As a parent, you certainly want the best for your children. While a college education is important, it is only one of many roads to success. But you are convinced that college is the best road for your child and you are meeting with resistance,  trying using the  following tactics to convince your children of the value of a college education. Keep in mind however, that all you can do is guide and suggest. The final decision is ultimately up to your son or daughter.

1. Give Him/Her a Chance to Explain. Be glad that you’ve raised a teen that has his own ideas about life and wants to carve his own path to success. Give him a chance to explain exactly why he believes that chasing a college education is the wrong direction for him. Of course, try to keep an open mind.

•  As a parent, hearing, “I don’t want to go to college right now” can seem like the end of the world. However, refusing to attend college right now still leaves the door open for him to get a degree in the future.
•  After twelve consecutive years of schooling, it’s understandable that your child wants to take a break from academics to focus on finding out what life’s all about.
•  Strive to be supportive and listen with an open mind.

2. Come to an Agreement. If your son or daughter’s mind is made up about foregoing college this year, meet him or her halfway.

·         Allow him or her to take a year or two off from schooling in order to pursue different dreams. If your child tests the waters and finds them to be deeper than he or she expects, they’ll probably return to school. If your child is successful without higher education, celebrate his or her success. But, I advise that you put certain financial expectations in play here. You do not want to be in a position of having to pay for your 35 year old son or daughters’ college tuition because you didn’t limit parental expectations. There comes a point when they are very definitely on their own and they need to recognize this from the very beginning. If that college fund that you have been saving towards for so long is not used for college, at some point you are very much within your rights to use it for something else. Be sure that your child understands that this is not THEIRmoney. It is YOURS, and will be used as you see fit should they not attend college.

3. Provide an Incentive. If you truly believe that your child’s only true shot at attaining a successful career is by attending college, entice him or her to your point of view. Offer a financial incentive or other type of reward that he or she can earn with solid, specific academic progress.

·         If you offer an incentive for your child to attend school, he may attend only for the reward. If so, he may lack the academic effort, waste his time and throw away your money in the process. If you tie the reward to specific academic goals, you’ll ensure that he’s serious about school.

It’s only natural to want the best for your children. And college generally is the best route to success for most individuals. However, it’s important to understand that college is only one of many paths to success in life. Your role in your child’s success is to support and encourage him to chase after his dreams. Ultimately, he has to decide on the path that’s right for him.

Trust in your parenting skills. You’ve raised a talented, intelligent, and self-sufficient young adult. It can be hard to let go, but you’ve instilled in your child the values you deem important. As he goes through the trials of life, he’ll stay true to those values with or without a college degree.

You will need some small strips of paper (you might adjust the size according to the item you are labeling), a pair of scissors, a pen or marker, and some tape. Or you can purchase different color Post It notes.

Go through the house room by room, looking for things to label. Say, for instance, you started in the kitchen. Some things in the kitchen you could label are: cabinet, microwave, refrigerator, drawer. Labels will probably not stick on the oven or the dishwasher doors when they heat up – and when the dishwasher blows out steam. There ample opportunities in the kitchen for naming things, though. You could even keep a stack of paper on the counter and when you come back from the store once a week, you and your child can label cereal boxes, cans of soup, etc.

Constant repetition of these basic words will help your child recognize them by sight and can also begin to help with letter recognition. This is a very basic step in the learning to read process and will not help with phonics skills. It is, however, a very important step and a fun way for your child to begin to ‘know’ words on his own.

You and your child can get very creative with all of this labeling, too. As stated before, some of the strips of paper can be different sizes, according to the thing being labeled. The strips of paper can also be arranged on things differently. For example, you can put the word ‘window’ vertically on the middle bar that separates two windows. And on venetian blinds, you can tape the word ‘blinds’ to an individual blind so that it is easily read when the blind is closed in the downward position. Your child will think it is so funny, because, when you open the blind it will be harder to read. And if you close the blind in the upward position, you won’t be able to read it at all.

