How To Switch Off From Technology (And How It Will Benefit Your Wellbeing)

Whether lost, listening to music, keeping in touch with friends or just desperate to Instagram your spaghetti bolognese - your smartphone or device, lightweight and fitting snuggly into your hand like a cashmere glove, is all you need to do... well... anything.

The flip-side of this new-found, much-loved convenience is, of course, addiction.

Raise your hand if you've ever scrolled through Facebook in your pitch-black bedroom until the early hours or rolled over to check your work emails/Instagram/Twitter feed first thing in the morning.

Yeah, we thought as much.

"Phones are such an intrinsic part of everything we do," says Poorna Bell, HuffPost UK Lifestyle editor speaking to HuffPost Live. "But people just don't have boundaries."

Just like any other addiction, being glued to our screens 24/7 isn't without consequences.

We spoke to Dr David Hamilton, author of How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body, to find out the benefits of switching off.

And, for those who love their phone more than their own parents, we've got some easy-to-follow tips on how to get some screen sense.



Benefits Of Switching Off
1) Gives the mind a rest so we're less stressed
Having instant and constant access to news, information, etc, means we rarely give our minds a rest. The mind and body need rest. We're being bombarded with information all day so we need to switch off for the sake of our own health, otherwise there's more likelihood of us getting stressed throughout the day.

2) We get better sleep quality
Sleep quality if affected by what's on our minds.
We absorb so much negative content when we read the news on a smartphone or tablet last thing at night. It affects many people's sleep quality so they end up waking up in the morning not feeling rested and refreshed.

3) It's better for our relationships
Many relationships suffer because we spend so much time online that we talk much less. Many couples even have their smartphones on the table while they are, supposedly, enjoying a romantic meal.Switching off gets us back to connecting with one another face-to-face again.

4) It can make us happier
Social network research shows that the more good quality relationships we have the happier we tend to be/ Many people develop a lot of their relationships online and not face-to-face. Some take pride in the number of 'friends' they have on Facebook, yet the amount of face-to-face time they enjoy with friends declines.
There is no substitute for face-to-face contact. We're wired to benefit from connecting with one another. Face-to-face contact is actually good for the cardiovascular system. Depriving ourselves of this at the expense of being online is not so healthy for us, mentally and physically.


How To Switch Off
1) Just decide
Sometimes just knowing that being switched 'on' all the time is detrimental to our mental and physical health, and also that of our relationships, is a motivating factor for people to just decide to switch off more.

2) Set some rules
It's beneficial in relationships and in families to set some rules. Without boundaries, many people just default into switching on all day and night. Rules can be, 'no phones or tablets at the dinner table', 'no internet in the bedroom', or 'no internet during lunch', for instance.
Sometimes, just these little rules can be a relief because many people just switch on out of boredom, so rather than rest they're bombarding themselves with more information. Rules give us an information break and let us get more from our real downtime. It feels good knowing that when you go to bed, for instance, the day's work is over because that's the rule.

3) Challenge yourself
If you're really up for it, challenge yourself to go one day a week without switching on. It might be hard at first but it will become easier if you keep it up a day a week for few weeks.

You'll then realise that it's actually not that difficult and it feels really good. It feels relaxing. It's like a little holiday - a day off.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/18/screen-sense-how-to-switch-off-technology_n_4120591.html?utm_hp_ref=uk-wellbeing

9 Promises To Bring You Happiness - By John Wooden

1. Promise yourself that you will talk health, happiness and prosperity as often as possible.
2. Promise yourself to make all your friends know that there is something in them that is special and that you value.
3. Promise yourself to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best in yourself and others.
4. Promise to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are of your own.
5. Promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
6. Promise to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future.
7. Promise to wear a cheerful appearance at all times and give every person you meet a smile.
8. Promise to give as much time to improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
9. Promise to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press on you.

http://www.ginaparris.com/9-promises-to-bring-you-happiness/

3 Keys to a Happy Relationship, According to Researchers

A new study claims it has found the three keys to a happy romantic relationship. And much to my surprise, none of my guesses–expressing your feelings solely through interpretive dance and icy, silent glares; taking off your bra to distract during an argument; and settling major relationships issues with a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors–made the list.

