How to Stay True to Your New Year Resolution

The New Year is an exciting time; a brand new, 365 days to achieve dreams and goals. For many of us, the promise of the New Year can make us set some lofty resolutions and in the past, you may have not followed through. But if you’re looking for some follow through this year, keep reading below to learn about some tips that can help you stay true to your New Year Resolutions!

Are you an aging senior looking to start 2019 off a little safer, a little more independent and maybe a little more confident while living at-home? Well, Life Alert is here to help make your New Year Resolution come true. While wearing their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant, you can summon help fast with just one touch of a button. No matter if you experience a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, Life Alert’s dispatch team is available to send you the proper authorities fast, 24/7. Not only can LifeAlert help you to achieve your personal protection resolution, but it can help you to stay true to it all year long!

Let 2019 be your year of change; the year you make all your goals come true! How? Lifehack[1] has 10 tips you can use to set a goal and achieve it. Read below to make 2019 yours!

1. Tell People about Your Resolutions

By telling people about your resolutions, you are consciously committing to them. Just think about it: If you’ve told someone you’re going to do something, people are going to be expecting you to do it. You’ve not just made the commitment to you, you’ve made it to everyone you’ve told. Another nice benefit of telling people about your resolutions is the support that comes with it. When the right people know about your resolution, they’ll stand behind you in achieving it. They’ll act as a support net, to spur you on even when you think you can’t do it.

2. Clarify Your Resolutions

Ensure that your resolution can be actively tracked. Take, for example, a resolution of reading more. This is too vague. How will you know when you’ve achieved this goal? Will you be satisfied with reading a book once a month? A week? A day? The only way to know if you’ve achieved your resolution is by clarifying them so that they’re achievable. If you want to read more, then you’re far better off setting a tangible and achievable goal — such as reading two books a month. You can track your progress, you’ll know if you’ve slacked on it, and you’ll know if you’ve achieved it!

3. Make a Plan

Tying into point 2, about clarifying them. Once clarified, you can then create a plan to break down the clarified goal into smaller sub-goals that you can achieve daily. If you imagine your resolution as small, actionable steps, the achievement of the goal becomes a lot more feasible in your head. Take the reading example. If you want to read 100 books a year, that could seem pretty overwhelming. If you break that down to reading one book every 4 days, it becomes a lot more realistic. This way you can also actively monitor your progress, and you’ll know whether or not you’re on target to meet it.

4. Re-Frame Your Resolutions

Your resolution should not be putting you down. Don’t allow your resolution to become a passive way of saying, “I won’t be good enough until I achieve this.” This is a sure-fire way to become demotivated by the idea of achieving them, and can really get you down in the long-run. Take a new perspective on goals. Remind yourself that you’re good enough, each and every day and that your goals are just serving as a means to be better. You’re not doing it to be enough, you’re doing it to be MORE. That’s the kind of perspective that really begins to push your preconceived limits.

5.  Stop focusing on the end result

The idea of the goals can often feel like we’re holding them at arm’s length. As though we should just achieve them and we’re done. When we commit to the process, the journey, of the goal, however, it’s a lot easier to make it an enjoyable experience. The goal is in the distance, getting there is where our focus needs to be. You can’t constantly be looking at the map to see your end destination while driving, otherwise you’ll crash on the way there.

6. Know When to Take a Break

Burning out is a very real possibility when you’re not taking breaks. Find the time each day to let your mind relax. No goal or resolution should consume your mind from the moment of waking to the moment of sleep. Taking effective breaks has also been shown to increase our productivity. With that said, checking your social media accounts and watching TV are not breaks for the mind – they’re probably more stressful. Meditate, sing, take a walk, have a shower, do a small workout or something similar instead.

7. Push Yourself

There’s a great quote by Bruce Lee that says: “If you always put limits on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.” How this relates to reaching your resolutions is very simple: there will be plateaus in your progress towards achieving them. There will be points where you’re uncertain that you can really achieve what you’ve set out to do. Not just in your New Year’s resolutions but in life, in general. This is where you need to push yourself. You can’t accept “no” for an answer. Dig deep, find the will within to push past the plateau. Discouragement can become fuel when we allow it to be. Setbacks can become fuel when we allow them to be. You’ve simply got to keep pushing. You will achieve it. Tell yourself you’ll excel. You’ll be surprised how much more capable you really are.

8. Reward yourself

Temptation bundling is a strangely, yet unsurprisingly, simple way to push yourself to achieve more. The premise is simple, tie what you want to achieve (but seem to be struggling to do so) with a reward, and get the reward each time you work towards the goal. A good example, as demonstrated in this somewhat contradictory post, is your workout. If you really enjoy listening to audiobooks, but don’t like working out, and your resolution is to workout more frequently – limit your audiobook listening time to the gym. If you like your audiobooks enough, it’ll spur you on to actually go workout.

9. Don’t give in to the critic

You’re going to have doubters. They’re a part of life. So why not use them to motivate and encourage you? Now okay, it’s probably not best to be striving to achieve something out of spite…people will try to bind you to their own self-set limitations. Take their criticism, and tell yourself that you’re not bound by what they’re bound to. Go out, make it happen, achieve it. Then, when all is said and done, go back to the critic and respectfully tell them of your achievement, and thank them for their help. Not only will you have achieved something, but you have the potential to help another being evaluate why they’ve set such limits for themselves. It’s a win-win. (Plus you can be a little smug, but only a little.)

