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Hello Friend,It's that time again! A fresh batch of new year's resolutions you are making.Whether it be eating more veggies, volunteering or heading to the gym every day, most resolutions are given up withing the first month.This year, before your resolutions fly right out the window, let's try a different approach. Start small, be realistic, and break down the big, daunting tasks into more manageable ones.To give you an example, we've got some tips from ReachOut Magazine to help you stick to some of the most common new year's resolutions.Be Well,Anisa 1. To Enjoy Life More… We all like to have fun and enjoy ourselves. But what does it actually mean when we say we want to enjoy life more? This is one of the vaguest resolutions we make. Instead, be more specific. Does it mean taking more trips? Does it mean hanging out with your friends more often? Be very clear about exactly what you want to do, and then you can figure out what you have to do to follow through. 2. To Eat Better and Exercise More… Let's be realistic: you're probably not going to go to the gym every day and eat only vegetables. That setting...

Hello Friend,I'm here to tell you, retirement planning is not easy!Not only is it complicated, it can be downright scary because making some mistakes can mean the difference between feasting on Steak vs. Ramen Noodles!As retirement nears, there are tons of things to think about, like when to take Social Security, how much to take out of your 401(k), creating a spending plan you can stick to and investing your retirement savings. And like the butterfly effect, tiny decisions now can lead to huge, life-altering consequences down the road.It is crazy to do this alone and yet only 29% of Americans work with a financial adviser.Finding the right adviser is important and may take some time. Think of it as you are the boss and you are interviewing them for a a job at your company. It is important to think this way.In the meantime here are five of the most common money mistakes we can make. Knowing them makes it easier to avoid them.Be Well,Anisa 1. Failing To Plan… A happy retirement is one that's stress-free. And how do you eliminate stress? Simple: by having a plan. A financial plan is a map plotting the shortest path to reach...

Hello Friend,I've shared with you that my mom had dementia. What is interesting is she hid it really well. I had no idea and I chalked up some of her forgetfulness to old age.She died at 92 and I didn't realize she had dementia until she was 89… but in reality she probably had it many years earlier.As you can imagine when it comes to diagnosing dementia, the earlier the better. When you identify symptoms and changes early on you can vastly alter the course of treatment.Experts often advise patients to look out for signs of depression as an early indicator of dementia. However, a 2021 study suggests that apathy may be a better measure for catching it early.Be Well,Anisa So What Exactly Is Apathy? It's a state wherein a person has no interest in or emotional responses to their day-to-day lives. The researchers from this study define apathy as "a reduction in goal-directed behavior." Most people experience apathy once in a while, but when it becomes excessive or out of character, especially in an elderly person, it could indicate a larger problem. The new study, published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, found that apathy is probably...

It's OK to admit it… you've taken a peek at a used tissue after blowing your nose.Now that might seem gross but most people do this and that is good! It plays an important role in your body.Here's what to know about the texture and color of your snot.Be Well,Anisa Clear Mucus… Clear snot is generally considered normal. "Clear mucus is mostly salt water, with locally produced protective antibodies," Dr. Culver said. Most of the time you won't even notice mucus doing its job unless you notice more mucus and phlegm. "Increased amounts of clear mucus are often part of an allergic reaction," Dr. Culver said. White Thick Mucus… White snot is an indicator of slow-moving mucus or a sign that you're dehydrated. "If the salt water is evaporated or dried out, what is left is the white mucus," Dr. Culver said. "This is usually not something to be too concerned about." Pink or Red Mucus… "Pink or red snot is most likely related to blood from a dried out or irritated nose," Dr. Culver said. This can occur from continual blowing of your nose, damage or trauma such as picking your nose.= Yellow or Green Mucus… If you see...

Hello Friend,Last week we talked about Costco, this week I'm sharing Sam's Club Shopping Secrets.I find myself shopping at Sam's Club more because it is closer and they offer early morning hours for Plus members which means I can get in and out of there really fast!Like Costco there are discounts galore, but there are some other ways to save time and money. Did you know these tips?Be Well,Anisa Discounted Gift Cards… Customers can save up to 25% on a selection of gift cards. From restaurants to retail stores, the discounted gift cards can be purchased both online and in-store. The Secret of Prices Ending in 1… If a price ends in a 1, it's a sale price on a clearance item and it will never be lower. So if you see something you like with a 1 at the end, you might want to grab it before it's gone. Learn The Sam's Club Alphabet… Sam's Club also has a unique system of categorizing their deals. On the upper right-hand corner next to the item number, there's a letter that indicates the following: A: Active - the item is normally carried in store.N: Never out - the item should always...

