Posts Tagged ‘docmeek.com’

“Everyone” frequently reminds us that the movement of the body is essential for good health. We interpret this to mean exercise and we often shy away from “exercise” as it is not engaging for us.

Guess what?

Dancing gives us great body movement and it can be very engaging!

– Doc Meek, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, March 11, 2019

P.S. Here is Marijo Moore, reminding us that dance can be for “everyone”:

“To dance is to pray,

to pray is to heal,

to heal is to give,

to give is to live,

to live is to dance.”

—MariJo Moore

Why We Dance

Today I’m delighted to welcome Erica Francis, who is providing a valuable guest article for us. – Doc Meek

5 Ideas for Boosting Your Creative Side

Photo credit: Unsplash

Getting yourself out of a creative rut can be an exhausting endeavor. Maybe you’re stuck on a design or plan for work and can’t seem to make any progress on it, or maybe you want to start a new project but are struggling to find any inspiration. Don’t force the creativity, but instead, try a few of these tips to get the juices flowing again.

Get moving

Physical exercise is actually very helpful in encouraging creativity. The brain creates new neurons in the brain’s memory center while we’re engaged in physical activity and can stimulate new thought patterns. Simply put, it helps your brain clear out the clutter and get a better perspective. Go for a run, swim, bike ride, or jog to clear your head and burn off some steam. At the very least, take a brisk walk.

Get outside

Many people don’t realize that nature can be incredibly healing—even just being around it can ease stress and increase your overall wellbeing. Find a comfortable, scenic spot somewhere near your home or office that you can escape to when you’re in need of a break. Often the mere change of scenery can give you new perspective. Take a moment to step outside, breathe deeply, and clear your head. Enjoy the simplicity and beauty of nature. If possible, take regular breaks like this as often as you can to get nature boosts throughout your busy week.

Look to the past

Sometimes answers for the present can be found in the past, and you never know when your project could benefit from going a little retro. Try looking at completed projects, favorite pieces of art you’ve completed, or the objects that inspired you to create those works in the first place. Was it a technique you adapted to your own needs? An idea? You can even look back at decades-old works of art, advertisements, or even architectural designs and see what ideas you may discover.

Focus on a fun challenge

It’s more than possible that what your brain really needs is a bit of a break, but you also don’t want to lose momentum. Find the happy medium by playing a quick game of cards or do a puzzle like sudoku, a crossword, or a word search. Taking on a low-pressure challenge can ease your tension, but you’ll still be getting mental exercise that can help you work out the problem. You won’t lose the pace you’ve been working at, and you might not even have to play an entire match or finish the puzzle before you’ve found a new perspective.

Avoid drugs and alcohol

Many legendary writers and artists abused drugs and alcohol. As a result, a lot of people believe that substances like drugs and alcohol can enhance creativity. Don’t give in to this myth. Your best ideas will come to you when you’re well-rested and clear-minded. Abusing drugs and alcohol will only lead to problems down the road that could seriously derail your creative pursuits. If you think you may have an addiction, get help right away.

Try something completely new

It’s been shown that students who study abroad tend to be more creative problem solvers because they get exposure to foreign cultures, customs, and practices. But the truth is, you don’t have to go abroad to reap these kinds of benefits! Throwing yourself out of your comfort zone is the quickest way to get a new perspective, so find an easy way to broaden your horizons. Even going for a walk at the local Korean market or heading to the Italian sandwich shop for lunch can stimulate new sights, smells, and sounds that could generate new ideas. If you can’t travel too far, reflect on an exotic place you’ve been to, or look up photos and videos of locations you hope to visit someday.

Hitting a creative block is frustrating, but it can be easier to overcome if you have a strategy. Figure out which of these ideas works best for you, and adapt them as you need to. Soon you’ll be able to power right past those pesky creative blocks!

Author: Erica Francis

Thank you, Erica!

I’ve often said that one of the best problem-busters is DSD!

