Self Help Tips Blog

6 Essential Nutrients

Jeff — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:45:53 +0000

Good afternoon! It’s Jeff from the Self Help Tips Blog. Today I would like to discuss 6 essential nutrients that you might be leaving out of your diet.

Fiber

Fiber is the indigestible part of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Whole grains and cereal fiber can lower your heart disease risk by 30%. To increase the fiber in your diet to the recommended 14g for every 1,000 calories eaten, eat a 1/2 cup serving of Fiber One cereal and add more beans to your diet with lentil soup. Use whole-grain bread and add more fruits and vegetables to your meals.

Magnesium and Potassium

Magnesium and potassium are linked to blood pressure control, protection from osteoporosis, heart disease, diabetes and stroke. To get more magnesium, eat a half-cup of bran and cooked spinach daily. For more potassium, have sweet potatoes, white potatoes, white beans and bananas.

Calcium

Calcium provides the raw material for building your teeth and bones. It prevents bone-thinning osteoporosis, contributes to healthy blood pressure and can reduce the risk of colon cancer. To have the right amount of calcium in your diet, drink three glasses of low-fat or fat-free milk every day, or have eight ounces of fat-free yogurt and 2-3 ounces of low-fat cheese each day.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A cares for and maintains our eyes, the linings of the respiratory, intestinal and urinary tracts, and the quality of our skin. To add more vitamin A to your diet, increase your intake of darkly-pigmented foods. These include carrots, spinach, kale, winter squash and a medium baked sweet potato. They do not include lettuce or french fries.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is necessary in order for our bodies to create collagen, a glue that holds our skin, bones, blood vessels and skin together. It also helps to make brain chemicals, neutralize damaging free radicals and metabolize cholesterol. Vitamin C may also help the heart and reduce arthritis and diabetes. To add vitamin C to your diet, simply drink a glass of orange juice or eat an orange every day. Other helpful foods with vitamin C are kiwifruit, cantaloupe, brussels sprouts, strawberries, red or green bell peppers, and broccoli.

Vitamin E

Sufficient vitamin E also neutralizes free radicals to protect cells from damage, plays a role in the immune system, can help prevent the common cold and can lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Foods heavy in vitamin E include almonds, sunflower kernels and sunflower oil in salad dressings, which helps you gain the nutrients from the vegetables and carry the vitamin E into the bloodstream.

By increasing your intake of these 6 essential nutrients, I hope that you will be able to live a longer, healthier and more enjoyable life. Have a blessed day!

Summer Weight Loss Tips

Jeff — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:59:06 +0000

Jeff here…

Good evening! Thanks for continuing to read my Self Help Tips Blog. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, summer is finally upon us! As a result, tonight I would like to discuss several tips that you can use to increase your chances for summer weight loss.

With good beach-going weather in our sights, it’s that time of year when everyone wants to look impressive in their "lack" of clothing. While I can’t promise you that you’ll achieve a perfectly proportional model’s body, I can give you some simple but important tips for achieving a leaner physique. Always remember: behavioral changes guarantee your success - not just knowledge alone. You may have already decided on your nutritional plan and workouts, so take your strategy and ACT on it. Stay motivated and consistently remind yourself of your fitness goal. If you’re still having trouble, here are 11 basic tips to get you jumpstarted!

1. Cut the “simple” carbs.

It’s unfortunate that the majority of us are "carb junkies." This applies to overweight individuals in particular, mainly because their bodies struggle with insulin sensitivity. Our bodies definitely need carbohydrates, but we need to learn to appropriately reverse the ratio of simple carbs (high glycemic) to complex carbs (low glycemic). The most important thing to do is reduce your total sugar intake. Having a positive ratio of complex to simple carbs will allow your body to regulate blood sugar levels, burn more fat as fuel, and ultimately lose more weight.

2. Eat smaller, more frequent meals.

Smaller, frequent servings every 3 to 4 hours will prevent your blood sugar levels from dramatically spiking throughout the day. As a result, your hormones will stay in check and in turn regulate your feelings of hunger. Ultimately, small and frequent portions help elevate metabolism, take less of a toll on your digestive system and can eventually provide you with more energy throughout the day.

