TOP 20 TIPS FOR A LONGER LIFE (PART 1 OF 4)

TOP 20 TIPS FOR A LONGER LIFE

(PART 1 OF 4)

1. Laugh more

·         Laughing appears to boost the blood flow (by more than 20 per cent) and it may reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

·         Laughing has also been found to help fight infections, relieve hay fever, ease pain and help control diabetes.

·         The positive effect of laughing is thought to last around 30 to 45 minutes.

2. Adjust sleeping time

·         Life expectancy may be reduced by sleeping more than eight hours a night.

·         A study found that people who get only six to seven hours sleep a night live longer than those who sleep eight hours or more, or less than four hours.

3. Eat more garlic

·         Garlic has been referred to as ‘nature’s antibiotic’.

·         It is a powerful cleanser of the body and regular ingestion promotes a healthy heart and circulation by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

·         It also helps fight infection and can boost immunity.

·         It helps with the prevention of cancers of the digestive system, including the oesophagus, stomach, colon and rectum.

·         Those who don’t like the taste of garlic should try the odourless supplements that are available.

4. Boost your sex life

·         It is estimated that having sex 3-4 times a week reduces the risk of having a heart attack or stroke by half.

·         During sex, the average person maintains their heart rate above 70 per cent of the maximum.

·         Sex also reduces stress, leads to greater contentment and better sleep.

5. Drink tea

·         Scientists tend to agree that tea, both black and green, may contribute positively to the promotion of health and the prevention of chronic disease.

·         Recent research studies reveal the antioxidants in tea may inhibit the growth of cancer cells, support dental health, increase bone density and strengthen cardiovascular health.

·         According to a study, heart attack patients who were tea drinkers decreased their risk of death by up to 44 per cent, as compared to non-tea drinkers.

HOW TO MAKE JUICES MORE PALATABLE

HOW TO MAKE JUICES MORE PALATABLE

MAKING JUICES MORE PALATABLE

·      If you do not like bland juices, you can improve its taste by adding a quarter of lemon, which contains 5% citric acid and vitamin C.

·      You can also add about 8 tbsp of cranberries to your juice to improve the taste, as its antioxidant content helps in preventing cancer, stroke and heart disease.

·      If you like the taste of fresh ginger, grate it and add it to your juice, as it is also helpful in lowering cholesterol levels.

·      The removal of the fibres in the extraction of the juices enables them to be quickly digested and assimilated with less effort.

·      However, a juice is not a complete meal replacement.

·      You should consume it with your meal or as an in-between snack.

·      It should therefore be an addition to your regular meals.

PRECAUTIONS

·      Be pesticide-free, by washing fruits and vegetables thoroughly with cold running water, and use a stiff brush if necessary, to remove the pesticides and sprays that enter plants and roots.

·      Clean your juicer immediately after using it to prevent any remnants from contaminating the juicer.

·      Drink juices immediately, or postpone its preparation.

·      Avoid storing juices for later consumption as they are perishable.

·      If you’re careful, you can store a juice for 24 hours, but with moderate nutritional decline.

TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR BEING A GOOD LISTENER

1. Stop talking.

2. Put the talker at ease.

3. Show him that you want to listen.

4. Remove distractions.

5. Be patient while listening.

6. Empathize with the talker.

7. Hold your temper.

8. Go easy on arguments and criticisms.

9. Ask questions.

10. Stop talking.

EASY TIPS FOR HOSTING A SIT-DOWN DINNER

EASY TIPS FOR HOSTING A SIT-DOWN DINNER

·        Setting the table before the guests’ arrival makes them feel welcome.

·        It also saves you last-minute stress and scrambling.

·        If you have limitations in doing this, assemble the items you’ll need.

·        If needed, someone else can set the table up for you without much direction.

·        Place flowers on the table to create a colourful ambience for your guests.

·        Avoid fragrant blooms that will overshadow the delicious smell of the food you will be serving.

·        If you don’t have flowers, pretty non-scented candles can be eye-catching.

·        Another idea is to display the dessert, or a cascade of fabulous chocolates.

·        As you set the table, think about the mealtime fallout, like bones, pits or shells, and place receptacles on the table to collect them.

·        Passing warm towels before serving dinner is a lovely personal touch.

·        To prepare towels, moisten as many matching facecloths as you have with a mild solution of water combined with either lemon juice or rosewater.

·        Wring out the cloths until just damp, fold in half, roll into cylinders and arrange in a single layer in a shallow casserole dish and cover tightly.

