WINTER -- dark, cold, wet, slippery. Add in high heating bills, flu/colds, messy floors and well... you catch my (snow) drift. It's the last thing you need on top of being unemployed or underemployed.

Here are a few tips to help you cope through seasonal effectiveness disorder (SAD) during these harsh months:

• Breathe. Deep breathing is your lifeline to clear thinking and maintaining energy. And breathing in cool air can be invigorating.
• Light. There's not nearly enough of it in the winter and light can take the blues away. Check out your local hardware store for full spectrum lightbulbs. Take a break several times a day to go outside and soak up natural light. And, if you haven't moved your desk by the window yet, now is the time.
• Mood Food. Besides the usual good organic veggies and Omega-3s, check out NoJobSurvivor Mood Food recipes. Eating foods that elevate your mood are most important in winter.
• Exercise. Good all the time, but it's tough to get outdoor exercise when the weather is bad. Make a plan now. You don't need to spend a lot of money on the gym. You can do yoga, or free weights, or get exercise on a fitness ball at home.
• Stay connected. Use social media like FaceBook or NoJobSurvivor to be in touch with others, and to take advantage of local events and gatherings. Use email and make phone calls to stay in touch.
• Herbs. Check out your local health food store for herbs that can help keep you up. Some natural health advocates recommend St. John's Wort and Vitamin Bs.
• Acupuncture. Needles can be good for you! Ask for a recommendation from friends, or search for credential and reviews online.
• Professional Help. Don't just jump to any therapist, again, ask for a recommendation from friends, or search for credential and reviews online.
• Stay tuned to NoJobSurvivor! We provide tips and articles to help you stay healthy. Put in a search for STRESS on this site!
• Remember... winter, summer, spring, or fall: Don't Worry, Life Is Still Good!

For the gainfully employed, or independently wealthy people, there is a type of stress they will never know. But it's the stress that NoJobSurvivors know all too well -- so well, that I bet many of you think we should go into the business ($) of dealing with stress!

Dr. Weil, the integrative medicine guru writes about how stress can impact our lives. Below is a short list from his site.

Here are some facts about how stress impacts our lives:

• Stress has been linked to all the leading causes of death, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, accidents and suicide.
• Almost 90 percent of all visits to primary health care providers are due to stress-related problems.
• Nearly one-half of all adults suffer adverse effects from stress.
• It is estimated that 1 million Americans miss work due to stress-related complaints.
• Workplace violence has been attributed to stress. Homicide is the second leading cause of fatal occupational injury.

Did you know that NoJobSurvivor has many articles on dealing with stress?

Enter STRESS into the search field at the top right to get some advice on coping with joblessness.

Take care of yourself and remember, Life Is Still Good!

Did you know that being pessimistic is bad for your health?

True, and it's not just a feel-good issue, it's linked to chemicals in the body, your immune system, and brain function. According to Integrative Medicine Expert, Dr. Weil, your attitude is can greatly effect your health and the four ways to stay happy and healthy in both mind and body are:

1. Get enough sleep, exercise and good-for-you foods.
2. Express your emotional reactions honestly so you can effectively deal with what's bothering you.
3. Consult and confide in a good friend or relative.
4. See the good things, like a glass half full.

For more on this go to: 4 Ways To Be Happy

Houseplants As Air FIlters

Many houseplants remove harmful elements such as tri- chloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde from the air according to several studies made by NASA/ALCA in the late 1980's.

While the study originally intended to find ways to purify the air for extended stays in orbiting space stations, the study proved to have implications on Earth as well.

NASA found that some of the plants were better than others for absorbing these common pollutants, all of the plants had properties that were useful in improving overall indoor air quality and also noted that some plants are better than others in treating certain chemicals.

Read more...