WEBE Wellness: Tips For Sleep Trouble

WEBE Wellness: Tips For Sleep Trouble

Have you been getting by on just 5 or 6 hours of sleep? It’s possible, as nearly a third of us aren’t getting the recommended 7+ hours we need per night.

A lack of sleep will affect your waking hours – in the short-term, a loss of attention span, poor decision-making, fatigue, and irritability are all possible; and long-term effects are increased risks of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and depression.

So how do you get more sleep?

Make sure you turn off any screens at least 30 minutes before you head to bed – the blue light disrupts your ability.

Try to keep the time going to bed and waking up the same every day (that goes for weekends too!)

Avoid caffeine later in the day as it keeps you up – and alcohol late at night may make you sleepy, but it can disrupt sleep later in the night.

And if you lie in bed for 20 minutes without falling asleep – head to another room and do something relaxing like read or listen to music until you start to feel drowsy.

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WEBE Wellness: Living Optimistically

WEBE Wellness: Living Optimistically

When times are tough, it’s a challenge to remain positive. But if you can do it – you might live longer.

A new study found that optimism can add years to your life. This study lasted over two decades! They asked a lot of questions over the years of 160,000 people – and the ones who remained optimistic lived the longest – many reached 90 and even older.

At the end of the study, those who lived optimistically lived over 5% longer than those who were pessimistic. Put another way – if you live to 90, that’s nearly five extra years.

So…think happy thoughts!

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WEBE Wellness: How Learning A New Language Improves Your Brain

WEBE Wellness: How Learning A New Language Improves Your Brain

As we age, so do our brains – but there is a way to help keep our brains younger – learning a second language.

Two recent studies looked at individuals who could at least understand a second language, and those who were most fluent did much better on cognitive tests.

Scientists believe those who can speak multiple languages train their brains to shift and focus on different things rapidly.

The most incredible part of the study was they found that being bilingual can help delay and avoid things like dementia and Alzheimer’s by an extra five to seven years.

If learning a new language has been on your to-do list, get started – your brain will thank you!

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WEBE Wellness: Simple Daily Steps For A Longer Life

WEBE Wellness: Simple Daily Steps For A Longer Life

If you want to add years to your life, all you need is five minutes. And this comes from an expert on longevity!

A few quick things to do every day to extend your life starts with habit stacking. This is where you add something positive to what you’re already doing, like practicing mindfulness while you make your morning coffee.

Micro-meditation helps – like focusing on your breathing, inhaling for four seconds, holding it for seven, and exhaling for eight – these steps help calm and relax us.

You know you should workout – but even five minutes can help – a quick brisk walk in the middle of the workday can help the rest of your day.

Instead of just scrolling social media, reach out to friends directly – that connection helps raise those feel-good hormones in our brains.

Finally, make sure you spend some time focusing upon what matters – a sense of purpose and your passions, it’s all been linked to longer life.

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WEBE Wellness: The Secret To Looking Younger

WEBE Wellness: The Secret To Looking Younger

First week of February and you’ve already forgotten about your new year’s resolution, right? Well, here’s something you can do that’s easy, and can help you look younger.

Stay hydrated – that’s the trick. It’s important for your overall health, and a new study has found it’ll help you live longer – those who don’t drink enough water have a 20% shorter life expectancy!

But, before you reach that point, chronic dehydration will make you 50% more likely to look old! Sunken eyes, sunken cheeks, and dry skin was all noticed in under hydrated study participants over age 45.

This study tracked them for a long time – 25 years – and they also found those who weren’t hydrated were more likely to have high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Looking younger may not have been your new year’s resolution, but if drinking more water is, you’ll get the added benefit!

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WEBE Wellness: How To Resist Looking At Your Phone First Thing In The Morning

WEBE Wellness: How To Resist Looking At Your Phone First Thing In The Morning

Think back to when you woke up this morning, did you immediately reach for your phone? It’s not a good habit to begin the day immediately scrolling – but there are a few tips that can help you break the habit:

First – use an actual alarm clock! Most of us use our phones, but if you use a true alarm clock, you won’t be as tempted to start scrolling.

If you do need the phone as an alarm, keep it in another room, and have it be loud enough to hear it – or if you do keep it in the bedroom, move it to the far corner so you must physically get up to get it – you won’t be tempted to keep lying in bed looking at it.

Change up how you start your morning – instead of looking at the phone first, maybe read a book or do some light stretching to resist the urge.

Finally, if you absolutely need to have the phone nearby, both Android and iPhones have functions that will limit access to apps at designated times – don’t allow them to be accessed until after you’re at work.

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