10. Celebrate Your Achievements

Forget what others think about it, if you’re happy about the progress you’re making, you have every right to celebrate it and shout it from the rooftops. It’ll only empower you to continue pursuing that goal. So there you have it, 10 tips for actually sticking to and achieving your New Year’s resolutions.

Whether you’re looking to reach a weight loss goal, a travel goal or even a lifestyle change, use the tips above to help make your 2019 resolutions a reality! But, if great personal protection is what you’re after this New Year, let Life Alert help make your dream come true. That’s right, with the safety of Life Alert’s emergency pendant by your side, you can harness the power of 24/7 at-home safety. Simply slip the lightweight, waterproof pendant around your neck or wrist and in the event of a life threatening emergency, push the button on your pendant and summon an emergency medical response fast. Make 2019 a year of confidence, independence and safety by getting Life Alert Protection today! Call 1-800-513-2934 for a free Life Alert brochure.

Works Cited:

1.       Mcspirit, Jake. “10 Tips For Making New Year’s Resolutions Come True.” Lifehack. <https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/10-tips-for-making-new-years-resolutions-come-true.html >.

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Tis’ the Season for Giving

Looking to spread some holiday cheer this year by giving back? Maybe you want to make a charitable donation to your favorite non-profit, but before you do, make sure you know the important things below before doing so.

Giving back always feels good, but nothing feels better than giving yourself the personal protection you deserve. If you are an aging senior who is looking to maintain your independence and boost your at-home confidence, it is time to look into Life Alert Protection. While wearing their emergency pendant you can harness the power of 24/7 protection. Should you encounter a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, simply push the button on your pendant and summon an emergency medical response fast. Give yourself something special this season and get Life Alert Protection today!

Being selfless can feel satisfying, but with a hectic holiday schedule it may be hard to explore what non-profit you want to contribute to. Luckily, Real Simple[1] asked leading philanthropic experts to come up with a set of straightforward criteria for separating the best from the rest. Find your perfect charity by continuing to read below.

Make Sure That You Understand the Charity’s Mission

On websites and in literature for nonprofits, vague, lofty rhetoric abounds. Groups might pledge to “aid the impoverished nationwide” or “eradicate disease.” And that’s fine, as long as that ambitious language is accompanied by real-world specifics. “Legitimate charities typically give detailed program descriptions on their websites,” according to Bennett Weiner, the chief operating officer of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance, a monitoring and standards-setting organization for charities. That means you should expect to find the following information clearly delineated: how each of the nonprofit’s initiatives is run; what benchmarks have been achieved by those programs in the past; how many people are served by the initiatives; and how a potential client qualifies to receive a service. If such nitty-gritty information is absent, contact the group’s program manager. She should be able to provide you with those facts and figures. If she can’t, consider it a red flag and donate your money elsewhere.

Verify the Group’s Nonprofit Status

You want a charity that has been granted a 501(c)(3) designation by the Internal Revenue Service. Why? This means that the donations that the group receives are used for charitable purposes; that your gifts to the organization are tax-deductible; that the group makes financial information public; and that strict rules govern how much it can spend to lobby the government. It’s simple to determine if a group is a 501(c)(3): Go to GuideStar.org, a nonprofit database, and enter the name. Bear in mind that just because a website ends in .org doesn’t mean that the group is a legitimate nonprofit. If the organization isn’t a 501(c)(3), move on, because your donation might not be tax-deductible.

Inquire About the Charity’s Spending Ratio

When you donate, you want your money to make a difference—not pay for office furniture for the charity’s director. A rule of thumb: The most efficient organizations spend at least 75 percent of their budgets on programs and services (this is referred to as the “spending ratio”), with the remainder going toward administration and fund-raising costs, says Debra Snider, the vice president of operations for GuideStar.org, an informational database of nonprofit organizations. Obviously, the higher the spending ratio, the better, since it illustrates the charity’s productivity. You can easily find this information by looking at a nonprofit’s financial analysis on CharityNavigator.org. (The site updates charities’ financial data annually, and some accountability figures are updated monthly, so don’t worry that you’re not getting the most up-to-date information.) If you have further questions about how the group spends its money, contact it directly and ask to see the most recent annual report. Often it’s available on the organization’s website. But what if the non-profit you’re interested in doesn’t meet the 75 percent spending ratio? Experts say the group might still be worth considering if it’s undergoing capital improvements, such as building a new office; if it’s a start-up, whose expenses are typically higher; or if it’s located in a big city, where administrative costs can eat up a bigger chunk of the overall budget. So you need to exercise judgment in these cases.

Look for Accountability and Transparency Practices

Well-run charities should be open about their management, with a CEO and a governing board that includes people who aren't part of the charity to allow for objective analysis. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance and CharityNavigator.org evaluate charities on this criterion, presenting the information in easy-to-read checklists. Most groups mention any religious associations in their mission statements but may be less forthcoming about political affiliations or any positions they’ve taken on legislation. If you’re concerned, look at the charity’s annual report, which should disclose how much money, if any, goes toward lobbying or political action.

 Ask About Results

Most responsible midsize to large organizations use either self- or third-party assessments to evaluate their efficiency and effectiveness. (You can contact the charity to request the most recent one.) Take a jobs program, for example. You want to know not only that the group found positions for 100 people but also that one year later a realistic percentage—say, 50 percent—were still employed. And what if you’re interested in donating to a brand-new charity with bold ideas but not much of a track record? Elizabeth Gore, the former vice president of Global Partnerships for the United Nations Foundation, a nonprofit that works with the United Nations, suggests that you take a leap and send a check, as long as the group meets the other criteria on these pages. After all, she says, “some of those charities’ innovations could lead to revolutionary, long-term change.”

