Lee Sumner
Certified Professional Coach

for inspiration, strategies, and results

JUNE 2005

Vol. II - Issue 6

Lee’s Dream Team (newest edition!) My thanks to everyone who contacted me to suggest the best professionals they know. Here’s your fresh new copy, with 81 resources at your fingertips. Get your private Yellow Pages here! (PDF)

Contact me for your free Laser Coaching session – 30 minutes, no strings attached. Get crystal clear on what you want and take away a plan to keep you focused. Get the support you need in any area of your life: relationships, money, career, health, fun. Call: (205) 870-1877 or email: lee@nolimitscoach.com with "Laser Coaching" in the subject line.

Just for Fun While waiting for her first appointment in the reception room of a new dentist, a woman noticed his certificate, which bore his full name. Suddenly she remembered that a tall, handsome boy with the same name had been in her high school class some 30 years ago. Upon seeing him, however, she quickly discarded any such thought. The balding, gray-haired man with the deeply lined face was way too old to have been her classmate. After he had examined her teeth, she asked him if he had attended the local high school. "Yes," he replied. "When did you graduate?" she asked. He answered, "In 1971. Why?" "You were in my class!" she exclaimed. He looked at her closely, and then asked, "What did you teach?"

The Top 10 Secrets to Staying Sharp

1. Chew. Research out of Japan suggests chewing can prevent memory loss as you age. How? MRI studies of brain activity show jaw movements increase signals in the hippocampus, an area of the brain critical for learning. Chewing can also reduce stress. Ever wonder why you bite your nails or chew on the end of a pen?

2. Socialize. Chatting by the water cooler or meeting a friend for lunch may provide more than a pleasant break. In a study of over 3,000 Americans, ages 24-96, researchers at the University of Michigan found that those who reported the most socializing performed the best on tests assessing cognition and memory, regardless of their age.

3. Dance. When you have the choice to sit it out or dance, consider this: Older people who dance three or four times a week are 76% less likely to have dementia than those who dance just once a week or less, according to research at the Albert Einstein Center in New York. They believe it’s because dancing provides both physical and mental stimulation.

4. Think. Exercising your brain is just as important as exercising your body. Memory experts recommend learning a foreign language, playing a musical instrument, reading, working crossword puzzles, or even watching – and playing along with – TV game shows.

5. Get down-time. Take an hour a day to read a book, take a warm leisurely bath, practice yoga, or do something you enjoy that helps reduce memory-robbing stress.

6. Take Vitamin C. In a study of more than 14,000 physicians, Harvard researchers found those taking Vitamin C supplements daily over a long period of time (up to 20 years) scored higher on memory tests than did those who took Vitamin C supplements for a short period or not at all.

7. Drink coffee. Just one cup in the morning can improve your concentration and memory well into the afternoon, shows a study by Lee Ryan, Ph.D., director of the Cognition Laboratory at the University of Arizona.

8. Eat fish. Eating just two weekly servings of cold-water fish – salmon, mackerel, or herring – can help keep your brain healthy. How is this possible? Fish (and fish oil supplements) are high in DHA, a substance that improves flow to the brain and prevents damage to areas where brain cells communicate.

9. Meditate. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, listening to music, and/or massage have been shown to relieve stress and improve mental function.

10. Pump it up. Get at least 45 minutes daily of cardiovascular exercise, says Elisa Lottor, Ph.D., author of Female and Forgetful (Warner Books, 2002).

If these self-help measures don’t work, see your healthcare provider, who can look for other possible causes of forgetfulness such as depression, hormonal imbalances (including low thyroid), low blood sugar, anemia, or sleep deprivation.

Adapted from "Pink" Magazine – June/July 2005: www.pinkmagazine.com

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Having too many "senior moments" lately? Memory loss is not just a problem for the over-65 set. It’s increasingly common for many professionals in their 30s, 40s, and 50s who are simply overloaded and over-stressed. I hope you find that these tips help you stay sharp!

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Lee Sumner is a Certified Professional Coach based in Birmingham, Alabama, who has helped hundreds of people create high-quality lives. She is President of No Limits Coaching and is a popular speaker, columnist and facilitator. (205.870.1877)