So what are the key factors linked to happy couplehood? The study tested 2,201 participants referred by couples counselors on seven “relationship competencies” believed to be important in promoting happiness in romantic relationships. The researchers tested for communication, conflict resolution, sex, stress management, life skills, knowledge of one’s partner, and self-management. Of the seven, only three had strong links to relationship happiness:

1. Communication
This is the big one—and probably the least surprising one to anyone particularly good or bad at communicating with their partner. Expressing your needs and feelings to your partner in a positive way was key to the happiness of the relationship.


2. Knowledge of Your Partner
Do you know your partner’s dark secrets? Their hopes and dreams? Their favorite book, guilty pleasure TV show, least favorite pizza topping? Though the importance of communication speaks to emotional needs within a relationship, this one is more practical…but just as important. Robert Epstein, the study’s lead author, points out that strengthening this aspect of the relationship can be relatively easy—as easy as remembering your anniversary, your partner’s birthday, and the names of the friends and relatives. The big stuff is also important—critical subjects like whether you and your partner want children is must-know information.

3. Life Skills
Losing out on promotions because you’re always late? Forget to pay the cable bill on time… every month? Struggle to add money to your savings account to prepare for the future? Those things can erode your relationship even if it’s healthy in other ways. “Communication skills are necessary,” Lisa Neff, a couples researcher at the University of Texas at Austin told Time, “but they’re not sufficient when couples are under stress.”

Do you agree with the three key factors to relationship happiness that this study found? What are the key factors that keep your own relationship happy?

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-3-keys-to-a-happy-relationship.html

5 Easy Ways To Get Happy

Pursuing your dreams can have its challenges and sometimes be very emotional. However, it's important to stay focused on your goals and put your mind on the positive to fuel your drive to achieve. Guard your thoughts and emotions by intentionally taking action to keep your spirits high. In my office, we have a saying, "If anything can go well, it will!" Expect good things to happen for you and you'll see that more good will come your way! Below are five quick ways to help you the next time you're feeling down and out. Dig yourself out of the dumps with these proven strategies to a happier life.

1. Meditate 15 to 20 minutes every day. 

Meditation can be a life-changing force in your life. The act of solitude can solve many problems. For example, when I was going through a rough divorce in my 20s, I would rise early and escape to my sweet spot where I just cleanse my mind of negative thoughts and visualize a happy future.

2. Guard what you listen to. 

Surround yourself with positive people, have positive conversations and take a break from negative news. To protect your positive mind and atmosphere, refuse to say, hear or agree with any negative words, especially about your life, day or personal economy.

Instead, flip the switch and replace all negative expressions with positive ones. Say statements that create joy in your life. I challenged my clients to take a positivity challenge. For 30 days, speak positive about every situation. They used my personal positivity calendar to chart their progress. You can create your own by recording at least one positive thing that happens each day for 30 days. This challenge will shift your perspective and help you keep a watch on your words while charting a path to a much happier life.


3. Use goal cards.

If you focus on what's possible, your passion to accomplish goals will increase dramatically. Goal cards make this process very simple. Studies show people who review and visualize their written goals are more apt to manifest what they see. There's no better feeling of happiness than to achieve something that you really desire in your life.

4. Eat energy-producing foods. 

Eat lots of proteins and greens and drink water daily. When you feel healthy and alert, your confidence level goes up and makes you a much happier person.

Unhealthy eating and a sedentary lifestyle can have a negative affect on your mood. When you upgrade your body image by eating better and working out, you will immediately begin to upgrade your outlook and feel better about yourself.


5. Surround yourself with things that give you a happy outlook. 

Pictures of fond family memories, artwork, quotes, a happy screensaver on your computer or even fresh flowers. Often, I have my clients create happiness sticky notes where they write messages to affirm their goals, or simple words of encouragement like, "You can do it!" "You're loved!" "You're beautiful!" I tell them to post it to their computer, stick it on a desk or vision board so they can see it often.

