor does forgiveness mean that you must reconcile with an offender. Forgiveness is for you, not the offender. It prevents you from wasting energy by being trapped in anger. What then is forgiveness? It is the feeling of peace that you experience when you understand and accept that life doesn’t always give you what you want…that you don’t have to take a hurt so personally…that bad things need not ruin your present, even if they spoiled a part of your past.

HOW TO FORGIVE

Forgiveness is a skill. As with any skill, it requires practice to learn. Use these techniques to master forgiving…

Change the channel. First, take responsibility for how you feel. Even though you are hurt, try to appreciate the good in your life. Rather than rehashing your grievances, focus on gratitude, love and appreciation of beauty.

Imagine that what you see in your mind is being viewed on a TV screen. Perhaps you are stuck on the Grievance Channel. Reprogram your remote control to…

Gratitude Channel. As you wake up in the morning, give thanks for your breath and the gift of your life.

Love Channel. Look for people who are in love, and smile at their happiness. Call up a few close friends, and tell them you care about them.

Beauty Channel. Find a favorite spot in nature. In times of stress, remember what that spot looks and feels like.

Calm down. Learn to maintain your sense of peace in any situation, no matter how upsetting. A 45-second technique called Positive Emotion Refocusing Technique can calm you whenever you feel angry, hurt, depressed or bitter about an unresolved grievance or a relationship problem…

1. Bring your attention fully to your stomach as you slowly inhale and exhale for two deep breaths. As you inhale, allow the air to gently push your belly out. As you exhale, consciously relax your belly so that it feels soft.

2. On the third deep inhalation, bring to your mind’s eye an image of someone you love or a beautiful nature scene that fills you with awe or wonder.

3. Focus on the image and the resulting warm feelings, and notice that your belly is still slowly moving in and out.

4. When you feel relaxed, see if the part of you that is calm can allow you to see the situation differently.

Forgiving someone who has wronged you could end up being the greatest gift you can give to yourself.  Give yourself the chance to try these steps, and enjoy the freedom you'll receive.

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Yesterday, I was talking a little about the "fountain of youth", and steps we can all take to "visit" it more!  One of the tips, I bet you know this, is related to your daily diet- what's on our plate every day.  Dr. Mehmet Oz, on The Oprah Winfrey Show, related stories of amazing people living to be more than 100 years old!  What is prevalent is a Mediterranean, lean, plant-based diet, where meat is used basically only as a side dish. 

Like to get started with your next trip to the grocery?  Here are 10 foods that play a big role in your mind and body staying young, and can have you dipping into your own fountain of youth every day. 

Healthy Greens
How They Help
They contain folate, calcium, and other nutrients that support bone health, protect against cognitive decline, and help prevent age-related eye problems. Diets high in cruciferous veggies, such as broccoli and cabbage, help reduce risk of memory loss and cancer.

How to Eat
Crucifers and leafy greens like kale, escarole, and spinach make delicious additions to all manner of dishes, including stir-fries, salads, stews, and soups.

Whole Grains
How They Help
Rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, whole grains can lower the risk of age-related illnesses like cardiovascular disease and cancer. Because they're digested more slowly than processed grains, they also help prevent high blood sugar and diabetes.

How to Eat
Grains such as brown rice, quinoa, barley, oatmeal, and millet make hearty side or main dishes -- even breakfasts. They're more filling than a plain white bagel.

Berries
How They Help
Blueberries, blackberries, and cranberries are rich in antioxidant compounds known as anthocyanins, which have been shown to slow the growth of certain cancers as well as improve brain function, muscle tone, and balance.

How to Eat
Choose fresh berries when they're in season or frozen varieties year-round. Enjoy them alone as a snack, in salads and smoothies, or in cooked sauces.

Olive Oil
How It Helps
Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fat, olive oil figures prominently in the Mediterranean diet. It may explain the lower rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and age-related cognitive decline in people who follow this way of eating.

How to Eat
Take a cue from the Mediterranean diet and make olive oil your main cooking oil. Also use it in salad dressings or as a great dip for bread (skip the butter).

Tomatoes
How They Help
Certain red fruits -- including tomatoes -- contain lycopene, an antioxidant compound that helps maintain youthful skin texture and may reduce the risk of some types of cancer (especially prostate, lung, and stomach cancers) and heart disease.