3. Consume more functional fats.

Essential fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3, consumed in appropriate ratios of 2:1 (or better yet at 1:1) will allow your body to regulate hormones, calm inflammation and stabilize blood sugar levels. Eventually, doing so will lead to greater fat loss. So suck it up, and buy your fish and flax oils at the local health food store.

4. Drink more water.

Water is often overlooked, but it is the number one nutrient that our bodies need to survive. Staying hydrated aids with digestion, curbs your appetite and flushes out metabolic waste. Make sure to drink at least 64 ounces per day.

5. Increase your fiber intake.

Fiber keeps food moving along your gastrointestinal tract and much like water, it aids in flushing metabolic waste. Fiber also helps maintain consistent energy levels, slows the rate of carbohydrate digestion and stabilizes blood sugar levels.

6. Limit your alcohol intake.

Not only is alcohol estrogenic (negatively affecting testosterone levels in men), but it can also lead to fat gain and has a whopping 7 nutrition-less calories per gram. Even worse, it takes precedence over fat metabolism when introduced into the body. Alcohol actually shuts down the fat burning mechanism for up to 48 hours, so avoid it as much as possible.

7. Spice up your metabolism.

Introducing a variety of spices into your food such as curry, cayenne pepper, jalapeños and certain herbs can help boost your metabolism. Spices also help stabilize blood sugar levels.

8. Combine weight training with your cardio routine.

Even though aerobic exercises can burn a lot of calories, especially when maintained at a high intensity, you’ll achieve better results by combining them with resistance training. I say this because proper resistance training will exert both of your muscles’ fiber types (Type 1 and Type 2). When you effectively work your muscles, you either maintain, tone and strengthen your current muscle mass, or you might even gain some more muscle. Every pound of muscle you gain equates to 50 extra calories that your body can burn per day. So remember to hit the weights at least three times per week, along with your regular cardio routine.

9. Eat slower.

It seems like no one gets to sit down and have a nice, relaxing meal nowadays, especially with our increasingly hectic schedules. Paying attention and learning how to slow down the pace at which we eat can prevent compulsive overeating and assists the digestive process. It takes at least 20 minutes for your brain to realize when your body is full. You worked hard for your meal… slow down, relax and enjoy it.

10. Be weary of food allergies.

Many people are allergic to dairy and wheat products. Even mild allergic reactions to these two food categories have been known to cause weight gain. If you’re consuming a diet that is high in refined foods, these sensitivities will become more apparent. The allergic reactions can result in digestive problems such as bloating, stomach pain and water retention. If you’re not sure about an allergy, you may want to consider taking an allergy test.

11. Get more antioxidants.

Getting your daily dose of antioxidants from a good multi-vitamin, a specific antioxidant supplement combination or even a healthy combination of fruits and vegetables is an important step in combating the toxins held in fat cells. Antioxidants such as vitamins A, C, E, polyphenols in green tea and the lycopene in tomatoes can help your body reduce the time that toxins stay in your system.

Summer weight loss doesn’t have to be something that you can only dream of. With the above tips, I hope that you will be able to work your way towards a toner, leaner and more attractive you.

Causes Of Fatigue

Jeff — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:22:44 +0000

Good afternoon! Thank you for reading the Self Help Tips Blog. Best wishes to you and your family as we continue on into the transition from spring to summer. Today I would like to discuss several different causes of fatigue.

Are you dragging yourself through another day, frustrated with your lack of energy and distracted by your need for rest? Do you wake up after a full night’s sleep and still feel that it’s not enough to get you through the day ahead? Is fatigue affecting your work, your relationships and your ability to enjoy life?

Fatigue is a common problem throughout many parts of the world, and the reason behind it can be simple to treat or require more intense scrutiny. What follows is a list of several common causes of fatigue, which may shed light on why you are suffering.

