Simple Steps to Increase Your Life Expectancy

Go Outside for a Longer Life Expectancy

Life expectancy can be increased with simple steps and changes. This guide will help you find ways to increase your life expectancy and improve your health and feel great as you age. Let's start with the easiest: increase your life expectancy with sunlight.

Life expectancy can be increased simply by going outside. See, what happens when you go outside is that your skin gets exposed to sunlight. That exposure triggers cells in your skin to produce Vitamin D. This vitamin (really a prohormone, but let's not worry about that here) is essential for bone health and is turning out to be important in depression, heart disease, diabetes and just about everything.

Some estimate that 50% of adults have low levels of vitamin D, because we simply don't get outside that much (sitting by a window doesn't count, the glass filters too much of the sunlight). This is a shame, because maintaining vitamin D levels has to be the easiest and cheapest way to improve your health and increase your life expectancy. Getting outside for just 15 minutes a day and exposing your hands and face to sunlight is enough to maintain vitamin D levels in most cases.

If you are concerned about your vitamin D levels, your doctor can order a simple blood test that will tell you if your levels are low. If for some reason you can't get outside enough, there are vitamin D supplements that you can take (but getting outside is a better option, if you can).

Elderly people need to pay special attention to their vitamin D levels. If you are a caregiver, be sure to assist your loved one in getting outside just a little bit every day. Not only will with improve vitamin D levels, but it could also improve sleep because sunlight also regulates another hormone in the body called melatonin that controls your sleep cycle.

Life Expectancy Increased by Hanging Out

Life expectancy can be increased by just hanging out with your friends and family. The more connected someone is, the better their overall health. Having positive relationships with a spouse, friends and family is the best way to be connected.

We are not sure why relati

onships play a role in health and life expectancy. It could be that people in positive relationships are less likely to take on risky behaviors and are more likely to take care of themselves. It could be that having people around you reduces the impact of stress on your health. We can make up lots of theories about why relationships have a positive impact, but the bottom line is that people who are engaged in "meaningful" relationships have better health (and therefore better life expectancies).

One way of improving your relationships with people is to get in the habit of telling good stories. Stories are how we communicate with one another, and telling a good story strengthens communications. I can't count the number of times I've been on the phone with someone and was just talking about the weather or giving a dry update on my family. Instead, I should be telling a story about a funny thing my kids did or something crazy that happened at work. Stories keep relationships alive.

So make more time for friends and family. Go do things together (create stories together), and make a real effort to improve your communication with them (whether by e-mail, phone or in person) by having a good story always ready for the telling.

Exercise

Improve your life expectancy with a commitment to daily exercise. Why daily? Well, after carefully considering all the research and exercise recommendations out there and knowing a bit about how people form habits, I have to conclude that a daily exercise commitment is a great way to improve your life expectancy, your health and your energy level. Here's why:

A study showed that people who exercise vigorously for around 3 hours a week had DNA and cells that were 9 years younger than nonexercisers. Three hours a week is a little more than 30 minutes a day.

Forget the study, though. What I know (from personal experience and from observing others) is that if you go more than 2 days without exercising, you are at a grave danger of quitting your routine. Somehow it is w

ay too easy to slip from three days of nonexercise to three weeks of nonexercise to three months of nonexercise. The easiest way to create an exercise habit is daily repetition. When you promise yourself to exercise daily, you may skip a day but then get back on the program the following day. If you are exercising three times a week and, say, skip Friday, then you would have gone from Wednesday to Monday without exercising - a total of 4 days with no exercise (very dangerous, from a habit-building perspective). For life expectancy, it is more important that you e

xercise year after year than go through fits and starts of intense exercise followed by no exercise.

The other reason I feel that daily exercise is important, is that daily exercise will help

improve your sleep and your energy level. It is important to just rev up your whole body

each day. Remember, daily exercise doesn't have to mean going to the gym every day. Home exercises, such as yoga, stretching, free weights and more, can be incredibly effective.

Floss Daily for a Longer Life Expectancy

The fact that flossing daily can extend life expectancy falls in the weird-but-true category. In fact, floss does two things: it prevents gum disease (that's rather obvious), and it prevents heart disease (not so obvious). Preventing both of these together is what adds years to your life. Here's how flossing imp roves life expectancy:

When you floss, you help prevent your g

ums from becoming inflamed. That's a good thing. What is happening when your gums are inflamed is

that you have a chronic bacterial infection in your mouth. This harms your arteries through two mechanisms: the bacteria find their way in to your arteries and hang out (causing plaques), and your body mounts an immune response to the bacteria in your mouth, causing inflammation (which in turn can cause your arteries to narrow). This makes it hard for your heart to do its job and can lead to heart disease.

