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Environment 100

Celebrating the Great Outdoors

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The National Park Service in the US recently celebrated 100 Years. In nearly every country, people are enjoying the great outdoors through hiking, fishing, exploring, camping, photographing, climbing and many other activities. Full time work crews, Park Rangers and volunteers keep the National Parks accessible and usable. These people are exceptionally skilled at preserving the integrity, natural beauty and environment that make travelers want to visit the parks year after year.

Have you considered the natural resources available to you right where you are every day? Do you take advantage of the great outdoors?

The National Park Service made it to 100 years and your chances of living this long are increasing every day. If you want to be able to enjoy all of your remaining decades, which includes the great outdoors and the beauty of our environment, your health must be your top priority. Here are two ways to help optimize your outdoor experiences:

First, heighten your senses. Your senses include your sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste and intuition. Barrett Hedges, award winning National Geographic Photographer who is also a photography tour guide and founder of Bearheadphoto.com recently said in a 100 Year Lifestyle interview that it’s important to “keep your senses sharp when you are in the wild and have an exit plan”.

You can keep your senses sharp by keeping your nervous system healthy. This will enable you to fully enjoy the elements, resources, environment and terrain while keeping you alert to potential hazards as well.

Second, make your FitNESS a priority. If you want to be able to get around better and be more active in the parks or the environment in general, your FitNESS is vital. Remember The 100 Year Lifestyle acronym using the NESS in the word fitness which is Neurology, Nutrition, Endurance, Strength and Structure.

In addition to keeping your senses sharp, a healthy nervous system will keep your muscles strong and your organs adapting to the challenges and stresses you may encounter in nature. This includes changes in altitude, temperature, weather and terrain. Good nutrition, including good hydration, will fuel your explorations. Endurance and strength training will give you the confidence and stamina to do more. And a healthy structure, spine and skeletal system will help to prevent injuries and contribute to your longevity in being able to enjoy the outdoors.

The components of FitNESS are important to Barrett who hikes, kayaks and climbs in the wild for weeks at a time. “I can’t afford to be sick, injured or slowed down. I like to get adjusted whenever I can. Chiropractic lifestyle care makes a big difference for me”. Keeping yourself balanced and neurologically healthy is important regardless of your age or current activity level. This way, when the opportunities arise to enjoy nature you can capitalize on them to the max.

Taking care of the planet and our natural resources is important for quality of life today, and for future generations. The same is true for you and your health. Follow these suggestions and enjoy the environment with your loved ones for 100 years and beyond.

Make Time for Play Time

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If you want to live your 100 Year Lifestyle, you have to make time for vacations. You have to make time for Play Time!  To do that, it’s going to require some Prep Time.

Here are 10 things you can do right now to insure that you make vacations a priority in your life:

1. PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR!

How many times have you seen an ad for an amazing resort and you say to yourself, “That’s where I’m going for my vacation.”  You pull the ad out, you look at it every day, you even call up to get rates.  And then . . . nothing! Time goes by and you never make the plans to go.

What you need to do is go through your calendar and choose a time you want to go away. It can be for a week, a weekend, a month. It doesn’t matter, but you have to put it onto your calendar. Once that’s done, it’s much easier to create what you want.

2. RELAXING OR ACTIVE VACATION

Are you looking to decompress? Or are you looking for an adventure? It makes a difference.  If you want an adventure, 7 days of sitting in a lounge chair on a beach won’t satisfy you. And if you want to relax, dealing with the hustle and bustle of the streets of Rome and spending hours on your feet touring will be anything but relaxing.

3. NOW FIND A LOCATION

Do you have any place in mind? If you do, that’s great! Just get on line and start researching that location. Cruising? Where would you like to visit?  If you’re not sure, it’s best to call a travel agent. You can explain what you are looking for and the agent can narrow it down for you, make suggestions and take away a lot of the stress of planning!

4. WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET?

Most people don’t think about this.  If you are on a limited budget, a safari in Africa or a trip to Bora Bora might have to be put on hold. Again, a good agent will always asks about your budget in order to make it easier choices.