Many would agree that giving to others, especially those in need, feels good. Go out and enjoy the season of giving, but when you get home give your selfless self a little self-love by getting Life Alert. While wearing their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant you can maintain your at-home safety.

Should you encounter a life threatening emergency, simply push the button on your pendant and summon help fast, 24/7. This year, give into your needs and get Life Alert today! Call 1-800-513-2934 for a free LifeAlert brochure.

Works Cited:

1.       Taui, Bonnie. “The 5 Essential Things You Need to Know Before Making Charitable Donations.” Real Simple. 30 November 2018. <https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/money/charitable-donations-0 >.

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Perfect Pillow

According to Wales Online[1], your pillow should be replaced every two to three years. But, if you’re like me, your pillow has probably been on your bed for far too long. If you’re not waking up refreshed and you’re unsure what the problem could be, it might be time to toss your pillow. Keep reading below to find out what your perfect pillow looks like.

Does the thought of having to abandon your independence for safety have you waking up on the wrong side of the pillow? Maintain your independence and gain great personal protection by getting Life AlertProtection. While wearing their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant you can summon help fast with just one touch of a button. No matter if you encounter a sleepy fall, a home fire or even a home invasion, Life Alert can send you the proper authorities fast. Plus, with a dispatch team that is available to you 24/7, you’ll never have to worry about getting caught tangled in your sheets. Get Life Alert Protection today and rest easy.

Want to get the best night’s sleep? You need to customize your sleep style! Real Simple and their experts are here to help. Keep reading below to learn about the pillow of your dreams.

Pillows for Side Sleepers

Side sleepers need a large, firm pillow that can support the space between the ear and shoulder areas. The Luxe Down Alternative Side Sleeper Pillow was designed to do this with medium to firm support. Made of a hypoallergenic combination of recycled polyester and cooling Tencel fibers, it is also great for people who tend to get hot in their sleep.

Pillows for Back Sleepers

Back sleepers best benefit from a memory foam or gel pillow because it molds to the curves of the neck. The PharMeDoc Contour Memory Foam Pillow with Cooling Gel combines both of these materials in an ideal shape to support the neck muscles so they relax. This can help reduce both the back and neck pain that many back sleepers can potentially wake up to. 

Pillows for Stomach Sleepers

Sleeping on your stomach isn’t ideal because it can lead to lower back and neck pain. But if you always find yourself waking up in that position, using a body pillow such as this hypoallergenic one by Alywn Home will give you the support you need. It’s filled with traditional fiber for that classic cloud-like feeling.

Combination Sleepers

Not all of us sleep in one static position, especially, if you share your bed with pets or a partner. Slumbr’s Vela Down + Feather Pillow is filled with hypoallergenic, responsibly sourced down. It’s flexible enough for stomach sleepers, yet supportive enough for side sleepers.

No matter your age, getting the proper support while you sleep is essential to getting the shut eye that will leave feeling rested and rejuvenated; the right pillow can help you do that! Plus, with the comfort of Life Alert slipped around your neck or wrist, you can get an even heartier sleep knowing you are protected. Should you ever encounter a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, Life Alert’s dispatch team is available 24/7 to send you the proper authorities. Simply push the button on your emergency pendant and summon an emergency medical response fast. Eat, sleep and live well by with great personal protection; get Life Alert Protection today! Call 1-800-513-2934 for a free Life Alert brochure.

Works Cited:

1.       Duffy, Fiona. “This is how often you should change your bedsheets, pajamas, towels and underwear.” Wales Online. 10 July 2017. <https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/how-often-should-change-bedsheets-10789782 >.

2.       Rones, Nancy and Amanda Lauren. “How to Choose a Pillow for the Best Night’s Sleep.” Real Simple. 20 August 20106. <https://www.realsimple.com/health/preventative-health/sleep/how-to-choose-pillow >.

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Black Friday

If you’re like me, you love scoring good deals and there is no better day to do just that then on Black Friday! With the promise of a record shattering deal on your mind, sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the excitement of the day and you may actually end up overpaying for something. Keep reading below to ensure your Black Friday goes exactly as planned and that you score the deal of the century!

 

When you are an aging senior living independently, it is imperative that you obtain personal protection that allows you to continue with your chosen lifestyle while offering you the safety and protection you deserve. Now, I bet you’re wondering, where can I score a deal on something like that? Luckily, for you, Life Alert Protection doesn’t wait for Black Friday to shell out deals on the world’s best emergency medical device; they offer it year round! Under the safety of their emergency pendant, you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. No matter what life threatening emergency you may face, Life Alert’s dispatch team can send you the proper authorities fast. Plus, unlike Black Friday, Life Alert is available to you 24/7. Score the deal of a lifetime by getting yourself Life Alert today!

Consumer Reports[1] is here to help you get the best deals on items you want and keep the frustration and overspending to a minimum with the tips they are offering below. Ready, set, GO!

1. Start early. Gone are the days when Black Friday simply meant checking the Sunday circulars to see which local retailers had the best deals. Black Friday has morphed into a whole month of deals and savings, and online retailers also regularly update prices throughout the event. To judge how good the actual sales really are once it's crunch time, you'll need to track the deals leading up to Black Friday. The same goes for Cyber Monday, which now stretches into a week of online specials.

