WJJR News & Info

The website Etsy released its trend predictions for 2023, based on increases in search terms. And, here’s what they say is hot this year:

• Shoppers are interested in optimism and encouragement! But they also want to get their lives in order……. As a result, Etsy is seeing a 200-percent sales spike in motivation planners and journals, inspirational art for home offices, and budgeting tools – like ledgers. 
• As far as relaxing hobbies, Etsy has seen a 48-percent increase in searches for adult paint by number kits.

People also want to pamper their pets this year. They want pet furniture, cat perches and customized dog beds. There’s been a one-thousand-percent jump in sales for personalized pet beds, embroidered with a dog’s name.

The post Trend Predictions for 2023 According to Etsy appeared first on John Tesh.

Solo Travel is now a big trend! People aren’t waiting for friends and family to join them on a trip – they’re going solo! 

In fact, the travel site Booking.com reports that, in normal years, about 1-in-8 bookings were by solo travelers…… But this year, the rate has DOUBLED to 1 in 4! 

And Google searches for “solo travel” have also doubled!

The reason? According to the world’s largest travel marketing agency, MMGY, after enduring two years of travel restrictions, a lot of people are feeling antsy to travel somewhere – anywhere! 

Solo vacations also offer one of the best opportunities to travel “with intent.” Meaning, you can explore a personal goal – whether it’s self-improvement, crossing more destinations off your bucket list, or simply taking time to de-stress! People also tend to report more satisfaction with their travel experiences when they’re NOT trying to keep other people happy. 

And that’s the latest travel trend: Solo vacations!

The post Why Solo Travel is a Big Trend appeared first on John Tesh.

What we eat throughout the day can help us sleep better at night. So here are foods to help you get better quality sleep……

• For starters, get more magnesium. According to the Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, people who get enough magnesium in their daily diet are less likely to have trouble sleeping. That’s because it’s an important mineral for relaxation. It helps neurotransmitters in the brain shut things down at night, so we can rest. To get the optimal amount, all you need is a handful of nuts or seeds daily.

• Another sleep-booster: Eat more high-fiber foods. They digest more slowly, so you won’t have blood sugar spikes that can disrupt sleep. So, think oatmeal, whole fruits, lentils, or 100% whole grain toast. 

One final sleep-booster: Sprinkle the spice turmeric on your dinner. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory that promotes a sense of calm and boosts sleep quality.

The post Best Food to Help You Sleep Better at Night appeared first on John Tesh.

If you’re looking to make new friends? Try finding a way to sing together! That’s the message from an Oxford University study that found singing is one of the fastest ways to promote feelings of closeness and cooperation. 

The researchers say it’s because breathing in unison with other people triggers the release of the bonding hormone oxytocin. And – because music influences our feelings – people who sing together tend to be on the same page, emotionally. 

Plus, singing together creates group harmony – literally and figuratively – because everyone is working toward a common goal. In fact, other studies have shown that singing is so good for a group’s dynamic that choirs have stronger bonds than most sports teams. And that’s why military troops sometimes sing during exercises and drills. 

So, if you want to promote harmony on a long road trip, or get everyone at work marching to the same tune – choose some music, and get everybody to sing along. 

There are also ways to participate in group sing-alongs from the comfort of home……. Check out the online group goldenbridgechoir.com with Maggie Wheeler.

The post Are You Looking for Ways to Make New Friends? appeared first on John Tesh.

You will love this trick for cutting your risk of heart disease and depression, and it can even help you lose weight:

Take 2 minutes twice a day to massage your scalp! According to the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, scalp massages stimulate acupressure points linked to our adrenal glands……

Those are the glands that pump out the stress hormone cortisol and adrenaline. And two daily 2-minute head massages, for 2 weeks, can cut stress hormone production by 33% or more. So do one scalp massage when you’re getting ready for the day – like, in the shower while you’re washing your hair……and try another before bed.

You’ll reduce the production of stress hormones long-term and it’ll help you relax.  That, in turn, will lower your risk of heart disease and depression – and less cortisol means your body won’t hold onto excess fat. Just remember: two 2-minute head massages a day for 2 weeks.

The post Do This to Cut the Risk of Heart Disease and Depression appeared first on John Tesh.

What’s the latest trend in YouTube videos? 

Watching other people clean! 

The videos show people in their own homes cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, and doing dishes. They’re usually tagged with the phrase “Clean With Me” and they get millions of views! Viewers enjoy watching someone else grind through the same tedious chores we all have. 