DSD = Do Something Different

Doc Meek, South Jordan, Utah,USA, April 26, 2017

13 Health Benefits of Pumpkin,

According to Science

(+8 Pumpkin Recipes)

A solid foundation for overcoming learning problems is good mental and bodily health. Here is a guest article about the extensive health benefits of the “lowly” pumpkin (not just at Halloween, but year round), courtesy of Jesse Miller:

Pumpkin offers major health benefits that go beyond those of other superfoods I’ve come across. Even though pumpkins are seasonal foods, they’re full on flavor and nutrition. You can make pumpkin puree, serve mashed pumpkins with chicken recipes, or add them in your soups. There’s so much to gain from pumpkin as a superfood for a healthier lifestyle.

Pumpkins are characterized by high amounts of vitamin A, vitamin E, dietary fiber, thiamin, and folate. They also contain a good amount of dietary zinc and manganese that reduces inflammation and lowers level of neurological damage in healthy individuals. They’re good for heart health, healthy vision, anti-cancer benefits, and for the treatment of high blood pressure conditions.

Other than a Thanksgiving treat, pumpkins are popularly cooked for low-calorie meals. Looking at the way pumpkin benefits the human body, it’s a surprise why you haven’t gotten the most out of it, yet.

See the 13 Health Benefits of Pumpkin (+ 18 Pumpkin Recipes) at this link:

https://www.jenreviews.com/pumpkin/

• Thanks to Jesse Miller of JenReviews.com for this great guest article!
• Doc Meek, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, March 18, 2017

4 Teachers Share Why

They Love Their Work

A rising demand for teachers and a decreased supply is creating a teacher shortage in the U.S. At ReadyJob, we wanted to do something about that. So, in an effort to inspire today’s young people to consider becoming teachers, we decided to highlight the best aspects of the profession. We reached out to teachers and asked them what they found most rewarding about teaching. Below are some of the reasons they gave:

Teachers prepare students for the future 

If you’re not in education, you might think a teacher’s job is about sticking to the books–teaching students the “3 Rs” curriculum used to prepare them for end of grade testing. And that’s certainly part of what they do, but as Doc Meek of DocMeek.com notes they often do much more than that. He wrote in to share why he loves teaching and said it’s because the work gives him “the potential of helping students thrive long-term.” And really, isn’t that exactly what our teachers do? Whether they’re teaching physics or history or a broader life lesson on avoiding drugs or developing conflict resolution skills, our teachers impact their students’ lives long after they leave the classroom.

Teachers help students find their voice 

Teachers are in a unique position to guide students as they grow and learn. And Vanessa Lasdon of Word-Ink.net reminds us that students aren’t just learning about the subjects being taught to them, they’re also learning about themselves.

“While there are countless rewarding aspects to teaching–not the least of which is the incredible education I receive in return each day–above all as an English teacher, I love encouraging my students to find their voice and share it with the world,” says Lasdon. “Learning—like writing—starts with great daring.”

Teachers get to teach students new things

If you’ve never seen a child grasp a new concept for the first time, you’re missing out. Teachers show children the world, opening doors for them that were previously closed. For Jennifer Greenleaf of JenniferGreenleaf.com, opening those doors is one of the things she loves most about her profession.

“The most rewarding aspect of teaching is watching the children around me during their most transformative years learning new skills and applying them,” says Greenleaf. “It’s exciting because, under most circumstances, they’re enjoying what they’re doing and it’s fun coming back to encourage the lessons to continue.”

Teachers help students develop a passion for learning 

Learning shouldn’t stop when you graduate from high school (or even college, for that matter!). Learning should be a lifelong practice, and as Amy Loring of TwoTeachersontheEdge.com notes, teachers are central to helping students develop that appetite.

“To reach every student by connecting and encouraging them daily should be an educator’s goal,” says Loring. “Teaching is not just standing in front of the class spewing information and lecturing, it is to inspire the desire to want to learn and discover even more. Inspiring the love of learning and finding the hidden gifts of each of your students is life altering for both the student and for the teacher. When you show a child what they can be, you really are changing the world. This passion must show, this love of the child and learning has to be your daily purpose.”

As you can see, teachers are asked to do a lot. But through their interactions with students, they get a lot in return. If you’re considering education for your profession, rest assured that there are students out there who need you.

• Thanks to Erica Francis of ReadyJob.org for this great guest article!
• Doc Meek, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, the 17th of Ireland, 2017 :O)

Merry Christmas to all

our friends and family

Enjoy our goofy short video:

We are decorating our home

outdoors for this great season!