5. WHERE TO STAY?

If you are doing this on your own, research hotels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, cruise lines, etc. for the location you choose. Look at the amenities, what the establishment offers. If you want a hot tub, be sure there is one. If you are looking for an all-inclusive vacation, be sure it is offered.  Look at the photos. It might say it’s on the beach, but if there are no photos of a beach, I would do more research! Trip Advisor is a great website (www.tripadvisor.com).  Travelers create reviews for hotels, etc. after their stay. I always say to read a number of them and then see what is consistent.  If one person has a bad experience, for whatever reason, the review might be awful – and not accurate!

Are you going as a couple, as a single, as a family? Make sure you get single occupancy pricing if you are alone. And check for children’s prices. Sometimes “kids are free” or their cost is discounted.  Hate being around kids? Check out adult only resorts! Want to bring your kids?  Check out family resorts. Be as specific as you can!

6. WILL YOU NEED A CAR?

This is a personal preference. If you are going to a big city, especially outside of the U.S., find out what public transportation is available. It is probably less expensive and definitely less stressful (especially if you’re going to Great Britain or other countries where you drive on the opposite side of the road!).  If you are going to be traveling great distances on your trip to sightsee, and you love to drive, it’s definitely the way to go.  Going to a beach resort? Chances are, you won’t want or need a car. There are taxis galore who can take you where you want to go and if you choose to sight-see, the hotels arrange transportation with the tour.

7.  WHEN TO BUY AIRLINE TICKETS

This is a question to which there is no definite answer! Most “experts” say anywhere from 29 – 54 days prior to a flight is the best time to buy domestic tickets.  I’ve seen fares lower even 21 days prior.  You definitely want to book more than two weeks out. Fares tend to go up at that point.

If you are flying internationally, you should be looking at tickets about 3 months prior to the flight, although sometimes you can catch a break closer to your departure date. If you are planning in advance, international fares are usually better between 3 and 5 months out.

I have seen the best pricing on tickets on Tuesdays, from about 3PM and throughout the evening. Many times these better fares are gone the next day, but if you can’t book on Tuesday, Wednesday is another good day. The worst time to purchase tickets is on the weekend! Wait until Tuesday!!!

The least expensive days to fly? Wednesday, followed by Tuesday and Saturday. Friday and Sunday are usually the most expensive. This is for domestic flights. And again, nothing is written in stone, but historically, this is what research has shown. International flights are much more difficult to predict.

Buy your tickets on line, either directly with the airline, or with one of the many websites that sell airfare (Orbitz, Travelocity, Expedia, etc.). If you have a preference of airlines, or have miles with one specific airline, I suggest going directly to their website. For example, Delta allows you to cancel or change your booked flight up to 11:59PM the day following ticketing – with no penalty! You won’t get that with those other websites.

By booking online, you save a surcharge that you would have to pay if you call the airlines or a travel agent (unless the travel agent is doing a package of air and hotel – then, many times they waive the surcharge).

8. WHAT LUGGAGE SHOULD I USE?

Are you going to carry on or check your luggage? I always do carry-on (unless I am going skiing or somewhere for an extended period of time.).  By carrying on luggage, you save time waiting at the luggage carousel after your flight (not to mention the stress created if you get to your destination and your luggage doesn’t!). If you are going to do carry-on, be sure the luggage you are using fits the specific airlines guidelines for sizing.

If you are checking your luggage, find out if there are any weight restrictions for the airline you choose. And also, find out if there is a cost to check it. You just might change your mind, pack tighter and carry on!!!!

And, you can carry another bag, as long as it can fit under the seat in front of you. So, you can pack a backpack, or another smaller bag if you need extra space.

If you do carry on, remember the 3 ounce rule. All liquids must be in bottles and containers no larger than 3 ounces.  Purchase plastic travel bottles and pour in your favorite shampoos, conditioners, cleansers, etc. Your toiletry bag will be about one quarter of the size!!!

9. PASSPORT OR VISA NEEDED?

If you are traveling outside the country, be sure to have a valid passport. Depending on your destination be sure to ask the airline about any restrictions, such as the passport needing to be valid 3 or 6 months following your trip. If it’s coming up for renewal, it’s better to renew it early so that you don’t have the additional cost of rush payment to get it in time!