2. Do your homework. Only rookies head out on Black Friday unprepared. Getting ready means studying the ads—in print and online—the weekend before Thanksgiving. And we'll be helping you sift through the best (and worst) Black Friday deals at retailers such as Best Buy, Costco, Dell, BJ's, Target, and Walmart. There are now dozens of Black Friday websites where you'll find tons of leaked Black Friday ads. We regularly check bfads.net, bestblackfriday.com, dealnews.com, theblackfriday.com, and blackfriday.gottadeal.com. Sign up and these sites will send you deal alerts, which you can typically filter by product category.

3. Use price and coupon tools. You don’t have to go retailer-by-retailer to compare prices. Try Google Shopping, plus services such as NexTag, PriceGrabber, Pricewatch, and Shopzilla. In the store, apps such as BuyVia, Flipp, ShopKick, ShopSavvy, and Shopular loaded on your phone let you scan bar codes or QR codes to compare prices, get discounts, and score coupons.  Many Black Friday sites, such as the ones listed above, have their own shopping apps. And so do major retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart. Amazon's Mobile app, for example, lets you use a smartphone camera to scan products and price-shop online. But direct comparison shopping can be really tough in the run-up to Black Friday and the holidays. One reason is that some large retailers have their best deals on models you didn't see earlier in the year, or that aren't available at other stores. That can make comparison shopping hard, if not impossible. This is particularly true of TVs. It's a hugely popular category this time of year—and one that generates lots of great deals, along with plenty of confusion. See "Consider a 'Derivative' Model," below, for details. 

4. Use loyalty programs. Stores often have loyalty programs that offer sales and promotions to their members first, then let them earn rewards on what they buy. Signing up for Black Friday shopping alerts will get you the early word on promotions, coupons, and discounts. In some cases, you can even find out whether the products you want are in stock or eligible for a buy online/pick up at the store option that saves you on shipping.

5. Get social. The Facebook pages and Twitter feeds of your favorite retailers are a great way to find out about deals and promotions. Retailers will often reward customers who like or follow them with special alerts to Black Friday discounts and incentives. And of course texts, tweets, and social media posts are an easy way to share Black Friday shopping intel with your friends.

6. Create a budget—and stick to it. Yes, this sounds simple. But Black Friday sales, especially the doorbuster specials available in limited quantities, are designed to get you into a store so that the retailer can sell you something else. And once there, it's easy to get caught up in the buying excitement. Decide ahead of time how much you want to spend on your Black Friday shopping spree, and do your best to resist impulse buying, especially if you're not sure how good a specific deal is. If you find that you're too free with your charge cards, try buying with cash this year and see whether you have better self-control. But if you are sufficiently disciplined, buy with a credit card that doubles the manufacturer's warranty and then pay it off before any interest accrues.

7. Check all store policies in advance. It's always good to know a store's price-match and return policies. We expect more retailers to price-match specific online and in-store deals this year. Almost all of the major retailers have some form of price-match policy, and they've been expanding them almost every year. But some stores might suspend their price-match guarantees during the Black Friday weekend on certain items, so read the fine print. Check the return and exchange policies for Black Friday sales to make sure that the store won't charge a restocking fee for any item you bring back.



Tips For TV Shopping

Televisions deserve some special attention because so many people shop for them at this time of year. The TV aisle may have some of the best deals in the entire store—along with a few of the most confusing ones. That's why these last three tips are just for TV shoppers.

8. Consider a "derivative" TV model. Starting in October, you may see low-priced TVs made specifically for Black Friday, and some are available only through a single retailer. These sets are called “derivatives” in the TV industry because they’re similar to the regular production models we see all year but with different model numbers and often fewer features. (For example, they may have fewer HDMI inputs or come with a simpler remote control.) Some of these TVs can be a good deal. For example, last year a 55-inch Samsung derivative we tested was about $170 cheaper than the TV it was based on, and it performed equally well in CR’s tests. Other TVs may not be true derivatives, but also get introduced at this time of year. It's hard to judge the quality of derivatives and new-for-the-holidays sets, and it's difficult to compare prices, too. After all, if a set is being sold at only one retailer, you can’t shop around or ask a store to honor a price-match guarantee. Consumer Reports will report on heavily promoted sets as they come on the market, and help you pick out the better deals.

9. Avoid pricey accessories. You've just scored an awesome giant-screen 4K TV at an all-time low price, so don't blow your savings by splurging on pricey accessories or extended warranties. (This is where retailers make a lot of their money, hence the hard sell.) If you know you'll need an HDMI cable, buy it in advance from an online retailer such as monoprice.com or bluejeanscable.com. That way you won't be pressed into overpaying at the store, where you might pay $35 for a 6-foot HDMI cable that performs similarly to a cable you can buy for less than $5 online.

10. Beware the cheapest set. Super low-price door buster specials draw people in with visions of savings, but these sets might not be worth the price. You'll probably be watching your new TV for a number of years. If you're not happy with its features or picture quality, you could regret not spending an extra 50 bucks to get something better. Also, those loss-leader TVs are usually at their rock-bottom price. A retailer may have more wiggle room on a step-up model or flagship model, and you shouldn't hesitate to ask for a better price during your Black Friday shopping—or throughout the year.

Set your alarm, grab your shopping bags and get ready to score thanks to the insightful tips above! Not all deals however, are scored just on Black Friday. If you are an aging senior looking to maintain your independently lifestyle and steer clear of senior care, I am about to tell you about the deal of the century. What if you could get 24/7 personal protection by simply wearing a lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant around your neck or wrist? Would you jump at the change to keep your independence while upgrading your at-home safety significantly? If you answered yes, then it’s time to get Life Alert Protection. While wearing their emergency pendant, you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. No matter if you experience a serious fall, a home invasion or even a home fire, Life Alert’s dispatch team is available to you 24/7 to send you the proper authorities fast. This Black Friday, don’t just score a one-time deal; score a deal that will last you a lifetime by getting Life Alert today! Call 1-800-513-2934 for a free Life Alert brochure.