A lack of sleep

Most adults need eight full hours of sleep every night in order for their bodies to get the rest that they need to repair and re-energize. If you are not getting the full amount of sleep required, your body will start demanding it of you.

If you cannot wake up without an alarm or find yourself drifting off to sleep during the day, you should take immediate steps to provide your body with the sleep that it needs.

Other problems such as snoring or sleep apnea (brief episode of stopped breathing) can also affect your quality of sleep. Any disturbance, including feeding infants or other sleep disruptions, can cause fatigue.

A lack of proper nutrients

Fast food and skipped meals will deplete your body of much-needed nutrients, and a lack of nutrients can cause fatigue. The good news is that taking a multi-vitamin supplement will ensure that you are getting the nutrients that your body needs in order to function properly. A balanced diet will further assist you in combating fatigue.

Hormones

If continued fatigue is not corrected with enough sleep or by getting the proper nutrients, it may be connected to a hormone imbalance.

Detecting a hormonal imbalance will be more difficult to diagnose than a lack of sleep or proper nutrients. The assistance of a knowledgeable health care professional who is familiar with the symptoms of hormone imbalance may be necessary in order to track down the hormone(s) responsible.

Lowered immunity

Fighting illness requires energy. If a person has a lowered immune system, then the constant battle against infection can easily lead to an increased level of fatigue.

Low iron or high iron

Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which causes fatigue. Even a mild iron deficiency, which can be missed in typical bloodwork results, can still cause a person to experience fatigue.

On the other hand, iron overload is a condition that is caused when a person’s organs absorb and accumulate iron, which can reach toxic levels - a symptom of which can be fatigue. Special tests can be used to diagnose low or high iron levels, which then must be followed up with proper treatment.

All work and no play

Emotionally draining activities (such as working too much) can result in physical fatigue. Taking the time to participate in activities which stimulate and strengthen the body and mind are an essential step in conquering fatigue. For starters, try working out at the gym, reading a good book or meditating. All of these activities will help to relieve stress and relax your body and mind.

Regardless of the cause of your fatigue, you are not alone. A recent survey revealed that nearly one-third of adults in the United States suffer from a lack of sleep. Combined with other causes of fatigue outlined in this article, it’s safe to say that a majority of us feel tired at least some of the time. With the above recommendations, I hope that you are able to find the relief that many of us are desperately looking for. If you are unable to solve the problem on your own, please seek the advice of your physician.

How To Manage Stress

Jeff — Fri, 22 May 2009 05:45:25 +0000

Hello! It’s Jeff from the Self Help Tips Blog. I hope everyone is blessed with as good of weather as we are currently experiencing here in Minnesota. Today I would like to share a few more self help tips that you can use to manage stress.

The first thing that you should do if you are feeling stressed about a situation is stop what you are doing and ask yourself this question: will it matter next week, next month or next year? If not, let it go. Don’t worry about it unnecessarily.

Always remember to look at a situation from the other person’s point of view. What would you do if you were in their shoes? Remembering to do this can help a lot. You’ll probably come up with a solution to the problem that will be a win-win situation for both parties. In doing so, the other person may even back down some, if they sense that you are trying to find a common solution.

If you have said or done something that is causing a rift between yourself and someone else and it’s bothering you or you feel bad about it, then you should definitely apologize. Nine times out of ten, you will both feel at least a little better about the situation. For those of us who find it hard to admit that we are wrong, there is a way to apologize without admitting fault. If you’ve made someone feel bad but you still think that you are right, you can say that you are sorry for making the person feel bad or upset. This strategy works well and is better than not apologizing at all.

Wait before responding. If you are upset, count to 10 before responding to someone. Take that time to lighten your tone and response. By taking 2 deep breaths before responding, whatever comes out will sound a lot better than if you don’t. It’s also nice if you can respect the other person’s feelings. Just state your feelings in a “matter of fact” kind of way. Everyone has the right to their own opinion, whether right or wrong.

