Get Healthy Bloghop
We are all familiar with the popular saying –
An apple a day keeps the doctor away! This is proven by the fact that the creators of this bloghop decided to use a shiny, red apple as the logo.
As a way of promoting good health, in its entirety, I give you my extended version of the above saying –
An apple a day keeps the doctor away; a crossword a day keeps Alzheimer's at bay!
Yes people! While getting healthy involves the process of exercising and developing the muscles in our bodies, the focus shouldn't only be on the physical aspect, but should include mental health as well.
Remember, the neural pathways in our brains are just as important as the physical muscles.
Physical exercise is very important. Different forms of of exercise work for different people. Not every body is cut out to go to the gym, or go running/jogging. I love to dance. That works for me. Every weekend, at my gig, I get the chance to dance. This has physical as well as social benefits, so for me, it's a win-win situation!
Eating "sensibly" is also very important. My motto is "everything in moderation". This involves self-discipline! Why have two slices of cake when you can have one? I also try, in my own little way, to maintain certain good habits: bran flakes or weetbix in the morning; NO fizzy/gassy cooldrinks (yes, that means no Coke at all); a teaspoon of honey a day; garlic is a must in your diet; rooibos tea instead of too much coffee (struggling with this one…)
As I mentioned, mental health is also important! There are numerous simple "brain" exercises that you can perform, to keep you "mentally sharp" as your brain ages. You can work the following into your daily routine, with minimum effort:
1. for improving memory skills – choose a song you don't know and then memorize the lyrics (I do it all the time as part of my work)
2. for improving attention – routine changes work well; vary your route to work or re-organize your desk; combine activities such as listening to an audio book while you jog/fold the laundry.
3. for improving visual-spatial ability – walk into a room and identify five items and where they are located; two hours later, try to remember the items and their exact locations
4. for improving logic-reasoning skills – all you video gamers out there should have no problem in this respect!
If you forget all the above, then here are some simple points!
~ laugh people… laugh till your sides hurt!
~ remember, two pieces of chocolate are better than five pieces… and you'll have left overs for the next day!
~ quit smoking!
~ drink water!
~ read… read… read…
And then there's the issue of psychological, emotional, social health… but that would probably require another two or three bloghops…
This blog hop is brought to you by the following people: Alex J. Cavanaugh, L.Diane Wolfe, Stephen Tremp, Michael Di Gesu.
Love your tips! I love dance too, and find moving to music to be uplifiting and good exercise. Also, I love the mental workout you mention – memorizing song lyrics is fun!
I'm always learning lyrics of new songs, to add to my ever-increasing repertoire. Actually, I love learning new lyrics. It's exciting, because I also stumble upon new words!
Hi, all really valid 🙂 But only 2 pieces of chocolate, I couldn't do that! I could have none or quite a few, but would find 2 impossible!
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Suzanne @ <a href=http://suzannes-tribe.blogspot.co.uk>Suzannes Tribe</a>
Everything in moderation! As difficult as it may be, this also applies to chocolate. LOL Self-discipline is an integral part of staying healthy. So you'll have to learn to cut down the choccies… limit yourself! 🙂
FANTABULOUS, Michelle!!!!
YOU hit the MARK on ALL LEVELS! THANK you SO much for your tips… I especially like the brain tips… WE ALL forget to keep our mind healthy. Our minds rule our bodies so why not challenge and exercise it as well.
I will have to put most of your post to memory… LOL. See your tips are working already!
Have a WONDERUFUL day. THANKS AGAIN for joining the HOP!
Thank you for co-hosting this blog hop. And yes, if our minds are not healthy, then what chance do our bodies have? The two go hand-in-hand!
I like your long term approach to health. Sometimes it's easy to just focus on the external, but as I age, I realize more and more that healthy is about feeling good for the second half of my life. Great tips here.
When we think about health, we do tend to focus on the external, and for lots of people, the focus is weight issues. There are lots of other factors to consider.
Wonderful tips! Laughter is great for the soul. Have an AWESOME day!
I'm a firm believer in good, wholesome laughter!
great tips!
Thanks Baygirl!