How to Eat
For lycopene content, go for cooked tomatoes (in sauces and pastes) rather than raw. The cooking process creates a more concentrated source of this nutrient.

Nuts
How They Help
Varieties such as almonds and walnuts contain a generous helping of healthy fats, vitamins, and protein that benefit cardiovascular and brain health. Nuts are also high in compounds that ease inflammation.

How to Eat
Snack on 1/4 to 1/2 cup of nuts, preferably almonds or walnuts, four to five times a week. Keep in mind that peanuts are not true nuts; they're legumes.

Red Grapes
How They Help
Grapes offer an antioxidant called resveratrol that's been shown to extend the lives of lab animals. Resveratrol has anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant properties, which may explain why red wine and purple grape juice also help promote heart health.

How to Eat
Eat grapes or drink unsweetened purple grape juice. Don't start drinking alcohol for resveratrol, but if you like red wine and drink it in moderation, you'll get the benefits.

Fish
How It Helps
An important part of the Japanese and Mediterranean diets, oily fish provide omega-3 fatty acids that help combat inflammation in the body. People who eat several weekly servings of such fish have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease and stroke.

How to Eat
Choose fish that's less likely to be contaminated with mercury and other pollutants, such as wild Alaskan salmon, Alaskan black cod, and canned sardines.

Tea
How It Helps
It contains EGCG, one of the most powerful antioxidants known; of the various types of tea, white and green tea contain the most. Numerous studies have linked tea consumption to lower rates of conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease.

How to Drink
Choose organic tea, either loose or in bags. For the best protection, drink up to four cups daily. Avoid combining with milk, as dairy proteins may block tea's antioxidant activity.

Herbs and Spices
How They Help
Spices like turmeric and ginger contain anti-inflammatory compounds that may reduce the risk of age-related conditions like Alzheimer's. The antioxidant substances in garlic and onions may protect against heart disease and cancer; cinnamon may help lower blood sugar.

How to Eat
Get in the habit of seasoning foods liberally with herbs and spices. Enjoy turmeric in curry dishes, and use garlic and onion as a go-to base for soups and sauces.

Listen, my centurion wanna-be friend- no one said living to be 100 years old required a bland diet- try some, or all, of these to spice up your growing longer by the day life!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Spring cleaning this year: a family affair

Happy Vernal Equinox...or, as most of us like to say- Spring is here!  For many folks, these early days of Spring get us thinking about opening up the house after the long cold months, giving everything a good spit and polish, so to speak, and getting everything in the household organized.  Whew!  Tired yet?  I am, just thinking about it.  And if the Spring cleaning responsibilities usually fall on your already sagging shoulders, well- maybe this year we'll get by with just some good dusting and sweeping, and forget about the rest.  Time for reinforcements, my friend- in the form of your own family!  Dividing up chores among the whole family helps give everyone a sense of individual responsibility — and makes them more likely to help keep the house clean. 

Spring-cleaning your home can seem like too big a task to tackle — but you don't have to go it alone. Enlist the family! From clearing their calendars to organizing tasks, we've got tips for getting them involved. And did you know? Dividing up chores among the whole family helps give everyone a sense of individual responsibility — and makes them more likely to help keep the house clean.
Make it a date.
Prepare your kids — especially tweens and teens — for family cleanup day. Giving kids notice gives them time to clear their calendars, get used to the idea and understand that spring-cleaning is an important event that requires everyone’s cooperation and participation. On the big day, fuel up with a good breakfast, turn off the TV, mobile phones and computers, and gather the troops at a designated time!

Make it age-appropriate.
According to Los Angeles organizing expert Lynne Gilberg, CPO® (Certified Professional Organizer) and CPO-CD®, it’s important to keep chores appropriate for your kids’ ages. “Have young children work in ‘small bites,’” she says. “No more than 20 to 30 minutes at a time.” She suggests having youngsters take on easy jobs such as sorting. “Small kids are really good at sorting, so use containers and label them for kids to put items into.” On the other hand, older children can do everything from vacuuming to cleaning bathrooms.