Works Cited:

Willcox, James K. “Top 10 Black Friday Shopping Tips for 2018.” Consumer Reports. 12 October 2018. <https://www.consumerreports.org/shopping-retail/top-10-black-friday-shopping-tips/

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New Year, New Workouts

Looking to change things up in the gym? You’ll have plenty of opportunities to do that thanks to the promise of a new year with new workouts. From upgrades in digital fitness, exercise tech and better recovery systems, you can look forward to sweating your booty off and reaching your New Year resolutions! Get a jump start by learning about them before everyone else, by reading below.

As holiday season is approaching, gifts are on the mind and New Year resolutions are being pondered. If one of your goals is to find a way to be more confident with living solo, accomplish that goal by getting LifeAlert Protection. While wearing their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant, you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. No matter what life threatening emergency you may face, Life Alert’s dispatch team can send you the proper authorities fast, 24/7. No landline, no problem! Life Alert offers various protection packages that can be specifically designed for your individual lifestyle which can include wireless options. Flex your personal protection muscles by getting Life Alert Protection today!

Are you ready to kick the New Year off with a new and improved workout? Check out Women’s Health Magazine’s[1] top new workouts for 2019 and get a jump start on the new you!

Your HIIT will get a twist.

Plenty of fitness studios are creating HIIT hybrid classes—like CorePower Yoga, a Colorado-born studio chain that took the reins on yoga-HIIT classes. Life Time Fitness just launched a HIIT yoga class called Fire Yoga, too. “All of the high-intensity classes are great and this category will continue to grow,” says Tom Manella, Life Time’s national vice president of personal training.

Workouts will become shorter.

Pete McCall, certified strength and conditioning specialist (C.S.C.S.), and host of the All About Fitness podcast, sees HIIT workout classes becoming shorter and shorter. “If you do 15 minutes at the right intensity, that’s all you need,” he says. “So while HIIT is going to continue to be popular, we might see it in different forms [and times].”

Recovery will be key.

Life Time already offers recovery tools like a steam room and cold plunge tubs—but Manella says they’ll soon offer compression sessions and sports massage, too. Other studios like Mile High Run Club and Tone House, in New York City, offer compression massages via NormaTec boots, access to foam rolling tools, and more. “People are learning they don’t have to beat themselves up every day of the week,” McCall says.

You'll see new, better ways to loosen muscles.

In 2018, percussion guns (think TheraGun and Hypervolt) took off, and that popularity is going to continue. Some studios even offer access to these types of tools pre- or post-workout.  Another thing we might see more of? Scrubbing, McCall predicts. Picture rubbing down your fascia with a device that looks like a potato scrubber.  “As we learn more about connective tissue and how it plays into exercise, we’ll see more tools coming out,” McCall says.

Sleep will get extra attention.

As wearables get better at tracking sleep, recording your REM hours and more, people may start getting more shut-eye (or at least really trying to do so). Kat Ellis, certified personal trainer, says "great sleep quality is vital for fine motor control and metabolic function,” she says. “If your sleep patterns are out of whack, it’s near impossible to see any performance and weight loss goals.” She sees sleep coaching becoming an offering at meditation studios, to really get you to relax, wind down, and perform better.

Work and working out will merge.

You might see big gyms adding more areas where people can hop on their laptops and work, post-sweat. Vice versa, more work spaces are incorporating fitness into their offerings. For example: fitness club Rise by We, opened in the co-working space WeWork, in Manhattan October 2017. Also: The soon-to-open workspace and networking club Luminary will offer fitness classes so women can squeeze exercise between meetings.

Boutique studios will expand to smaller cities.

With cities like New York and Los Angeles getting saturated with boutique fitness studios, Ellis predicts we’ll see more spots open up in smaller cities, like Austin, Boston, Cincinnati, and more. “Due to the competitive landscape in major cities, opportunities are endless in smaller markets,” she says. Manella also believes boutiques will start offering more types of classes, like yoga at a CrossFit studio, or stretching sessions at your favorite HIIT place. They may also start extending their hours to accommodate more people.

Big box gyms will aim to offer a studio experience.

McCall mentions that big gym brands are also offering a more tailored approach to fitness. So, if you’re obsessed with yoga or barre, there may be a studio room where you can get your flow on. Or your gym may open its own spin-only area for cycling fanatics. “The gyms will brand the workouts differently, catering more to a custom user experience like you’d get from a boutique studio,” McCall says. That way, you still have access to all the main gym amenities, with the option for the group classes you like.

Streaming workouts will be everywhere.

Your gym might start offering streaming workouts during off-peak hours. McCall says he’s seeing this at his local YMCA in California, which brought in a Peloton bike for people to hop on and join a class whenever they can. Plus, more and more virtual workout options are emerging—like ClassPass Live and Our Body Electric (Obe)—which give you a chance to follow a live class from the comfort of your living room.

Treadmill workouts and audio-guided runs will ramp up.

Peloton's treadmill, which offers virtual running "classes," will continue to gain steam. Equinox also still offers Precision Running programs in their locations across the U.S., and Mile High Run Club, Barry’s Bootcamp, and Speedplay (all featuring treadmills) remain popular in big cities. McCall believes these will really take off in 2019. Plus, workout apps like Aaptiv offer audio coaching during your runs, to help you hone your form and speed.