Visas are required for many countries. Again, ask the airline or your travel agent if you will need one.  Applying for a visa is different for every country.

Traveling in the 50 United States? You will need a drivers license or another government issued ID.

If you travel internationally often, you might want to consider GLOBAL ENTRY.  It will save you time when you return home by by-passing often long immigration lines! Go to https://goes-app.cbp.dhs.gov/main/goes to apply.

10.  AND THE ALL IMPORTANT QUESTION: WILL MY CELL PHONE WORK?

If you are leaving the country, definitely check with your carrier.  Certain carriers work in certain countries. Coverage keeps getting better!  If you need a phone and yours won’t work, you can purchase a local phone or you can Skype to stay in touch with those at home. Every country is different so you will need to do your research on this one.

Happy Travels!

 

Reprinted with permission by Kathi Handt www.vacationonyourmind.com

Anti-Aging and Activism

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We are the first generation in history that is getting the advance notice that we will probably live longer that we ever thought. What will you do with this extra time? You have the opportunity to make your life matter more than ever.

Get involved and select your cause. Whether it’s working with your place of worship or for the environment, children, poverty, women’s rights or health, pick something that matters to you and get involved. Make a difference in your own little piece of the world. Find a few causes close to your heart and start making an impact. Don’t assume your voice is of no consequence. Put your paddle in the water and start rowing.

The world can look or feel like an awfully big place but by getting involved in the causes that matter to you, the world will feel more like an extended community. You will become part of something bigger. You will experience the joy of making a positive contribution. An important part of aging well is to always keep a sense of purpose. Always.

Involvement brings more meaning into your life. It can increase self-esteem and eliminate complacency. It keeps life fun. You can stay with the same cause for months, years, and decades or you can rotate your time and energy on a project basis. The choice is up to you. The important thing is that you get involved in something bigger than yourself. You will meet new people, make new friends, and you may create new business opportunities. More than anything, you will bring new meaning to your life by selecting causes that resonate with your soul. Don’t expect your life to change overnight. Identifying causes that are meaningful to you can take a little soul-searching. The key is to get started and to get involved.

Being in service is one of the greatest gifts you can give to the world, and it is also the greatest gift you can give to yourself today, tomorrow, and when you are approaching your 100th birthday. Why wait until you are gone? If you are going to live longer than you ever thought, why not make it worthwhile? Give yourself permission to engage in your life, regardless of your age, in a way that you never have before!

Exercise Your Social Skills

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Are you planning to attend or host a party soon? In social situations, why is it that some people make such a positive impression? What are the behaviors that define someone as a confident class act? The answers are found in five key social skills.

1.       It’s not really anything you do, but How You Feel.  It’s the capacity to relax. Stress and anxiety are contagious. If you seem confident and composed, you’ll encounter that in others. The first step in the ability to relax is to identify what makes you anxious. Sometimes, it’s simply nervousness about being nervous.   Certain actions also trigger anxiety. Try to do things with calm intent. Doing things in rapid, jerky motions awakens a primitive fight-or-flight syndrome. So take your time. Be aware of your posture and remind yourself to stand or sit up straight. During the gathering if you begin to feel nervous, step away and power pose behind closed doors for a couple of minutes. (Super heroes do it all the time. Make it your own super power.)

 2.       The Ability to Listen is the second skill for social success. People who are ill at ease often have a habit of talking too much, too fast, or too loud. Don’t be that person. Think of the conversation as a traffic light. Sometimes your light is green; sometimes it’s red. Cooperation in conversation gives everyone a chance to get where he or she is going at a balanced pace.  While you are listening, take the opportunity to control your breathing. Your voice will sound calmer and confident during your turn to speak.

 3.       Confident Interaction is a skill tapped into while you are listening.  Empathy and genuine interest in the experiences of another person develop with training yourself to really feel what someone is trying to communicate. It is probably the quickest way to make yourself truly unforgettable in a positive way.  Topping someone’s story is the opposite of empathy. Despite its regularity in social settings, topping shows lack of confidence. It’s another way for people to get back into their comfort zone . A major part of social anxiety is self-consciousness, which is helped by focusing strongly on someone else. That is empathy.