There is some debate about how many years you can gain with heart disease. Dr. Perls says 1.5 years, while Dr. Roizen says 6 years. Both of these doctors are gerontologists (aging docs) and have popular books on aging and life expectancy (see reviews: Living To 100, RealAge

and You! Staying Young). Who is right? It doesn't matter. Flossing is good for your gums and good for your heart, so we should all just do it.

Of course, this is easier said t

han done. How do you get in to a solid flossing habit? First, you need to make sure you have some floss. There are tons of different kinds of floss (flavored, unflavored, strings, ribbons and on and on). Pick some and give them a try. Next, you have to remember. Put your floss on top of your toothpaste. Har

d to forget that way. Then just do it. You already have a habit of brushing your teeth at least twice daily (right? - please say yes), so just anchor your flossing habit to that.

More Sex for a Longer Life Expectancy

Your life expectancy may be increased through having more sex. In fact, in one study, men with a high frequency of orgasms showed a 50% redu ction in mortality. This is good news, especially because issues around sex and aging are being taken more and more seriously by the medical community.

Why sex should be linked to life expectancy is something of a mystery. Of course, it could be that healthier people are more likely to have more sex and that the findings linking sex to life expectancy are reflecting this, but I think there is more

to it. We have seen elsewhere that having good relationships and being positive are linked to longer life expectancies. Maybe sex is a market for good, positive relationships. Of course, there could be a direct health benefit as well:

sex triggers all sorts of endorphins and hormones in the body. Maybe these help with healthy aging and increasing life expectancy.

But who really cares about the reason? The simple fact is that having more sex is healthy. Here's a few links to help deal with any age-related sex problems that may come up:

Sex Tips for the Older Woman - Sex Tips for the Older Man

Be Like A Vegetarian for Your Life Expectancy

Life expectancy c an be linked to three factors that vegetarians excel at: fewer bad fats, more antioxidants and lower weight. Before we go in to how being a vegetarian can help your life expectancy, though, we have to define what we mean by vegetarian.

There are some vegetarians who are "junk food vegetarians." These types of vegetarians eat cheese pizzas and ice cream all day long. That is not good for health or life expectancy. What we mean is the person who is eating lots of vegetables prepared in healthy fats (such as olive oil) while limiting animal products, such as cheese and cream. We'll call this type

of vegetarian a

"whole foods vegetarian."

• The leading cause of death and the number one shortener of life expectancy in the U.S. is heart disease. As your heart ages, there can be a build of gunk in your arteries and your arteries themselves can become harder (see heart aging for more information). This causes your blood pressure to rise and your he art to work harder, leaving you at risk for heart disease. Vegetarians (whole foods vegetarians) have some of the best arteries around because eating healthy vegetables avoids bad fats and other unhealthy foods.
• People who eat lots of vegetables take in lots of antioxidants. Antioxidants help your body repair some of the damage caused by aging. The more plants you eat (and the greater variety) the more raw materials your bod has to make repairs. Read more on antioxidants and their evil counterpart, free radicals.
• Finally, vegetables simply fill you up with very few calories (if prepared without creams, butter or cheese). A healthy vegetarian diet should help maintain or lose weight. A healthy weight is tied to a longer life expectancy.

So be more like a vegetarian to increase your life expectancy and live healthier.

Distress for a Longer Life Expectancy

Stress has been linked to dozens of health conditions, including the "big ones," such as heart disease or cancer. Stress has also been linked (no surprise) to feeling irritable and not sleeping well. By focusing on stress, you can improve your quality of life right now while improving your long-term health and life expectancy too. That's a pretty good deal.

You can distress through a wide range of stress factors.These behaviors includes comfort of eating & smoking.Learn to relax through distressing techniques or meditation to keep your life expectancy up where it should be.

My other more long-term stress reduction techniques. My personal favorite is called the "relaxation response." This is a scientifically proven breathing technique that will help train your body how to responsed to the stressful events in your life.

Another effective relaxation technique is meditation. By learning how to meditate, you not only calm your body, but you begin to train your mind. This is great for mental fitness, concentration and (of course) relaxation.