This is a good way to use the things in your house in the same manner that you would a flashcard. Close the blinds up and quiz your child on the first letter of the word. And if they are advancing even more, you can ask them to spell the word. This could also be done with cabinet doors – open the door all the way so you cannot see the word.

One room that is difficult to label is the bathroom. In common with the dishwasher in the kitchen, the bathroom can be a pretty steamy room. It can be labeled, but just  keep in mind that you will be replacing those labels from time to time.

The best thing about using labels all over the house is that your child will consider it ‘play’. He or shee love to help you cut the paper and hang the labels, making it more like a craft than an educational experience. All the while he’ll be learning an important foundation to a life of literacy – what a great combination!

And be sure to really listen to your child. Each child learns differently and it may well be that your child’s interests are in things that are very difficult to label. Find out what interests your child. Is it butterfly’s or airplanes? How about planting a small garden and helping your child label everything that is planted? The possibilities are limitless and require only your imagination and a close observation of your own child or children. Find out what works for them and do it consistently.  Expose your child to different experiences. Learn together.

To-do lists are magic. According to experts, the second you write something down, you’re infinitely more likely to actually make it happen than if you rely on your (sometimes faulty) memory. Some of the greatest thinkers – and achievers! – of our time have been inveterate list-makers, including:

• Benjamin Franklin
• Leonardo Davinci
• Thomas Jefferson
• Martha Stewart

Lists work. Books have been written about the power of lists… but not all lists are created equal! In this short series, I’m going to discuss the six biggest mistakes you’re making with your to-do list, and how to avoid them. You’ll soon be on your way to super-charging your day!

Mistake Number One: Thinking There’s One “Right System”

Every time another productivity book hits the best-seller list, thousands of people jettison their planners, calendars, software programs, and iPad/iPhone apps, thinking that if they just buy the latest and greatest system, they’ll be able to get a handle on their ever-expanding “to-do” list.

The problem with this approach is that while it can be really fun to color-code your tasks, set up e-mail reminders for the next sixteen years, or invest a month’s worth of groceries in a new planner, there’s no guarantee that what works for the author, a blogger, or your best friend is going to work for you. You know yourself and you know what is interesting to you. Stick with what you know and just expand on it.

“To-do” list or task-management systems come in all shapes and sizes. There are electronic versions that are slick enough to send your mom an e-mailed Mother’s Day card for you. There is the good old-fashioned pen-and-paper lists in your day minder, and there are all sorts of hybrids in between. You can “Get It Done” with David Allen, let Franklin-Covey plan your life, or try to remember the milk with the Remember the Milk app on your iPhone. But if you don’t pick a system that’s in line with your personality and your life, you’re just setting yourself up for failure.

Here are a few things to ask yourself before you invest in a new to-do or task management system:

• How much time do I want to invest setting up the system and maintaining it? Some systems require you to input all your tasks and appointments into a database, while others rely on a five-minute update at the end of each day. Figure out how much time you have available to allocate to this task. Let’s face facts. If it doesn’t suit you, or you can’t allocate enough time in your day to perform this task, it will simply remain undone. Just one more frustration!
• Am I a digi-type or a paper-type? Even though it may seem like “everybody” is relying on their iPad to track their to-do lists, you’re not like “everybody.” You may find it downright uncomfortable to have everything kept digitally – and that’s okay. Frankly, the very real concerns with cloud computing and the daily stories we hear about password hacking may be something that prevents you from going 100 percent digital. There is nothing wrong with that!
• How much “stuff” do I want to carry around with me? If you like to travel light, you may find digital the way to go – or you may want to use a single 3×5 note card to track your list. Alternately, if you carry a backpack, messenger bag or purse, a larger notebook or device might be your computer of choice.
• How complicated am I? Do you want a simple overview of your tasks, or a color-coded, ranked list backed up by project sections in a notebook or computer file? Don’t go for the gold standard when aluminum will do!

