6 Habits of Consistently Happy People!

We’d all like to feel happier, but happiness can sometimes seem like an elusive emotion that only certain people can experience regularly. 

Happiness is a huge topic of discussion nowadays – you can walk through any self-help section of your local bookstore and see dozens of books on the topic. Research happiness on Google and you’ll notice that thousands of entries pop up. However, as much as people talk about happiness, do we really understand how it works?

While happiness means something different for everyone, you can actually do a few things each day to make it easier to feel happy.

HERE ARE 6 HABITS OF CONSISTENTLY HAPPY PEOPLE:

1. THEY GET UP EARLY.

Studies have shown that people who wake up earlier not only feel happier, but they are more productive than their peers who sleep in. Something about seeing the sun rise while drinking a morning cup of tea or coffee allows you to reflect on life and actually have time in the morning for yourself.

Sleeping in means you’ll have to rush to make it to work on time, and also won’t have as much energy as someone who tackles tasks early in the morning before others wake up. As they say, the early bird gets the worm, and this age-old phrase obviously holds a lot of truth.

2. THEY EXERCISE REGULARLY.

Happy people also make it a point to move their bodies often – a sedentary lifestyle only clouds the mind and promotes an unhealthy body. Consistently happy people know this, as we all know that exercise releases feel-good hormones and endorphins that boost your mood and give you energy to make it through the day. Happy people care about their bodies and make sure to treat them well so that they feel their best.

3. THEY DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF.

The happiest people don’t let the trivial matters get in the way of their mood – they simply allow the experiences to happen, whether good or bad, and learn from them. Happy people enjoy life no matter what happens, because they know that the little stresses of life also hold valuable lessons and are necessary in order to enjoy the best things in life. Consistently happy people let the trivial matters in life roll off their shoulders, and simply get back up again when life knocks them down.

4. THEY MAKE NEW GOALS AND TRY THEIR HARDEST TO ACHIEVE THEM.

Consistently happy people also write down their goals and go after them. They don’t allow themselves to become complacent and stagnant – they constantly want to set the bar higher for themselves and achieve things they never thought were possible. The happiest people push themselves to the limit in life, and don’t allow anything to stand in the way of personal greatness, whatever that means to them.

5. THEY LOVE TO LEARN.

Also, happy people never stop learning. They have a curious mind and always want to know more than they did before about a variety of topics. They have an open mind as well, and allow new information to pour in while making a point to go over it later. They absorb new skills quickly, and consider life as a constant learning tool. Consistently happy people love to learn, because they know that new information and ways of looking at something will help them grow as human beings.

6. THEY HELP OTHERS OFTEN.

Finally, the happiest people don’t just hoard all of the good energy for themselves – they share it with others. They look out for their fellow human beings, and offer a helping hand whenever possible. This might mean that they volunteer at a local animal or homeless shelter, or engage in small acts of kindness such as opening the door for others. Happy people look at humanity as a giant team, and want to serve others so as to promote unity and care for other human beings.

As you can see, it doesn’t take much to become a happier person; it just takes consistency, commitment, and consideration for others to boost your mood. Happiness isn’t just meant for a certain group of people – anyone can become happier in their life if they just choose to feel happier!

These Are the Keys to Natural Confidence!

Sure, confidence is the key to success, but maintaining it is easier said than done. Particularly when things aren’t going your way, it’s pretty easy to lose sight of how you possessed any confidence in the first place. Fortunately, the tricks to gaining it back and staying on top are approachable for anyone and everyone, as Inc.com recently revealed. Here are a few of our favorite of the site’s tips for natural confidence.

Choose mind over matter. This is not to be mistaken with denial; rather, it’s about changing your perspective when things are less than perfect. Be positive about your current condition and figure out how you can overcome it or work to make the best out of it. If you undermine yourself, you’ll live up to the negativity.

Don’t discourage yourself. Let your trials and tribulations serve as motivation instead of allowing them to hinder your progress. If you can overcome these roadblocks, you’ll impress yourself, and if not, you’ll know you can handle failure and move on. Don’t tell yourself you can’t when you can.