Extend Your Life Expectancy Through Screenings and Tests

Improving your life expectancy through medical tests and health screenings is certainly not one of the "fun ways to live longer," but it is, without a doubt, one of the most effective ways to add healthy years on to your life. Medical tests and screenings can help treat diseases early, when they are more treatable, and extend life expectancy even with an illness or disease.

Of course, the challenge is figuring out what tests to take when. Only your doctor can really tell you 100% (every individual is different in terms of risk factors and family history), but we can check out so

me general guidelines for health screenings (see Health Screenings for Women or Health Screenings for Men).

I like to think of health screenings as part of a disease prevention program. Preventing diseases (or catching them early) is probably the single best way to add years to your life expectancy. Make a plan today to prevent disease, get everything checked and feel good that you are doing everything you can for a longer life expectancy.

Turn Off Your TV for a Longer Life Expectancy

If life expectancy and television watching aren't linked, I'd be shocked. Of course, I can't prove that TV and life expectancy are linked (no one has done a study comparing the life expectancy of TV-watchers and non-watchers, probably because they can't find enough non-watch ers for a good study). I really do think that cutting back on television watching would improve most people's health and (therefore) increase their life expectancy. Here's a couple of reasons:

• Watching TV makes you inactive. You just sit there burning as few calories as possible, which could lead to weight problems.
• TV makes you eat more junk food. People who are watching TV eat more than those who don't. It's a fact.
• TV makes you antisocial. You are at home, zoned in, instead of talking with real people, face-to-face.
• TV is stressful. The news and many shows are filled with stressful stories. Avoid these, and you may feel things are not so bad after all.
• TV keeps you from doing other things. This is the big one for me. The average person watches something like four hours of TV every day. That is 28 hours a week or more than 1,400 hours a year. If we all just put that time in to something else (exercise, volunteering, talkin g with our children), think of what a different world it would be.

Of course, I can't tell you how many years of life you will gain if you quit watching TV (it depends on your weight and what you do with the extra time), but I can tell you that you will gain back around 1,400 hours each year (on average).

Avoiding Risks Increases Life Expectancy

Life expectancy can be protected by making sure that you don't take any unnecessary risks. For young people, the biggest causes of death aren't diseases or age-related problems. The biggest causes of death for young people are accidents, injuries and violence. When you add certain behaviors (such as smoking) to that list (which shortens life expectancy by up to 14 years), you get a list of things to avoid to protect your life expectancy.

Here's the list (I know, it sounds like nagging, but do these things anyway): wear your seat belt, drive defensively, avoid situations that may lead to injury, avoid risky sex, avoid violent situations, don't smoke (or quit smoking if you do smoke) and maintain a healthy weight.

If you can do those things, then you are already increasing your life expectancy. Focus on avoiding obvious risks and dangers. Your body is pretty amazing and will keep going for a long time as long as you keep it out of trouble.

Does Size Matter?

Women Men Want - Does Size Matter?

"Honey, does my bum look big in this?" If there's any line that is a tribute to the evolution of the modern relationship, it would be this one. Behind the stale humor of this sentence lies a problem that has grown exponentially over time: does size matter to a guy?

Of course size does matter, but not in the way that you might think. Three of the most common "disadvantages" have it's pluses from a guy's point of view.

Short - Us guys don't see you as short, we see you as petite. No one talks about it, but it's a general rule that a guy is taller than a girl in a relationship. Heaps of guys dig short girls, just because it makes them feel more of a man. They feel like they can better protect their girl. Besides, being short hasn't stopped heaps of females from being bombshells in the bedroom. So don't feel down if you're not as tall as you'd want to be, a lot of us guys are looking for girls like you.

Fat - Us guys don't see you as fat, we see you as curvy. Your hips and other feminine features are accentuated and secretly, many guys dig a bit of meat on their girl. Girls are skinny, women are curvy.

Skinny - Us guys don't see you as skinny, we see you as slender. Having less fat on your body means that there's less between the man and the woman. Touches are more electric and similar to being petite, a light girl makes us guys want to protect you mor
Hopefully, you are now more confident in whatever shape that you were born. Ideal guys are looking for you, if you just flaunt what your momma gave you with not a care in the world, he will find you.

For a woman of any shape or size, there is a man who looking for her. That man could be someone you already know. For more tips to connect with your ideal man, click here.

"Enhance Yourself By MOTIVATION"

ABC of motivation

A void negative sources, people, places, things and habits.

B elieve in yourself.

C onsider things from every angle.

D on't give up and don't give in.

E njoy life today, yesterday is gone, tomorrow may never come.

