TODAY

Expecting good things to happen may be key to a long life. People who were optimistic had greater odds of achieving “exceptional longevity,” or living to 85 and beyond, according to a recent study. The findings suggest optimism may be an important strategy to promote healthy aging.

Some people are naturally born to be more pessimistic, but it’s absolutely possible for them to learn how to be more positive, psychologists say. Optimism is about 25% heritable, which means there’s room to modify it.

Follow the link to learn simple strategies to boost your positive thinking!

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Even when we know people’s names, why do we go for days without using them? By using someone’s name, you help them feel seen and acknowledged — and that’s an act of kindness. According to kindness.org’s research in collaboration with the University of Oxford, doing a kind act increases happiness, well-being, trust and compassion. And it can have the same powerful effect on those who receive the act. Try it, and put a smile on both your faces.

Extend your daily skincare routine to include all those little places that are sometimes forgotten, including your hands. It can really help delay the signs of aging.

Your hands work hard when you need them for chores, gardening, office work or even creative projects. But the skin on your hands is actually very sensitive and can sustain irreversible sun damage more easily than most people would think. With sun exposure can also come UV rays that can be harsh to the hands, too.

“The hands are not protected as well as other areas of skin (i.e. by clothing or makeup) and are exposed daily to the sun,” one dermatologist said. They can also take a beating from harsh weather conditions from cold to wind to intense sun.

Start with a similar skincare routine to what you use on your face and consider changing your hand care with the seasons.

Read more about ways to protect your hands below.