Surround yourself with the right people. Don’t let the doubters get to you. Spend your time with the people who believe in you, and you’ll start believing in yourself. It’s that simple.

Treat yourself right. By speaking to yourself like you would a friend or loved one you deeply care about, you’ll become your own support system. You deserve to be kind to yourself.

Spread your knowledge. Share your impressive wisdom on a certain topic with someone who might know a bit less than you. Teaching others is an instant confidence booster. 

Sweat it out. Exercise is a proven cure for stress and anxiety, so regularly sweat it out at the gym to help you sweat the small, unimportant stuff less.

How To Cure A Hangover: Learn These 12 Tips!

Many of us enjoy the buzz you get from drinking alcohol, but the incessant hangover you can suffer from the next day often feels like a cruel punishment. It can stop you from carrying out the plans you had for the day and may even prevent you from turning up to work. But if you drink smart you may save yourself from this unwanted headaches and feelings of tiredness. Here are some tips that will guide you through what to do: before your drink; while you drink; and the morning after, that will help you cure a hangover.

Tips to do before you drink:

1. Drink lots of water

In order to wake up feeling fresh the day after you drink, it is important to make sure you are not dehydrated before you start drinking. Drinking alcohol blocks the production of a chemcical called vasopressin. This helps our kidneys send water straight to the bladder instead of absorbing water into your body. In fact, drinking alcohol can mean that you expel up to four times as much water as usual. This can lead to dehydration which is the main cause of hangovers headaches and dry mouths. So before you start drinking make it your aim to drink a lot of water; you can drink up to eight glasses a day.

2. Eat greasy food

Food helps to slow the  absorption of alcohol. In particular, if you eat a greasy meal before you drink, the fat will line the walls of your stomach. This will help slow down the rate at which the alcohol reaches the blood stream, which means that it takes longer for you to become intoxicated. You can also drink a full glass of milk or a shot of olive oil may help.

Tips to do while you drink:

3. Try not to mix

Different types of alcohol have different chemicals including different levels of cogeners. This is why different alcohols have slight different effects. If you drink different alcohols at the same time they can end up mixing badly. By sticking to one type of drink you will minimize your chances of winding up with a thumping headache the next day.

4. Take it slow

It is important to pace yourself when drinking. The NHS recommends that men should not drink more than 3-4 units of booze in one day. For women the recommended amount is 2-3 units. A beer is approximately 2-3 units while a glass of wine is about 1.5 units. It takes approximately 1 hour to break down 1 unit of alcohol and this is why you should not drink too fast. If you drink too fast, you do not give your body time to break down the alcohol and this is when you can start seeing unwanted side effects. If you leave a gap between drinks you allow your body to process the alcohol and this in turn will lessen you chances of getting a hangover.

5. Drink Sprite

In a 2013 study published in the journal Food and Function, Chinese researchers found that drinking caffeine-free soda helps the body better metabolize alcohol. It does this by speeding up a person’s ability to process aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). ALDH is believed to be the cause of hangover symptoms. So drinking fizzy drinks while you drink alcohol will have you ward of a hangover.

6. Keep drinking water

It is well-known that alcohol is a diuretic. Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D., a consultant at the Mayo Clinic recommends us drinking 16-20 ounces of water before going to bed. He also suggests us ordering a glass of water with every beer we drink to replace fluids we will lose when we drink.

Tips to do the morning after:

7. Get some rest

Getting some sleep will help your body recover. Staying in bed for an extra hour or two will help your body get the rest it needs. You may need to postpone any plans you have for your day. However, if you need to work, you better take an aspirin and show up.

8. Keep drinking water or juice

You still need to keep your body hydrated. Replenishing your body with water or fruit or vegetable juices will help restore your body to its desired equilibrium. One restorative drink is lemon juice added to warm water.

9. Eat toast or cracker

Toast or crackers are a great food to eat if you have been vomiting the night before. Dr. Hall-Flavin says that carbs can help boost your blood sugar levels the morning after.