F amily and friends are hidden treasures; enjoy their riches.

G ive more than you planned to.

H ang on to your dreams.

I gnore those who try to discourage you.

J ust do it.

K eep trying no matter how hard it seems, it will get easier.

L ove yourself first and most.

M ake it happen.

N ever lie, cheat or steal, always strike a fair deal.

O pen your eyes and see things as they really are.

P ractice makes perfect.

Q uitters never win and winners never quit.

R ead, study and learn about everything important in your life.

S top procrastinating.

T ake control of your own destiny.

U nderstand yourself in order to better understand others.

V isualize it.W ant it more than anything.

E X cellerate your efforts.

Y ou are unique of all God's creations, nothing can replace YOU.

Z ero in on your target and go for it!

"Effective Way To Reduce Stress"

HOW TO REDUCE STRESS

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and uncluttered your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)

Just Say 'Yes' to the Moment

We should all learn how to slow down.

So what we do when we get anxious and insecure is we speed up. We get busy: we get addicted to email, we get addicted to being online, we get addicted to food and drugs, we get addicted to talking to other people--not just to communicate but just to keep busy. Buddhist practices offer a way of saying, Hey, come back over here, reconnect. The only way that you'll actually wake up and have some freedom is if you have the capacity and courage to stay with the vulnerability and the discomfort.

Meditation helps us to pay attention so that we can directly realize and trust the goodness that's there. We actually begin to recognize that who we are is awareness, who we are is love, and our sense of identity shifts in such a fundamental way that it actually challenges the small-self story.

What do you mean by "small-self"?

The perception that we are separate and deficient. One of the metaphors I always find helpful is that our being is like an ocean and we get identified with different waves, like different weather systems that go through, like we get identified with fear or clinging or certain thoughts and if we can recognize those waves but remember our oceanness, really remember who we are, remember the innate radiance of our mind, the tenderness, then we can be with the changing weather systems, the waves, but not get caught up in them, not lose sight of who we are.

One of the teachings I love the most from the Buddha is, "Our fear is great, but greater yet is the truth of our connectedness." So we can remember our belonging at any moment—even facing death—if we can remember the love that holds us. Then we can actually face living and dying and have something that's large enough to hold us.

One of the reasons I was so drawn to writing about radical acceptance is because we spend so many moments at war, and we do it in the ways we judge ourselves, we do it in the ways we blame others, we do it in the ways we feel it's our country against that country.

There is so much division in this world. So what is really the path of healing? It can begin in this moment, by embracing the life that's here. Because if we can begin to bring a sense of peace and care to the life inside us, naturally the circles widen to include other people. It's the way of the heart—if we can be kind towards ourselves we'll be kind towards others.

This conference is about fear, something you've written a lot about.

The biggest fear we have is that somewhere, we are failing or are going to fail. You can almost say that our personalities are in a large part a way of compensating for fear. We want to show to the world what would be acceptable and loveable. In doing so, we in some way disconnect from the aliveness and authenticity of who we are.

So I really feel like our path should be one of slowing down enough to re-embrace, re-connect with what we've pushed away. One of the simplest ways we can do that is just to intend to say "yes" to what we experience in the moment. I teach that a lot.

We can at any moment feel what's going on; just say "yes" to that. It's a practice of truthfulness, we're acknowledging what's real and saying, this is here and meaning that with some kindness and when we do that, when we accept what's in the moment, it actually taps us into the intelligence, the wisdom, the heart that allows us to act more wisely in the future.
One of the great psychologists, Carl Rogers, put it this way, "It wasn't until I accepted myself just as I was in this moment, that I was free to change." So it's a pre-condition to true transformation, is to accept ourselves in the moment.

Why are we so afraid to fail? Because we think failing means that our biggest fear [will be realized]: that we'll be rejected. And rejection is bad; it severs our belonging. So we do whatever we can to not have that happen.

If deep down we're feeling something's wrong with me, we can't really be intimate with another person. We can't take risks, we can't be creative, it binds our life. So when people start recognizing how much of their life has been imprisoned by that trance of unworthiness, just that recognition with it comes a sense of "Oh, it's possible not to live inside that." And it's very liberating.

When some people talk about accepting themselves they have this fear that they're condoning some bad behavior, or that if they accept themselves, that means they'll never improve. But the truth is, we're not saying, "It's OK that you did that bad thing."

