No matter how perfect you may think you are, the fact this there’s always some small way you can improve upon yourself. Whether it’s broadening your knowledge or reducing your impact on the earth, there are seemingly endless little things you can do to make a change for the better. Here, we’ll discuss 100 of these steps, and how you can go about doing them.

Health

Good health is the foundation of a good life, so make these improvements, and they’ll resonate out to the rest of your life.

1. Eat breakfast every morning: Eating breakfast is important for your health and mental power, supplying essential vitamins, minerals, and energy for your day.
2. Get a good night’s rest: You just can’t have a happy and productive life if you’re tired all of the time, so get some quality shut eye.
3. Drink water: Step up your water intake to lose weight, feel better, and improve your skin.
4. Eat slowly: Slow down when you eat, and you’ll find that you consume less while still feeling satisfied.
5. Cut down on junk food: Junk food has a nasty way of bringing your health down, so avoid it whenever possible, opting instead for healthy food like fresh fruits and vegetables.
6. Practice good dental hygiene: Researchers have found that dental hygiene is important for more than cosmetic reasons-it can help you chew food and even avoid heart disease.
7. Drink tea: Be sure to check out the powerhouse of benefits that tea can deliver, which includes improved memory and prevention of ills such as cavities, cancer, and heart disease.
8. Get some exercise: Whether you need to lose weight or not, exercise will have a positive effect on your overall health and quality of life.
9. Improve your energy: If you’re feeling sluggish all day, chances are you’re just not going to feel good about yourself. So take a few steps to boost your energy, and you’ll be better in your daily life.
10. Intensify your workouts: Researchers have found that by doing more intense workouts, you can enjoy similar benefits that you would with a more relaxed workout for a longer period of time.
11. Enjoy fish a few times a week: Eat fish, and you’ll get a serving of Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help reduce heart disease.
12. Wear better shoes: Don’t torture your toes with restrictive shoes all the time-limit the amount of time you spend in uncomfortable shoes.
13. Protect your skin: Stay out of the sun to avoid skin damage, or use sunblock to help.
14. Eat at home: It’s easier and cheaper to prepare healthy foods on your own at home, and skillfully cooking a meal is sure to impress just about anyone.
15. Get tested for prediabetes: Diabetes is a disease that many Americans are susceptible to, and by discovering it early on you can prevent it or lessen its impact.
16. Take a daily walk: Get a little bit of movement and clear your mind with a walk every day.
17. Lose weight: One of the best things you can do for your health and overall quality of life is to shed a few pounds.

Mental

Improve your mind by taking these simple steps.

18. Go back to school: Continuing your education does not have to be a complicated endeavor. Take an online class, or just a weekend seminar.
19. Read classic books: Improve your mind by finally picking up all those books you were supposed to read in school.
20. Plan: Always have a plan for your life, so you’ll know what you’re working toward.
21. Quit procrastinating: Resolve to get moving, and you’ll find that you have much more time than you originally realized.
22. Get inspired by a book: Read a book that will help you spark positive changes in your life.
23. Learn from your mistakes: Don’t let mistakes get you down. Instead, consider what you did wrong, and how you can avoid doing so again in the future.
24. Stop worrying: Let go of worry, and know that the future will come no matter what you do about it.
25. Learn to play a musical instrument: Pick up a guitar, or even a harp, to improve your mental capacity and have something fun to do.
26. Work to your own advantage: Improve upon what you can, and let the rest fall away.
27. Think slowly: Instead of jumping to conclusions, carefully calculate what a situation means. Doing so can help you save relationships that might be damaged by rash thinking
28. Participate in a debate: Have a rational discussion with someone of similar intellect to improve your knowledge.
29. Learn a new language: Broaden your horizons by learning how to speak a new language.
30. Visit Wikipedia: Spend some time on Wikipedia learning lots of interesting facts you’ve never realized before.

Social

Take these steps to change your social life for the better.