Go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYEhc5fMG8Y

Kindness, Collins (Doc) and Jeannette Meek, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada, December 25, 2016

Today I am grateful (again) for Pat Wyman’s enduring educational leadership, both in person and in her famous HowToLearn.com website. – Doc Meek, Wed, Sept 25, 2013, Calgary, Alberta, CANADA 

Here’s another huge FREE gift announcement from Pat Wyman of HowToLearn.com:

Hi Doc Meek,

I am so glad that you are one of our Amazing Grades Contributing Authors!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Enter to win $3,000 in school supplies and the Amazing Grades book for your favorite school 

The URL (LINK) for the website for this contest is:

https://www.facebook.com/nordicnaturals/app_523808254368413

Nordic Naturals, the #1 fish oil company in the U.S., is sponsoring the What’s Essential^(TM) School Supplies Giveaway September 20 – October 31, 2013.

One lucky school will win $3,000 for school supplies, while the first 500 schools to enter will receive a copy of Pat Wyman’s best-selling book, Amazing Grades: 101 Best Ways to Improve Your Grades Faster for their school library.

To enter your favorite elementary, middle, or high school, click here.

Why is an omega-3 supplement company concerned about kids, schools, and education, you might ask?

Click this image to enter your school

Nordic Naturals, a global company based in Watsonville, CA, is committed to giving each generation what it needs to grow healthy and strong. That begins with exceptionally pure and fresh omega oils–essential for optimal health at any age.

Omega-3 fish oils are especially critical for children and students because of the many ways they support brain health.

In Amazing Grades, contributor Dr. Keri Marshall, Chief Medical Officer for Nordic Naturals, writes:

“Recent research suggests that the brain’s frontal lobe, which is associated with impulse control, planning, organization, and decision-making abilities, continues to grow well into a person’s twenties.

“We need all those skills to succeed in life, but especially to succeed in school.”

Dr. Marshall goes on to explain that extensive clinical research shows that the omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil help nourish the brain and offer key benefits in these areas.

Unfortunately, Americans of all ages consume too few omega-3s, found in cold-water fish like salmon and sardines.

This problem is made worse by the fact that most people also consume too many omega-6s–essential fatty acids that compete for space with omega-3s in our cells and contribute to poor health. Omega-6 fatty acids are found in processed foods and in vegetable oils like corn and soy found in so many of the foods we eat.

“This imbalance in the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fats,” Dr. Marshall says in Amazing Grades, “can promote inflammation and may contribute to a variety of health problems, including attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, autism spectrum disorders, and other behavioral and psychological issues.

The good news, Dr. Marshall says, is that a growing number of studies indicate that omega-3 fatty acids can have powerful, positive effects throughout the body, including in the brain.

Click the image to enter your school

Some of the impressive findings include:

Attention and Behavior: In a University of South Australia clinical study, 132 children with ADHD between the ages of 7 and 12 who were not on medication were given fish oil capsules. At the end of the study, they were calmer, less impulsive, and showed improvements in attention, behavior, and vocabulary.

Higher Grades and Test Scores: Studies show that just the simple addition of cold-water fish to the diet once a week improves grades and leads to higher scores on intelligence tests.

Learning and Literacy: Improvements in verbal learning and spelling, better information retention, and even taking fewer sick days from school were some of the outcomes noted in a group of children who regularly took omega-3 fish oil supplements. That research was conducted with 355 children between the ages of 7 and 12.

Memory and Problem Solving: During pregnancy, mothers preferentially transfer their own stores of omega-3 to their developing babies. “Researchers have found that children whose mothers consumed enough of these healthy fats while pregnant are more likely to score higher on tests of memory function,” Dr. Marshall writes, “while other evidence suggests that babies who receive formula supplemented with EPA and DHA do better at problem-solving tasks than their peers.”

Lasting Benefits: Research also supports the fact that taking omega-3s has lasting cognitive benefits. Eighteen-year-olds who ate more fish at 15 outperformed their non-fish eating counterparts on tests of combined intelligence, verbal performance, and visiospatial performance.

Dr. Marshall summarizes, in Amazing Grades, “Studies like these demonstrate just how important it is to get omega-3s throughout childhood and adolescence. Yet most people aren’t getting anywhere near what they should. That’s why I and many health care experts recommend supplementing with omega-3s in the form of fish oil (algae oil if you’re vegetarian).”