Under normal circumstances, when your blood sugar levels are low, your liver will kick in and produce more glucose from stored carbs. However, if you have been drinking too much, your liver will focus on metabolizing the alcohol instead. As a result, you will have low blood sugar levels and have feelings of irritability and tiredness.

10. Drink coffee and take an aspirin

In a 2010 study published in the journal PIOS ONE, it was found that caffeine in coffee and the anti-inflammatory ingredients of aspirin reacted against the chemical compound of ethanol (pure alcohol). Ethanol brings on headaches because of the chemical acetate.

However, it is important to be aware that coffee does dehydrate. It will however cause a spike in adrenaline, which will give a false energy boost. Be careful when drinking coffee and taking painkillers at the same time.

11. Take a shower

Taking a cold shower will help to freshen you up and liven your senses. You may also like to try switching between cold and hot water. But be careful when doing so as you may shock your body which could do more damage.

12. Exercise

The endorphins release when you exercise to enhance your mood. It will also help to burn off the calories you gain when drinking alcohol. However, make sure that you drink water when exercising so you don’t become more dehydrated. It may take some willpower to get moving but it will surely help make your body and mind feel better.

We have gone through 12 tips that will help you to wake up without the dreaded hangover after a night of drinking. So remember these suggestions when you hit the bar next time.

This Is Why You Should Sleep on Your Left Side (Supported by Science!)

We all know that duration of sleep is critical for mental and physical wellbeing, but it turns out that sleep position may be another important factor in the quest for optimum health.

Specifically, a small body of research suggests that, for many people, sleeping on the left side may be the ticket to better health and better sleep. The theory stems from Ayurveda, a holistic approach to health and medicine that originated in India.

So why all the fuss about sleeping on the left side? Turns out it may be good for our digestion, our backs, and even our hearts due to the positions of different organs. Here are six potential benefits that may be derived from catching some Zzzs while lying on your left side.

1. It bolsters the lymphatic system.

According to Ayurvedic medicine, sleeping on your left side allows your body to better filter lymph fluid and waste via the lymph nodes as the left side of our body is the dominant lymphatic side. Western research has also found that sleeping on the left side can help the body process waste materials from the brain. In contrast, sleeping on your right side can decrease the lymphatic system’s efficiency.

2. It may improve digestion.

When it comes to digestion, sleeping on the left side may be preferable to the right due to the simple matter of gravity. Specifically, lying on the left side allows food waste to easily move from the large intestine into the descending colon (meaning you’re more likely to have a bowel movement upon waking). Sleeping on the left side also allows the stomach and pancreas to hang naturally (our stomach lies on the left side of the body), which can keep the development of pancreatic enzymes and other digestive processes humming. (Need help visualizing this process? Consult the image above).

3. It’s good for your heart.

Doctors have long recommended that pregnant women sleep on their left side in order to improve circulation to the heart. Even if you’re not pregnant (or a woman), sleeping on the left side may help to take some pressure off the heart, as gravity can facilitate both lymph drainage toward and aortic circulation away from the heart. That said, it should be noted that there’s some debate over whether sleeping on the left or right side is best for heart health.

4. It’s ideal for pregnant women.

Sleeping on the left side doesn’t only improve pregnant women’s circulation. It can also help to relieve pressure on the back, keep the uterus from squeezing the liver, and increase blood flow to the uterus, kidneys, and fetus. For this reason, doctors tend to recommend that pregnant women spend as much of their sleep time as possible on their left sides.

5. It may reduce heartburn.

A study published in The Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology found that lying on the left side can help reduce acid reflux symptoms. Again this is because our stomach lies on the left side. Conversely, lying on the right side may aggravate these symptoms. The effects are fairly immediate; if you’re struggling with heartburn after a meal, try taking a 10-minute lie-down on your left side.