 4.       Building Rapport is the outward expression of feeling empathy. When you feel empathy, you act so as to build rapport which says basically “I am like you; we understand each other.” This way of communicating can synchronize down to incredibly fine levels.  It is an unconscious process, but it can be encouraged by conscious efforts. Mirroring or matching verbal behavior is one example. Another, important conscious act is appropriate eye contact. It simply shows that you are offering undivided attention. People need to receive and give attention. Be willing to do both.

 5.       People need A Sense of Status. As a confident person and as a class act, you are in a unique position to make others feel recognized and important. Sometimes it means singling someone out for praise in front of a group. Taking someone aside to show gratitude has the same affect.

When you are elevating others you can enjoy the feeling of being at ease as you direct the focus off of you.

As the door opens upon your next social gathering, apply these five key social skills and you’ll radiate power, and in its reflection you’ll shine brightly.

Adapted from Dale Carnegie: The 5 Key Social Skills

Reprinted by Permission of Nightingale-Conant Corporation www.nightingale.com

Stress Less During Your Commute

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Your commute can be a large component of your daily stress load. It doesn’t need to be.

Here are six tips to help you Stress Less. Live More.™ during your commute:

1. Shorten your Drive – Use a traffic and navigation application such as WAZE to improve your daily commute. These apps share real-time information and will help you save time, gas and energy while commuting.

2. Plan Ahead – For a smoother morning, prepare the night before and give yourself some flex time for the unexpected. Create a positive morning routine to keep you focused before you walk out the door.

3. Breathe! – While you are driving, or any time for that matter, if you feel yourself becoming stressed, take a deep breath. Take a few of them. This will calm your nerves and reduce the stress on your mind and body.

4. Learn – Use your commute to learn a new language, listen to personal development resources or audio books. Not only will you be learning and growing as a person, you will also find you begin to look forward to the commute time instead of dreading it. Your commute will be a twice a day opportunity to make yourself better.

 5.  Build Relationships – As long as your car is set up for Bluetooth and you are not violating any laws, commute time is a great time to stay in touch with family, friends or business relationships.

Take the time to learn all of the features of your system so that you can utilize the technology in a safe and efficient way. Never compromise safety and pay attention to your driving while you connect to the important people in your life.

6.  Support your Spine – Sitting can put a lot of stress on your spine. Long commutes can cause spinal problems and aggravate existing ones. Use the lumbar support that is built into your car seat or get a portable one that you can use in your car or take with you to work.

Make an appointment for a chiropractic examination and check the alignment of your spine to ensure that your nerves are functioning properly. You will be amazed at the difference chiropractic care can make in your life. Starting today, Stress Less. Live More.™ on your commute and always.

Vital Vacation Tips

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Summer Time is vacation time for many of us. The kids are out of school and family trips are planned. In the world of The 100 Year Lifestyle, we call vacations Play Time.

Play Time has many benefits and may help prevent forced time off that is caused by a health crisis. When someone makes the transition from Crisis Care to Lifestyle Care with their chiropractic adjustments, they often experience higher levels of health. The same is true with people who plan for and build vacations into their lifestyle.

Here’s why…

Vacations may help you live longer – A study by the State University of New York at Oswego that surveyed 12,000 men between ages 35 and 57, found that men who go on vacation every year reduce their overall risk of death by 20%.

The Framington Heart Study indicates women who regularly take time off have a 50% lower risk for heart attack.

Vacations can raise energy levels – Experts from the University of Pittsburgh and Radboud University both said that people had more energy and felt more satisfied with life while on vacation.

Vacations free your mind – Robert Kriegel, author of “How To Succeed In Business…” believes many workers get their best ideas away from work and Los Angeles psychologist, Robert Butterworth told ABC, “The break will allow you to refresh your brain cells.”