If you feel so busy at work that you can never take a break, try to at least stop for 30 seconds a few times per day to take a few deep breaths. It will help you relax, clear your mind and re-focus your energy on the task at hand.

If you have a problem that you are not sure how to handle, try to find someone to talk to that will give you constructive advice. You’ll need a mature person who can help you take a step back from the situation and make the right decision.

When you are away from work, try reading a good book or playing with your children in order to relax and get your mind off of things. If you just supervise your (or someone else’s) children and don’t play with them, you are really missing out on some fun.

Exercise is another great stress reliever, and it also has lasting benefits. It will release endorphins in your body that will change your mental outlook and make you feel better. Exercise will also reduce stress, lower your blood pressure and increase your immune system. You don’t have to do anything formal, just walk a little, shoot some hoops, bike, swim or even play hop scotch with the kids.

Last but not least, be sure to get enough sleep. Stop doing any kind of work or activity at least one hour before you go to bed. You need to relax your mind. Keep a pad of paper on your night stand. If you remember something that you forgot to do, write it down so that you don’t have to worry about trying to remember it while you are sleeping. Make sure your room is dark and quiet. Wear ear plugs if necessary. Sometimes, listening to a relaxing tape while in bed will help you relax and get to sleep.

In today’s fast-paced society, stress is almost unavoidable. By utilizing the above techniques, I hope that you will be able to manage stress as life throws it at you, one curveball after another. Good luck!

How To Deal With Stress In The Workplace

Jeff — Wed, 06 May 2009 04:04:20 +0000

Hello! Thank you for visiting the Self Help Tips Blog. I hope that those of you who are return visitors continue to find hope and inspiration from my self help blog. As we push through these difficult economic times, I would like to take a moment to discuss several ways to deal with stress in the workplace.

Imagine that it’s Monday morning. You’ve just spent half an hour in a traffic jam, you were late for work and you’ve just clocked in. Right as you are about to dive into today’s tasks, your supervisor pulls you aside and tells you that the entire procedure has changed. Without warning, you’re taking on the work of another department to pick up their slack. Tasks that you have always been told were not your responsibility, suddenly are. Without training, you now need to do twice the amount of work. And about your birthday, the day that you’ve been scheduled to have off for the past month… yeah, you’re going to have to come in.

It may sound like a scene out of the movie “Office Space”, but many of us deal with this on a daily basis. You are not alone! So, what should a person do when faced with such an unexpected, stressful and downright awful situation?

The first thing that you need to realize is that although it may not seem to be the case, you DO have control over the situation. You are a human being, not a slave that can be forced into doing something with no warning, no choice and (most importantly) no input. Take comfort and pride in the fact that you are a skilled, productive and valuable employee. Question your employer. Ask them why you were not warned about these changes. Ask them why they don’t hire more employees to ease the work load. If they don’t have any answers, ask for a raise. Voice your concerns.

To many people, these suggestions might sound absolutely ludicrous. You might be thinking “If I did that, I would be fired.” If you are, then ask yourself this: Do you really want to work for an employer who does not treat you like a valued human being?

For those of you who have no other choice than to obey the commands of your corporate overlords, here are a few things that you can try to relieve the stress:

Spend your breaks practicing meditation or yoga. Use these invaluable tools to clear your mind, re-focus your energy and release your stress. Even just 15 minutes of meditation can leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the tasks at hand.

Slack! Yes, that’s right… sluff off. If your employer is going to treat you like a robot, then act like one! There is absolutely no point in exceeding the demands of your employer if they’re not even willing to meet yours. Give yourself a break between breaks. Stare at the wall for a few minutes. Hum your favorite tune. Daydream for a while. As long as you look busy, no one will know the difference. A few five minute slack breaks during the day can make a world of difference for both your mood and your stress level.

Listen to music. For me, nothing makes the workday go by quicker than some jazz, classical music or even talk radio. Sound is one of the most soothing and relaxing things on earth. Take advantage of it whenever you can.

