We’ve been hearing that this tick season is going to be a bad one in Connecticut. But that’s actually our own fault. If anything, it’s people season for the ticks!

Because the weather is nice and we’re spending more time outside, venturing further into woodland and beach areas, we’re really encroaching on their territory. But there are some things we can do to help prevent tick bites as well as Lyme disease and other tick-born illnesses:

• Wear repellents that contain DEET
• When outside, light colors and long sleeve shirts and pants will help make ticks easier to spot.
• Check yourself as soon as you get home, and then shower or bathe right after coming inside to wash away loose ticks and to check for any that may have attached.
• Check children and pets each time they come inside.

If you don’t spot one, but are worried about Lyme disease, some symptoms to look out for are fatigue, fever, muscle and joint pain, and bullseye rash. If you do find a tick and have been bitten, save it so you can bring it to get tested.

It’s important to have fun outdoors, but it’s more important to be safe.

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Spring is here and your gardening season is about to begin. Aside from creating a sustainable addition to your meals, gardening is good for both your mental and physical health.

But why is that?

Researchers have been looking into it – and they’ve found there’s something about green environments which help with regular exercise. They compared treadmill runners looking at screens that were green, red, black and white, and no view at all, and the green screen runners felt exercise was easier, and they had an improved mood and better self-esteem.

Keeping our attention focused on gardening is also a great mindfulness activity – you clear out extraneous thoughts and focus on what’s right in front of you – tending to the garden has long been used as an important therapeutic tool.

Gardening can also have a positive impact for those suffering from loneliness and isolation – gardening tends to attract neighbors, who are apt to ask and start conversations.

While the science is still being determined, the bottom line is when it comes to horticultural therapy, if it feels good, do it!

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If you’re a night owl, you probably think you could never be an early bird. Well, there are a few tricks that can turn you into a morning person:

First – do it in stages, not at once. Go to bed a 15 minutes earlier each night to reset your internal clock little by little.

When you do wake up, open the curtains – the light tells your body to be alert and active.

Keep a consistent schedule – don’t sleep in or deviate too much on the weekends.

Don’t hit snooze – make it a rule, as soon as the alarm goes off, you get up.

Finally, there’s the RISE method, where each letter stands for something different – R is for refrain from hitting snooze; I is increase physical activity in general, so you go to sleep earlier; S is shower; and E is expose yourself to light as soon as possible.

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Walking gets you where you need to go. But it’s also a great form of exercise.

It’s joint-friendly, and it’s a low-intensity way to burn fat and maintain weight. But there are some steps to take before you head out the door for your walk, so you can help prevent injuries.

First – make sure you’re hydrated. Drink water throughout the day, and really kick it into gear a few hours before taking your steps. Hydration helps your joints, prevents muscle cramps, and maintains body temperature.

Make sure you warm up your legs – stretch your hamstrings and glutes – sitting in the office or in the car all day, will tighten muscles – and when you go for a brisk walk, they’ll tighten even more. So make sure they’re ready for that walk.

Finally, pay attention to your feet too – they’re going to be getting the most action during your walk, so take some warmup exercises.

Get ready for your walk before you walk…so you can keep walking!

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If someone ever gives you a hard time for taking a nap, just tell them you’re making your brain bigger!

A new study found that our brains shrink as we age – and taking short naps can help prevent that. But the trick is not to nap for too long – just 15 minutes.

The study looked at nappers and non-nappers – and those who napped had bigger brains – on average from two-and-a-half to six-and-a-half years worth of brain shrinkage was avoided.

The one thing the study didn’t determine was if the napping was keeping the brains larger, or if those who napped more had larger brains. But either way, if you’re tired, take a nap, and if you’re brain comes back bigger – even better!

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