Make it organized.
For kids who are old enough to read and take on more advanced tasks, create a list of chores for each room. Then clearly break down exactly what you want them to do and how to do it. Be prepared to patiently show what you need. This will help your kids stay on track and keep everyone from feeling frustrated about their progress and results. And make it easy for even the kids by making a "cleaning tool kit" for each room.  It's a lot easier to do an assigned task when the tools needed for the job are right there!

Make it fun.
Create team spirit by purchasing a matching set of colorful, inexpensive T-shirts and writing your names on them. Also, plan breaks and snacks throughout the day to give kids motivation. Along with your thanks (and hugs!) for a job well done, plan a treat to reward everyone for all their hard work. Gilberg suggests ending the day with a special family meal: “The whole family works together on this project on a spring day — have a picnic afterward and make it really fun.”

Of course, the best reward is knowing that everyone worked together to clean the house.  Now you're really ready to welcome and enjoy Spring!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

10 things you can do NOW to age well

The band and I have just gotten back from a fabulous string of concerts.  Thanks to all the folks who came out to share in our joy, and we hope you felt the same.  We'll be out again next month- check out the concert calendar to see if we're headed to you.  I love the inspiration and energy of the evening, wherever we are.  It is truly a passion for me, and what I want to be doing.  But I realize- when I gratefully return home to my family- it takes more out of me than it did a decade ago (okay, okay- give or take a few years.)  Could it be that I'm...gasp!...getting older?  Well, sure- we all are, every day of our lives.  But there are steps we can all take to take care of ourselves, because the "fountain of youth" isn't just a myth. Check out these 10 tips to help you look and feel good, no matter what your age!  

1. Have a positive attitude.

An upbeat outlook can keep you healthy by helping stave off illnesses, including depression.  This past weekend, I enjoyed sharing with our audiences studies we've come across through the radio show that show what happens to the levels of dopamine in someone's brain after 1, 2, or more hours of volunteering per week.  The results?  Levels as high, or higher, than levels achieved through pharmaceutical means!  I love it- a natural high in your brain from moving outside yourself for an hour that stays with you for a month!  Give it a try.  (I've got an idea for you on that in tip #8.)

2. Get money-smart.

If you plan to retire, estimate that you'll need between 70 percent and 90 percent of your pre-retirement income. Put together a comprehensive questionnaire that can help you identify the steps in the retirement process and practice smart financial planning.  Need help with that (who doesn't?)?  Ask trusted friends their recommendations for a trustworthy financial professional.

3. Learn something new every day.

Crack open a book or the daily paper, or take a class at a nearby community college to help keep your mind sharp and to learn about the ever-changing world around you.  Do your kids or grand kids have a hand held gaming system?  Try some of the newer brain challenge games- completely programmed to stimulate your mental reaction time.

4. Let it go.

Harboring resentment over long-past wrongs can hurt your health and your spirit. Write down the issue, fold it up and throw it out.  Allow yourself the realization that the person being hurt the most by your angry feelings is you.

5. Get fit and stay active.

It's only normal for our metabolism to slow down as we age, but that doesn't mean weight gain is inevitable. Check out The Mayo Clinic's daily calorie requirements, and stay active to help keep your muscles and joints, not to mention your frame of mind, healthy for years to come.  

6. Be sun-smart.

Before you go outdoors, make sure you're prepared with at least SPF 15 for your face and body. Reapply every four to six hours and protect your skin from premature wrinkles and even skin cancer.  And whether your skin is dry, oily, or something in between, it can benefit from a daily moisturizer as well.

7. Stay stylish.

You don't have to dress like you're 19, but having a crisp and contemporary appearance can help you feel current and fashionable. Ask a good friend to go shopping with you, and try on a few items that you feel might be too "young" for you.  Even better if money's a little tight for the more expensive department stores- a local second hand or thrift store, where you can find gently used fashions at a fraction of regular prices.

8. Get involved.

Building up a strong social network can be crucial to good health. To stay active and connected to your community, try volunteering or joining a social group of your interest.  If you could use some ideas about finding a charity that would be most compatible with special skills or interests you have, please tour around our Intelligent Kindness Network.  And then really please- come back and tell us your story! 

9. Eat right.

Saturated fats and trans fats are linked to heart disease, cancer, weight gain, and, yes, even wrinkles! Research also shows that some of these not-so-great choices in our diet can keep us from getting enough sleep!  So clear your pantry and fridge of foods that you know are unhealthy and start making healthy choices at the store.  Pretty easy segue into our last tip...