31. Join a book club: Get some social interaction while improving your knowledge with a book club.
32. Get out of the house: Believe it or not, the world just isn’t going to come to you. You’ve got to get out of your “zone” for social interaction.
33. Volunteer: For a rewarding social experience, look into volunteer opportunities.
34. Ignore minor irritations: Whether it’s some jerk in traffic, or incessant Facebook application requests, some things just aren’t worth dealing with.
35. Start a blog: Spark an online discussion and network with new people through a blog.
36. Talk to strangers: Don’t hesitate to spark a conversation with someone you don’t know-you just might enjoy yourself, or even make a new friend.
37. Don’t stereotype or label people: Avoid dismissing people based on factors you don’t fully understand, and you may find that they have something to offer you.
38. Call old friends: You’d be surprised how many people would be overjoyed to hear from you, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve seen them.
39. Go to church: Make new friends and get in touch with your spiritual side at church or temple.
40. Host a party: Spend some time with good friends and enjoy yourself at home by inviting others over for a party.
41. Enjoy a hobby: Having a regular, relaxing activity will bring you joy.
42. Join a club: Whether you’re into board games or photography, there’s a group out there for you.

Emotional

Improve your emotional life with these simple strategies.

43. Make an effort to be happy: Whether you actually feel happy or not, make it a point to attempt happiness. It will help you feel better, as well as others around you.
44. Consider religion: If you’re not a spiritual person, consider becoming more involved with religion to improve your emotional well-being.
45. Stop taking things personally: Although it may seem to the contrary, know that not everyone is out to make your life harder.
46. Be optimistic: Put a positive spin on things and feel better about the future.
47. Know when to lose sleep: Sometimes, you have more important things to do than sleep, but they key is knowing when that should happen.
48. Step out of your comfort zone: Make it a point to step out of your comfort zone once in awhile. It’s a great way to advance yourself.
49. Get rid of ill-fitting clothing: Clothes that don’t fit right will just make you look bad and feel worse about yourself. If you love a piece, but it just doesn’t look good, consider getting it tailored.
50. Spend time with a child: Look at the world through a child’s eyes and get inspired. You’ll learn to appreciate simple things and see life with excitement.
51. Pamper yourself: Take care of yourself, whether that means getting a pint of ice cream now and then, or just getting a spa treatment.
52. Celebrate your successes: When you’ve accomplished something great, take a moment to feel good about it!
53. Quit your technology addiction: Although you may love your BlackBerry, you’ll feel a whole lot better if you just step away from the screen for a while.
54. Set goals: By setting goals, you’ll give yourself something to strive for and look forward to.
55. Feel good about yourself: Make a decision to improve your self-confidence, and you’ll feel better. Others will notice it, too.
56. Be thankful: Every now and then, take some time to acknowledge all of the good things you have in your life, big and small.
57. Cut yourself some slack: Avoid inventing your own impossible, stringent rules that you have to stick to-they’ll only make you feel nervous and guilty.
58. Let go of the past: Don’t hold grudges-let go, and you’ll free up emotional space.
59. Don’t be dramatic: Stop inflating small problems, or you’ll make yourself more anxious than you need to be.
60. Express yourself: Let your emotions come out through art, writing, or other forms of expression.
61. Meditate: Take some time out every day to have an inner dialogue with yourself.

Financial

Make these changes to improve your life’s financial outlook.

62. Pay off debt: Nothing will improve your finances better than simply getting rid of debt.
63. Build an emergency fund: Keep an emergency fund to save yourself from plummeting into the red when something pops up, and you’ll be much more secure.
64. Track your spending: At some point in their lives, nearly everyone has wondered where all their money goes. Try this exercise to finally get to the bottom of it, and identify spots where your money could be better spent.
65. Be frugal: Embrace frugality in your life, and you’ll save money while living more simply.
66. Make extra payments: Pay off mortgage and other large debts early, and you’ll take a load off.
67. Diversify your income: Provide yourself with some financial security by finding multiple sources of income.
68. Save: The concept is simple-save money, and you’ll have more financial power to do the things you’d like to do.
69. Eat at home more often: Eating out all the time may be fun, but preparing meals at home is a better financial strategy.
70. Invest: Investing is not only fun, it’s an excellent way to make your money grow.
71. Set a goal: Give yourself a financial goal to achieve, whether it’s saving for a particular item, or doubling your investments.
72. Save for retirement: Don’t give your future self a huge mess to take care of-save now, and you’ll enjoy it later.

Habits

Make these changes in your daily life to improve upon yourself.

73. Quit smoking: It’s the single most important thing you can do for your health, appearance, and energy. You’ll smell better, too.
74. Wake up early: Be an early riser, and you’ll find that you have more time to get things done.
75. Spend more time outside: Head outside to become more active and enjoy the world around you.
76. Be organized: Make things easier on yourself by living a more organized life.

