9 great ways to spend an evening
When your busy day is done, spending hours binging Netflix or watching TV and feeling unproductive. Here’s some other options to boost your mood:
1) Evening journaling or brain dump – Write down thoughts, worries, or ideas to clear your mind.
2) Plan tomorrow – Prep your schedule, meals, or tasks to reduce morning chaos.
3) Read a book – Escape into fiction or learn something new.
4) Light exercise – Try yoga, a walk, or gentle stretching.
5) Creative hobbies – Drawing, painting, knitting, or crafting.
6) Cook or bake something new – Experiment in the kitchen.
7) Listen to podcasts or audiobooks – Find entertaining or educational content minus the screen.
8) Connect with friends or family – Make a calls, send a message, or plan small activities – a card game/coffee/dessert.
9) Tidy or organize your space – Clear surroundings and toss clutter.
Grandkids keep you healthier…
Aside from being a joy to be with, older adults benefit from the happy hormones like oxytocin and endorphins that are released when they’re around grandchildren. Research also shows higher cognitive function, increased movement and greater attention to detail.
‘Best before’ myths
Expiration dates rarely signal danger. “Sell by” and “best before” usually reflect quality, not safety, according to experts. In many cases, clearer standardized labeling could reduce confusion and save households plenty of money, while keeping perfectly okay groceries out of the trash.
Loud budgeting
Money talk is now less taboo with open discussions around spending choices leading to smarter spending, scam alerts, sharing of savings tips and greater personal accountability. Three more wise suggestions:
• Baking instead of buying treats
• Visits to the library over bookstore
• Packing a lunch rather than takeout.
Higher risk of Alzheimer’s
Women tend to develop Alzheimer’s disease more often than men. While the reasons are unclear, potential contributors include:
— Females generally live longer than males
— Estrogen levels vary over a women’s lifetime
— Presence of frailty syndrome and other health conditions tends to be higher in women
Try to reduce your personal risk factors by:
• Eating a healthy, low-fat diet
• Being physically active
• Monitoring your blood pressure
• Finding healthy ways to manage your stress
Can your pet make you sick?
Short Answer: Yes. Having a pet has been shown to offer wonderful health perks: lower stress, stronger immunity, and emotional comfort. But some risks shouldn’t be ignored, especially for those who are immunocompromised.
Be sure to wash your hands and clean surfaces regularly and be aware that:
1. Cats: Feces can carry toxoplasmosis; scratches can spread “cat scratch” disease
2) Dogs: Feces can transmit hookworm; bites may spread Capnocytophaga
3) Fleas/ticks: From outdoor pets, can pass illnesses like murine typhus
4) Reptiles: Turtles, lizards, snakes are often linked to salmonella.
ASAP password change
Despite warnings against easy passwords, ‘123456’ is still most used – 6.6 million times a day. ‘Micheal’ and ‘Daniel’ are the most commonly used names in passwords, while ‘football’ is the most popular sport. Use different passwords. For strong passwords that hackers can’t guess….use random words, numbers, and symbols (e.g., BlueHorse!7GuitarRiver) and memorable, yet unusual words.
Images: Natalia Blauth. Tangerine Newt. Malvestida. Alvan Nee. A. C. JSB Co. Philip Oroni. iStock.