These are just a few techniques that you can use to deal with stress in the workplace. The most important thing to remember is that you are a skilled, productive person who deserves respect and integrity not only at work, but everywhere. Don’t let work get you down… it’ll be over in eight hours.

Easy Cardio Routines

Jeff — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:58:50 +0000

Good evening! It’s Jeff from the Self Help Tips Blog. I recently joined a new gym and have been spending a lot of my time doing cardiovascular exercises while I’m there. As a result, tonight I would like to share my easy cardio routine.

The perfect workout routine is one that combines strength training and some form of cardio. The problem is, most people hate doing cardio and will make up any excuse not to do it. A popular excuse is not having enough time. This article, however, will show you how you can spend only twenty minutes on a cardio workout and still reap the benefits.

So first of all, why is it necessary that you add cardio to your workouts? Most people understand the benefits of strength training because it adds muscle and muscle makes you healthier, more lean and stronger overall.

But what are the benefits of cardio? Here is a short list that names just a few:

1. It helps reduce stress.
2. It burns calories, which leads to weight loss.
3. It makes your heart and lungs stronger.
4. It reduces your risk of certain diseases.
5. It reduces depression and increases confidence.
6. It gives you more energy and helps you sleep better.

As you can see, adding cardio to your workout improves your health and well-being, which leads to a better quality of life. When combined with strength training, an easy cardio routine will put you on your way to feeling great, fast.

So how can you reap the benefits of cardio in only 20 minutes per workout? It’s called Interval Training and it can be applied to many different forms of cardio including boxing, running and biking.

In a nutshell, the concept is shorter workouts, but higher intensity. This is accomplished by pushing hard for two minutes (for example) and then slowing down for two minutes. If you repeat this cycle four more times, you will have finished your 20 minute workout. You could also do one minute hard, one minute easy and then repeat this nine more times.

Here is an example:

Interval training is perfect for running. Whether you’re working out on a treadmill or running outdoors, it’s the same routine. Start out with a warm up jog, followed by two minutes of a challenging pace. This won’t be your all-out workout, because you need to maintain it for two minutes. However, it is a pace that will be very hard for you. You then follow this with two minutes of either a walk, or a very slow jog. If you repeat this four more times, you’ve gotten an effective cardio workout in only 20 minutes.

This concept can be applied to many different forms of cardio: two minutes hard, two minutes easy, repeat four more times. Or one minute hard, one minute easy, repeat nine more times.

You’ll get your blood flowing, your heart pumping and reap all of the benefits that cardio has to offer… all in only 20 minutes. Try it! I did, and after using easy cardio routines I feel more energetic, awake and sleep easier at night.

Meeting Your Goals In Life

Jeff — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 03:32:14 +0000

Good afternoon my friends, and thank you for reading the Self Help Tips Blog! Today I will share several ways that you can prepare yourself to meet your goals in life.

Whatever it is that you want in this world, you need to get ready for it. Make a place for it in your life. Get comfortable with the idea of having it. With preparation, it is summoned to come to be.

We can wish all we want, but where does it get us? We can dream, we can hope, we can pray. Anyone can do those things, we all do them… so what? Life doesn’t work that way, unless you show that you are serious. You need to prepare. Preparation turns the uncertain into the inevitable.

Believe in magic; it happens all of the time. We manifest what we want through the ritual of preparation. When you toil in the expectation of change, change will come about. The work that you do will have a way of removing doubt. Doing and acting out can transform your conscious and unconscious and in essence, it can transform your life.

When your mind sees yourself doing something in preparation for something, it becomes convinced that the “something” is something that will definitely be. It is real, it is coming, and you are making it happen.

Put in the work, put in the time, and especially put in the passion. If you feel it, then you can have fun with it and the ball will really start rolling. You can let it control you as if you’ve surrendered. Go ahead! It is what you wanted anyway!

Preparation could involve playing, learning, practicing, growing, developing skills, acquiring objects and tools, investing, building relationships, creating strategies, planning inventions, giving attention, making observations and discovering how to use your unique qualities.