At Work

You spend so much time at work, but probably don’t often consider how you can improve upon this important facet of your life. Take these steps to make things just a little bit better.

77. Make friends with your coworkers: One of the easiest and most important things you can do to improve your career is to practice inner networking. Socialize with your coworkers, and they’ll be more willing to help you when you need it.
78. Improve your writing skills: If you improve upon your writing skills, you’ll instantly sound more intelligent and persuasive.
79. Collaborate: Don’t go it alone-ask for help, and give help in return.
80. Keep your inbox empty: Reduce anxiety and simplify by clearing out your inbox as much as you can.
81. Leave work at the door: Don’t bring work home with you, or you’ll stress yourself out at home.
82. Join a professional association: Network with others in your field for fun and career advancement.
83. Ask for a raise: Simply asking for a raise you deserve is a no-brainer way to feel better about work and your paycheck.
84. Improve your resume: If you’re not happy with your job, give your resume a facelift and consider seeking a new position.
85. Improve your system: If you’ve got a messy desk, or generally lead a disorganized work life, take charge by reorganizing.
86. Start your own business: One of the best ways to improve your career is to go into business for yourself.

In Your Community

Getting involved in your community is a great way to improve upon your life. Try these methods for getting out there.

87. Vote: Impact your community’s future by participating in the election of officials.
88. Donate unused items: Instead of holding a garage sale, pass your old items on to people who need them-like books to schools, and clothing to shelters.
89. Support charitable endeavors: Whether it’s with money or time, do what you can to help out charities in your community.
90. Be a coach: Offer to coach a youth sport, and you’ll shape young lives while having fun.
91. Visit your local library: Take advantage of your community’s library to both save money and broaden your mind.

In the Environment

An excellent way to improve upon yourself is to reduce the negative impact you have on the world. Take these steps to get greener and change your life for the better.

92. Work to reduce your carbon emissions: Find out about the many things you can do to help cut your carbon emissions, and then take action on them.
93. Improve your gas mileage: Drive more slowly and coast as much as you can to improve your gas mileage.
94. Turn off the lights: Cut your waste and energy bill by turning off your lights whenever you don’t need them.
95. Get a reusable water bottle: Keep plastic water bottles out of our landfills by getting a container you can use over and over again.
96. Reduce your trash: Take steps to cut down on the waste you put in landfills.
97. Buy local and organic food: Support your health and local farmer by purchasing local, organic produce.
98. Adjust your thermostat: Let your heater and AC take a small break by adjusting your thermostat to reduce waste.
99. Stop using plastic bags: Quit using plastic bags, and you’ll both reduce your impact and save animals.
100. Take shorter showers: Save a precious resource by reducing the amount of water you use in your daily shower.

Feel free to visit:
http://cultivategreatness.com/2008/05/10/100-simple-ways-to-change-your-life-for-the-better

Lawyers and law students are under lots of stress tracking billable hours, attracting new clients, landing the right summer program and researching, networking and managing cases after hours. To keep you grounded and focused on elevating your career, we've generated this list of job boards, quick reference guides, tips for avoiding the burnout and advice for finding time for yourself. The rest is up to you.

Lawyer Associations

Become a member of one of these associations -- if you aren't already -- to rack up on benefits, travel discounts, and of course, lots of networking opportunities.

1. American Bar Association: If you're a lawyer, you're already a part of this organization, so take advantage of your membership to learn about continuing education, access journals, look for jobs and more.
2. American Association for Justice: Trial lawyers belong to this association for research benefits, support, discounts on products and services, the mentor program, networking and to work on protecting the image of the trial lawyer and U.S. justice system.
3. ACLU: Keep track of civil rights legislation and issues by becoming a member of the ACLU or just visiting their website from time to time.
4. Association of Federal Defense Attorneys: If you work in a federal DA's office, consider joining this group for networking purposes, learning about job openings, and plenty of discounts on travel-related purchases.
5. National Lawyers Association: Attorneys who want a say in decisions and opinions passed by the ABA fight to be heard through this organization.
6. Federal Bar Association: Private and governmental lawyers working at the federal level are eligible to join this group.

Lawyer Blogs

Let off steam, find out what your fellow attorneys are up to, and gain insight into the issues of the day when you check out one or all of these lawyer blogs.