10.  Sleep!

A lack of sleep puts us at risk- period.  From everything to an increased risk of heart disease (see tip #9), a higher risk of automobile accidents, to a 15% greater risk of premature death.  Get your zzzzz's!

Have a fantastic week, and let yourself feel excited to find your own "fountain of youth!"

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

So long, empty nest...your kids are back!

Remember how proud you were when your son graduated from college?  Thinking about that ceremony now can bring a tear to your eye, can't it?  Or, wait- maybe those tears are for a different reason:  heeee's baaaaack!!

Has your adult child hinted at moving home? It's not surprising. Faced with growing student loan balances, high living costs, and a shrinking job market, many are moving back in with their parents. This growing trend is dubbed the "boomerang kid" phenomenon, and it may mean an end to your empty nest.

New York Life reports that especially during tough economic times, adult children head for home. Census figures show that 56 percent of men and 43 percent of women ages 18 to 24 today live with one or both parents. Some never left, while an estimated 65 percent of recent college graduates have moved back in with their parents.  Some experts will argue that this could be the time for your "tough love,"  but I think that's easier said than done.  How many of us can be comfortable watching our kids struggle through a terrible situation- especially when it could come down to having a roof over their head?

You and your adult child(ren) can benefit from an arrangement like this, but not talking about things openly and honestly beforehand is asking for unnecessary misunderstandings and resentment. 

Here are some tips:

Conduct a financial audit. Then give it the seriousness it deserves by setting a day and time to meet.  Encourage your child to take an honest look at their debt, and create a plan to pay it off.   Encourage them to set up a savings account, allowing them to set some money aside to cover expenses when they move out.

Set a time limit. It might be one month, three months, or a year. It's important for everyone to understand that the arrangement is temporary.

Do a reality check. It's tempting to fall into the trap of not reducing spending while living at home with your parents, which will easily leave you- the parent!- seething!  Be clear: they're living at home to get on their feet, not so they can maintain an attitude of carefree spending.

Create a budget. If your finances will be intertwined in some way, work together to develop separate budgets. And take this time to show your child-now-an-adult exactly how much money it takes to maintain this household that has now become theirs again.  Which leads easily to...

Share the load. Financial experts say adult children should contribute to the household, ideally by paying rent. If they're low on cash, negotiate some type of in–kind contribution, such as doing laundry, shoveling the walk, or making dinner three times a week.

Try to follow this basic road map.  Allow your child the space and time to refresh, rethink and renew. Yes, discuss the reasons that led your child to come to this decision, but never forget, that the same respect you expect...so does your child. All conversation should leave everyone’s dignity intact. 

Expect some bumps along this journey, of course, but treating each other with respect from the outset might create a newer and closer relationship than you imagined, especially after getting that first email saying, "I was thinking about moving back in for awhile..."

Have a super weekend- the band is out and about this weekend- Columbus and Cincinnati- we'd love to have you with us- click here for tickets!

OH- and HAPPY SPRING!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Change Your Life? Change it from the INSIDE-OUT.

The power of the mind- your mind- is an amazing thing...as long as you are using it to steer yourself in a positive direction!  Staying up too late in the night plagued by negative thoughts and stress?  Maybe it's time for a change of scenery.  I'm not talking about moving to a new neighborhood- I'm talking about changes in the way your thoughts move you. 

To change your life, you must change the way you think. Behind everything you do is a thought. On the radio show, you may already know that I'm a long time fan of Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life. From Rick's The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotional, is a lesson about our mind, and its incredible force in our lives.  Every behavior is motivated by a belief, and every action is prompted by an attitude.

"Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts."

Imagine riding in a speedboat on a lake with an automatic pilot set to go east. If you decide to reverse course and head west, you have two possible ways to change the boat's direction. 

One way is to grab the steering wheel and physically force it to head in the opposite direction from where the autopilot is programmed to go. By sheer willpower, you could overcome the autopilot, but you'd feel constant resistance. Your arms would eventually tire of the stress, you'd let go of the steering wheel, and the boat would instantly head back east, the way it was internally programmed. 