Dr. Marshall recommends Nordic Naturals award-winning supplements for children because of their exceptional purity and freshness, delivery systems kids enjoy (gummies, chewable soft gels and liquids), and great taste.

To read more of Dr. Marshall’s article, enter your school in the Nordic Naturals What’s Essential School Supplies Giveaway and win a copy of Pat Wyman’s best-selling book Amazing Grades for your school library!

Warmly,
PatPat Wyman
Founder, www.HowToLearn.com  (707) 837 8180
Best selling author, Amazing Grades; Spelling Made Easy and more – Amazon Author Page
College Professor for teachers”Be ashamed to die before you have won some victory for humanity.” Horace Mann”There are two ways to live your life; one as if nothing is a miracle, and the other as if everything is a miracle.”  Albert Einstein

 

Amazing Grades Final May 2012.jpg 2501K   View   Share   Download

Thank you Pat Wyman and HowToLearn.com!

Doc Meek, Wed, Sept 25, 2013, Calgary, Alberta, CANADA

Saturday, June 15, 2013 @ South Jordan, Utah, USA.

Today I am full of gratitude for mothers all over the world who teach and treasure their young. – Doc Meek

For all the wonderful mothers all over the world!!

 piper mackay; Shared publicly  –  May 8, 2013

For #wildlifewednesday   By +Mike Spinak  and +Morkel Erasmus

………………….

Thank you, Piper Mackay! I’ve been helping children and adults overcome learning

difficulties of all kinds for more than 30 years now. The one thing I learned very

early on is that it is the mothers that are the anchor, mothers that carry the freight,

mothers that make a difference in the lives of their children and their families.

– Doc Meek, docmeek.com

Friday, November 9, 2012. Today I am grateful for technology, even when it doesn’t work properly! 😮 – Doc Meek

To see the missing right half of the image below, click on this link: http://www.knewton.com/flipped-classroom/

Image above from: http://www.knewton.com/flipped-classroom/

………………………………

Thank you, Knewton, for a first-class job of helping us all to understand the “flipped classroom” better! Maybe some of us could even start experimenting with using it, eh?

Doc Meek, Fri, Nov 9, 2012, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

J. Collins Meek, Ph.D. (Doc Meek)

Your Trusted Learning-Teaching Guide

Seasoned Administrator and Finance Expert

           https://docmeek.com

THE LEARNING CLINIC WORLDWIDE, INC. 

CANADA: Dr. Meek (587) 400-4707, Edmonton, AB

TONGA: Mele Taumoepeau, P.O. Box 81, Nuku’alofa

USA: Dr. Meek (801) 738-3763, South Jordan, Utah

For best brain health, check your heart health: 

http://www.amiraclemolecule.com/jmeek

http:meeksynergy.livingwithoutdisease.org

More on heart health: http://www.themeekteam.info

USA: Jeannette (801) 971-1812; South Jordan, Utah

CANADA: Jeannette (587) 333-6923, Calgary, Alberta

CANADA: P.O. Box 3105, Sherwood Park, AB T8H 2T1

=========================================

Thursday, May 10, 2012. Today, I am grateful for parents, teachers & students who endure.  – Doc Meek

Do You or Your Student or Your Child Have Reading Difficulties or Learning Difficulties? 

What if you are smarter than you think?

Einstein had overwhelming learning difficulties at school, and look at the creativity and accomplishment he brought to his life.

Click for image of Einstein: http://www.ideachampions.com/weblogs/archives/2011/09/the_timeless_wi.shtml

A series of articles to help mothers, teachers & students with reading problems is at: docmeek.com/mothers

Doc Meek, Thurs, May 10, 2012, Sherwood Park, Alberta, CANADA

“What if you are smarter than you think?”

         https://docmeek.com

THE LEARNING CLINIC WORLDWIDE, INC.

CANADA: Dr. Meek (587) 400-4707, Edmonton, AB

TONGA: Mele Taumoepeau, P.O. Box 81, Nuku’alofa

USA: Dr. Meek (801) 738-3763, South Jordan, Utah

For optimum brain health, ensure your heart health:

Doc Meek

Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, CANADA; and South Jordan, Utah, USA