Hello Friend,I love shopping at Costco. I don't do it as often as I like because there isn't one close to me and the hours aren't optimal.While Costco is loaded with deals and discounts did you know there are some secret pricing strategies and more that can save you even more money?With the following shopping secrets, you can maximize your savings.Be Well,Anisa 1. Look For Price Tags That End In .97… At Costco, these two numbers at the end of a price signify that an item has been marked down. So when you see the big 9-7, you know it's a deal. While you're at it, pay special attention to those items ending in .88 or .00. These are usually display items, returned items, or end-of-inventory items with a manger's discount. 2. Take Note Of The Tags With Asterisks… In Costco-speak, the asterisk means that product won't be getting a reorder. So when you see this symbol on the price tag of one of your favorite items, it's time to stock up! 3. Ask For Price Matching… If you happen to buy a product right before it hit Costco's clearance section, fear not: The store is happy to refund you...

Hello Friend,Lately I've been hearing more and more about Eye Massages. It sounds weird but a simple massage around your eyes can help improve lymph drainage and boost circulation.This can ease inflammation and also reduce the appearance of dark circles under your eyes.So how do you give yourself an eye massage? Here is the step by step instructions.Be Well,Anisa How To Give Yourself An Eye Massage… - Use the fingertips of your index and middle fingers to gently tap in a circle around your eyes. This can help increase blood flow to the area. - Start along your eyebrows, then move your fingertips outward to the edge of your eyes, and down along the top of your cheekbones, moving inward toward the bridge of your nose. - Circle your eyes three times with your fingertips. - Then, using your middle fingers, press upward on either side of your nose, right below your brow bone. - Next, using your middle fingers, press inward toward your nose, next to your tear ducts. - Be careful not to pull or drag your skin while you're moving your fingertips around your eye area. Repeat this massage for 30 seconds or more to wake up...

Hello Friend,Here's the scary thing about glaucoma. You might not know you have it until you've lost a lot of your peripheral vision, and maybe even some of your central vision.I found this from Banner Health and I thought I would share it.As Jillian Colson, MD, a comprehensive ophthalmologist at Banner – University Medicine Ophthalmology Clinic in Tucson, AZ says, "Most people with glaucoma are completely asymptomatic until they reach the late stages of the disease."Below is a host of information you to know about this dangerous eye condition.Be Well,Anisa What Is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is the name for a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve and can cause irreversible vision loss. It's typically caused when the pressure inside of the eye gets high. However, Dr. Colson points out that some people have damage from glaucoma even with normal eye pressures. Along with high eye pressure, you're also at risk for glaucoma as you get older, if you have a family history of glaucoma, use steroids or have experienced eye trauma, such as injury or severe infection. Even children can develop glaucoma, but it's more common in adults. How Do I Know If I Have Glaucoma? Some types of...

Hello Friend,A sleep divorce is becoming more popular and in some instances may even save a marriage or romantic partnership.It isn't as drastic as it sounds… but just the simple arrangement where a couple sleeps separately from each other.They either sleep in separate beds or separate rooms. While it may not be ideal for your sex life, for many it can help save a relationship and be extremely beneficial for each other's health.Be Well,Anisa Better Sleep… From a practical standpoint, separate beds can boost sleep quality. This can be because of snoring, different sleep patterns or even the fact that your partner likes to stay up late watching TV or reading while you want to sleep. Without these distractions you will be able to get a better night's sleep. Fewer Arguments… If your partner's sleep patterns are sabotaging your shut-eye, chances are you're feeling irritable. Sleeping apart will help for each of you to settle into your own sleep pattern. Increased Intimacy and Longing… Does absence makes the heart grow fonder? In this case sleeping apart can make intimacy more special and something you both look forward to. More "Me Time"… If you or your partner enjoy reading or watching...

Hello Friend,Retirement has been on my mind for the last couple of years. It is/will be a major life change!From the emails I get I know many of you are in the same situation. One thing that is certain it will take some time to adjust to the new life.I recently read this article on Inspired Villages that really spoke to me.It broke it down into 5 different stages, from pre-planning for retirement to being content and happy with the life you are living.Be Well,Anisa Stage 1: Pre-Retirement… Pre-retirement is the stage before you retire, this usually is around 5 to 10 years before you retire. Around this time many people begin to shift their focus from leveling up in their careers to focusing on the financial planning aspect for retirement. Planning financially is an important part of retirement planning, but don't forget to plan emotionally for retirement. This is the time to start considering what you want from retirement and what you believe will make you feel happy and fulfilled. You may want to start thinking about where you want to live, if you want to downsize and if you want to travel. This stage is full of excitement...