All we're accepting is the actuality of our experience in the moment: I'm accepting this shame is here, I'm accepting this fear is here, I'm accepting this anger, I'm accepting that there's craving,

I'm accepting the truth just now, that I acted out of that craving and I ate too much. I'm accepting how bad I feel about that. But in the moment of accepting, we're not condoning. We're just acknowledging the truth of what's here with kindness. The reality is, if we can do that, it actually begins to free us so we can in the next moment, be a lot more wise.

Can you tell us about your own practice? Do you meditate every day?



Yes. I meditate 45 minutes in the morning and I catch-as-catch-can through the day.

You're very good at making it a priority.

Yeah, because it's a gift to the soul.

What I believe in for myself and for most of us is that we need to learn to pause more. That we race through the day, it's like we're living our life as if we're on our way to the next thing which means we get to the finish line—death—and we haven't really dropped in and touched what's here. So a lot of my inner training is to pause and reconnect, it means I come back into my body and come back into my life.

I think the two most powerful questions I ask myself are, "What is happening inside me right now?" and "Can I meet this with some kindness?" Just to keep stopping and doing that. Because if I can do that with my own body and heart, then I can show up in the same way and pause and really notice with another person, their vulnerability, that each one of us is scared in different ways. I mean we're all feeling the same stuff.

And also their goodness, like I can actually pause and sense that each of us wants to be happy, we want to love without holding back and we want to be free. So it helps me to pause and then move through the day with more awareness.

Does American culture pose particular challenges for Buddhists?

There's a growing number of people that are really waking up and cherishing waking up, people who want to be honest with what's happening and want to live in a genuinely compassionate, tender way. It's a challenging time in that it's very painful to see all this violence there is in the world. It's very painful to see how out of fear and greed and consumption we're destroying the earth.

A number of us won a Buddhist peace fellowship in Washington at the time we were going to war with Iraq because there's a recognition that to be committed to reverence for life, and not harming means that to take a stand in our world, that you can't separate our inner commitment to spirituality from our outer commitment to be part of the healing of the world.
And a number of us were arrested; I was arrested before the war started. But the commitment was not to be an anti-war movement that was strident and angry; it was to come from a place of genuine caring about the world and embody that. And so we actually, it was quite a respectful kind of process and it continues to be happening.

So when you ask me about being a Buddhist in the world today, it's not being a Buddhist, it's being a person that loves life and wants to wake up and I feel like, I have many friends in many different religions, we're all holding hands, wanting to wake up together.

Is activism a big part of your life?

Yeah, it is. I don't think of the spiritual path as something that's just on a cushion or in a cave. I feel like we live out our values and our love for life by waking up both in solitude and quiet and also by speaking our truths and doing whatever we can on the planet that'll help us move towards healing.

"How to be you a chic on the go!"

Fast Face
Learn how four products can get you a flawless face in minutes!

There are those moments in life when looking your best matters, but so do another 30 things you have on your plate. Between work and life there's little time for the modern woman to devote to her beauty routine. And even when you do have extra time on your hands, it doesn't mean you want to spend all of it turning yourself into a glam queen (although that's necessary sometimes). Having a few easy tools that make things easier in a time crunch is an ideal way of looking good without spending tons of time fooling with an eyelash curler.

Cover Up

Depending on how much coverage you need, opt for either a tinted moisturizer or a lightweight foundation. Paired with concealer, either will provide more than enough coverage to keep you looking fresh all day. Apply a light layer of tinted moisturizer or foundation, blending it thoroughly. Next, hit trouble spots, redness and dark circles with concealer that is one shade lighter than your skin shade. Blend the concealer in to even out skin tone and create a flawless look that isn't heavy.

Ring Around the Rosey

The next step is crucial in looking fresh, so choose your product accordingly. Look for a do-it-all stick in a soft peach or pink, depending on your skin tone. Fair to medium skin should choose a sheer pink with blue undertones, while tan or dark skin should choose a peach or coral-infused shade. A product ideal for this is Nars The Multiple, an all-purpose color stick. At the hefty price of $37, the stick easily lasts a year, and that's with daily use. The color is sheer, and can be applied with a heavy hand for more drama, making it the perfect color to pack when going from day to night. Even better, The Mulitple can be used on cheeks, eyes, and lips. Universal shades include Southbeach, Maldives, and Orgasm. With your skin perfected, hit the apples of your cheeks with The Multiple and blend with your fingers in an swift, upward motion.

Give 'em Lip!

After hitting your lips with your favorite lip balm, blend The Multiple into your lips, just as you would with a lipstick or gloss. This is the reason you want to choose a shade that best compliments your natural skin tone. The color is going on your cheeks and lips, so it should be a shade that compliments your undertones.