Hold on to happiness
Take 10 minutes each morning to see yourself in a happy situation.Be grateful
Look for something to be happy about
Keep a happiness journal

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stacia-pierce/happiness-tips_b_3750932.html

Why Happiness – Not Hard Work – Sparks Business Success

Psychologist, Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage, says our most commonly held formula for success is broken…

Up to now we’ve all bought into the theory that: “if we work hard we will be more successful, and if we are more successful, then we’ll be happy… and if we can just find that great job, win that next promotion, lose those five pounds, happiness will follow.”

However Shawn’s discoveries in the field of positive psychology have revealed that happiness fuels success – and not the other way around. He says: “When we are positive, our brains become more engaged, creative, motivated, energetic, resilient, and productive at work. This isn’t just an empty mantra. This discovery has been repeatedly borne out by rigorous research in psychology and neuroscience, management studies, and the bottom lines of organizations around the globe.”

As an experienced business advisor and executive coach, who is a big advocate of helping the family owner businesses, I work with to achieve a work/life balance. I too have witnessed many CEOs and MDs become more successful when they are happy, fulfilled and firmly in the driving seat.

UK business consultant, Jane Bytheway, and her business partner, Nina Joy, help bosses to ‘overcome overwhelm’ and get to the root of what is holding them back in order to get them moving ahead are great champions of ‘A Daily Dose of Vitamin Positivity’. What a great expression!

How more energised do we feel when we work with happy and upbeat clients, supply partners and business partners? Happiness and positivity act as a magnet in the world of business – resulting in a ‘win-win’ for everyone.

So how much more effective would you, and your company, be, if you could reboot your mind to a happiness programme – in the same way that you reboot your computer?

On a scale of 1-10, where 1 equals extremely unhappy and 10 equals extremely happy, what’s your personal happiness rating?

• What are the justifications for your score?
• What’s not quite right at this moment in your personal life?
• What are the likely consequences for you and your business if you don’t address the issue(s)?
• What would it take to move your score up one level?
• When will you take the first action to make the step change?

http://www.whatifspecialist.com/2013/08/why-happiness-not-hard-work-sparks-business-success/

The Habits That Make You Happy

So what habits make you happy? Try doing these on a daily basis, and see if you get the what results you get:

1. List Three Good Things. [My wife] and I started a daily evening ritual, at about 7pm each day, where we take a moment to tell each other three good things about our day. We didn’t invent this, but it serves as at least one time in your day when you focus on what you’re grateful for. This can create a mental habit of gratitude that you can use other times in your day, when you’re focused on the things you don’t like or have — when you feel this, think about something you do have, that you love. Find a way to be grateful, and you’re happier.
2. Help Someone. When we focus on ourselves, and the woeful state of our lives, we are self-centered. This shrinks the world to one little place with one little unhappy person. But what if we can expand that worldview, and expand our heart to include at least one other person? Maybe even a few others? Then we see that others are suffering too, even if that just means they’re stressed out. Then we can reach out, and do something to reduce their stress, put a smile on their face, make their lives easier. Help at least one person each day, and you’ll find your entire perspective shifted.
3. Meditate. It affects everything else. Meditate for just two minutes a day, and you’ll create a habit that will allow you to notice your thoughts throughout the rest of the day, that will help you to be more present (unhappiness comes from not being present), that will help you notice the source of anxiety and distraction. That’s a lot that can be accomplished in two minutes! Sit every morning when you wake, and just notice your body, and then your breath. Notice when your mind wanders, and gently return to your breath. You become the watcher of your mind, and you’ll learn some useful things, I promise.
4. Exercise. Everyone knows you should exercise, so I’m not going to belabor this point. But it really does make you happier, both in the moment of exercise (I’m exerting myself, I’m alive!) and throughout the rest of the day. Exercise lightly, if you’re not in the habit yet, and just for a few minutes a day to start out. Who doesn't have a few minutes a day? If you don’t, you need to loosen up your schedule a bit.

