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to run, ride a bike. If you can't ride a bike, go swimming. There are so many fun ways to get a good aerobic workout. Aerobics class. Spinning class. Inline skating. Find something and tax your heart. And never whine that it is too cold to exercise. There is no such thing as too cold; it's just a matter of proper choice of clothing.

Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness. Most people have to think at work, so their minds stay relatively fresh, but the monotony of work isn't really enough to give your mind the workout it needs. You don't need to be Einstein and think for 18 hours a day, but you do need to care for your mind just like you do your body.

5. Read a book, do a crossword, try a Sudoku. Reading forces you to focus your mental energy, crossword puzzles require you to remember things, and Sudoku is an excellent exercise in logic. Games of skill are other good optionschess, checkers, and bridge all require deep thinking. Tax your brain every day.

6. Be creative. This is probably the hardest thing for people to do; it is also, by far, the most rewarding. Write a poem, paint a picture, play an instrument. Who cares if you aren't Picasso or Mozart? Release your creative energies, and have fun doing so. Studies have shown people who maintain a creative edge are less prone to developing symptoms such as dementia and Alzheimer's as they grow older.

7. Early to bed, early to rise. No doubt the body needs physical rest, but it's your mind that will wear down fastest due to lack of sleep. Eight hours of good sleep is plenty; some people require only seven. Avoid binge-sleeping i.e. surviving on five hours a sleep a night during the week and then sleeping for twelve hours on a Saturday.

Finally, you need to take care of your well-being. What does this mean? You have only one life. You should enjoy it, and the only way to enjoy it is to have fun.

8. Go on vacation. People tend to put this off because they're too busy at work. If you have this mindset, there will never be a good time. You must understand your job will survive without you. Every year, take two consecutive weeks and do nothing work related. Go to the mountains, go to the islands, or simply stay at home and relax. No one ever said on their death bed that they wished they'd worked harder.

9. Spend time with your family and friends. Watching American Idol together does not count. Get outdoors and enjoy the day. Play catch with your son. Go skating with your daughter. Take your wife out on a picnic in the park. Go golfing with your buddies. Whatever it is, get off the internet and see the real world.

10. Be happy. This is easier said than done. There is so much negativity in the world. The news channels are doom-and-gloom. Talk radio hosts say outrageous things to rile their audience. Newspapers follow the axiom, If it bleeds, it reads.' People overlook the little things in life, things which should give us joy. A magnificent sun-set. A baby's smile. Happiness isn't something given to you. Find it in the things around you and you'll realize the world really isn't a bad place to be. In fact, you might like it so much, you'll want to stay around as long as possible, which means you better be fit.

Learn more about this author, Jeff Mcguirk.
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