6. It may relieve back pain.

People who suffer from chronic back pain may benefit from switching to left-side sleeping. That’s because sleeping on your side can relieve pressure on the spine. Feeling more comfortable, in turn, will improve your chances of getting a good night’s sleep.

Note

While all of these factors point to compelling reasons to start sleeping on your left side, it’s important to note that some people—including those with heart disease, sleep apnea, glaucoma, and carpal tunnel syndrome—may not benefit from side sleeping. If you’re unsure about what sleep positions may be best for you, it’s always a good idea to consult a medical professional.

How to make the switch

If you are ready to make the switch, you’ll find that it may take some time to build the new habit of sleeping on your left side. Implementing a few simple strategies can help ensure a smooth transition. For instance, you may want to experiment with putting a body pillow behind your back so that it’s harder for you to roll off of your left side during sleep. It can also be helpful to try sleeping on the opposite side of the bed than you normally do; that way your sleep orientation won’t feel much different (even if you’re sleeping on your opposite side).

It will also be important to choose a mattress that’s ideal for side sleeping. Because sleeping on your side can put pressure on the hips and shoulders, it’s important to choose a softer mattress that will help relieve pressure in those areas. Also be sure to look for a mattress that allows the spine to rest in natural alignment. And of course, make sure that whatever mattress you choose feels comfortable to you. The combination of a comfy bed and a health-promoting sleeping position is sure to increase your chances of sleeping well and feeling great whenever you wake up.

10 Ways to Help Boost Your Memory!

There is an adage that teaches “you can’t teach old dogs new tricks.” However, the human brain has a fantastic ability to adapt and change at whatever age you are. It was believed that the brain function peaked during adulthood then gradually declined as we age, leading to memory lapses. Now it is known that the modern lifestyle contributes significantly to the cognitive decline. A poor diet, exposure to toxins, stress, lack of sleep and many little and ignored factors are some of the examples of an unhealthy lifestyle. The flip side also holds true in that a healthy lifestyle will support your brain health and can even encourage the brain to grow new neurons. A strong memory depends on the vitality and health of the brain. There are lots of tasks you can do to improve the strength of your mind, and therefore, your memory.

Adopt healthy eating diets and habits

The types of food that you eat and also the ones that you ignore play a crucial role in improving and maintaining memory. A diverse diet consisting mainly fruits, vegetables and healthy fats are essential and will do the brain a lot of good. Increase your Animal-based omega-3 fat intake and avoid sugar and carbohydrates.

Give your brain a workout

Regularly exercising your brain maintains its growth and can even spur development of new nerve connections that will help improve memory. Exercise encourages the brain to work at an optimum level by stimulating nerve cells to multiply, thus strengthening their interconnections and protecting them from damage. Memory, like muscular strength, requires you to exercise it for the best functioning. The more you use your brain, the better you’ll be able to process and grasp information. Challenge your brain with puzzles and games and try new challenging tasks that will make you flex your brain muscles.

Physical Exercises

Mental exercise is essential for brain health, but also so is physical activity. Exercising helps the brain to stay fit and sharp. It increases oxygen circulation to the brain and reduces risks for disorders that lead to memory loss, such as diabetes. Exercising reduces stress to both the body and brain. It also plays a significant role in growth and stimulating new neuronal connections.

Get adequate sleep

The number of minimum hours required to sleep varies depending on age and activity. Sleep impacts directly on learning and memory. Sleep is essential for memory consolidation, with the key memory-enhancing activity occurring during the deepest stages of sleep.

Avoid Stress

Stress is part of life and cannot always be avoided due to the world’s overwhelming demands. However, stress has severe effects on the brain and body. Chronic stress makes you emotional and forgetful as it kills brain cells. You can try stress-reducing activities such as exercise, relaxation and hobbies. These will reduce stress and help your brain to be sharper and increase your ability to remember things.

Stop multitasking

Multitasking is the ability to do a number of activities simultaneously. Multitasking slows you down, makes you prone to errors and more forgetful. If you are doing multiple things at the same time, the brain finds it difficult to choose which information to store and which to ignore.