There are a number of other habits that also help: mindful eating, drinking tea, doing yoga, socializing with others. But these incorporate meditation (they’re more active forms of meditation), and exercise, and helping others, and gratitude (if you’re doing it right). So I wanted to list the most basic habits, and then you can expand to other areas.

How do you form these habits? One at a time, starting as small as possible, with some social accountability. Set these habits in motion. You’ll notice yourself becoming more present, more grateful, more other-focused. The shift that results is nothing short of a miracle.

http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2013/07/how-to-make-happiness-a-habit/

6 Tips For Happiness

Tip 1: Manage Your Time
“Time,” so they say “is money.” But imagine that as if it was the hours and minutes of your life, managed by a “Universal Bank of Time.” 

Under their strict account usage terms, the UBT would mandate a compulsory daily withdrawal of 24 hours. The hours would be automatically transferred to you at the start of each day. But you could never make a deposit, you could never put back what you didn’t use – unused hours would be taxed at 100%. Worse still, there’d be no online banking with the UBT. No paper statements. You couldn’t even get a balance - you’d never be sure how much time you had left.

If real bank accounts worked this way you’d make sure you spent every penny of your daily withdrawal limit on something worthwhile. Pretty soon you’d probably start to plan your spending – you might even keep a book of items you wanted to spend your money on. So with that in mind…


Tip 2: Make a “Now List” 
Most folks have heard of a Bucket List (taken from the movie of the same name), a list of all the things you’d like to do before you die (“kick the bucket”). It’s a fabulous idea - except for the built-in assumption that we’re going to be doing all these marvelous things at some far flung point in the future, probably when we’ll be far too old and frail to do anything more than regret each and every item on the list as a missed opportunity.

So let’s dispense with the term Bucket List. What we want is to “Live Life Now” list – or a “Now List” for short. Write down everything you’d like to do, then start making it happen.


Tip 3: Collect “Trophies” Andy Warhol, so it’s said, never opened any of his mail. He merely collected it up, put it in a box, and when that box was full, sealed it and wrote the year on the top. 

I’ve never taken the time to find out just how true this story is, but I do know that the first time I heard it, it had a profound effect on me. I wanted to do the same. However, being a somewhat deluded individual, I was fairly certain I could improve on the concept.

And so I started to collect things. Theatre tickets, And so I started to collect things. Theatre tickets, raffle tickets, train tickets, plane tickets, postcards, greeting cards, thank you cards, business cards, labels, badges, anything that was evidence of somewhere I’d been, something I’d done, or someone I’d met. And something I could pin to a board.


Tip 4: Decide What’s Important
Most people I encounter haven’t actually got a clue what they really want. They might wake up in the morning and want to go back to bed. They might flick through a magazine and want those shoes. They might even want the person in the magazine wearing those shoes. But these desires come and go. Few of them seem to stick around and become important - and that’s a mistake.

Knowing exactly what you want is hugely important. Merely knowing has the power to change everything. Not convinced? Then allow me to introduce you to the incredible, completely automated wish-fulfilment machine you have inside your head…


Tip 5: Use The Power of Focus
Brains are amazing. Especially yours. Even mine has its moments. And one of the most fascinating mechanisms of the human brain is how it deals with focus. Have you ever noticed how when you buy a new car, or even when you’ve merely decided what type of car it is you want to buy, you start seeing that same car everywhere?! That’s the power of focus. It happens because in order for our brains to cope with the extraordinary amount of information coming in through our five senses from the world around us, we’re programmed to concentrate on what’s “important,” and more or less ignore the rest.

Unconvinced? Excellent!

You might be asking yourself how does the brain determine what’s important? And the answer is: you tell it! And this mechanism isn’t just taking place during card tricks; this happens all day, every day. Your brain is continually filtering the information coming in based on what you’ve decided is important. Strange then that we quite often focus on entirely the wrong things, or nothing at all. 