·        Microwave for 40 or 50 seconds and pass one to each person using tongs.

·        Gather the used towels on a tray before dinner is served.

CELLULITE – THE DREADED FAT

CELLULITE – THE DREADED FAT

·        Cellulite refers to the appearance of dimpled skin on the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen of most women and some men, too.

·        It is sometimes described as skin with a cottage cheese texture.

CAUSES OF CELLULITE DEVELOPMENT

·        Hormonal imbalance

·        Genetics

·        Gender

·        Race

·        Slow metabolism

·        Distribution of fat just under the skin

·        Circulatory insufficiency

·        Irregular diet and

·        Lifestyle factors

REMOVAL OF CELLULITE

·        Endermology, Mesotherapy, and Radiofrequency with diode laser are non-surgical, safe and effective treatments for cellulite reduction.

·        Endermology treatment flushes out fat cells, resulting in reduction of cellulite, reduced body measurements, and increased circulation.

·        Mesotherapy induces vitamins, minerals, amino acids and natural extracts to improve blood flow, dissolve excess fat deposit, and remove fibrotic hardened connective tissues, resulting in gradual loss of inches, cellulite improvement, correction of skin irregularities and elasticity enhancement.

·        Radiofrequency (RF) causes the collagen to contract and tighten over a period of time, improving cutaneous hydration which triggers greater collagen production and improves the appearance of the skin.

PREVENTION OF CELLULITE

·        Healthy eating

·        Regular exercise

·        Maintaining a healthy weight

·        Reducing stress

DINING ETIQUETTE ON YOUR FIRST DATE

DINING ETIQUETTE ON YOUR FIRST DATE

·        Your mannerisms at the dining table are clues that reflect your personality.

·        Good table etiquette indicates a certain level of poise and sophistication.

·        Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when you’re on your first date.

1. ORDERING FOOD

·        It isn’t just another activity when you’re on a date.

·        So don’t bury your head in a menu.

·        Instead, focus on your main dish of the evening – your date.

·        It’s a time to test plate-sharing and taste-bud preferences.

2. WHEN FOOD ARRIVES

·        No matter how hungry you are, don’t gobble your food.

·        Otherwise, you’ll be staring at your date eating after your own meal.

·        Eat at a moderate pace so that you have time to talk too.

·        A good tip is to count 10 seconds between each mouthful.

3. WHILE EATING

·        Always place your napkin on your lap, and never use it as a bib.

·        Always keep your eyes on your date, and try to smile between mouthfuls.

·        Occasionally, show some interest and ask how the food is.

·        Never slurp liquids, smack your lips or chew with your mouth open.

·        Never talk and chew your food at the same time.

·        Don’t get up during your meal, except for the washroom or an urgent phone call.

·        Don’t keep your accessories on the table, but keep it on another empty chair.

4. FOODS TO AVOID ON YOUR FIRST DATE

·        Choose the right kind of food on your first date, as first impressions matter.

·        Stay away from certain foods to prevent gastric embarrassments.

·        To begin with, pick the right location for your first date.

·        Choose a coffee shop to break the ice, and order coffee and pastries.

·        A fancy meal may cause discomfort with crockery like knife and forks.

·        For dinner, choose a casual restaurant for your first date.

·        On a first date, always stick with relatively tidy fork food.

·        Avoid foods like

o   Sandwiches, pizzas and Spaghetti – messy and sticky in teeth

o   Soup – you could get caught making a slurping noise

o   Garlic and onion food – leaves a smelly and stinking breath later

·        Avoid alcohol, even if your date is comfortable with it.

·        If you really want to, limit yourself to a cocktail.

·        Binge drinking gives out the signal that you are nervous.

·        Getting drunk and losing control is definitely not a likable trait.

ANNUAL MEDICAL CHECKUP LIST AFTER TURNING 40

ANNUAL CHECKUPS AFTER 40

·        Health is as much about prevention as it is about cure.

·        Regular checkups are the best way to detect problems at an early stage and to avoid further complications by prompt treatment.

IMPORTANT CHECKUPS

1. Screening Cardiac Stress Test.

2. Blood Test – Lipid Profile, Kidney Function Test, Liver Function Test.

3. Urine Test – Measuring micro albuminuria with micro albumin / creatinine ratio in spot urine.

4. Screening for Thyroid disease, Depression and Sexual dysfunction.

5. 12-24 Hours Ambulatory blood pressure measurement and ECG.

6. Chest X-ray.

7. Eye examination – once in 6 months, with annual checking of glasses.

8. Additional checkup for Diabetics – Haemoglobin A1C Testing – 3-4 times annually, and Foot examination – 1-2 times annually.