Life has a natural way to prepare us for what we need to experience from the moment when we are born. Parents, nurses, siblings, friends, relatives, animals, teachers and story characters all contribute to who we are. Moving on from here is up to us as we make our own way in the world. Life and the world hold many treasures.

With preparation there is no apprehension, no fear, no wondering what is going to happen. Don’t lament over a far away desire… Prepare! Take comfort in the fact that you are taking steps toward what you desire. In addition, your desire is making its way toward you. This the operation of magic, run with it!

It doesn’t matter that you do not have what you want right now. You know you want it, you only need to be patient, prepare and know that you will get it with persistence. Preparation is a positive attraction energy. It is getting yourself ready. One step on the road to becoming and being. Are you making room for being? Are you making preparation? Are you making magic?

Relieving Frequent Headaches

Jeff — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 04:14:58 +0000

Hello, it’s Jeff from the Self Help Tips Blog. I hope that everyone is doing well during these fast-paced, stressful times. Tonight I would like to discuss several ways that you can relieve frequent headaches.

According to the National Headache Foundation (NHF), tension headaches affect nearly 78% of the adult population. 13% of the population suffers from migraines. Since the cause of migraines varies greatly, what relieves a migraine in one person may trigger an attack in another. The suggestions here are guidelines for those who suffer regularly from tension headaches which may have an identifiable physical cause.

Watch what you eat

Many headache sufferers notice a connection with eating or drinking foods with aspartame. For those who are sensitive to this chemical, it may cause blood vessels to expand in the brain and trigger a headache.

Caffeine is commonly used to treat headaches. Its proprieties can assist pain medication in providing relief and can be found in most medications used to treat migraines. However, too much caffeine can have a ‘rebound’ effect and actually cause headaches. If you suffer from regular headaches, you should avoid daily use of caffeinated beverages such as coffee and certain sodas.

According to the McKinley Health Center, avoiding tobacco can also reduce headaches.

Skipping meals may cause headaches in some people, so eating regular meals may prevent headaches in these individuals.

Reduce the stress

Getting enough sleep is important for everyone. If you suffer from tension headaches, you may find that getting your eight hours every night greatly reduces the amount or intensity of your headaches. On the other hand, oversleeping can bring on a headache if you don’t get up at your regular time (such as on the weekend or during holidays).

Some headaches also seem to be aggravated by too much sun. Excessive exercise outdoors and lack of hydration can lead to headaches. Keep your eyes shaded and be sure to drink plenty of water when outdoors.

Not surprisingly, scientists recently discovered that women wearing tight ponytails had an increased risk of tension headaches. Releasing or loosening the hair and performing a brief massage to the head can bring almost immediate relief.

Medicate

What you may think is a sinus headache might actually be a migraine. A consultation with your doctor will determine if you should switch to a migraine medication.

According to the NHF, those suffering from tension headaches caused by stress should respond by reducing the stress, or by using over-the-counter analgesics. However, if headaches occur almost daily then you need to look for ways of dealing with the stress and discuss other options with your doctor.

As with caffeine, regular daily use of over the counter medications can actually cause headaches.

If headaches occur for long periods of time, are unusually intense or do not respond to pain medication after several days, you should seek treatment and diagnosis from a health care professional.

Living a healthy and active lifestyle has many health benefits, including a reduction of tension-type headaches. Combining a healthy lifestyle with avoidance of triggers may help you find relief from frequent headaches and migraines.

Consult your physician if you are unable to reduce the pain.

How Television Effects Us

Jeff — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 04:17:54 +0000

Hello, and thank you continuing to read my Self Help Tips Blog! Tonight we will discuss how television effects us and why we need to reduce our viewing time. The main reason why I want to cover this subject is because I have an insider’s view on how the television industry really works. For starters…

Watching television is by far the most popular activity on the face of the Earth.

No other activity even comes close to the popularity of TV. We watch it, talk about it, pattern our behavior after it, laugh and cry because of it, and have at least one of them in nearly every household in America. In fact, I make a living off of satellite TV.