Great tips. I am not a crosswords fan, but I do love the math puzzles. Suduku or Kakuro and I am happy. Plus lots of laughs and water.
Visiting today from the blogfest
Rhonda @<a href="http://www.laugh-quotes.com" rel="nofollow">Laugh-Quotes.com</a>
I've tried Soduku. What a challenge! I couldn't make it pass the easy (first) level. Think I should stick to my crosswords…
Excellent point about keeping our minds healthy as well as our bodies! 🙂
The two are intertwined.
Hi, Michelle,
Awesome tips. Lately my memory has been failing me, but I think I'm doing too many things all at once. I probably need to try and complete one thing at a time and give my brain a rest. Enjoy the blogfest!
Doing millions of things at once? Well, that's the story of my life too… 🙂
Oh my gosh, I love that you focused on this aspect of it. I love some of these ideas, I must learn new songs and keep on laughing… awesome 😀
I'm glad that you found some of these ideas helpful. 🙂
Good points! I like your focus on mental health. I use the free Lumosity account, and have found it an easy way to help exercise my brain – it's worth checking out for anyone- who like me, feels their wits dulling a wee bit. Oh, and kudos for saying no to sodas. That's fantastic!
Lumosity? I'm not familiar with that account. I've never been a fizzy drinker! Actually, I'm not one for iced beverages. Give me my tea. Even during summer.
Great ideas! Love the laugh one especially.
Laughter is free and easily accessible! 🙂
Mental health is so important and laughter sure helps that along! I love to dance and sing. I'm always memorizing songs I like to sing. Word games are fun. My son and I play guitar hero too and I love that.
<a href="http://www.siamckye.blogspot.com">Sia McKye OVER COFFEE</a>
It sounds like you have a variety of activities that help to keep you in good shape – both physically and mentally! Good for you Sia!
Mental, physical and emotional health all play off each other. If we dont' have some sort of balance in all of them it can really affect our overall happiness and well being. Thanks for the prod about mental health.
They are all interdependent. I so agree that balance is the key-word!
Crossword puzzles for mental health- excellent tip! I do the New York Times and USA Today crosswords every day.
Thanks for participating in our bloghop.
I need to do the same. A crossword everyday. Actually, I bought one or two crossword books. Now I need to make use of them!
Excellent recommendations, Michelle. I'll try those of the memory because my memory fails me more often than not. And I hate misplacing my dwarves every five minutes!
Maybe you could use the dwarves to assist you with visual-spatial ability game! LOL Keep them busy! LOL
Our mental frame of mind must also be in the right place to start and continue to stay healthy. I reduce amounts like you, and add exercise for mobility and to help with injuries.
For remembering I use memory hooks. I identify something that I'll use to remember a particular thing, then I say it out loud (so the brain can incorporate my intention). It works for me most of the time.
Enjoyed your post. I'm not a big swimmer either.
Memory hooks sounds like a great way to improve memory! Something like association-styled games.
I heard playing video games and logic games were a good way to keep your mind strong. That's how I can justify playing words with friends and spider solitaire.
I'm not a video-gamer… at all! Spider solitaire? I've never played it. Something to check out.
Apples are very good for the teeth. 🙂 I was just reading in Scientific American about a link between olive oil and reduced Alzheimers. So, I make sure to cook with some everyday now. Husband Unit will probably make me quit reading it soon, because it's always freaking me out about something related to food. lol Last month it was nanopowders on food.
I remember your post about nanopowders on food… 🙂
I need to try the song trick, except first I have to figure out the lyrics. You'd be amazed how off I can be when I attempt to sing along with the song.
I used to love going to dance clubs in university and dance all night.
When we were in our early twenties (a long, long, long time ago…) I remember there was a dance-marathon called a Six-To-Six, where we'd dance from 6 p.m. to a.m… not non-stop, of course… basically it was an all-night disco… 🙂
I like number three "walk into a room and identify etc." Have not heard that one before, thanks for the tip!
And what's nice is that these mental exercises require no preparation or costs… they're just done in the moment!
Great tips. I just took up yoga and zumba.
Both? Yoga and zumba? Congrats Nas. It should keep you going… you'll be extra-fit in no time!
