Shortcuts to 100% healthy

Getting healthier, happier and mentally sharper doesn’t have to take a ton of time or lots of money— and it can even be fun!

Catching a few extra Zzzs erases pain better than meds!

When you’re feeling a little achy, skip a trip to the pharmacy and instead head to bed a littler earlier. Extra snooze time works better than OTC and prescription meds at easing the ouch, a Harvard Medical School study found. Researchers say extra shut- eye helps better disperse the body’s painkilling brain chemical dopamine, giving you allover relief fast.

Boost brainpower with a backyard break

Next time you can’t find the answer to a tricky crossword clue, take a quick break. Head outside to listen to the birds chirping, pour a glass of lemonade or do anything but work on the problem, and you’ll come up with the answer faster. That’s because switching tasks clears your working memory—the brain’s chalkboard that holds multiple pieces of information—freeing up more mental resources that help you come up with a brilliant idea, say researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Texas at Austin.

OR KICK BACK ON THE COUCH!

Inventive ideas come 10% faster when you’re lying down. In this position, your body stops producing high-alert chemicals, say Australian scientists, allowing your mind to drift and think outside the box.