When TV was introduced in the late 1940s, marketing executives looked into the future and predicted that television would become commonplace in every household. And here we are fifty years later, with no less than 98 percent of American households welcoming television into their homes. For once, I guess the executives knew what they were talking about!

Sit back, ponder a few of the following facts about TV and begin to understand the enormous impact it has had in our lives:

Did you know that families spend more time watching TV than they do anything else except for working and sleeping? Even so, very few people stop to examine when TV crosses the line from being a companion to an intruder.

Television sets are left "on" an average of seven hours and 40 minutes each day, according to Nielsen reports.

The average TV viewer will see an estimated 20,000 commercials every year. That’s about 55 commercials each day. During the time that we watch TV our perceptions about self-image, a healthy lifestyle and human behavior are being slowly and systematically changed, and in some cases, distorted.

American children ages 2-17 spend an average of 19 hours and 40 minutes watching TV each week.

American youth watch an average of 1,023 hours of TV yearly, while they only spend about 900 hours in school.

Research by The Annenberg Public Policy Center shows 21 percent of self-professed “educational” programming has little or no educational value.

In year 2000, a National Assessment of Educational Progress report found that students who watch TV the most also suffer the most academically. Students who watched TV for six or more hours per day earned the lowest scores, on average, and those who watched an hour or less earned the highest.

According to a year 2000 National Institute on the Media and the Family report, a child can develop brand loyalty by age 2. This seems incredibly disturbing. In fact, one study found more children that recognized a picture of Ronald McDonald than they did of Jesus Christ. I’m not kidding.

A 1999 Senate Judiciary Committee Staff Report found that by age 18, the average American has seen 200,000 acts of violence on TV, including 16,000 murders.

Since so much of our time growing up is spent watching TV, and so many parents use TV to entertain and “baby-sit,” much of our earliest learning and world perspectives are formed while sitting in front of a TV screen.

Much of television advertising targets children because promoters know that they are less discerning and more easily influenced than adults. And not surprisingly, children often insist that their parents purchase what they see advertised on TV. James McNeal, a kids marketing expert, estimates that children under the age of twelve now influence at least $500 billion of family purchases.

The overwhelming evidence for the association between TV advertising and behavior is simply a matter of common sense. The food industry alone spends billions of dollars on TV advertising because they know it produces results. When we see and hear the advertisements often enough, we eventually buy the products.

Apart from the influence that TV advertising has had on our lives, there is another important consideration relative to our eating habits…

Most of us will acknowledge that TV is a sedentary form of entertainment. However, when coupled with our tendency to munch on non-nutritious snacks while watching, television delivers a knockout punch to our best efforts for losing weight.

Even dinnertime, the traditional family catch-up period, has been transformed by TV, with many families opting to dine on fast food and take-out, rather than home cooked meals.

Day after day, week after week, year after year, we are pounded by commercials promoting the trendiest fashions, technology or soft drinks until we finally succumb to their relentless attack on our connection to reality.

Let me ask you, "Wouldn’t you rather read a book or pursue some other interesting activity, rather than allow your mind to get tainted by channels that hype useless products, promote overindulgence and distort your perception of reality?"

There is nothing substantial about a medium that upholds unattainable images for the masses and presents a generally unrealistic and distorted reflection of ourselves and the world.

I am not saying that everything about television is detrimental, but it seems to do more harm than good. It seems only to serve as a mind-numbing alternative to reality that drains knowledge, lulls many into a false sense of security and contentment and urges us to think of nothing.

Life beyond the filtered screen seems much more educational, interesting and entertaining.

If you have been brought-up on a diet of fast food and television, chances are you’re still doing the same thing today. Habits and beliefs are very difficult to change when they’ve been ingrained since early childhood. The good news is that any environmental or behavioral influence (including TV) on a person’s habits can be changed, but it takes determination and work.

Just for fun, see if any of the following apply to YOU!