Vacations can strengthen relationships – A Wisconsin Medical Journal published findings that women who take two or more vacations a year are less likely to be depressed, tired, or unhappy with their marital relationship.

If you believe you can’t take a vacation and there is too much at stake, in one way, you are right. There is too much at stake: The toll on your long term vitality, health and energy. Not taking Play Time can cause a buildup of stress that is unhealthy and can lead to all types of health problems.

Stress affects everyone differently. High levels of stress can contribute to heart disease, cancer, digestive issues and sleep deprivation. Stress can elevate cortisol levels and reduce the strength of your immune system. These are just a few conditions from a long list that can slowly sneak up on you over time or dramatically surprise you with the speed of their impact on your life.

If you use up all your sick days then have to dip into your vacation days, where is the win? You have the choice. Plan and take your vacation.

Leading up to your vacation, make sure you schedule your spinal checkups to determine if you need to get adjusted. Going on a vacation with a healthy spine and nervous system can make your trip more enjoyable while also improving your health and well-being.

Go ahead, adjust your lifestyle and take a vacation. You will be glad you did.

References from www.businessinsider.com and from www.prevention.com.

Why Stress Affects Everyone Differently

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Stress is a nervous system reaction that causes your heart to beat faster, your muscles to be tense, your stomach to tighten, and your hair follicles to stand up, all as a way to prepare your body for an emergency. When you interpret a situation as stressful, whether it truly is or not, your brain triggers this reaction by sending a signal over your spinal cord and nervous system to every cell of your body. In prehistoric times, this would have been the perfect reaction to escape from a hungry dinosaur, but in today’s stress filled world and no Tyrannosaurus Rex, this chronic reaction can cause pain, sickness and disease.

Where your body breaks down from stress may depend on whether or not you have a condition known as vertebral subluxation. A vertebral subluxation is a spinal injury that interferes with the normal function of your nervous system which can affect your health on every level whether you have symptoms or not. If you have this in your spine, your body is already pre-stressed. 

Many people deal with stress through deep breathing, meditation, exercise and healthy food choices. These are all very good things to do as part of your lifestyle to counter balance stress, but if your nervous system is pre-stressed, the slightest deviation from the perfect stress management plan can send you into a frustrating, uncomfortable, or painful tailspin. Removing this pre-stress causing subluxation can improve your resistance to daily stressors.

Research shows that it only takes the weight of a dime to reduce nerve transmission. Additional research has found that nerve compression can exist without pain and can cause deterioration within two weeks.

In this pre-stressed condition, your body becomes more vulnerable to outside stresses while other people may be much more resistant. The location of the subluxation can determine what types of symptoms, if any, you experience. You may have nerve interference in the upper part of the neck. Do you get headaches, have allergies, or a stiff neck? Because the nerves fibers that come out of the upper neck also go to the entire body, pressure here can cause or mimic symptoms.

Interference to the nerve supply in the lower back can cause a backache, leg problems and also affect ovary, prostate, bladder or bowel function. Interference to the nerves in the middle of your back can affect your heart and lungs or cause tension, stomach problems, digestive disturbances and discomfort.

Vertebral subluxations can cause stress for decades without any symptoms. This is when serious problems occur, many of which could have been avoided by eliminating this pre-stressed condition right away. The birth process, childhood falls, sports injuries and poor lifestyle habits are just a few causes of subluxations. Removing the cause and optimizing the function of your nervous system is a better immediate and long-term plan.

A chiropractic examination can locate pre-stressed areas in your spine that may be affecting your health on every level. Crisis care is one way to deal with stress, only receiving care when you are hurt. A better option is to remove the subluxation, stress, from your body and keep it out as a part of your lifestyle. This will help you to stress less, live more, and enjoy the quality of life you deserve. Make the choice today to live the less-stressed life meant for you!

The Nerve of Spring

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Spring is just around the corner. Do you have the nerve for it?

The sunshine and warmer weather can be strong motivators for people to go out and play. They bring the benefits of natural Vitamin D, fresh air, longer days and the potential to do more. It can also offer changes to your fitness routine as you become more active and do what you dreamed of when the cold kept you indoors.