7. Real Lawyers Have Blogs: Visit this blog for analysis and tips on firm marketing, using social media, PR for your firm and more.
8. JDBliss: This blog is all about "balancing life and the law," and you'll find plenty of posts that share tips on how attorneys can maintain a work/life balance.
9. TalkLeft: This widely read liberal blog covers "the politics of crime" and issues relating to social justice.
10. Overlawyered: Touted as the oldest law blog online, Overlawyered is maintained by Walter Olson of the Manhattan Institute and wonders at how the American legal system can be easily manipulated and corrupted.
11. SCOTUS Blog: SCOTUS Blog is the blog for the Supreme Court. Here you'll find descriptions and analysis of filings, orders and opinions and legal news.
12. Bag and Baggage: Denise Howell, an appellate, intellectual property and technology lawyer, combines legal issues and personal anecdotes in her posts.
13. HealthLaw Blog: Learn about all the health care-related issues and legislations in this blog, written by a Dallas professor.
14. BenefitsBlog: Recent posts from this blog cover 401(k) plans, tax humor, small business plans to help employees retire and more.
15. WSJ Law Blog: Turn to the Wall Street Journal's Law Blog for the latest law news from around the world.
16. Trial Lawyer Resource Center: Get trial tips from other lawyers, read member blogs, read about lawyers and social media sites, and learn about how you can become a better trial lawyer.
17. Scrivener's Error: Get commentary on censorship, the law and the media here.
18. Lawyer.com Blogs: Browse titles from various contributors on Lawyer.com for different takes on top legal news stories.

Social Media and Networking

If you're happy hour-ed out or can't get to the club because you've been putting in too much overtime, take your networking online by visiting these sites.

19. Legal Associations: To access even more networking opportunities and get the chance to be more well-known in your field, join an association just for your niche, like the Greek American Lawyers Association or the Cyberlaw Association.
20. Facebook: One of the most popular social media networks in the U.S., Facebook affords businesses and professionals, including lawyers, the ability to network, advertise and get the word out about their expertise.
21. How can a lawyer make money from social media?: This posting reveals how lawyers can use social media sites as advertising portals.
22. LinkedIn: LinkedIn has been gaining a lot of momentum for the professional set, awarding access to priceless networking opportunities and inside scoop.
23. Plaxo: Plaxo helps you stay connected with your social circle and your business network. You can also track what your friends are doing on sites like YouTube, Flickr and Digg.
24. Law firms should learn to love social network sites: Kevin O'Keefe discusses the different ways lawyers and law firms can harness the benefits of social media, from Facebook to collaboration tools to recruiting strategies.
25. Ning: Ning works by letting its members create their own social media groups, so you can invite special clients and collaborators into an exclusive space to network, work on projects and more.
26. Reddit: Reddit, like Digg, allows users to post stories from around the web. Use it to add posts from your blog, driving more traffic to your site.
27. Ryze: Ryze is a business networking site that could be especially useful to law firms or lawyers with corporate clients. Browse the classifieds section, post events, and invite friends to expand your circle.
28. Social Media Latest Networking Tool for Lawyers: If you're still not convinced that social media can help your career, read this article from the blog, Practicing Law in the 21st Century.

Continuing Education

Ambitious lawyers need to be at the top of their field if they want to attract great clients and snag promotions. There are a number of continuing legal education resources available to help you earn another degree or master technologies and ideas emerging in your field.

29. Back to school: Consider taking a few classes or earning another degree to learn about cutting edge theories and research, or to take your practice in a new direction by creating a new area to specialize in.
30. Online Legal CLE: WorldWideLearn posts a lot of resources for those in the legal field wanting to research continuing education courses.
31. Attend conferences: If you think you're too busy to attend a conference, think again. Attending can bring you more networking opportunities and the chance to learn about all the new research and issues surrounding your field.
32. ACLEA: ACLEA, or the Association for Continuing Legal Education, encourages members to sit on the boards and take an active hand in designing continuing education programs in various legal studies.
33. Now, Continuing Education for Lawyers: This New York Times article from 1998 documents how continuing education became a must for lawyers in the state. Even if your state doesn't require continuing ed classes, the article brings up many points supporting the benefits of a similar program.
34. CLE Now!: The ABA's continuing legal education page has podcasts and recorded lectures on real estate law, employment law, family law, government law and more.
35. NALA Campus: Encourage your legal assistants and secretaries to prepare for certification and go back to school, making your entire office more cutting edge.
36. West Legal Ed center: Here, you'll find accredited continuing legal education programs, including live webcasts and more.
37. Continuing Education of the Bar: If you practice law in California, you can find CLE resources and publications on this site.
38. ALI-ABA for CLE: The American Law Institute and the American Bar Association team up on this site to bring CLE resources to law professionals.