My advice? Match your system to your preferences and personality. Not everyone needs a computerized system capable of launching the next space shuttle, and not everyone is comfortable with a pen-and-paper format. Find something that works for you and stick with it – even if “everyone else” is moving on to something shiny and new.

In my next blog post we will discuss that age old problem of putting way too many things on your “to do” list. It is frustrating, and you wind up feeling needlessly bad.  We will talk about increasing, rather than decreasing your productivity. Stay tuned!

Establishing a good nighttime routine can be difficult for families with children of all ages. If you start introducing a routine early in life, your kids may be more likely to stick to a routine later in life. Establishing a routine that keeps your household running smoothly can be a challenge at first, but doing so will result in that peace you desire and deserve. Keep in mind that you are the adult and the children are children. They are not in charge of the household. You are.

The Importance of Sufficient Rest

We all need sleep in order to function well. An important part of your nighttime routine is establishing a consistent bedtime. Enough sleep is vital for your success and the success of your children. Set them up to experience life’s victories by planning for enough rest.

Establish a routine that your children can expect to experience at the same time every day. For instance, if your “getting ready for bed” routine takes approximately 1 hour and you want your children in bed by 8 o’clock, you’ll want to consistently start your nighttime routine around 7 PM.

Nighttime Activities

Set up a sequence of activities that you do in the same order right before bedtime each night. That way, your children know what to expect and when it’s time to wind down for bed.

·         Start your nighttime routine with hygiene. Start with bath time, and allow a little extra time for your children to play. Make the bedtime routine as fun as possible for your children. After bath time, have your children brush their teeth.

·         Next, build some special bonding time into your routine. Younger children might enjoy an evening walk in the stroller. It might help to relax them and help them become drowsy. Older children may appreciate some one-on-one time with mom or dad. Sometimes just letting them chat way while you say nothing much, but just listen attentively may be what they need to relax.

·         Read to your children right before bedtime. Choose a shorter book if your kids are younger. Your children will soon look forward to story time and recognize this as a signal that the day is coming to an end.

·         Sing a lullaby or say goodnight to your children in your own special way. Your children will remember the evening routine for a lifetime, and will likely carry it forward in life with their own children. In addition to providing structure and a way to lower the stress level in your home, your evening routine will show your kids that you love and appreciate them. And this will provide you with some very precious memories after they are grown.

·         Finally, ensure your children use the bathroom just before being tucked in for the night. This eliminates an excuse to get up, and provides another signal that bedtime, and sleep time, have now arrived.

Multiple Nighttime Routines

If you have multiple children of different ages, it’s still important to establish a routine. While your children will be going to bed at different times, you can still use those times to bond with each other and wind down for the evening. Plan your routine to accommodate multiple bedtimes if necessary.

Older children can also help with some of the younger ones. The important thing is that everything gets done in an orderly and consistent manner and that your family takes time to be together and enjoy each other.

Bless your family by establishing a nighttime routine. Stick to it in the beginning, and you’ll soon notice that the routine is second nature. Automatically, you’ll be bonding every night and getting everything done with a minimum amount of stress. Begin experiencing the order and peace that you deserve by starting a nighttime routine today.

Do you have habits that hold you back from experiencing the successful life you deserve? Your habit may be as small as biting your nails or buying expensive lattes every day. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you may wish to break free of smoking, extreme anger, excessive eating, or other detrimental habits.

There is hope. You can rid yourself of the habits that hold you back. Use the tips below to help you put an end to that pesky practice once and for all:

1. Determine why you should stop. Think about how your habit hurts you and others. Does it harm your health? Diminish your appearance? Put a dent in your pocketbook? Does it make you act irrationally? Does it hurt your loved ones? Create a list of benefits that you’ll experience when you put an end to this habit once and for all.

If you lack a compelling reason to stop, chances are you’ll be less willing to work towards quitting. Find a reason to halt the progression of your habit and hammer that thought into your mind each time you feel compelled to continue with it. As with any though, the instant you think it and become aware of it, in that same amount of time you can kick that thought to the curb and replace it with something healthier. It is really a matter of your own self awareness.