We fall asleep doing it.
We do it first thing in the morning.
We are challenged by it.
We are isolated by it.
We eat while doing it.
We eat because of it.
We ignore other people while we are doing it.
We laugh at it.
We cry at it.
We get angry at it.
We are bored by it.
We are entertained by it.
We pay to do it.
We must have the latest technical equipment to do it.
We use it to relax.
We use it as a babysitter.
We consciously pattern our behavior after it.
We are subconsciously influenced by it.
We do it whenever, wherever, and however we want.
We bring sex and violence into our homes while we do it.
We use it to keep us company when we are alone.
We are misled by it.
We are lead by it.
We envy other people we see while doing it.
We argue about it.
We do other things while we listen to it in the background.
We do it to educate ourselves.
We do it to introduce ourselves to faraway places.
We do it to stay informed.
We brag about doing it.
We complain about doing it.
We gossip about it.
We talk about it everywhere.
We become addicted to it.

Television effects everyone who watches it. As a TV viewer, several of these scenarios even apply to my own life. I find that a tad bit scary, and as result I have made a conscious effort to watch less television and spend more time enjoying reality. Care to join me?

Seven Self Improvement Tips And Ideas

Jeff — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:56:05 +0000

Good evening! It’s Jeff again from the Self Help Tips Blog. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you who continues to find help and inspiration through my writing. Today I would like to share several self improvement tips and ideas that you can use to become a better person.

Many of us see celebrities as flawless people or at the very least, we see them as better than us. They seem to live the fairytale life of riches, fame and glamour.

“I want the fairytale.” “I deserve the fairytale.” How often do you say this to yourself?

I think that we should all stop putting our heads in the clouds and come down to earth with a reality check. Who really wants their life revealed in the headlines of the local paper, or a blog on the internet discussing their failed marriage or a failed movie?

Truthfully, just being a cut above the rest of the world should be good enough. It should be perfectly acceptable to gain some glamour, but also to stay under the radar screen and not lose one’s sense of self. Let’s face it: the fairytale life is not for everyone.

So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here is a seven day program to self-improvement. Just concentrate on one point each day of the week and you should begin to see results faster than you imagined.

1. Know your purpose in life. Some people just are not meant to be great actors, but are the best at teaching or serving dinners. Everyone has a purpose in life, but the difficult part is finding what that is. Are you wandering through life with little direction, hoping you will find happiness and prosperity somewhere along the way? When you identify your purpose or mission statement, you will find the compass that will point you to the path of real, true fulfillment.

2. Know your values. What is most important to you? Make a list of your top 5 values and, as you determine your goals for 2009, make sure they agree with your values in life. If they don’t, you may want to reconsider that goal or change it to better suit your ideals.

3. Know your needs. Take care of yourself. Unmet needs can cause you to live dishonestly. Be honest: do you need to be loved, in control, to be right all the time, or acknowledged? List your top 4 needs and make sure they’re met, or deal with them before it’s too late. Many go through life depressed and stressed out because they are missing an essential need.

4. Know your passions. Find out what you truly enjoy in life and stick with it. Express your enthusiasm and also honor those that have helped you and inspired you on your journey to become the person you are.

5. Live from the inside out. Increase your awareness of your inner vision by regularly reflecting in silence or communing with nature. Breathe deeply to get rid of stress and quiet a distracted mind. Often, just sitting in a dimly lit room and listening to classical music will do wonders for your mental well being.

6. Honor your strengths. What are your strengths? If you do not know, ask someone close to you for answers. Pick out three positive traits that you possess and share them with others. You will be amazed at how much self-confidence you will gain by just by expressing your authentic self through your strengths.

7. Serve others. Give back to the world. When you live authentically and honestly, you may find yourself developing an interconnected sense of being. There is no greater reward or satisfaction then sharing your talents with the world.

And there you have it: a weekly guide to becoming a person who is a cut above the rest. All it takes to succeed is to truly want self-improvement and then honestly look at yourself through the eyes of others. You might not be able to make the front page news, but with these self improvement tips and ideas you should be able to do things that you never thought possible. Besides, who wants to constantly be under the public’s microscope, anyway?