Avoiding the Burn Out

Try to remember why you became a lawyer in the first place. If you feel totally removed from that sentiment, you need to work extra hard on avoiding burn out and retaking control over your career.

39. Get out of the office: Even if you feel stuck under piles of research and briefs, get out every once in a while in the name of networking and keeping in touch with the real issues affecting your clients.
40. Open a window: Fresh air boosts your mood, can improve your focus and may even help you view things with a new perspective.
41. Hunt for new clients: If you have the time to take on new clients, start advertising. The new cases will keep your work fresh.
42. Take a class: If you're tired of the same kind of cases and professional circle, take a class that either relates to your field or something completely unrelated, like dancing or cooking. Your mind will appreciate the break.
43. Spend time with family and friends: Family and friends will keep you grounded and give you a chance to connect on a level other than your clients' cases.
44. Identify burnout pressure points: MindTools.com urges overwhelmed individuals to learn how to identify their burnout pressure points so that you can learn how to avoid stress factors and figure out the things about your job that give you the most satisfaction.
45. Learn how to sleep: Even if you think you're getting enough sleep, your routine could probably use some help. Learn how to sleep on a regular schedule, meditate, and create the optimum sleeping environment to help you feel refreshed every time you start the day.
46. Challenge yourself: Take on an extra project, invite a new colleague to lunch, or start using a new software program to keep your mind and your practice fresh and cutting edge.
47. Remember how to be ambitious: Most lawyers are incredibly ambitious to have been able to finish law school and pass the bar. Don't forget the drive that got you to where you are right now. Keep pushing yourself by learning about new career paths and opportunities, like opening up your own firm or switching fields.
48. Set goals for every milestone you achieve: Instead of plodding through your to-do lists every month, think of your tasks as goals. Celebrate every time you reach a certain goal, even if it's as small as finishing a brief or hiring a new legal assistant.

Articles on Work-Life Balance

Lawyers have to keep a strict watch on their billable hours to reach a quota for their firm and keep clients happy. Make sure you're still able to make yourself and your family happy by also achieving a work-life balance.

49. Attorney Work Life Balance Calculator: JDBliss' work-life balance calculator is designed especially for attorneys with billable hours goals and non billable activities, like lunch, personal time and administrative duties.
50. Six Steps for Creating Greater Work-Life Balance for Lawyers: This article reveals tips for lawyers who need to reevaluate their schedules, from understanding "that there is enough time in the day to effectively accomplish work-related tasks" to making regular time for activities you enjoy.
51. Work-Life Balance of Professionalism: Who Wins?: The Simple Justice blog weighs two arguments for and against work-life balance in the legal arena.
52. More on work/life balance...is it just a fad?: The Life at the Bar blog wonders whether or not work-life balance for lawyers is a worthwhile goal.
53. How Working Mothers Find Work-Life Balance: The Fast Company Blog takes a look at how working mothers try to balance out home responsibilities with their growing professional careers.
54. Be selfish: WebMD asks overworked professionals to "protect [their] private time" in order to maintain a healthy work-life balance. When possible, decline a happy hour or late night party to chill out at home, get some extra sleep or indulge in a favorite activity.
55. Get help when you need it: If you're a high-level attorney and don't want to seem like you can't handle the work load, pass off your stress by giving a little extra work to your summer associates or interns. Just make sure they're allowed to take breaks and weekends too.
56. Make up your own "busy schedule": Inspired Business Growth writer Wendy Piersall recommends setting up a "busy schedule" for overworked entrepreneurs. Professionals often put in overtime on busy days, "but work can suck you in, and you can justify far too many hours in the name of growth. So set up a routine for 'busy days' - perhaps you work 2-4 extra hours, and stick to that schedule, working nothing beyond it."
57. Be healthy: Maintain a healthy diet and work out whenever you can. Busy lawyers sometimes fuel up on too much caffeine and rich lunches or take-out when they're on the clock, and neglecting your health will run you to the ground.
58. Take a vacation: Even if it's just a weekend or one-day getaway to someplace close by, try to plan a vacation to completely escape the daily grind and hectic schedule of your normal work day.

