How much sleep do you need ?

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Here is an interesting article from Yahoo. You may also read the article straight from Yahoo. Here is the link :

http://in.news.yahoo.com/248/20100217/1611/tls-how-much-sleep-do-you-need.html

How much sleep do you need

Wed, Feb 17 07:38 PM
Less is more: Do you need eight hours of sleep to maintain good health? Scientists are not too sure. It's possible that sleeping too much, like eating too much, is bad for you. An American study on 1.1 million people shows that those who sleep for eight hours a day are 4-5 per cent more likely to die than those sleeping 5-6 hours. And those sleeping 9-10 hours a day have the highest mortality.

93% of Indians are sleep deprived.
Pay a sleep debt: It takes more than a night of extra sleep to pay off a sleep debt, especially if you slept only three to five hours--scientists say. But you recover faster from a week of poor sleep when it's preceded by nights with 10 hours of shuteye. So if you know you have a week of little sleep ahead, try loading up on sleep beforehand, not later.
Bedtime tales: Lack of sleep hits a woman harder and raises her risk of heart disease more than it does for a man, reports the journal Sleep. The study suggests that women require more sleep than men, but generally their sleep is of a higher quality, and less fragmented. Women also seem to use sleep medication more than men. For men, use of alcohol is more common, which shortens their sleeping time, though. Men tend to start losing deep, slow wave sleep much younger than women, which can make sleep lighter and more easily disturbed.
Dreams interpreted: To Freud, dreaming was a playground for the unconscious mind. To others, it helps the brain sort through emotional memories or current problems. Now a report in Nature Neuroscience argues that dreams tune the mind for conscious awareness. We dream when the brain warms its circuits, anticipating the sights and sounds and emotions of waking. It explains why people forget so many dreams.
Should you nap?: We've heard that grabbing an hour's sleep during the day is as beneficial as a whole night in bed. But now experts from Harvard University, US, say, powernaps work only if the sleep is of the right quality. And a full night's sleep is still necessary for many vital body functions, even though a short sleep may boost learning and memory.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/248/20100217/1611/tls-how-much-sleep-do-you-need.html

Pension issues in Briton

This is photograph appeared in the news papers recently.
Pension payments are a problem even in Briton ! What way other than stripping themselves, to protest against the injustice !

Does this mean that the Establishment is ignoring the pensioners ? Just as we all face ?
But, atleast we (retired from Govt service) get our pensions regularly.

I think so. What do you feel ?

A few tips for your pleasure

A few tips for your pleasure

Drink plenty of water, and less of alcohol (may be no alcohol atall !)

Dream more, when you are awake

Sleep more (may be 7 to 8 hours !)

Smile and smile and smile.

Laugh more and more often.

Don’t over do. Keep your limits.

Forgive everyone and everything

Play and play , of all sorts

Meditate, atleast for 30 minutes a day

Agree to disagree. No arguments please.

Your best is yet to come

OLD AGE BLUES

OLD AGE BLUES

( excerpts from an article published in The Hindu dated 21June, 2009 )

According to a latest report, men plan for their financial security in retirement, but not for their happiness. Unless men build social and leisure networks, they could find retirement lonely and isolating.

A survey (based on which the report is made) revealed that more women than men plan for their health and leisure activities before they stop working.. The findings are significant because “ a person’s level of leisure involvement during their working years tends to predict their involvement during retirement.”

“People are less likely to start new activities after retirement, so getting involved in activities and social activities pre-retirement makes good sense”. The study also found a strong emphasis in society to save money for retirement, but there was no planning of what to spend it on.

The most important questions one should answer are :

What am I saving for ?

What do I really want to do when I retire ?

If working people approaching retirement were helped to answer these types of questions, they could plan more adequately for a satisfying future beyond work.

Sleep !

The best exercise ! Sleep. Agreed ?

Pensioners' Advocate

" PENSIONERS' ADVOCATE " is the journal of the All India Federation of Pensioners' Association, Chennai.
This is an interesting and quite useful monthly journal, exclusively covering the issues of Pensioners. The annual subscription is Rs. 100/-. I recommend this journal to all Pensioners.
Pensioners' Advocate publishes various Government Orders too (concerning pension matters).

Pensioners' Advocate
G2, Ground Floor, "Soundarya",
Old No. 22, New No. 51, Kavarai Street,
Saidapet West, Chennai - 600 015

Brain power - ways to improve

The human brain - as all natural elements- certainly deteriorates in its functions and capabilities. The rate of such weakening increases over age. But fortunately, the rate of such weakness can be controlled. Certain habits, followed rigorously, can control that. And may even improve. However, it is a must that one has to make efforts to keep their brain power. What we all can do is the following.
1. Feed the right fuel. Means, take good and appropriate food. The best are raw vegetables and fruits. Include more fruits in your diet.
2. Avoid all stimulants. They may stimulate when healthy. But may not work well when old. It may even affect your nervous system. Avoid tea, coffee, and alcohol.
3. Exercise regularly. Not only the body, but the mind too. Choose the right exercise. May be reading and writing , playing, cards, Chess, or Sudoku... choose your taste as well. And you know, Computer games are the best !!
4. Meditation is an excellent activity. It is multipurpose. Learn that art and practice .
5. Listen to music. May be classical or rock-n-roll... it's good.

Wish you all the very best .