Tip 6: Remind Yourself Of The Important Things Most people own a wallet, a purse, or some other item to carry around their credit cards, dog-eared receipts or (if you’re really retro) cash.

If your wallet is like mine then it might have a small see-through pocket where you’re supposed to put a photo of a loved one. Ditch it. Not the loved one, just the photo.

On a small piece of card, just big enough to fit that space, write down what you really want in life – your “life vision” if you like – and place it in your wallet. What we’re doing here is utilizing that Power Of Focus on a daily basis by creating something that will remind you of those important things, each and every time you look in your wallet.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-jones/6-tips-for happiness_b_3436324.html#slide=2567639

Personal Development Tips For Real World Situations

It can be difficult to know what you should do for bettering your personal development. With personal development, you should find something that works for you. Everyone is different and what works for them won't necessarily work well for you. There are always tips, like these, that can allow you to improve yourself.

Stress can be the opposite of happiness a lot of the time. When we have to deal with stress, it takes its toll on the body in a physical and mental sense. You have to tackle the stress that's bothering you before you can meet your goals. Take the time out of your day to sit down and clear your head. A calm, refreshed mind is essential to inner peace and self-assurance.

There are plenty of great books on personal development available. A good book can help you find new ways to reach for your goals and improve yourself. Pick out a book that has gotten good reviews because there are some books about personal development that are not written very well.

Give yourself a boost of confidence by reciting all the things you like about yourself. List the things that you love about yourself on a postcard. Keep it handy, and when you need a little motivation, read it. Better yet, record your qualities on video or audio and listen to it often. "Why would I want to do this?", you may be asking.

www.mechanictomillionaire.com

Do what it takes to create an emergency fund and add to it even if you can only add a few dollars at a time. Many people handle every unexpected expense with a credit card, building up debt. Even a few dollars per week can quickly add up to a nice savings. This money can help out in the short and long term because debt continues decreasing.

Your pastor or counselor is there to help. Not only have they been trained to deal in personal growth, their experience in these issues is what makes them a good choice to speak with. They will help you figure out what things are bothering you and what you can do to sort them out. Speaking with a professional is a great step toward personal development.

Many people are unaware that diet can affect feelings of depression, as an increase in consumption of complex carbohydrates can help. Serotonin can lower if you don't eat enough carbs. Eat more vegetables and fruits, whole grains, nuts and beans.

It's possible to teach yourself how you can deal with difficult situations without becoming too emotional. If you learn to stay calm during stressful times, you will have the confidence you need to face almost anything in your life. Take the time to reflect on the situation, breathe deeply and relax.

Demonstrating selfless behavior shows remarkable progress in any personal development program. You can cultivate a strong, positive character, by learning how to make sacrifices for the sake of helping others. You will soon become the person you envision for yourself, when you have mastered the ability to personally sacrifice without harming your own well-being.

Taking a few small risks may just be where you should start on your path towards happiness. Most people don't want to risk feelings of rejection or failure, so they never travel from their comfort zone, eventually causing dissatisfaction. Taking risks shows courage, which is a component that can help you on the path of happiness.

Each person has strengths and weaknesses; therefore, put into practice the techniques which speaks to you. As the old G.I. Joe cartoons used to say, "Knowing is only half the battle." You need to apply what you learn to make any progress. Share this article with anyone in your life that you believe will benefit from it, and help yourself as well as others grow and develop. 

http://www.examiner.com/article/personal-development-tips-for-real-world-situations

7 Life Improving Benefits of Yoga

You've heard the perks of regularly hitting the mat, yet 70 percent of you still aren't prone to pose, a Self.com poll reveals. Take a closer look at how health and happiness go up with every Downward Dog.