This is what happens when you try to change you life with willpower; you say, "I'll force myself to eat less ... stop smoking ... quit being disorganized and late."

And, yes, willpower can produce short-term change, but it creates constant internal stress because you haven't dealt with the root cause. The change doesn't feel natural. Eventually you give up and go off the diet.

There is a better and easier way: Change your autopilot; in other words, the way you think.  Change always starts first in the mind. The way you think determines the way you feel, and the way you feel influences the way you act, which means "there must be a renewal of your thoughts and attitudes."

To change your mind means to change the way you think - about yourself, other people, life, your future, and everything else.  This renewal/change of mind/new way of thinking will give you a new perspective on life, and the courage and motivation to change it!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.

Sure, you're doctor's smart. But why you need to be as well!

When you go to the hospital, you're supposed to get better, right?  Of course!  But  unfortunately, things don't always go that way.  Dr. Mehmet Oz, a frequent contributor to The Oprah Winfrey Show and co-author of the book, YOU: The Smart Patient, shared his guide for avoiding medical mistakes in the first place.

Stay infection free in the hospital.
Dr. Oz says there's a straightforward advantage to staying infection-free in a hospital. "You're in an environment that has sick people in it who have infections themselves," he says. "It's so easy to spread to you."

• Ask people to wash their hands before touching you.
• Keep hand sanitizer by your bed.
• Try to avoid bacteria-promoting items, like flowers and jewelry.
• Ask doctors to clean their stethoscopes. "Did you ever think where the stethoscope was before he examined you?" Dr. Oz says. "It was on someone else's chest, and that same bacteria gets carried to you."
• Clean television remotes.
• Ask a doctor to remove his tie, or else tuck it into his shirt. Dr. Oz says male doctors are no different than other men- none of them wash their ties.

Avoid "wrong site surgery."
When Dr. Oz's wife, Lisa, went in for corrective eye surgery, he says she was the victim of a medical error. "They set the device for her right eye and put it on her left eye," he says. "[It] almost blinded her."One way a patient can prevent this kind of "wrong-site surgery" error is a simple as writing a note. "If you're going to have surgery on your left arm, write 'Operate on this arm' [on your left arm]," Dr. Oz says.  

Stop the chitchat with your doctor.
Hospitals can be very hectic places, and small talk could distract your doctor. "I know you're trying to be polite, and they're trying to be polite talking back to you," Dr. Oz says. "But let them do their job."

Find a high-tech hospital.
For instance, if a hospital in your area uses bar code technology to organize treatment and medication, go to that hospital. "You will dramatically reduce the risks," Dr. Oz says.
And try to find an accredited hospital.
Dr. Oz recommends researching your hospital using resources from the Joint Commission, a health safety watchdog organization. By going to a high-ranked hospital, Dr. Oz says you are rewarding excellence and forcing other hospitals to improve themselves.

Find a hospital that uses a care checklist.
Dr. Oz says this is like the preflight list pilots use before takeoff to prevent simple, preventable mistakes. "It turns out that if you have a simple checklist—like use a sterile cloth or drape if you're going to put a catheter in some patient—you can reduce the infection rates about 85 percent. That probably saved in the last 18 months 1,500 lives," he says.

Get to know your hospital, and your hospitalist.
Your regular doctor is your go-to gal for for the coordination of all your illnesses and treatments. But, they aren't around when you're in the hospital. That's where a hospitalist steps in.
"They know all the programs and the protocols. They're going to work closely with you to make sure you get what you need done," Dr. Oz says. "Find that person, learn who they are and work with them. That's the person that's going to help you get out of there quickly."

Make yourself a smart patient.
The key to being a smart patient is being proactive about your care, Dr. Oz says. If you hear a doctor say something that doesn't sound right to you, speak up. "If you're on medications, know what they are so you can say: 'Wait a minute. I'm supposed to get four; you just gave me a fifth one. What's going on here?'"

If you know you have a hospital stay coming up, print this list off before you go.  A smarter patient makes you a stronger patient, and being a stronger patient will get you better sooner!

John

Email John:  johnsblog@teshmedia.com

Check out the new John Tesh Social Network. You can connect with new friends, post your own blog, visit various forums, upload your favorite John Tesh music and share your photos.  To learn more about how to join, click here.