STRESSED OUT? If you turn to food when you’re stressed, post a list of 10 non-food stress relievers on your refrigerator door—for example, curling up with a good book or taking a hot bath. Instead of giving in to a snack attack, check the list and do something positive.
-Weight Watchers
21 DAYS Give yourself 21 days to get used to healthy, low-sodium, sugar-free foods. That’s how long it takes to replace all the taste buds on your tongue, so that’s how long it takes for you to get used to new flavors.
-Men's Health
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE A single workout gives regular exercisers double the mood boost occasional exercisers enjoy, one study found.
-Shape
UNLEADED ART Some oil and acrylic paints contain lead to give colors luster and brightness, says Mark Pokras, DVM, an associate professor at Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. It’s common in oranges, reds, blues and greens. Some clay also contains heavy metals, but shiny glazes are the biggest pottery-related risk. Several state health departments have also issued warnings about paint-your-own-pottery studios using glazes with high levels of lead. Check labels for lead-free paints and glazes and make sure you work in a well-ventilated area.
-Prevention
A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Age not only brings wisdom, it also brings happiness. After studying more than 30 years’ worth of data, sociologists at the University of Chicago concluded that Americans grow more joyful over time. The longer we live and the more experiences we have, the easier it is to find common ground with others, they say. As a result, we feel more fulfilled by our relationships, which contributes to a sense of well-being. How to get the same effect now? Write down one thing you learned today in a journal before you go to sleep. Think about how it might help you understand someone else better, then rest easy—and happy.