Batting Average

To get full lashes in only a few swipes, start with a dome shaped wand (CoverGirl's new Lash Blast mascara is a great pick that is affordable and delivers), and begin at the root of the lashes. Moving towards the tip, bring the wand back and forth in a zigzag motion, wrapping each lash in mascara and creating a wide eye in the process.

With only four products (maybe one less if you're able to do without concealer), and a few minutes, you've achieved a clean day look that works at the office, brunch with friends or for a day of shopping. Investing in one multi-purpose product that works seamlessly into any makeup routine can help you get the most out of your time.

"Things You Can Do to Boost Emotional Energy"

4 Simple Things You Can Do to Boost Emotional Energy

Feeling drained? Surprisingly, it might be your spirit -- and not your body -- that needs a jolt. "Just as physical energy comes from diet, exercise and rest, emotional energy comes from the ways you take care of yourself emotionally -- living in a way that makes you feel inspired, hopeful, self-confident, playful, loving and in touch with what you care about most," says Mira Kirshenbaum, author of The Emotional Energy Factor:

The Secrets High-Energy People Use to Beat Emotional Fatigue. Letting others walk all over you or failing to do things that make you happy zaps your emotional energy -- and can leave you feeling unmotivated and even physically tired. To avoid such weariness, here are Kirshenbaum's four tips for boosting your emotional energy:

1. Stop living to please other people. In other words, marry the charming social worker whom you love instead of the rich doctor mom is pushing on you. Move to Europe if it will make you happy, even if your girlfriends are making you feel guilty about putting distance between you. Say no when someone asks you to do something you really don't want to do. Be who you want to be, do what you want to do and the rewards will be plentiful, says Kirshenbaum. "When you live your life for other people, you put out the effort, but they get the benefit," she adds. "This creates an energy drain, just the way it would if you did the work on a job and someone else got the paycheck." You'll free up energy you didn't even know you had once you quit worrying about what mom, your friends and other family members think about your decisions.

2. Bring positive people into your world. You need to surround yourself with people who care about and support you even in your darkest hours. Avoid those who nag, complain or involve you in their problems, says Kirshenbaum. Toxic people, who put you down to lift their own spirits, suck the life right out of you. Spending more time with those who make you feel good about yourself or inspire you in some way will revive you. Maybe it's time to start ignoring your so-called friend who leaves messages on your machine only when she needs help with something.

3. Always have something big and new on your agenda. Plan that next vacation or start writing that novel you have in your head. Looking forward to milestones and events stimulates people. It gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and that increases your desire to work toward your goals. "You gain energy from the hopes you have for your future? making your present feel more manageable, and that, too, frees up emotional energy," says Kirshenbaum. Actually putting the wheels in motion (for example, calling the travel agent, writing the outline for the book) will also make you feel better -- and excited to keep it up.

4. Never live in the past. Quit dwelling on what might have happened with that old boyfriend if you had just stayed together, why you quit one job in favor of another, what would have been if you made different decisions. Instead, focus on the here and now and what you need to do to move forward. Do you want to go back to school? Find a husband? Change careers? Be more adventurous? Put the spark back in your romance? "You are in charge of the meaning in your life," Kirshenbaum writes in her book. Although you can't predict everything that will happen to you, you can make a flexible plan to accomplish your goals. Things like your career path, relationships in which you'd like to invest and how you would like to spend your free time are all under your control. You can decide your own destiny, an important task that will be much easier now that you have more energy.

"The Shades That's Flaunts,Spring Makeover"

"Cosmetics That Will Let Your Natural Beauty Shine"

Spring is a great time to renew your image and try out new things. What items should you have in your cosmetics bag? Make-up artists and designers suggest a bold and bright image for the spring 2008. The colors dedicated for make-up are so playful and bold that you need to be a real fashionista to wear them. On the other hand: let the spring be colorful and bright!

Flushed cheeks is one of the loveliest trends of spring 2008. Soft and cute flush is recommended for both daytime makeup and evening makeup. Pinky peach blush fits even the most bold lip color for that special occasion; it also works well to enlighten natural looking makeup for the day. It's the best way to highlight face features and make you look fresh.ShopNBC

Three big tendencies dominate the lip make-up area. Nude lips effect is still very popular, especially when combined with smokey eyes and natural-looking blush. The trend of nude lips does not mean you can't use lipstick or gloss; feel free to add some color and a bit of shimmer, but keep it natural. If you're not into natural look, you won't miss if you choose classic red. This color is right for every season, that's why it's called classic. If the image of fatal woman doesn't attract you at all, try sheer red lipstick.