Job Boards

Maybe the only thing you need to feel happier and more secure in your job is a new one. Visit these job boards to learn about new career opportunities for lawyers.

59. Yorz: Yorz provides members with "access to the best career opportunities for top professionals." Find and post jobs, and use the site for networking purposes.
60. Vault.com Law Job Board: Search by state, world region, salary range, keyword or specialty.
61. Law Crossing: On this site, you can search over 100,000 different job listings for positions with firms, judges, corporations and more.
62. AttorneyJobs: AttorneyJobs claims to be "the nation's #1 job site exclusively for attorneys." You can search domestic and international jobs by subscribing.
63. Legal Authority: Get job search tips, information about different attorney work environments and access to a job search service here.

Law References and Research Tools

Hit up these online references for lawyers when you want legal definitions, forms and referrals fast.

64. LawGuru: The general public and lawyers use this site to quickly find legal forms, a legal dictionary and other resources.
65. FindLaw: Brush up on areas outside your specialty by browsing subjects like family law, criminal justice, home ownership, health care law and more.
66. LegalEngine.com: Get government forms and access law books and resources for every time of legal issues, from tort law to sports law to domestic relations to maritime law.
67. MegaLaw: Get connected to law websites, legal forms, jobs, federal cases and more on this site.
68. CataLaw: This search engine and legal research resource lets you search cases and topics by state and country, as well as by source, like law schools, legal periodicals and more.
69. Law.com Dictionary: When you don't have time to flip through your hefty books, do a quick word search here.
70. Legal Dictionary: Search by keyword or look up a specific word in this online legal dictionary.
71. HG.org: This site connects attorneys to all kinds of legal libraries, journals, publishers, dictionaries and other reference sites, as well as job postings, legal marketing advice and a legal business center.
72. MIT Open Courseware: Take a free class online from MIT to learn more about law in anthropology, business, technology, cyberlaw and other topics.
73. Law.com Quest: Lawyers can use this research tool to quickly access "hundreds of hand-picked law firm websites and legal blogs," as well as journals, articles and more.

Lawyer Humor

Relax for just a minute or two each day when you read and share these legal humor sites.

74. Lawyer Cartoons: From the insanity plea to pro bono work, check out these humorous law-related cartoons.
75. James Fuqua's Law Jokes: Have a laugh sharing these lawyer jokes around the office, which poke fun at how lawyers might have responded to the Declaration of Independence, cartoon character-inspired cases, and others.
76. Stu's Views: Law and Lawyer Cartoons: Browse funny cartoon topics like money, hours and stress; law firm personnel; lawyer's lifestyle, and cartoons of cases.
77. Jokes About the Legal Profession: This page features a complete list of lawyer jokes.
78. Legal Humor: This site is actually all bout learning "how to use humor to enhance work productivity and personal experience." Find quotes and humorous articles here.
79. MadKane: Read law-related limericks and humorous odes on this site. Sample titles include "New Year's Resolutions Contract" and "Ode to Tom DeLay."
80. Legal Humor ecards: Send one of these hysterical ecards to your colleagues to take the stress out of your day.
81. Lawyer Jokes: Click through this long list of funny jokes about attorneys.
82. Courtroom Humor: Trial attorneys and judges will appreciate these jokes.
83. Cafe Press: Stock up on these novelty items and gag gifts, from a sweatshirt that proclaims, "Lawyers Have Feelings, Too...Allegedly" to products with jokes about billable hours.

Resources for New Lawyers and Law Students

Law students and new associates will find tips for surviving their new work environments, applying for internships and studying their way to the end.

84. LSAC: College students and law school students who are starting to plan their legal careers need to go over the resources on this official site.
85. About Law School: The Princeton Review: Get an overview of what to expect in law school, from applications to the first year experience to picking a specialization to legal clinics.
86. There's No Competition in Law School: A group of 3Ls shares advice for younger law students while also doling out the real-life misery and fun of being a law school vet.
87. Tips for Summer Associates: Lydia R.B. Kelley stresses the importance of knowing deadlines for summer associates.
88. JD Law Students Blog: Various law students "share their thoughts and experiences" for the benefit of other students and future law students.
89. Links for New Lawyers: Get survival tips and help choosing a firm with this guide.
90. Marketing and Networking: A Conceptual Framework: New lawyers get a crash course in networking and promoting themselves and their practice in this article.
91. Five Indispensable Tips for Law Students and New Lawyers: The Legal Underground shares tips like "learn to use legal technology" and "don't be an asshole" to give new lawyers' careers a boost.
92. Firm Attorneys Offer Tips for Summer Associates: The Virginia law school site posts this article that will help summer associates land a job at the firm.
93. 10 Survival Tips for New Associates: Tips like "don't be afraid to be a new associate," "know the rules," and "stay in touch with friends" will help new associates adjust to their new life.