HOW TO DEAL WITH A PROMOTION

·         It takes more than just patience to understand, motivate and mentor a team the right way.

·         The life-changing moment comes when you cross the line, and it is only then that it all sinks in.

·         It could be a tricky situation since you not only have new responsibilities, but you may also be supervising a person who was vying for the promotion.

·         You must communicate to the group right at the start that you need their support to make this transition work.

·         Maintain the dignity of your new position, but at the same time acknowledge the immense role played by your former peers in creating a favourable environment for your success.

·         Remember, when you wish to go fast you go alone, but when you wish to go far you go together.

1. Define roles

·         No boss can work alone.

·         Defining roles for each individual in team projects will not only keep misunderstandings at bay, but will also save the time and energy of the organisation.

·         Begin by describing the job to your employees.

·         If your team doesn't clearly understand their basic responsibilities, as well as how their individual roles interact within the dynamics of the team, you lose.

·         Discover the key result areas (KRAs) of each of the members of your team and also of the team as a whole.

·         Giving the right job to the right person will not only bring you better results but will also allow the employees to sharpen their self-image as professionals.

2. Articulate expectations

·         A boss who is able to articulate expectations, meet goals and yet not overburden the team is the 'dream' boss for any team.

·         Conveying your expectations about your employees' performance and goals has to be a participative process.

·         You can communicate to your team through discussions, group meetings or emails.

·         Use emails only to send formal messages, which your team may require to refer to time and again.

·         Discussions are important as the team feels they have a say in the day-to-day activities.

·         The challenge is to steer the brainstorming in such a manner that the definitions come from people themselves.

·         It should appear to them as though they are working towards something which they have set out for themselves.

·         Involvement of the team in the process helps increase their sense of ownership, making them perform better.

3. Delegate work

·         You will be overburdened if you do not delegate work and have negative feelings about the team.

·         On the other hand, the team will be clueless about what to do.

·         Delegating work will help you groom your employees, an essential part of your role as a leader.

·         What you must remember while delegating work is that while one delegates authority, the responsibility remains with the boss.

·         Setting up effective monitoring and control mechanisms must go hand-in-hand with the process of delegation.

·         The basic goal should be to help one's team members grow from being dependent to being independent.

4. Offer your feedback

·         When offering feedback, always give the positive review first and the negative review later.

·         Never mince your words, a direct approach is always better and will help you gain the respect of your team.

·         Again, while you must always give a pat on the back in public, it's better to offer criticism in private.

·         Negative feedback is crucial as it helps individuals develop.

·         Focus on helping the person understand the issue at hand, how it developed, and how it can be addressed more effectively.

·         However, the choice of words plays an important role, and one must ensure that the message is conveyed without being offensive.

·         At all times, remember that you're playing the role of a mentor in your position as the boss.

5. Learn to listen

·         There is a clear distinction between hearing and listening.

·         To be an effective listener one needs to suspend judgement in order to look at the matter in an objective light.

·         As a leader, you must curb the desire to pre-empt the conversation in order to prove your point.

·         Always allow the team to speak out first, as it will provide you time to think and formulate your thoughts about the issue.

·         It will also help the team vent their feelings and assure it that they will be heard before a decision is taken and will help them trust the final decision.

6. Set examples

·         A boss must set benchmarks for the team.

·         You have to simply take up the responsibility of the delegated tasks not performed well.

·         Bosses, who take only the praise for jobs done well and try to pass on the buck to juniors for all that is not done well, lose their credibility with the team very soon.

·         There is no substitute to 'walk the talk'.

·         If you are not ready to follow a rule, rest assured that the others will follow the precedent.

·         Ultimately, a good boss is one who is not over and above his team.

7. Cultivate team chemistry

·         Team chemistry can be developed only when you work as a part of the team.

·         A boss who orders things around, and wants the teammates to clean up the created mess, fails to cultivate any kind of chemistry in the team.

·         Listening to the team, asking for their inputs and constantly mentoring the team are some of the time-tested methods to develop team chemistry.

·         A major issue most leaders face is whether to interfere or not when a conflict within the team arises.

·         If the conflict is trivial, it's better that you stay out of it as a boss.

·         However, if it is big enough to affect the unity of your team, then you need to listen to both parties individually before you step in to manage the problem or make a judgement.

·         Being the boss anywhere is lonely, but with a little effort you can make this climb easier, mentor new leaders on your way and yield better results along with your team.