Be careful about other makeup details while wearing the classic red lipstick: it's a very strong accent and you really don't need black eyeliner or strong blush. The third tendency is the funniest one, because it suggests candy-colored lips. This trend won't look good on elder women, however if you're a teen or if you feel young forever, orange, pink, hot coral and even fuchsia are the hottest colors of spring 2008. A candy color on lips is quite a bold statement, so one shouldn't overdo other details.

Natural beauty becomes more and more trendy. Full eyebrows are the hottest look of spring 2008. They should be well groomed, but excessively thin arches are out of the question. You may even want accentuate them with dark colored liner because the strong eyebrows is going to be the most popular. Matte foundation is another natural-looking trend. You don't want your skin to be glossy on spring 2008. Even bronzers are matted especially if you use them on face.aswechange

If bold lips are not for you, bold eye make-up is recommended for this season as well. Both pastel and bright metallic eyeshadows are going to be popular. Pastel eyeshadow is meant to match trendy multicolored layers and floral patterns of clothing. Choose light green, lilac and eggshell blue to achieve the trendiest look. If pastel tones seem to be too boring for you, go for Crayola Colors.

Choose only one color as this image is very bold and playful and liqand you don't want to end up looking like anime heroine. Choose shiny metallics uid eyeliner for evening make-up. Shimmer on eyelids is the top look for evening as well as the cat eyes image. If shine and sparkles don't attract you, remember the classic smokey eyes make-up; it's popular once again.
Eye makeup is not completed if you forget your lashes.

Heavy and even fake-looking eyelashes are going to be the most popular. Remember that the longer, the better, but be moderate. Fake eyelashes are also acceptable, but use only a half of a strip and place it to the outer part of your lash line for the wow effect.

"Skin Care"

Go Flawless.......
1. Avoid full foundation coverage

Few people need to apply foundation all over the face. Simply apply where you have uneven skin tone (usually along your nose and on the skin). In wintertime, if your cheeks tend to get ruddy, apply there as well.


2. Consider a tinted moisturizer Foundations can go on too thick for some people. Tinted moisturizers provide a lighter coverage. My absolute all-time favorite is Laura Mercier. http://www.shopnbc.com

3. Blend foundation correctly Always start in the center of your face then blend foundation outward. Blend foundation from face to neck well, otherwise people will see the line where you stopped giving you a 'mask face.'

4. Pick the proper color and formula for your skin type Choose a color that's as close to your natural skin tone as possible. Never try to deepen your complexion with foundation, it will look very obvious. But do consider two shades of foundation: One for summer when skin is naturally darker, and one for winter when skin is lighter. Also, selecting the right formula for your skin type is key. For oily skin, go for a matte foundation. Dry skin? Try a hydrating formula. One last tip: It's a myth to test foundation colors on the back of your hand. The best spot is actually along your jawline, according to Allure's Linda Wells. http://www.shopnbc.com

5. Apply concealer BEFORE foundation Once you apply concealer, you won't need as much foundation, according to makeup artist Bobbi Brown in the April 2006 issue of O magazine. Use concealer under eyes, along the nose and one the chin.

6. Use a sponge or brush OR your fingers There's really no right or wrong way to apply foundation. It's just by preference. Some makeup artists swear by foundation brushes to apply foundation. A brush allows you to get into all the nooks, crannies and pores on your face.

To do this, put a glob of foundation or tinted moisturizer on the back of your hand and dab in a synthetic brush (I like MAC brushes) then apply to face. Other makeup artists believe using your fingers warms up the foundation, which helps it melt into your skin better. A sponge provides a great even coverage. It's up to you which you prefer.