Fighting Discrimination

Lawyers are supposed to fight for justice, but discrimination still exists in the industry. Read below for resources that analyze and try to help women, the disabled, and minorities fight discrimination in the workplace.

94. Tipping the Balance: This article from the Sacramento Business Journal discovers the different ways in which male and female lawyers promote themselves and contribute to their firms.
95. What Lawyers Need to Know About Gender Bias in the Workplace: This excerpt of an article from the Institute for Continuing Legal Education is a must-read for anyone who feels discriminated against at work.
96. Hispanic Law Students' Perceptions of Discrimination, Justice and Career Prospects: Access the full text of this article with PDF to find out how Hispanic law students are gearing up to become a part of the legal profession.

Getting out of Debt

Even lawyers in top firms have to worry about paying off their law school debt. Get creative as well as tried and true methods here.

97. As Salaries Rise, So Does the Debt: LawJobs.com's article on the "runaway costs for a legal education" also considers rising salaries of newer lawyers.
98. Paying for Law School: Debt Matters: This article is geared towards students entering law school, but it does have some advice for those trying to pay off loans.
99. How to Cut Debt, Boost Job Prospects From Law School: This WSJ article takes a look at the struggle for law school students to weigh the pros and cons of picking a law school based on future job opportunities and preparation vs. the amount of debt that would be accumulated.
100. Should You Pay Off Your Law School Student Loans or Invest?: This short Q&A on Law Vibe tries to find an alternative to paying law school debt year after year.

Feel free to visit:
http://www.jobprofiles.org/library/guidance/100_tips_and_resources_to_be_happy_successful_lawyer.htm

50 Ways To Boost Your Brain Power

1) Meditate — Meditation has been known to increase IQ, relieve stress, and promotes higher levels of brain functioning. Meditation also activates the “prefrontal cortex” of the brain, an area responsible for advanced thinking ability and performance.

2) Draw A Picture — Drawing stimulates the right-hemisphere of the brain and inspires creativity. Get out the colored pencils and begin drawing your way to a powerful brain.

3) Exercise — Long-term exercise has been proven to increase brain power and even create new neurons in the brain. Go out and get a natural high off of your own brain chemistry through exercise!

4) Brainwave Entrainment — Brainwave entrainment is a safe, innovative way to stimulate and shape the brain and it’s functioning. You can literally build up more control over your life and harness your brain’s potential!

5) Avoid Junk Food – Junk food has been proven to decrease energy in the body and promotes “brain fog.” Cut some junk food from your diet, and reap the benefits of a more calm, focused brain chemistry.

6) Deep Breathing — Deep breathing actually increases oxygen levels and blood-flow to the brain. 10-15 minutes of daily deep breathing can make a huge difference in the quality of your life and brain’s functioning potential.

7) Learn A New Language — Learning adds more structure to the brain and improves the brain’s speech centers. Hablas espanol? It may be time for you to take a class or program to supplement your job-skills and brain power!

8) Take Fish Oil — Fish oil supplements are literally like membrane material for the brain. The 2 primary components of EPA and DHA each act to strengthen both the emotional center of the brain and boost focus. There is an increase in overall brain activity after taking fish oil for awhile.

9) Laugh It Up — Laughter causes a natural release of the brain’s endorphins — chemicals that drown out pain and increase overall wellbeing. Laughter is a well known, natural stress reducer. Watch a comedy, crack a joke, and increase those endorphin levels!

10) Engage In Debate — A good, healthy debate strengthens the brain’s ability to think quickly and apply intelligence to verbal situations. Work to build up your brain power by engaging in plenty of healthy debate. Just ask someone who they are voting for in the presidential election and you’ll definitely provoke a debate!

11) Take A Multivitamin — Vitamins are great for the brain, and if it does not get enough of a certain vitamin through daily diet, consider a multivitamin. Multivitamins help facilitate the functioning of a healthy body and enriched brain. Start popping a vitamin each morning for awhile and chances are good that you’ll notice a difference!