Your social media feed will still get flooded with fitness.

Whether you love or hate the influencer moment, and all your friends' posts about crossing a finish, the trend of publicly sharing fitness feats is here to stay, says Manella. “People are posting their goals on social media in order to be held accountable which is pretty cool,” he says. “I love watching a community motivate each other to meet those goals.”

Brands and sports teams will create their own workouts.

A Dallas Cowboys-branded gym in Texas, a Spartan gym in Miami—big players in sports and fitness are putting their names on facilities near you. McCall sees more brands and sports teams collaborating with fitness facilities (or creating their own) to bring workouts to their fan base. Love the Eagles? Always do Tough Mudders? Maybe you’ll see them open a fitness space in the new year.

Personalized workouts will be all the rage.

Finding out your VO2Max, getting a metabolic assessment, learning more about your genes and how they relate to fitness—this info is all becoming easier to grasp thanks to centers like the NY Sports Science Lab in Staten Island, DNA tests like Fitness Genes, and biohacking places like Bulletproof Labs. Though typically pricey, you might see these tests and stats become more popular for anyone who wants to take their fitness to the next level, seek out ways to prevent injuries, or even just better understand how their body works.

You might start training your brain more than your body.

Another aspect of fitness McCall is excited to see expand: Training your brain for better performance and results. “We’re learning more about how the brain responds to exercise,” he says. “How can we teach people to move better?” We’ll likely see more research around this topic, helping people learn to focus on the mental side of training.

Your mental health also becomes important to your workouts.

Mindful running definitely had a moment this year, especially when Headspace and Nike teamed up to created guided runs. And we will likely see more meditation-based workouts in the future. “Meditation will become much more main stream in fitness,” McCall says. “You might be training your body, but what are you doing to train your mind?” That’s the question we’ll start addressing more in the New Year. Also, if you don’t already have a meditation app on your phone, you should probably welcome in 2019 by downloading one.

Get excited for 2019 and your new workouts! With new technology and new ways to get fit, you can accomplish your big New Year fitness goals. But, while you get your sweat on at home, make sure you are protected.  While wearing Life Alert medical alert emergency pendant around your neck or wrist, you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. No matter if you experience a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, Life Alert’s dispatch team can send you the proper authorities fast, 24/7. Life Alert’s pendant is waterproof so you can wear it even while you do your pool workouts. When it comes to your at-home safety, there is nothing to work out; get the best personal protection by getting Life Alert today! Call 1-800-513-2934 for a free Life Alert brochure.

Works Cited:

1.       Creveling, Mallory. “The 15 Top Fitness Trends You’ll See In 2019.” Women’s Health Magazine. 8 November 2018. <https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/g23876623/fitness-trends-2019/ >.

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Daylight Saving Time: Bad for Your Health?

The official change of the seasons is marked for many by daylight saving time. While the days may get a little shorter, you do get to snag yourself some extra sleep! But, those extra zzz’s may not be as good for you as you think. Keep reading below to find out about daylight saving time and the affects it can have on your health.

The time may change through the year, but if you are an aging senior who is living independently, your personal protection shouldn’t change, but stay the same reliable service that can get you help fast. Living solo can have major upsides, but at some point in time, you will run into a life threatening emergency that could leave you injured and unable to reach for help; then what? Under the safety of Life Alert you can live alone with confidence because while wearing their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant, you can summon help fast with just one touch of a button. No matter what life threatening emergency you may face, Life Alert’s dispatch team is available 24/7 to send you the proper authorities fast. You don’t have to turn back time to find great personal protection, get Life Alert today!

Real Simple[1] is bringing you the truth about daylight saving time. Check out what health experts believe to be the negative side effects of this common ritual we practice and stay safe this year!

Falling back can cause depression.

A 2016 Danish study, which examined 185,419 diagnoses of depression between 1995 and 2012, found an eight percent rise in depression in the days following the time change in the fall. "We are relatively certain that it is the transition from daylight saving time to standard time that causes the increase in the number of depression diagnoses and not, for example, the change in the length of the day or bad weather. In fact, we take these phenomena into account in our analyses," Søren D. Østergaard, one of the five researchers behind the study wrote in the group's findings. "Our results should give rise to increased awareness of depression in the weeks following the transition to standard time. This is especially true for people with a tendency towards depression–as well as their relatives. Furthermore, the healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat depression should also take our results into consideration.”

You’re more likely to get into a car crash.

Gaining an extra hour of rest may seem OK, but it could still be causing all of us to be groggy, which isn’t ideal for getting behind the wheel. According to a 2001 study, there is an increased risk of traffic accidents on the Saturday night before switching to daylight saving as more people may be on the roads later than usual. “The behavioral adaptation anticipating the longer day on Sunday of the shift from DST in the fall leads to an increased number of accidents suggesting an increase in late night (early Sunday morning) driving when traffic-related fatalities are high possibly related to alcohol consumption and driving while sleepy,” the study concluded. “Public health educators should probably consider issuing warnings both about the effects of sleep loss in the spring shift and possible behaviors such as staying out later, particularly when consuming alcohol in the fall shift.”

Falling back increases your odds of having a stroke.

According to one Finnish study, the national incidence of stroke rises by about eight percent over the two days following daylight saving time transitions, WebMD reported. As to why that happens, it all comes down to messing with our circadian sleep rhythms. "Sleep is associated with many physiological changes that are normally thought of as being relatively protective against stroke, like lower blood pressure," Dr. Andrew Lim, a neurologist who was not involved in the study, shared.

You’re also more likely to get mugged.

