Create a new you… Another calendar, another year—and that means a fresh start on achieving the goals that are most important to you. This time around, set yourself up for success with well‐thought‐out goals and a realistic action plan. Here’s how: Look inward; think small. Break down large, difficult goals into smaller ones that are [...]
If you're getting ready to make New Year's fitness resolutions—don’t. Instead, design a yearlong fitness plan to make sure that you have effective lifestyle changes in place. Month-by-month plan Use this yearlong plan to improve your health each month: January. Set your goals. Take a look at your life. What's missing? What do you wish [...]
Trying to do a better job with your diet? Watch out for misleading labels and products only posing as nutritious. Here’s the lowdown. Go whole grain Dietary guidelines call for at least three ounces of whole grains (Adult men 19–30 require four ounces; adult men 31–50 require 3.5 ounces). But bread, crackers, and cereals labeled [...]
Rather than looking back on where you’ve been with fitness, focus on where you’re going. Why not make it your goal to be in better shape by Memorial Day? That’s months away, but now’s the time to start an exercise program that can help you look and feel better by summer. Good news: Your goal [...]
Desk jockeys should make a point to stand up for at least two hours during the workday in order to avoid the negative health consequences linked to too much sitting, new research suggests. Gradually break up periods of prolonged sitting until you're on your feet four hours a day, advises a panel of international experts. [...]
These “self‐care” tips might help with seasonal depression. See a mental health professional if sadness doesn’t go away or interferes with your daily life: Go to a movie, take a walk, go ice‐skating or do other activities you normally enjoy. Get out in the sunlight or brightly lit spaces, especially early in the day. Try to [...]
Shedding Light on Seasonal Sadness As the days get shorter, many people find themselves feeling sad. You might feel blue around the winter holidays, or get into a slump after the fun and festivities have ended. Some people have more serious mood changes year after year, lasting throughout the fall and winter when there’s less [...]
What is seasonal affective disorder? Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is a mood disorder characterized by depression related to a certain season of the year—especially winter. However, SAD is often not described as a separate mood disorder but as a "specifier," referring to the seasonal pattern of major depressive episodes that can occur within major [...]
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs in some people due to decreased amounts of daylight during the winter. That decrease may trigger SAD by disrupting the body's internal clock, causing a drop in levels of a mood-affecting chemical called serotonin, or by altering levels of melatonin, which plays a role [...]
Some people who think they have the holiday blues may actually have seasonal affective disorder (SAD), an expert suggests. "SAD usually occurs in those who already are diagnosed or afflicted with a type of depression. It occurs with the change of the seasons, beginning in the fall and staying with you throughout the cold, dark [...]