2. Dangle a carrot. Naturally, when there is a direct reward at the end of your pursuit, you’re more inclined to give a wholehearted effort. Indulge in a trip to the spa, a new pair of jeans or a trip to your favorite restaurant each time you reach a large milestone.

Ensure that your reward is irrelevant to your habit. If you’re trying to quit smoking, it’s detrimental to reward yourself with a cigarette at the end of each week for “being good.” Instead, reward yourself with an activity that your smoking may have prevented you from doing. Now that you are feeling better you probably feel more like moving around, right? Go for a hike with your children, or take up some other activity that you have given up over time.

Save the biggest rewards for last. What do you want the most? What’s something you’ve wished you could purchase or experience for a long time? Spend the time you would normally spend indulging in your habit to plan your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

The reward should be in line with the complexity of your task. Rewarding yourself with a cruise to the Bahamas because you’ve stopped biting your nails is a bit of a stretch. However, rewarding yourself with manicure / pedicure is more fitting.

3. Read success stories. Purchase a book or browse the web to read success stories of those that have previously been in your shoes and conquered the same habit. Head on over to Audible.com and download great books to listen to while you are working on your computer or that you can listen to on your iPod. Some suggestions?  The Greatness Guide by Robin Sharma. Unlimited Power: the New Science of Personal Achievement by Anthony Robbins. Anything and everything byKen Blanchard. There are truly unlimited resources for you out there. Seeing social proof that others have been able to achieve the task you’re facing makes the pursuit seem more manageable.

4. Small steps. Focus on only one small step each week to ensure long lasting results. For example, if you’re trying to lose weight, eliminate sweets and sugary sodas from your diet for the first week. The next week eliminate other carbohydrates, like white bread, in addition to the sweets.

Slow and steady really does win the race. Crash diets don’t work, and quitting anything cold often leads to compensatory behavior. In turn, this will halt your progress and you’ll have to start at step one all over again. Again, there are MANY resources for you. Find the one or ones that attract you the most and dive right in.

Create measurable goals. If you’re trying to minimize your spending, determine the average amount you spend each week in unnecessary purchases. Then set a goal to reduce that amount by 10% for the first week.

Habits provide a level of comfort that everything in your world is okay. They give you a feeling of control over your circumstances. However, a dependency on a routine that has negative consequences to your physical and mental health can be replaced by choices that fuel your success.

Remember that you are in charge of your mind, body, and soul. Embark on the road to kicking your bad habit(s) today and prove to yourself just how strong you can be!

Research recently reported in the Monitor on Psychology shows that aerobic exercise not only significantly improves health and wards off disease, but it also may prevent—and even reverse—cognitive (thinking) functions.  New neurons and neuron connections develop, which favorably impact general intelligence, logic, verbal ability and visuospatial ability.

These amazing findings are not just on a few individuals.  The researchers looked at records of 1.2 million, 18-year-old Swedish men, between 1968 and 1994.  These men all had enlisted for mandatory military service.  So, the mandatory exercise required in the military could have the side benefit of enhancing cognitive abilities of soldiers, and if they maintain exercise as part of their lives when they leave the military, these benefits will continue.

More recent research examples showed that once older folks were able to begin an exercise program many were able to ward off the effects of Alzheimer’s disease.

Researcher’s concluded that “At the worst, exercise is going to give you a healthier body… At the best, it will help some people gain a cognitive capacity they don’t possess right now.  But bottom line, everyone will benefit in the end.”

As a psychologist who is also a professional speaker I am often asked by people how to gain in confidence so they can get up on stage and easily share their gifts and passions.  What I have always found is that the way you talk reflects your personality and displays the amount of confidence you have in your message.

The power to efficiently communicate and persuade people can make all the difference between a boring speech that puts people to sleep and a powerful one that leaves a lasting impression. If your speech contains powerful content but is delivered poorly, you’ll miss out on an opportunity to impact the lives of your audience in a positive way.