A Sunnier OutlookThere really is something to the "happy yogi." Doing one hour of asanas —a sequence of standing, sitting and balancing poses - helped avid posers raise their levels of the brain chemical GABA (low levels are linked with depression) by 27 percent compared with a group who read quietly, a study from Boston University School of Medicine and McLean Hospital 

Aches Erased!Put nagging lower-back pain behind you. Sufferers who did two 90-minute yoga classes a week for about six months eased soreness by 56 percent, a study in Spine shows. Those given treatments like pain meds and physical therapy lessened the hurt by only 16 percent. Posing improves posture and strengthens back muscles to keep aches at bay, researchers say

Better, Longer Zzz'sInsomniacs fell asleep 15 minutes faster and slept an hour longer each night after two months of doing a 45-minute series of yoga poses daily before bed. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital speculate that regular practice helped people relax, making it easier to switch off. No trouble hitting the hay? Doing three weekly sessions at any time of the day may still help 

Steamer Sex
You can amp up your desire and ensure an O-mazing time between the sheets by practicing daily asanas, a study from The Journal of Sexual Medicine suggests. The love connection: Yoga helps reduce anxiety, increase body awareness and even speed the release of hormones that rev arousal. All of that translates to a boost in libido, lubrication and ability to achieve

Crazy-High ConfidenceYoga could be your ticket to body love, research from the University of California in Berkeley finds. Women who practiced regularly rated their body satisfaction 20 percent higher than did those who took aerobics, even though both groups were at a healthy weight. The secret may be that yoga asks you to tune in to how your body feels and what it can do—not how it looks.

Top-to-Toe Toning
Smart yogis know dumbbells aren't the only way to sculpt. "Yoga is strength training," says Loren Bassett, an instructor at Pure Yoga in New York City and creator of Bassett's Boot-camp, a vigorous, athletic-style yoga class. "You're using your body weight to move from posture to posture, and in certain poses, you're lifting every pound of it." For sure fire firming, focus on muscle-
A Sense of Calm
Namaste the stress away! Women who had gone to the mat at least once a week for two years or more released 41 percent less of a tension-triggered cytokine (a type of protein) that can make you feel tired and moody compared with yoga newbies, a study in Psychosomatic Medicine notes.

http://www.self.com/fitness/2012/03/benefits-of-yoga-slideshow

Discover Your Purpose And Passion

It is so easy to say…discover your purpose and passion and you will unlock the true potential in your life — if only it were that simple.

For many of us, it has been so long since we had that feeling of true inner joy where time didn't seem to matter because we were doing what we loved…we forget how to dream, how to know what we even really want in our lives. Like a dog chasing its tail, we get up each day and do our best at our job, as a friend, in our role as parent, but is that enough? Is that all there is to life?

For me, the question was always could I get back the feelings I had as a 10-year old playing outside, reading or learning when I was perfectly in tune with life, unbelievably happy. For me, there were different points in my life that contributed… That led to the question – how do you discover your purpose and passion?


Here are 3 methods that you can use to change your life, regain excitement and fulfillment no matter what your age or circumstances…

1. Recall our childhood – I think if we look back on as much as we can remember between 5-18 we will remember/find passions we had at that time. We had time to dream, less preventing us from taking time to think and dream. Part of finding passion involves going back to those times and remembering what interests and passions you had back then. Sure, there may have been some bad stuff too…but really focus on what gave you the most joy and happiness. These years are where I did most of my initial learning, found music, discovered that I was very good at being critical, questioning and finding solutions to things – these are now passions.

2. When you go through momentous times in your life…major health challenges, a crisis, or a really happy time in your life (wedding, birth of a child, moving to a new job or country) It seems these times allow us to shed what has been hanging over our heads and focus on our passions once again

3. Relaxation and Introspection – learning to meditate effectively over the last 15-years or so has meant I get constantly to re-visit my passions, something I am thankful for each day. Focus first on learning to meditate and calm your mind, then you can begin to work toward guided meditations in which you can seek out your purpose and passion without a cloudy mind from the day's challenges.


Happiness, clarity, focus, health and well-being and earning potential are all linked very closely (if not dependent on) you finding your purpose and passion – do you know what your passion is?


http://www.peak-personal-development.com/blog/index.php/discover-your-purpose-and-passion/