Use of these supplements

Much has been made about the use of supplements to improve memory. And none is better than Nu Skin’s BioGinkgo. BioGinkgo is an extract from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba, and it helps to improve memory, concentration and overall circulation of blood to the brain, arms, and legs. It also reduces cases of absent mindedness. One tablet a day with a meal should do the trick and help you improve your memory.

Master and try out a new skill

Think of something new that you have always wanted to learn, say skating or playing the guitar or even speaking a different language. These activities stimulate the neurological system, counter the effects of stress, reduce the risks of dementia and enhance the brain’s health. They help improve your memory, so long as they keep you engaged and challenged.

Laugh

They say that laughter is the best medicine, and indeed, it is. A good laugh engages multiple regions in the brain and activates areas of the brain vital to learning, memory, and creativity. Hop on Netflix to find a comedy or read a good funny book and get chuckling.

Use mnemonic devices

Mnemonic devices are memory tools that help you to remember information and concepts. They help organize information into a format that is easier to remember, such as the use of acronyms, rhymes, visualization and breaking information into smaller chunks for easier remembrance.

If you are serious about improving memory and cognitive function, the above ten techniques will offer a cheap and easy-to-do solution.

Cycling = Healthy Body + Stronger Brains...Stronger Brains? Yes Yes Yes! Scientifically Proven!

Research has shown that incorporating cycling into your daily routine is not only healthy for your body, but also your brain! If you have ever cycled to work and noticed that your mood and mental capabilities felt better than normal, you were actually experiencing the proven benefits of cycling on mental health.

Many people have taken up cycling as a way to get in shape and live a healthier lifestyle; however, even those who already enjoy good physical health can improve their mental strength through cycling regularly. A mere 30 minutes of steady cycling on the road, trail, or stationary bike can improve memory, reasoning, and planning. It also has scientifically proven benefits for emotional mental health, helping combat depression and anxiety.

Your Brain on Biking

Cycling can grow your brain in the same way it can grow your muscles. When we cycle, the blood that flows to the muscles increases, allowing our bodies to build more capillaries, supplying more blood (and therefore more oxygen) to those muscles. The same process actually occurs in our brains. Cycling allows our cardiovascular system to grow further into our brains, bringing them more oxygen and nutrients that can improve its performance.

When we ride our bikes, our brains also increase their production of proteins used for creating new brain cells. By biking regularly, we actually double (or even triple) new cell production in our brains! It also increases neurotransmitter activity, allowing the regions of our brain to communicate more effectively; therefore, improving our cognitive abilities.

The benefits of cycling are especially important for aging brains. These processes counteract the natural decline of brain function and development as we age. Scientists have compared the brains of adults in their 60’s and 70’s and found that the brains of those who regularly participated in physical activities like cycling actually appeared younger than those who do not. This proves that cycling can help keep our minds sharp well into our later years.

Cycling Shifts Our Mental Well-being

People of all ages can experience the benefits of cycling on psychological well-being regardless of their physical health. It can improve one’s self-perception and sense of self-worth, resulting in higher self-esteem. Studies have shown that these improvements were even stronger for mental health patients and people suffering from mild depression, and can potentially be just as effective (if not more effective) than psychotherapy. Regular activities such as cycling not only combat mental health issues like these, but they can also help prevent them long-term.

Cycling also improves our subjective mood, reduces anxiety, and allows us to handle stress more effectively. It increases the levels of serotonin and dopamine production in our brains. These are the chemicals that make us feel ‘happy’ when they are released in our brains. Scientists have confirmed this effect by analyzing serotonin levels in the brains of lab rats as they got more exercise. Serotonin and dopamine are not the only feel-good chemicals produced when we cycle. Our bodies also produce endorphins and cannabinoids (yes, cannabinoids, the same chemical family associated with marijuana use, although these are naturally produced by our bodies regularly!).

When we cycle, our bodies improve their ability to regulate hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. This results in improved ability to handle stress. Hormonal imbalances cause our bodies to respond to stress negatively, so it is important to have a routine like cycling to allow our bodies to handle stress more easily.