Try these tips to turn your next presentation from a drab, boring affair to a dynamic, powerful presentation that your audience will remember for a long time to come:

1. Prepare thoroughly. Preparation is the key to a successful presentation. If you speak with authority, people will listen. The only way to speak with authority, however, is to know the material of your speech backwards and forwards. And believe what you are saying! If you are speaking from a place of authenticity, your audience will recognize it.

• Then, rehearse your speech many times. Practice in front of a mirror and in front of others. If you have an on-board camera on your computer or laptop, record yourself giving the speech and learn from it. Do this as many times as you need!

2. Move your body with confidence. If you’re slouched over and your hands are shaking, or worse yet, you are fiddling with your speech notes and not making eye contact, your audience will get the impression that you lack the knowledge that makes you worthy of listening to. Gesture confidently with your hands as you speak and use eye contact with your audience.

3. Try not to over-use notes. The more familiar you are with your speech’s content, the more interesting your speech becomes to your audience. Reading your speech is boring, but speaking from an outline of key points in a natural, conversational way draws your crowd in so they are encouraged to listen closely.

• If you’re passionate and knowledgeable about your subject, learn your speech well and deliver it without any notes. This will impress your audience and make your material more believable. It’ll make you look like you know what you’re talking about, and even more importantly, that you believe every word that you are imparting.

4. Dress to impress. If your dress is too casual or inappropriate in any way, your audience will quickly turn away and become bored. Ensure your clothes are as comfortable as possible, but just a little bit nicer than the occasion calls for.

5. Anticipate questions and answer them. What are the most frequently asked questions about your topic? When you present the material, what challenges can you imagine coming from your audience? Prepare for these objections and questions, and address them in the body of your speech.

6. Answer the most important questions. When people hear you speak, they’re really looking for you to answer only two questions. Answer those questions, and your speech will be remembered fondly for a long time to come.

• First, your audience wants to know, “What’s in it for me?” Answer that question in your speech. Simply ask yourself what the members of your audience will gain from applying the ideas you talk about or listening to your perspective.

• Second, they want to know, “Why should I care?” You may be passionate about the subject of your presentation, but you must communicate why the members of your audience should be just as passionate about your subject as you are.

Speaking in public is one of the biggest fears of our society. With solid preparation and wise choices on the day of your presentation, however, you can create a lasting impression in the hearts and minds of your audience.

Do you feel like you have so much to do and not enough time to get everything done? When your life gets crazy, you can’t let the busyness take over your mind. You need to put yourself first to maintain your mental health.

Here are eight tips for keeping a clear mind:

1. Get organized. Your life can be much easier if you maintain a good level of organization. You’ll save time and gain a feeling of control over your circumstances. The time you save allows you the opportunity to take care of yourself with relaxation exercises or the pursuit of hobbies that you enjoy.

• Each day, create a “to-do” list. Rank your items from the most important to the least important. As you go through your day, attack the most important items on the list first. At the end of the day, you walk away with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you used your time in the most effective way possible.

2. Take time for yourself. Carve out time for yourself every day, no matter how busy you are. Give yourself permission to relax and enjoy these moments, even though you know that things remain undone. You must allow your body, mind, and spirit to recharge itself so you’re productive when you return to your tasks.

3. Find something you find relaxing. Everyone has their own activities that help them relax. Perhaps you feel pampered by a long, warm bubble bath. Or curl up on the couch and read a book. Find something that you enjoy, take deep breaths and relax.

4. Count to ten. If you find the stresses of life getting to you, catch yourself before lashing out or losing your cool. Instead, take a step back and count to ten slowly. This will allow you time to clear your mind and decide on the most effective and appropriate response.

5. Meditate. Meditation is a great way to calm your mind and regain focus when life seems out of control. With meditation, you learn to focus on deep breathing while you discover more about yourself.

• When you learn to focus on your breath, you’ll likely discover that your breathing is shallow during stressful situations. Learn to breathe deeply from your belly to feel a greater sense of peace in the midst of the storms of your life.