Apparently getting just a bit more sleep really inspires people to commit crimes. According to a 2017 study by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania who specialize in criminology, psychiatry, and psychology, the assault rate spikes just after the clocks fall back. “Sleep problems have previously been associated with increased antisocial and criminal behavior, so we were surprised to find that increased sleep was associated with increased offending,” study author Adrian Raine said in press release. “This discrepancy is likely due to the fact that 40 to 60 minutes of lost sleep in one night is just not the same as months, or even years, of poor sleep.”

Maybe Arizona and Hawaii are really onto something by forgoing daylight saving after all! In a world when life can change in a day-light second, it’s important to make the most of your time by always remaining safe. No, you can’t change daylight saving time, but you can change how you handle the negatives brought on by it. If you currently have no form of personal protection, it’s time to make a change. Home safety has never been made easier thanks to Life Alert Protection. While wearing their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant, you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. No matter if you encounter a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, Life Alert’s dispatch team is available 24/7 to send you the proper authorities fast. Take the time to get your own Life Alert medical alert system today! For a free Life Alert brochure call 1-800-513-2934.

Works Cited:

1.       Leasca, Stacey. “Daylight Saving Time Can Actually Be Bad for Your Health—Here’s How.” Real Simple. 1 November 2018. <https://www.realsimple.com/health/daylight-saving-time-health-risks >.

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Perfect Posture

Want to decrease your pain, feel more alert and even sleep better? It’s time to fix your posture. Keep reading to learn how you can straighten things out!

Should you encounter a life threatening emergency, are you perfectly positioned to handle it? If you answered no, it may be time to look into better personal protection. With the help of Life Alert you can navigate a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall with ease and safety. Simply slip on their lightweight and waterproof emergency pendant and immediately harness 24/7 personal protection power. No matter what emergency you may face, Life Alert’s dispatch team can summon you emergency medical help fast with just one touch of a button. Stand up for your independence by getting Life Alert today!

Can’t stop slouching? Experts from Real Simple[1] are weighing in on why it is important to work on your posture. They are also offering small, but impactful steps to help you get there. Check them out below!

1.       Get Moving

The human body wasn’t made to sit for hours on end, says William Smith, a certified strength and conditioning specialist. To combat the pain, set reminders to stretch or walk every half hour for several minutes. Moving around helps blood circulate, bringing oxygen and nutrients to muscles and helping wash away some of the substances that cause soreness. This can improve mobility and strength in parts of the body that help with posture. Check with your employer about a company ergonomist, who might be able to troubleshoot your desk setup or switch you to an adjustable desk. You can also head to osha.gov and search “ergonomics” for tips.

2.       Practice Breathing

Posture isn’t really about forcing your shoulders back, says Jill Miller, creator of the fitness method Yoga Tune Up. It’s about helping your spine find its most efficient shape. Force shouldn’t be part of the equation. Your skull should rest over your rib cage, directly above your heart, creating a gentle wave in your spine. An easy way to fix your posture is to pay attention to your breathing: For you to take truly deep breaths, your spine must be in proper alignment, with your ribs moving together with your breathing muscles. As you breathe in, visualize sending the breath toward your stomach, then expanding it into your chest.

3.       Stretch It Out

When the chest and neck muscles are too tight, they contribute to hunching, says Miller. Try this stretch: Interlace your fingers behind your head, resting them on the base of your skull. Broaden your chest as you arch your upper back, gently pulling your elbows backward and gazing at the ceiling. Or relieve neck tension with a small tennis or massage ball: Lean forward slightly and rest the ball between a solid surface (a doorjamb works well) and the spot above your collarbone and below your shoulder. Knead the ball into the muscle, then switch sides. As always, don’t forget to take deep breaths.

4.       Choose the Right Pillow

An unsupportive pillow can cause neck pain and possibly play a role in poor posture, says Rebecca Robbins, PhD, coauthor of Sleep for Success. Stomach sleepers might find they don’t need a pillow, since this position can help keep the body aligned. Back and side sleepers may want to use a pillow to fill the space between the shoulder and neck. (When you sleep on your side, your shoulder can be compressed by your body weight, straining your neck.) Since side sleepers have the largest gap to fill, they’ll typically need the thickest pillow. No matter your sleep position, some of the most posture-friendly pillows are high-loft down-feather ones that conform to the body.

So, as your mother used to say, sit up straight! With better posture, your body will thank you. You can continue to straighten things out and protect your body more by getting the at-home safety you deserve. If you are an aging senior who is living independently, having a secure personal protection plan in place is essential to better living because facing a life threatening emergency can be terrifying and dangerous when you live alone. Luckily, Life Alert is here and they will have your back, 24/7. Just place their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant around your neck or wrist and in the event of a life threatening emergency, push the button on your pendant and summon an emergency medical response fast.   Don’t bend over backwards trying to find a medical alert device that will offer you 24/7 protection; instead, square your shoulders with confidence and get Life Alert today! Call 1-800-513-2934 for a free Life Alert brochure.

Works Cited:

1.       Kraus, Tamara. “How to Improve Your Posture.” Real Simple. 24 October 2018. <https://www.realsimple.com/health/how-to-improve-posture >.

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Happy Halloween!

The night of spectacular spooks, silly costumes and bags full of candy is almost upon us! Halloween is right around the corner and it is an exciting time of year for kids and adults. While the evening does bring lots of fun with it, it also harbors some dangers as well. Make sure to keep reading below to learn how you can help to keep everyone safe this Halloween!