There are also so-called “Complete Disaster” videos, where laundry, dirty dishes, grime and clutter have overwhelmed a house and the person cleaning restores order.

So why on earth would anyone watch someone else cleaning?

Because, psychologically, when things are clean, we feel a sense of relief. It taps into a subconscious urge psychologists call a “just right” feeling. It’s the sensation that occurs when we’ve put things in order. And we can get that same feeling from watching someone else clean a house – even if it’s not our own house.

The post What’s the Latest Trend in YouTube Videos? appeared first on John Tesh.

Have you noticed how trendy it is these days to be nostalgic about the past? For example:

• The latest Recording Industry data shows that more than HALF of all physical music sold today is on vinyl……
• Also, Polaroid filed for bankruptcy in 2001 – but now it’s thriving again.
• And instead of upgrading to the latest smartphone, an estimated 1-in-5 consumers have expressed interest in switching back to a minimalist “dumb phone,” with no texting or apps……
• People are even going back to old-school videogames that don’t require the internet to be played. 

According to a new Deloitte survey, a big reason people are buying vintage or “retro” products is for more privacy. Because most devices that connect to the internet can easily be tracked or hacked! And a growing number of people just want to enjoy their day – snapping photos, making calls, playing games and listening to music – without worrying about their security.

Another reason? Media studies professor Dr. Paul Levinson says there’s an increasing desire to “disengage” from the modern world for mental health reasons. Because a lot of us see the past as a simpler, less stressful, more innocent time. And people want to return to the comfort of the past – before the internet and social media completely took over our lives. 

The post Should You be Nostalgic About the Past? appeared first on John Tesh.

How many times have you heard that fish are brain food?

Well, we’re saying it again – and we have more proof. This time, it comes from the Fatty Acid Research Institute. 

Their research found that people with high blood levels of the Omega-3 fatty acid, called DHA, were nearly 50% less likely to develop dementia of any kind, including Alzheimer’s. 

And other research shows a link between the fatty acid DHA and improved cognitive performance and increased brain volume.

The reason? Because DHA limits the production and accumulation of a brain toxin linked to Alzheimer’s. 

The fish that contain the most Omega-3 DHAs are: Mackerel, salmon, herring, sardines, and oysters. And you should aim to get two servings a week.

The post Why Should You Eat Fish Twice a Week appeared first on John Tesh.

Clutter doesn’t just make your home look like a mess – it messes with your mental health! That’s according to the journal Personality and Social Psychology. For the study, researchers from USC asked families to record videos while touring their own homes and discussing their belongings. Their stress hormone levels were also recorded. 

The conclusion? People who perceived their homes as cluttered had unhealthy levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and felt more stress as the day went on. 

The researchers say it boils down to the feeling of never-ending work and obligation, and our brains don’t like the weight of all that responsibility. But when we de-clutter, our brains actually do relax.  That’s because we feel more in-control of our lives. It gives us a sense of accomplishment. 

So now we know, clutter can seriously mess with our mental health.

The post Why It’s Important to Declutter Our Home appeared first on John Tesh.

Go ahead and dig into the bread basket at the restaurant……For Dessert.

A study in the journal Diabetes has found that if you eat your focaccia, cheddar biscuit, or unlimited breadsticks AFTER your entrée, your blood sugar won’t take as big of a hit.

The journal researchers found that when study subjects did that, their blood sugar was 30% lower on average than if they ate bread before the meal.

That’s because when you have other food in your stomach, the carbs from the bread don’t turn into sugar as quickly – since your body is busy processing the other food you’ve eaten.

I’m trying this! Eating bread for dessert instead of before the meal.

The post Why we should eat bread AFTER the meal appeared first on John Tesh.

Think about where you make most of your important money decisions. Are you in an office building, several floors above the street……or are you at home, signing checks and paying bills on the GROUND floor?

According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, how you answer that question plays a role in how much control you have over your money.

Because we tend to make the SAFEST financial decisions when we’re on the ground floor……But the higher up we go, even just to the second floor of your house, the riskier your money moves get!

Psychologists say it’s because being higher up – whether you’re in a high-rise office building, or the 2^nd floor of your home – gives your subconscious an elevated sense of power. So, if you need help sticking to a budget – or you just want to make better financial decisions – this new study makes it clear: Stay grounded, literally……and make your decisions on the ground floor.

The post How to Make Better Financial Decisions appeared first on John Tesh.