6. Exercise. Exercise is a perfect way to relieve stress and regain a clear perspective. A moderate amount of exercise each day is all you need for improved fitness. Find a type of exercise that you enjoy, and stick with it until it becomes a habit. Soon, you’ll hate missing a workout and have more energy throughout your stressful days.

7. Go for a nature walk. Now that school is out,  find the time to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Grab your children, your spouse or your dog, a bottle of water and get outdoors for some family time. Get your mind off of the many tasks you need to complete. Instead of thinking about the endless list of things you have to accomplish, become aware of what’s really important by really paying attention to the sights and sounds of your natural surroundings.

8. Take it one step at a time. Life often requires you to juggle many different situations at once. It’s overwhelming if you try to think of each one of those things at the same time.

• Focus on one task at a time and work at the task until it’s complete. Then move on to the next task. If you keep putting one foot in front of the other, everything on your to-do list will eventually get accomplished.

Remember that you’re not alone. If you need to talk to someone else about your busy life, reach out to positive people in your life who truly care about you. Sometimes, just talking may help you to clear your mind of everything.

Try these ideas and begin to experience the peace you deserve today!

You can also try my 108 Days to Conquering Your Stress online course. Every day, for 108 days you will receive a new mini-assignment to help you eliminate and reduce your stress. Each day you will be asked to respond to a different question regarding your stress-inducing experiences. It will take you only 5 minutes per day to begin noticing significant changes in your stress levels. You will walk lighter, smile more, and feel a sense of peace over things that previously made you feel nervous and uncomfortable. In addition, with the click of a button, you will have direct access to professional coaches who will answer your questions and help you through the process.

by Dr. Jack Singer

Ever walked into a room full of unfamiliar faces and felt a chill of discomfort down your spine? You can gain the confidence to make a good first impression that leads to lasting relationships, even when you feel intimidated.

Follow these easy tips to make yourself a hit when it comes to breaking the ice:

1. Be confident in yourself. Know your strengths and try to accentuate them. If you feel nervous at first, then pretend you’re confident. Move your body as if you’re confident. Use your voice as if you’re confident, and soon your feelings will follow.
2. Dress to impress. Dress comfortably in your best outfit to fit the occasion. Your clothing is an expression of who you are. It’s one of the first things people notice, and a wise choice of wardrobe can give you a head start in putting your best foot forward. If you’re not sure what type of dress is appropriate for the occasion, confide in a trusted friend. Clothing and appearance can feed your confidence or drain it. Feed your success by presenting yourself in the best light possible with the outfit you choose.
3. Keep a realistic perspective. Remember that in most social situations, many of the people in the room are just as nervous as you are. Be yourself, take a deep breath, and dive in. Few, if any, will judge you if you’re polite, friendly, and interested in the people around you.
4. Smile. When you smile, the world really does smile with you. Instead of waiting for a reason to smile, greet each person you meet with a warm handshake and a friendly smile. You’ll almost always get a warm, positive reception when you do. You’ll make the other person feel at ease, and you’ll begin to relax, too.
5. Make easy conversation. You can make the task of conversing with a stranger easier with small talk. Seek to find common ground by asking non-threatening questions about the person’s background, interests, or family. You’ll quickly find something you both have in common, and the conversation will flow easily from there.
6. Listen. One of the easiest ways to be considered the life of the party is to listen more than you speak. In conversation, ask questions that cause the person speaking to open up and explain further. People love to hear themselves talk. Effective listening takes the pressure off of you to come up with things to say in a conversation.
7. Give yourself permission to mess up. If you put pressure on yourself to handle every situation perfectly, you’ll be a nervous wreck. Instead, tell yourself that mistakes are okay. The more conversations you enter into, the more you’ll learn about how to effectively communicate and the more friends you make at the same time. 

By following these very simple guidelines, you can become a master of breaking the ice. In social situations, strive to feel calm and relax, which will help you make friends with ease. The ability to converse easily with strangers and turn them into friends will benefit you in every area of your life, equipping you to seize opportunities that once passed you by.