Doctor’s Orders for Cyclists

How much should we cycle to take full advantages of the benefits it can provide? It is true that cycling with too much intensity can begin to reduce our energy as our bodies become depleted of nutrients. That said, how much cycling is enough to enjoy its benefits before it begins to take too much of a toll on us? Scientists suggest that 30-60 minutes of steady riding at a good pace (no sprinting!) is a good balance. Maintaining a heart rate at roughly 75% of our maximum is also suggested. Think of it as a 7 out of 10 on a scale of ‘no activity’ to ‘cycled so hard I can barely breathe’. This is a general guideline for the average person, so ultimately it is important to cycle to fit one’s ability.

Li-Fi, 100 times faster than Wi-fi!!! << A whole new technological breakthrough!

Expect to hear a whole lot more about Li-Fi - a wireless technology that transmits high-speed data using visible light communication (VLC) - in the coming months. With scientists achieving speeds of 224 gigabits per second in the lab using Li-Fi earlier this year, the potential for this technology to change everything about the way we use the Internet is huge.

And now, scientists have taken Li-Fi out of the lab for the first time, trialling it in offices and industrial environments in Tallinn, Estonia, reporting that they can achieve data transmission at 1 GB per second - that's 100 times faster than current average Wi-Fi speeds.

"We are doing a few pilot projects within different industries where we can utilise the VLC (visible light communication) technology," Deepak Solanki, CEO of Estonian tech company, Velmenni, told IBTimes UK. 

"Currently we have designed a smart lighting solution for an industrial environment where the data communication is done through light. We are also doing a pilot project with a private client where we are setting up a Li-Fi network to access the Internet in their office space.”

Li-Fi was invented by Harald Haas from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland back in 2011, when he demonstrated for the first time that by flickering the light from a single LED, he could transmit far more data than a cellular tower. Think back to that lab-based record of 224 gigabits per second - that's 18 movies of 1.5 GB each being downloaded every single second.

The technology uses Visible Light Communication (VLC), a medium that uses visible light between 400 and 800 terahertz (THz). It works basically like an incredibly advanced form of Morse code - just like switching a torch on and off according to a certain pattern can relay a secret message, flicking an LED on and off at extreme speeds can be used to write and transmit things in binary code. 

And while you might be worried about how all that flickering in an office environment would drive you crazy, don’t worry - we’re talking LEDs that can be switched on and off at speeds imperceptible to the naked eye. 

The benefits of Li-Fi over Wi-Fi, other than potentially much faster speeds, is that because light cannot pass through walls, it makes it a whole lot more secure, and as Anthony Cuthbertson points out at IBTimes UK, this also means there's less interference between devices.

While Cuthbertson says Li-Fi will probably not completely replace Wi-Fi in the coming decades, the two technologies could be used together to achieve more efficient and secure networks.

Our homes, offices, and industry buildings have already been fitted with infrastructure to provide Wi-Fi, and ripping all of this out to replace it with Li-Fi technology isn’t particularly feasible, so the idea is to retrofit the devices we have right now to work with Li-Fi technology.

Research teams around the world are working on just that. Li-Fi expertsreported for the The Conversation last month that Haas and his team have launched PureLiFi, a company that offers a plug-and-play application for secure wireless Internet access with a capacity of 11.5 MB per second, which is comparable to first generation Wi-Fi. And French tech company Oledcomm is in the process of installing its own Li-Fi technology in local hospitals.

If applications like these and the Velmenni trial in Estonia prove successful, we could achieve the dream outlined by Haas in his 2011 TED talk below - everyone gaining access to the Internet via LED light bulbs in their home.

"All we need to do is fit a small microchip to every potential illumination device and this would then combine two basic functionalities: illumination and wireless data transmission," Haas said. "In the future we will not only have 14 billion light bulbs, we may have 14 billion Li-Fis deployed worldwide for a cleaner, greener, and even brighter future."