Great tips! I need more puzzles, but writing poetry sometimes fills that bill, lol
I love how you covered all the bases
😀
Yes, I'm certain writing poetry is an excellent mental evercise! It can be quite puzzling… 🙂
Yay! yay! yay! *Bev cheers for you and your love of dance* I LOVE dance. I don’t do it myself unless all the blinds are closed and there’s no one around, but I love it nonetheless. I applaud you and your dancing ability!
This is the second post I’ve seen highlighting the importance of mental/brain health. It’s a good point and I’m grateful for the quick and easy tricks to keep my mind agile. Thanks, Michelle!
Oh Bev, I had a good laugh! Now why on earth are you dancing behind closed blinds? 🙂 The physical and mental are intertwined. And the tricks are not too difficult or time-consuming. They slip easily into your daily routine.
My dad sits around and does Soduko and plays yahtzee with my mom when he is not out in the garden and he is as sharp as a tack. I am 30 years younger than him and I can't figure out how to do a Soduko.
Your dad reminds me of my 84 year old mom. She's in good mental shape. She often remembers things that I've long forgotten! I struggle with Soduku, can't get pass the first level!
Actually neural pathways are MORE important than physical ones. Without neural pathways there wouldn't be a physical one. Ask me, I'm recovering from a stroke. Of all the things I lost with my stroke; it's my mind I miss the most.
You seem very upbeat and positive, Jo. And a positive attitude takes you a long way. Don't ever underestimate the power of positive thinking! You'll get there… a step at a time… 🙂
I love to dance too! Used to go to classes for ballroom, salsa, jive etc but the group closed down last year and haven't got back into the swing of it again.
Be happy stay healthy 🙂
My hubby and I also attended some of those classes about two years ago! It was such fun! 🙂
Love your tips Michelle. I too have heard that brain exercises in the form of crossword puzzles and sudoku keep Alzeimers at bay. Like you I follow the path of moderation in my diet and try to include garlic and curry leaves which are important Indian ingredients.
We cook lots of curry. Garlic and fresh curry leaves are the best in the food. I've discovered that moderation is the way to go. You have to be sensible about it. Eat whatever you want to, but limit yourself. Self-discipline is key!
I'm so glad I never started smoking – if my inclination to eat chocolate and other crap foods at various times is any indicator I'd have a hard time trying to quit cigarettes! Luckily, though, I've always hated the smell of them.
I'm proud to say that I've never smoked… not one cigarette in my life! Cigarette smoke permeates everything around you. It's such a yucky thing! My hubby started smoking after giving it up for 7 years! I could have strangled him!
I love doing crossowrd puzzles! I thought I was the only left who likes to do them. Great for the brain and increase one's vocabulary.
And thanks for participating in the Blog Hop!
Give me an "old-fashioned" crossword over a "modern" Soduku… anyday! Thanks for co-hosting this bloghop Stephen.
Hi Michelle .. all good ideas – one size doesn't fit all. I'm into doing Pilates and some Qigong .. and getting to stretch my legs out with a walk .. thankfully I've always eaten well .. not just cutting down, and I hate fizzy drinks … so lots of water has always been easy.
My blog has kept my brain in tact .. it's been an amazing educator .. and I don't follow a theme, so always ring the changes …
This blog hop should help loads of us … enjoy the summer – cheers Hilary
Hilary, you have a wonderful energy! And your blog is unique… there are so many different topics on offer at your place… 🙂
These are great tips! I have to work on my water (I drink Coke instead, which is bad).
Confession – I also have to work on my water. *sighs* I just can't seem to get it going. But at least I don't drink the fizzy stuff. 🙂
I am terrible at crosswords, but I dod start my day with a game of Scrabble. Gets my mind going.
Hello!
this is a great post… Health is so important. Love your thoughts. Xx
It's nice to meet another Michelle! *waving* Thanks for coming over.
I haven't played Scrabble in AGES… need to remedy this…
Even though I consider myself sharp, I'd like to do more mental exercises and games.
Medeia, your reading abilities prove that you are sharp! Do you speed read?
I can, but I prefer to read at a slower pace for enjoyment.
Great ideas, thanks for sharing them!