IN YOUR DAILY DOSE today is research that proves your social network of real life friends - not on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest or any other digital network - has a proven impact on your long-term health and wellness.

IN MAKING CHANGES today are strategies you can use to increase the amount of time you spend with your friends.

IN FACT OR FICTION you’ll discover what happens in the blink of a hamster’s eye.

In The News

You love being around friends and family. It can be lonely to be alone. But, now researchers from North Carolina have demonstrated that your circle of friends has a significant impact on more than just your happiness or connectedness.

The study is the first to link your social relationships with definitive measures of physical well-being. For instance, your social relationships have an impact on obesity, abdominal fat, inflammation, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

Kthleen Mullan Harris, faculty fellow and Distinguished Professor at UNC - Chapel Hill, says,

"Based on these findings, it should be as important to encourage adolescents and young adults to build broad social relationships and social skills for interacting with others as it is to eat healthy and be physically active,"  

SOURCE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160104163210.htm

Daily Health Tip

If being around friends and family is more healthy for your mental health, emotional health and now physical health - it’s time to start valuing the time you spend with them.

Making Changes

You will spend time and effort in the things you value. If you value your health and wellness, then it’s time to start valuing the time you spend with friends and family. When you believe the time you spend is an investment in your future, you’ll make the time and effort to make it happen.

1. Put your digital device down and pay attention to the people around you. It’s great to connect with a friend on Facebook or through text, but nothing beats the people you have face to face contact with.

2. Place a limit on the amount of time you spend with digital equipment daily. If you normally are on 5 hours each day, cut it to 4 hours for six weeks and then to 3 hours for six weeks and then 2 hours each day. Don’t go over 2 hours.

3. The amount of time you spend watching videos, cruising through Facebook or watching television all counts for digital time.

4. You have to replace some of the time you spent with digital equipment spending with real people. You can join groups, take a class, connect with friends in person or visit family. The important piece is to see or speak with real people in real life every day.

My Daily Affirmation

Self-Reflection Questions:

1. How can I use the experiences of others to lessen my chance of making the same mistakes?

2. What do I do when I am unable to find the lesson in a negative situation?

3. Which characteristics of mine are strengthened with each challenge?

Fact Or Fiction?

Hamsters are cute and often friendly. They are in most people’s homes at one time or another because they are easy pets for children to care for. But they have an interesting physical trait which you’ll find fun to share with friends.

Most mammals blink their eyes to help coat the eye ball with fluid, keep it moist and to protect the eyes. And, that blinking is usually done together. In other words, both eyes blink at the same time. Except in the case of the hamster. These little critters can blink one eye at a time, thus keeping their eye on their environment and on the lookout for predators.

Have a wonderful day!

Your Healthy Life America Team