7. Don't throw out wrong-toned foundations and concealers Finding the right color foundation and concealer can be daunting, which is why I suggest you get professional help at Sephora or a makeup counter at a department store. This way you can try before you buy. But if you do have a few foundations and concealers that are just a bit off, do like the makeup artists and blend a couple of mismatched colors for the perfect one. http://www.shopnbc.com

8. How to conceal dark undereye circles According to makeup artist Anthea King in the March 2006 issue of InStyle magazine, you want to neutralize dark undereye circles with peach- or yellow-tone concealers. Dab concealer on the inner corner of the eye by tapping it into place (never run a concealer on like you would sunscreen or foundation). Great concealers for undereye circles include Sue Devitt Automatic Camouflage concealer: I also love Benefit Lemon Aid Concealer

9. Don't be afraid of bronzers Nothing warms the face more than a bronzer. Make sure to use a big brush (I love MAC brushes) and a light touch. Apply to all the spots where the sun hits: Forehead, cheeks and nose. For more 'pop', blend a creamy blush on top. I use Laura Mercier Golden Mosaic Shimmer Bloc If you have a yellow complexion, try Laura Mercier Pink Mosaic Another good one is Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder

10. Avoid 'cake face' Oily face? Make sure to blot oil before powdering or your skin will look cakey. Try a powder-free blotting sheet. Here's a list of a great blotting sheets from cheap to somewhat steep

11. Set makeup with a primer Primers are a relatively new 'must-have' trend in the beauty world. They act like spackle: They moisturize, plump the skin and fill in any fine lines, pores and wrinkles so your foundation won't settle into them. At first I was skeptical but then a makeup artist talked me into the beauty editor's All-Time Favorite foundation primer from Laura Mercier. Cha-ching! The primer is oil-free, which means it contains no oils, a bonus for my oily skin. I bought it and use it daily underneath my tinted moisturizer (I love both Laura Mercier and Bobbi Brown) Another great primer is by Bodyography .I've tried and loved Lumene Beauty Base Face Makeup Base, which is less pricey than the above two

12. Natural oils are not bad Speaking of oily skin, I'm no fan of the cakey, too-powdered look. Don't be afraid of your skin's natural oils, I prefer my face to have some sheen, which I think looks more 'dewy' -- plus, keep in mind oily skin tends to develop fewer lines than dry skin.

If you have oily skin, apply an oil-free primer before your foundation to keep makeup in place(see tip #2 above), then powder only the nose and chin. Keep a pack of blotting tissues in your purse to blot excessive oils (see tip #1 above). A great powder that works on skin colors from fair skin to dark is Three Custom Color Specialists Mini Press Powder. Makeup artist Matin Maulawizada swears by this powder in Elle Magazine http://www.shopnbc.com

13. Moisturize before applying concealer Concealer on dry skin tends to settle into fine lines so be sure to moisturize first. This 'plumps up' the skin.

14. Get rid of the 'ashy' look If you have dark skin, you may notice your skin can get ashy. Combat it with a cream highlighter. Apply concealer to upper corners of lips where skin tends to be darker.

15. Tone down ruddy skin If you have ruddy skin, tone it down with a yellow- or green-based foundation. Pink-based foundations and tinted moisturizers will only worsen your red complexion. Also, try yellow-based blushes, such as apricot,m instead of a pink tone.

16. Get rid of that 'hung-over' look New moms who work and don't want to look exhausted, students out partying or studying all night and anyone who suffers from the 'hung-over' look would benefit from Orlane's anti-fatigue serum. Makeup artists use this miracle serum on models because it boosts circulation and gives color to ashen skin

17. Highlighters add depth to skin I love the way highlighters can minimize your worst features while enhancing others. Apply just above the eyes for a wide-awake look and use to contour around the cheeks. A makeup artist's favorite is Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat concealer. Makeup artist Jo Strettel swears by this in Elle Magazine because it's easy to use: You simply paint it on the face

18. Create instant cheekbones Add contour and depth to cheekbones by applying a bronzing powder over cheeks, forehead and nose (where the sun naturally hits), then applying a cream blush on cheeks over this. Instead of applying blush into the apples of your cheeks, dot the cream along your cheekbone, then blend in well. You can also skip the bronze and blush and opt for a contour powder like Il-Makiage Taupe.

19. Darken your ultra-white skin Does your skin get super white? Add color and shimmer to it with Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse or multi-purpose oil. Christina Ricci loves the gold shimmer http://www.shopnbc.com

20. Yes, everyone can wear blush I have ruddy skin and thought I never needed blush and the makeup artist at Bobbi Brown agreed, until shwomene applied a tinted moisturizer first. The moisturizer toned down my ruddiness enough that she NEEDED to add a blush which subsequently gave me a healthy flush.

"Be Happy & Look Young"

How to Stay Young & Happy Always:

1. Throw out non-essential numbers.This includes age, weight, and height.

Let the doctors worry about them.. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!)


3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him (?) or her!

6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourself. LIVE while you are alive.


7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is 10. Tell the people you love that you love
them, at every opportunity.