About Dr. Jack Singer 

Dr. Jack Singer is a professional speaker, trainer and licensed psychologist. He has been speaking for and training Fortune 1000 companies, associations, CEO's, sales forces and elite athletes for 34 years. Dr. Jack is a frequent guest on CNN, MSNBC, GLENN BECK, FOX SPORTS and countless radio talk shows across the U.S. and Canada. He is the author of "The Teacher's Ultimate Stress Mastery Guide," and several series of hypnotic audio programs- some specifically for athletes and others for anyone wanting to raise their self-confidence, self-esteem and optimism. For more information, go to his website at Dr. Jack Singer or email him at: drjack (@) funspeaker.com

Do you desire a healthy life, but feel like the road to that lifestyle is an impossible one? The truth is that a life of vitality and energy is within your reach. If you’re willing to take a few simple steps toward your dreams, they can become reality. And this can happen quicker than you might think!

Follow these strategies to begin experiencing the healthy life you deserve, starting today:

1. Change your dietary habits. Small changes can make a big difference. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, for example. Choose whole-grain foods, and eat as much fiber as possible. Cut back on the sugar.

2. Stop smoking. Certainly you already know the health risks of smoking. Quitting smoking offers you many wonderful consequences. You’ll experience smells that might have been absent from your life for years. You’ll breathe easier and have more energy. If you smoke, the most powerful thing you can do for yourself and your family is to quit.

3. Reduce or eliminate alcohol. Drinking occasionally is okay. But binge drinking is harmful to your liver and other organs. Drink responsibly by limiting your intake of harmful alcoholic beverages.

4. Drink plenty of water. Water detoxifies your body and provides cells with much-needed hydration. If you feel low in energy, you might be surprised at how effective a glass of water can be at perking you up. Low energy is often a sign of dehydration. Drink water when you wake up, before each meal, and as often as you can.

5. Keep your body “regular.” Maintaining a regular bowel habit will produce lots of energy and make you feel healthy.

* Eat greens as often as possible to keep yourself regular.

* Fiber also helps your body to flush out toxins and fat. Eat as many whole grains, fruits, and vegetables as possible to add as much fiber as you can to your diet.

6. Exercise. Incorporate physical movement into your lifestyle for added energy and confidence.

* Try going for a walk at least 30 minutes a day, cleaning your house, gardening, or playing outside with the kids.

* Exercise increases your heart rate and respiration rate, providing more oxygen to your cells.

7. Keep your mind fresh and healthy. Read as often as possible. Play mind games, like crossword puzzles and logic problems. Challenge yourself to games and recreational activities that are outside of your comfort zone. A fit mind works in tandem with your fit body to help you create the lifestyle you crave.
 

8. Stay up to date with your doctor visits. Most family doctors recommend that you see them at least once a year for a routine physical. Other checkups, like regular prostate or breast exams, may be recommended more often. So check with your family physician.

9. Get plenty of rest. Everyone needs a different amount of rest. For most, a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of quality sleep is a must for optimum health.

10. Hang around with like-minded people. If you want to be healthy, spend time with people who are healthy. Seek friendships with people that consider their health a priority in their lives. Spend less time with people that sit around all day and more time with active people. If you do, you’ll have a tendency to become healthy like those people.

A healthy life is within your reach. If you follow these simple strategies and remain patient, you’ll see, feel, and experience the amazing benefits of the healthy lifestyle you deserve.

I am also available for phone consultations with athletes around the U.S. and in-person visits with athletes in Southern California. Call today toll free at 1-800-497-9880 for a free 20 minute telephone consultation with Dr. Jack Singer.

Jack N. Singer, Ph.D.
Certified and Licensed Sport and Clinical Psychologist
Diplomate, National Institute of Sports Professionals, Division of Psychologists
Diplomate, American Academy of Behavioral Medicine
Certified Hypnotherapist, American Academy of Clinical Hypnosis