Laughter prevents memory loss

We all know how great it feels to have a good laugh, especially with friends whose company you enjoy. While it’s said “laughter is the best medicine,” there are actually scientific studies showing the mechanism of laughing does have positive health benefits to the body. In fact, a new study even shows it can play a role in preventing memory loss.

Laughing releases dopamine and endorphins in our brain, which are chemicals that induce pleasurable feelings.

In an important new research study at Loma Linda University in California, the findings show that humor and laughter may play a role in reducing age-related memory loss. The main focus of the study was the hormone cortisol, which is released when the body experiences stress.

Stress has been proven to have a negative effect on both learning and memory and older adults are particularly susceptible to factors that cause memory loss.

To determine if laughter as a stress reducer might lessen the damage cortisol does to the brain, the research team conducted the study with three groups of seniors, one with diabetes, one without a health issue, and a control group. Two of the test groups were shown a 20-minute humorous video and then given a memory test measuring memory recall, visual recognition, and learning ability. The third group of older adult participants did the test without first watching the video. The cortisol levels of all three group members were evaluated before and after the tests.

The results showed that both groups who had seen the video had a substantial reduction in their cortisol levels when compared to the control group. In addition, the test subjects who saw the video demonstrated more improvement in memory recall and learning ability than the group that didn’t watch the humorous video.

The study co-author Dr. Lee Berk, said  “So, indeed, laughter is turning out to be not only a good medicine, but also a memory enhancer adding to our quality of life.”

Source: seniorliving.net

How to clear your mind in 30 mins

Are you having a crazy, distracting day? Here is a 15-minute approach to clearing the mind and regaining focus.

Some days just get out of hand. The workload is heavy, and still the emails and calls flood in. The pace can seem frenetic, and the constant interruptions not only disrupt your actions but your thought process as well. You move so fast you feel unproductive and sloppy. By the end of the day, you feel stressed and edgy. Worse, you can’t shut down your brain because you feel you might have missed something important.

  It doesn’t have to escalate to the point at which you head home to snap at your kids and yell at your dog. There are simple ways to gain control during the most hectic and frantic of days.

Below is a simple, 15-minute regimen from my friend and writing coach Carolyn Roark, Ph.D., who taught college students for years and knows a little about creating calm amid a world of chaos. The next time the world is spinning you in all directions, go find a quiet place for 15 minutes and use this exercise to recenter yourself in the universe.

 

5 minutes of physical activity

Even though you may already have your blood pumping from running around the office, Roark suggests that heading outside and running or fast walking around the building will give you a break from the immediate chaos. Separation from the action will help your mind let go of the immediacy of issues. The release of endorphins will lift your mood and begin to break the stress.

4 minutes of gratitude

Now that your body is a little looser, you can start to clear your thoughts. The easiest way to slow down the pace is to remember why you are doing all of this to begin with. Use these minutes to contemplate how grateful you are for the people around you who support you and add value to your life. Be thankful for good health, good opportunities, and the wonders of the world you live in. You can take a broad approach and make a list, or pick one person and write a note. Send it tomorrow; no need for another task right now.

3 minutes of meditation

Now that you are in a positive state of body and mind, you can go to work on getting your mind to clear. Meditation is a very effective way of clearing out all the distractions and allowing you to find your center. There are several approaches you can use. Some people use prayer to quiet the outside and create an inward focus. Others cross their legs and hum. If you don’t have an established method, Roark recommends you find some examples on the Internet or find a guided video on YouTube. Either way, make sure it has specific structure that guides you through the process so you have one less thing to think about.

2 minutes of silence

With your mind clear, the last thing you need now is to walk back into the distracting frenzy. Find a quiet place you can sit and desensitize. Even if you are at your desk, turn out the lights, turn off your computer and electronics, put on some noise canceling headphones, and block out all stimuli. Be alone with yourself and focus on your calm. You can set your smartphone on airplane mode so it doesn’t disturb you, and put two minutes on the timer. If it’s in vibrate mode in your pocket, it will gently let you know when the two minutes of quiet are over. By now, you should be calm, cool, and clear.

1 minute of deep breathing

At the end of the quiet mode, set one more minute on the clock. Of course, you know you have to head back into the fray, so, time to prepare. For the next 60 seconds, focus on slow breathing as you bring yourself back to awareness. You’ll find that just the act of deep breathing will slow things down. For the rest of the day, if you find things edging out of control, you can simply go to a quiet space and repeat this one-minute breathing exercise, which should settle things down again. If it doesn’t seem to work, just find another 15 minutes and go back to the top.

 

Source: http://www.inc.com