6 / 8
10 WAYS TO
ADD MORE JOY
TO YOUR LIFE
HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW
once wrote,
“Into each life some rain must fall.”
If you sometimes feel like your life is one downpour
after another, it’s time to find some joy. And it’s easier
than you might think.
Being joyful has the power to help you bounce back
from stressful events, solve problems, think flexibly and
even fend off diseases.
So without further ado, here are 10 simple ways to
make your days brighter:
1
Do something you loved as a kid.
Sing silly songs,
splash in puddles or see how high you can swing.
2
Laugh at life’s hassles.
No day is perfect. But there’s
often something at least a bit amusing in challenging situ-
ations if you look for it.
3
Collect sayings or photos that make you smile.
Then
stick them where they’re visible—on your refrigerator or
at your desk, for instance—to look at when you need a
pick-me-up.
4
Play a song you love.
Imaging tests of brains show
that music can release feel-good hormones.
5
Go for it.
Stop putting experiences you want to try on
hold. Bake a pie from scratch, learn to crochet or sign up
for an indoor climbing class—explore what intrigues you.
6
Take a nature break.
Look up at the sky, and see how
blue it really is. Go on an early-morning walk, and delight
in the dew on the grass. Let nature’s beauty soothe you.
7
Take a mental break.
Close your eyes and imagine
a place you love. Use all your senses. Are you drawn to
the beach? Smell the salt water, feel the sun on your back
and hear the crashing waves.
8
Spread happiness.
When you get good news, don’t
keep it to yourself—tell a friend. You’ll relive the moment
and have the extra pleasure of your friend’s reaction.
9
Seek out happy people.
Good moods are contagious.
0
Develop your playful side.
Joke with strangers in line,
arrange nights out with friends or have a regular game
night with your family.
WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER
A family plan for better health
BOARD GAMES,
movie nights and vacations—lots of
things are better as a family. And that includes getting
and staying healthy.
So, moms and dads, get the whole family involved in
moving more and eating right. If that sounds great in
theory but you’re not sure how to make better health a
family affair, here’s a five-step plan:
1
Make family time active time.
Bike to the library
together or explore a nearby park. Encourage everybody
to train for a charity walk or run. Is somebody’s birthday
coming up? Celebrate with something active—a pool
party, volleyball game or hike. And ask your kids for ideas
on how to be active as a family. Then follow through with
some of their favorite picks.
2
Stay away from screens.
Every moment sitting is
a moment nobody’s moving. Limit kids’ TV, computer
and video game time to one or two hours each day. And
remember, kids imitate their parents. So set a good ex-
ample and minimize your screen time too.
3
Keep a family activity log.
Track everyone’s progress,
and post the results on your fridge. For a sample log, go
to
www.morehealth.org/parenttips.
4
Provide healthy food choices.
Put a bowl of washed
fruit on the table where it’s easy to see and grab. And
shop smart at the grocery store. Choosing good-for-you
foods is easier when foods like chips and candy aren’t in
your pantry.
5
Gather in the kitchen and around the table.
Let your
kids help you plan and prepare healthy foods. Eat together
as a family, too, as much as you can. Table time helps kids
and parents stay close—a real win-win.
Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; National Institutes of Health
ON YOUR SIDE
Learn about physician assistants
and nurse practitioners
WHEN YOU’RE LOOKING
for a health care provider,
you might naturally think about selecting a doctor. But,
for a variety of reasons, that’s not always possible.
Fortunately, there are many highly trained profes-
sionals you can turn to for medical care. For example,
physician assistants and nurse practitioners can be crucial
members of your health care team.
WHAT IS A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT?
A physician
assistant (PA) cares for patients under the supervision
of a doctor. A PA is trained to provide many of the same
health care services a doctor performs.
For example, a PA can diagnose medical problems and
guide treatments as well as help patients stay healthy.
Among other things, a PA may:
●
●
Take your medical history.
●
●
Do your physical exam.
●
●
Order and interpret lab tests and x-rays.
●
●
Treat injuries such as broken bones.
●
●
Prescribe medications.
PAs work in all medical settings. They might be part of
a family medicine or general practice or work exclusively
with older people or infants. A PA may treat you in the
emergency room or assist with your surgery.
WHAT IS A NURSE PRACTITIONER?
For a blend of nurs-
ing and health care services, you may want to consider a
nurse practitioner (NP).
An NP is a registered nurse with advanced education
and hands-on experience with patients. He or she may
be part of the health care team in a clinic, nursing home,
hospital or private medical office.
NPs are often found in family medicine, women’s health
and pediatric settings. Some work on their own, while
others are supervised by a doctor.
Like PAs, NPs provide a number of health care ser-
vices, such as prescribing medications and diagnosing
and treating a variety of illnesses and injuries.
No matter what type of health care provider you select,
be sure to see him or her regularly.
Sources: American Academy of Physician Assistants; American Association of Nurse
Practitioners; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Samaritan
health care facilities
have physician
assistants and nurse
practitioners who
would be happy to be
your care partner.
6
F A L L 2 0 1 6
T H E
S A M A R I T A N