Monday, Nov. 25, 2013

WASHINGTON – Research has found that gratitude as a mindful practice can offer many health benefits.

The Health Benefits

  • Physical and emotional well being
  • Gratitude group experienced less stress and depression
  • Improves your ability to cope with stress
  • It is physiological impossible to experience stress and gratitude simultaneously
  • Grateful people are more optimistic and optimism boosts your immune system
  • Gratitude “resets your thermostat and you instantly focus on what is important in your life”
  • You produce healing hormones into the body that restores peace, love and balance

Begin a Gratitude Practice Today

  • Waking up: Open your eyes, take a deep breath and be thankful for your body and the healing sleep you received
  • Set Your Alarm: Set your alarm on your smart phone three times a day and when the alarm goes off, smile and say something you are grateful for
  • Meals: Be grateful for your food, the people and work it took to bring it to your table
  • Other people in your life: Tell others that you are grateful for them in your life and why you are grateful for their gifts they bring into your life
  • Office: At weekly staff meetings begin the meetings by going around to each person and each tells what they are grateful for in their lives that week
  • Bedtime: Close your eyes, take a deep breath, smile and say “Thank you for this day of my life, my family, friends, the people at work. Thank you for my health. Thank you for my prosperity.”

Teach Your Children Gratitude

  • Gratitude Journal: Teach your children to keep a gratitude journal and have them write three things they are grateful each day
  • Before Meals: Teach your children to be thankful for their food, the people who labored to bring the food to their mouths. Grateful to the animals that gave their lives for their life
  • Lunch Napkins: Hand write “Thank You” on your child’s lunch napkin when you pack their lunch
  • Bedtime: Before bed have your children give thanks for their day and specific things that happened

Listen as Kathleen Hall talks about how to become more grateful in your life:

9:10 a.m. – Kathleen Hall, stress expert

The season for gratitude is good for your health


7:40 p.m. Beth Misner, sports nutritionist and co-author of "The Misner Plan"

How to keep the holiday healthy


7:20 p.m. Redskins Roundtable, with WTOP Sports’ George Wallace, Ben Raby, Chris Cichon and Megan Cloherty plus Chris Chase of USA Today Sports

Off-field dysfunction could hurt Redskins as they try to top the 49ers


5:10 p.m. Josh Gerstein, senior White House reporter for POLITICO

Nuclear deal with Iran includes six-month deadline


Weather, losing record don’t keep Redskins fans away

Andrew Mollenbeck, WTOP


Tailgaters enjoy the game, win or lose

Bob Madigan, WTOP


4:40 p.m. – David Elfin, longtime Redskins beat reporter and author of the book "The Washington Redskins: The Complete Illustrated History"

The Skins and 49ers at FedEx Field


3:10 p.m. – Ben Mutzabaugh, travel reporter for USA Today

The weather could bring big problems for air travelers Thanksgiving Eve


2:20 p.m. – Fairfax Hackley, personal trainer

Exercise prep for Thanksgiving


1:30 p.m. – Aaron David Miller, scholar, Woodrow Wilson Center and former advisor to several secretaries of state

Iran deal


12:50 p.m. – Dave Ross, commentator


12:10 p.m. – Katy Nelson, veterinarian and Dr. Pawz

Traveling with your pets this holiday season.

For details on pet health certificates and regulated travel, visit the USDA’s website.


11:10 a.m. – George Wallace, Redskins beat reporter

A preview of tonight’s game against the 49ers and a look at the recent drama surrounding RG3


10:40 a.m. – Chris Hill, The Motley Fool

A preview of the holiday shopping season


10:30 a.m. – Peter Greenberg, CBS travel editor

Tips to prepare for hectic airline travel considering looming storms.


10:10 a.m. – Pet of the Week

Matt Williams of the Washington Animal Rescue League talks about 3-year-old Dierks.

Dierks (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)

Dierks, 3, is looking for a new home. (WTOP/Sarah Beth Hensley)

Read more: Pet of the Week: Dierks


9:40 a.m. – Anthony Cordesman, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at CSIS

U.S. only had so much leverage in Iran nuclear agreement

Read more: The Best Deal with Iran That We Can Get


8:48 a.m. – Doug Hill, ABC7 Chief Meteorologist

Your Thanksgiving travel forecast

Read more: Thanksgiving travelers face soggy, wintry conditions


8:40 a.m. – Gerri Detweiler, director of consumer education at Credit.com

The financial mistake most of us make


7:40 a.m. – Chuck Todd, NBC Chief White House Correspondent

Iran deal can be viewed as temporary and a test


6:40 a.m. – Josh Gerstein, Senior White House Reporter, Politico

Members on both sides of the aisle not happy with Iran deal


Don’t let door busters bust your wallet

WTOP’s Dick Uliano reports

Here are the top products Yahoo! Finance says not to buy on Black Friday:

  • 1. Toys
  • 2. Winter clothing
  • 3. Holiday decorations
  • 4. Higher-end HDTV
  • 5. Electronics accessories
  • 6. Fitness equipment
  • 7. Home improvement supplies and tools
  • 8. Gas Grills
  • 9. Automotive supplies

For more, head to Yahoo! Finance.


Preventable hearing loss rising among teens

WTOP’s Lori Lundin reports

Rock icon offers lessons for young ears: Beware of headphones (Nov. 8)


Musical destined for Broadway performs in D.C.

WTOP’s Bob Madigan reports

For more on If/Then, visit thenationaldc.org or watch the video below.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter.

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