As your energy and activity level rises, your nervous system will be tested in many new ways. Gardening, walking, running, bike riding, organized sports and pick-up games become part of your routine, and all of these activities will be more enjoyable if your spine and nervous system are healthy.

If you started a new fitness routine recently or have become more active, don’t wait for a crisis to get your spine and nervous system checked. A chiropractic checkup can help you heal quickly if you are injured. Why not be proactive and prevent a hiccup to your momentum before an injury occurs?

If you’ve had allergies, you may find their relief or disappearance a positive side effect of your care. Researchers have discovered molecular connections between the nerve system and immune system which explains why so many people with allergies respond to their care.

A healthy nervous system is essential for you to be able to adapt to your environment. Dr. Robert Zieve states, “We live in a toxic world. The great majority of chemicals we now take in daily were not on the planet 30 years ago. These toxins become neurotoxins, damaging the nervous system.”

You can control exposure to many toxins by making healthier nutritional choices and avoiding the environmental toxicity found in fertilizers, insect repellant and commonly used household cleaning supplies. Keeping your nervous system and your family’s healthy with regular chiropractic check-ups can make a difference in your body’s ability to resist and adapt to these toxins, pollen and irritants.

If you’re an athlete who’s upping your mileage, research has shown that nerve compression can exist without pain and your bones and joints can begin to deteriorate on a microscopic level within a few weeks. This can slow your reaction time and lead to unnecessary injuries.

For children and adults, nerve compression can mimic symptoms of many other conditions and even affect the function of your organs and systems.

Now that warmer weather is arriving, it’s time for you to blossom. Don’t sidetrack your desire to enjoy this beautiful time of year. With Lifestyle Chiropractic Care, you’ll have the nerve to enjoy every season as fully as you want!

Environmental Stress and You

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Major storms and extreme weather seem to be hitting at an accelerated rate. For those in the path of a hurricane or in a flood zone—or for anyone dealing with the anxiety and hardship of evacuation or relocation—these events can have a variety of negative impacts on health.

In terms of your well-being, the stress you may feel from environmental disruptions can be debilitating. Traumatic stress and even PTSD sometimes occur in people who face natural disasters, but any victim of environmental interference can be subject to increased stress. A study in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology reported widespread psychological distress in response to Hurricane Opal in Florida.1

So how do you respond after a challenging event, and get your mind and body back on track?

The same study cited also reported that the people who recovered the most quickly from stress were those who were the most self-sufficient in caring for their own well-being. The inference is that getting beyond stress is often about how you adapt, and taking a proactive approach is a key to coping with and overcoming stress.

Following Hurricane’s Harvey and Irma, the Chiropractic Emergency Response Team (CERT) went on location to provide complimentary adjustments to the first responders and many of the storm victims. The results were fantastic and attracted local and national attention.

“The CERT are the first responders for first responders, and the recipients of the care appreciate the help,” said Kimberly Goreham, who is a CERT partner, along with founder Dr. Rick Wren.

How do you know if an environmental interference has increased your stress levels to the point where you should take action? You may experience typical symptoms of acute stress like headaches or nausea, sleep disorders, or flashbacks. These are signals that you are out of balance, and that it is time to take positive steps to regain your natural equilibrium and health.

Your body has an Innate Intelligence that keeps you healthy and helps you recover and heal from both physical and mental traumas. When the psychological and sometimes the physical stress of a powerful weather event like a hurricane taxes the resources of your body and mind, it can overwhelm you and interfere with your body’s built-in capacity to adapt. Poor diet, increased use of alcohol and other ill-advised coping methods will also negatively affect your nervous system and body as a whole. This is especially true when your nervous system has been previously compromised by conditions such as spinal subluxations, something the CERT addressed in their care of first responders.

When stressful events occur, take a look at your lifestyle, and seek out support from friends and loved ones, and holistic-minded health care providers like 100 Year Lifestyle Affiliated chiropractors who can help you bring your nervous system and life back into balance.

REFERENCES

1. The Trauma That Arises from Natural Disasters https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/somatic-psychology/201004/the-trauma-arises-natural-disasters.

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