13 steps to make 2013 your best year

10/04/2023 compilation: Ramgopal CANCHERLA, Mumbai, INDIA

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13 steps to make 2013 your best year yet

Based on decades of study, researchers at

Washington University in St. Louis have offered 13 notable, no-holds-barred, what-are-you-waiting-for tips to make 2013 your

best year yet.

http://www.rediff.com/getahead/slide-show/slide-show-1-

specials-year-end-make-2013-your-best-year-yet/

20121224.htm?print=true

10/04/2023 compilation: Ramgopal CANCHERLA, Mumbai, INDIA

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1. Make 2013 the year you commit to lifelong learning

• "Taking a class in a subject you enjoy is a great way to rekindle your love of learning.

• If you give yourself the freedom to explore new interests, you might uncover a passion that you never knew existed," – said Robert E. Wiltenburg, PhD,

dean of University College, the professional and continuing education division of Arts and Sciences at Washington University.

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2. Walk in the park

• A quick walk in the park can do wonders to reduce stress and increase focus, – according to Aaron

Hipp, PhD, environmental health expert and assistant professor of social work at WUSTL's Brown School.

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• Volunteering is good for your physical and mental health, as well as the local economy, – said Amanda Moore McBride, PhD,

associate professor and associate dean for social work at the Brown School and director of the university's Gephardt Institute for Public Service.

• "Research links volunteering with improved overall well-being, and connections between people within a community correlates with strong economic indicators," – she noted.

3. Volunteer

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4. Get your social media house in order

• The Internet and social media have opened up exciting new possibilities to connect with others and new vistas to share our preferences in films, books and music.

• Have fun. – But be cautious.

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5. Rediscover the library

• A library card can be the most powerful item in your wallet, opening up vast resources that will enrich your life and give you access to more than you can imagine, – said Jeffrey G. Trzeciak,

university librarian at WUSTL.

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6. Step away from your desk

• Physical activity improves health, lowers stress and increases productivity.

• In addition research has shown that exercise reduces the risk of diseases such as breast cancer, colon cancer and Alzheimer's.

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7. Pay down your credit card debt

• Paying down your debt more quickly is a positive step toward a happier, more prosperous new year.

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8. Use your smart phone to quit smoking

• If you use nicotine replacement therapy and take advantage of some form of counseling to help, you are more likely to be successful in quitting, – Sarah Shelton, manager of

research and evaluation at the Brown School's Center for Public Health Systems Science.

• Use your smart phone to get text messages of support, tweets and access websites that give step-by-step encouragement, – Shelton suggested.

10/04/2023 compilation: Ramgopal CANCHERLA, Mumbai, INDIA

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9. Mind your health

• Committing to eating a healthy breakfast, paying attention to grocery nutrition labels or sticking with a consistent exercise regimen can help you get healthier in the new year.

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10. Kick the car habit

• Leave your sedan, SUV or minivan in the garage and try alternative means of transportation, such as public transit, bicycling, walking or park-and-ride commuting.

•  Shifting your commuting habits can have a measurable impact on the environment and on your health, – said Phil Valko, director of

sustainability at WUSTL.

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11. Parents should make every day count

• In order to be happy, well-adjusted children that grow into happy, well-adjusted adults, kids need happy, well-adjusted parents, – said Kelly L. Ross, an

assistant professor in the Department of Newborn Medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine.

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12. Get more sleep

• For decades studies have confirmed the positive effects of overnight sleep on our ability to retain information and to perform tasks.

• In fact, recent research suggests that sleep may help clear the brain for new learning.

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13. Consume more culture

• Make it a point to visit your local museums, galleries, theaters, dance companies and music venues.

• The arts not only educate and entertain, but they help us to better understand ourselves and others.