If you are an aging senior, one of the scariest things you can face is losing your independence. Luckily, with the right medical alert device, you can hang on to your independence and scare off any threats. While wearing Life Alert’s emergency pendant, you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. Plus, because it is lightweight and waterproof, you can wear it under your Halloween costume discreetly. No matter what ghost, ghoul or scary monster you might run into, Life Alert’s dispatch team can send you the proper authorities fast 24/7. Treat yourself by getting Life Alert Protection today!

Now that Life Alert has your personal protection covered against any monstrous mischief, here is how you can help others have a safe and fun Halloween this year.  Check out AAP.org’s[1] top tips to staying safe and enjoying this fun holiday with friends and family.

ALL DRESSED UP:

-Plan costumes that are bright and reflective. Make sure that shoes fit well and that costumes are short enough to prevent tripping, entanglement or contact with flame.

-Consider adding reflective tape or striping to costumes and trick-or-treat bags for greater visibility.

-Because masks can limit or block eyesight, consider non-toxic makeup and decorative hats as safer alternatives. Hats should fit properly so they don't slide over eyes. Makeup should be tested ahead of time on a small patch of skin to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises on the big day.

-When shopping for costumes, wigs and accessories, look for and purchase those with a label clearly indicating they are flame resistant.

-If a sword, cane, or stick is a part of your child's costume, make sure it is not sharp or long. A child may be easily hurt by these accessories if he stumbles or trips.

-Do not use decorative contact lenses. While the packaging on decorative lenses will often make claims such as "one size fits all," or "no need to see an eye specialist," using decorative contact lenses without a prescription is both dangerous and illegal. This can cause pain, inflammation, and serious eye disorders and infections, which may lead to permanent vision loss.

-Review with children how to call 9-1-1 (or their local emergency number) if they ever have an emergency or become lost.

CARVING A NICHE:

-Small children should never carve pumpkins. Children can draw a face with markers. Then parents can do the cutting.

-Consider using a flashlight or glow stick instead of a candle to light your pumpkin. If you do use a candle, a votive candle is safest.

-Candlelit pumpkins should be placed on a sturdy table, away from curtains and other flammable objects, and not on a porch or any path where visitors may pass close by. They should never be left unattended.

HOME SAFE HOME:

-To keep homes safe for visiting trick-or-treaters, parents should remove from the porch and front yard anything a child could trip over such as garden hoses, toys, bikes and lawn decorations.

-Parents should check outdoor lights and replace burned-out bulbs.

-Wet leaves or snow should be swept from sidewalks and steps.

-Restrain pets so they do not inadvertently jump on or bite a trick-or-treater or run away.

ON THE TRICK-OR-TREAT TRAIL:

-A parent or responsible adult should always accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.

-Have flashlights with fresh batteries for all children and their escorts.

-If your older children are going alone, plan and review the route that is acceptable to you. Agree on a specific time when they should return home.

-Only go to homes with a porch light on and never enter a home or car for a treat.

Because pedestrian injuries are the most common injuries to children on Halloween, remind Trick-or-Treaters:

-Stay in a group and communicate where they will be going.

-Remember reflective tape for costumes and trick-or-treat bags.

-Carry a cellphone for quick communication.

-Remain on well-lit streets and always use the sidewalk.

-If no sidewalk is available, walk at the far edge of the roadway facing traffic.

-Never cut across yards or use alleys.

-Only cross the street as a group in established crosswalks (as recognized by local custom). Never cross between parked cars or out of driveways.

-Don't assume the right of way. Motorists may have trouble seeing Trick-or-Treaters. Just because one car stops, doesn't mean others will!

-Law enforcement authorities should be notified immediately of any suspicious or unlawful activity.

HEALTHY HALLOWEEN:

-A good meal prior to parties and trick-or-treating will discourage youngsters from filling up on Halloween treats.

-Consider purchasing non-food treats for those who visit your home, such as coloring books or pens and pencils.

-Wait until children are home to sort and check treats. Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items.

-Try to ration treats for the days and weeks following Halloween.

HALLOWEEN AND FOOD ALLERGIES:

-Halloween can be tricky for children with food allergies. It's important that parents closely examine Halloween candy to avoid a potentially life-threatening reaction:

-Always read the ingredient label on treats. Many popular Halloween candies contain some of the most common allergens, such as peanuts or tree nuts, milk, egg, soy or wheat.

-If the ingredients aren't listed, arrange for a treat "exchange" with classmates or friends. Or, bag up the goodies your child can't eat because of an allergy and leave them with a note asking the "Treat Fairy" to swap them for a prize.

-Be aware that even if they are not listed on the ingredient label, candy is at high risk of containing trace amounts of common allergy triggers, because factories often produce many different products. Also, "fun size" or miniature candies may have different ingredients or be made on different equipment than the regular size candies, meaning that brands your child previously ate without problems could cause a reaction.

-Teach your child to politely turn down home-baked items such as cupcakes and brownies, and never to taste or share another child's food.

Have so much fun and keep yourself and loved ones safe by using the tips above. After the festivities are over and you’re home alone, continue to stay safe from any lurking scares by getting Life Alert Protection. While wearing their emergency pendant around your neck or wrist, you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. No matter if you encounter a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, LifeAlert’s dispatch team is available 24/7 to send you the proper authorities fast. Leave the scares to Halloween and stay safe all year long with the help of Life Alert. Call 1-800-513-2934 for a free Life Alert brochure.

Works Cited:

1.       “Halloween Safety Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics.” American Academy of Pediatrics. <https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/Halloween-Safety-Tips.aspx>.

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