12) Drink Red Wine — Alcohol in moderation has been proven to be good for the brain. Why? It is rich in antioxidants — chemicals that actually protect the brain! One glass daily for women and two for men is generally considered a healthy amount.

13) Eat Healthy — You know what ‘healthy’ is, so why not eat healthy and improve your brain? The brain requires a certain amount of energy to reach it’s maximum level of functioning. Eating chocolate cake and chips instead of fish and legumes, well maybe that’s why you cannot think clearly.

14) Change Your Environment — To keep your brain properly stimulated, it is important to keep changing your environment. Drive a new route to work, eat at a new restaurant on Friday night. Changing the environment helps change the brain!

15) Set Goals — Setting goals activates areas of the brain associated with positive thinking and action. Setting goals is great for achieving success and prosperity in life and boosting your brain.

16) Listen To Music — Studies have proven that listening to music strengthens the right-hemisphere of the brain and literally changes the structure. Those same studies have found that people who listen to music are generally smarter and have more emotional intelligence than those who don’t.

17) Be Empathetic — Being empathetic and trying to understand the emotions of others is a skill that your brain can learn. Being empathetic is definitely a powerful trait to have and allows your brain to relate to the emotions of others.

18) Avoid Stress — A little bit of stress will never hurt anybody. Too much stress actually causes detrimental increases in the hormone “cortisol” which in high levels, kills brain cells and suppresses brain functioning.

19) Think Positive — If you are currently very good at thinking positively, chances are good that you already have a more powerful brain than those “Negative Nellies.” Take 10 minutes daily to think more positive and start noticing an improvement in thinking abilities and problem solving skills.

20) Brainstorm — A good brainstorming session to think of new, stimulating ideas is a great way to boost your brains ability to think creatively. Brainstorming is actually a different way of thinking that will equip your brain with a quick creative boost.

21) Write An Article — Writing is linked to an improved memory and expression of thoughts. When you write, you are strengthening your brain’s natural ability to convey thoughts and feelings. Writing is a great way to exercise your ability to analyze and build a thought process with critical thinking. Journals, diaries, blog entries, and writing stories are phenomenal ways to fulfill your brain.

22) Visualize — Visualization has been associated with focus at a deeper level. Many successful athletes that are able to play “in the zone” actually visualize their game at a deeper level. Visualization has been linked to lowered stress, increased creativity, and peak mind-body performance.

23) Get Some Sleep — Be sure to always fulfill your brain’s need for sleep. Sleep clears out mental clutter and unimportant thoughts. Getting a good night’s sleep can also be the difference between a sharp memory and feeling forgetful. Everyone has different sleep requirements, be sure to fulfill yours! If you don’t get enough sleep — you may want to take a nap…

24) Do Self-Hypnosis — The power of hypnotic suggestion is definitely real. You can change aspects of your thought process and learn to shift your focus by taking the time to do some self-hypnosis. Hypnosis research shows that by practicing hypnosis, an individual experiences lowered stress, increased pain tolerance, and clear thinking. Try it out for yourself if you haven’t already!

25) Do Crossword Puzzles — Crossword puzzles bring out your brain’s ability to critically think and recall past memories. The challenge of completing crossword puzzles is definitely mentally invigorating and stimulating. If you enjoy reading the newspaper, be sure to check out the daily crossword puzzles section and build up that brain power!

26) Eat Nuts — Brazil and South American University students swear by eating nuts before taking exams. They notice that eating them is correlated with an increase in test scores. New studies are beginning to prove nuts effectiveness at increasing brain power. If you do not eat a lot of nuts, try it sometime and reap the brain related benefits!

27) Read Books — Reading books teaches your brain to adapt to absorb large amounts of information in shorter periods of time. Books challenge your thinking abilities and memorization skills, as well as boost vocabulary and critical thinking skills. Not only do you learn something from reading a book, but your brain power increases as you build up the book load.

28) Listen To Classical Tunes — Listening to classical music activates the left hemisphere of the brain, which is why classical music usually helps students do better in mathematics and writing. If you haven’t yet tried listening to some Mozart, consider it! Mozart has been linked to an 80 % increase in spatial intelligence scores!

29) Play “Brain Age” — New games like “Brain Age” for the nintendo DS and Big-Brain Academy help promote quick thinking and essential brain skills. These games work wonderful for improving thinking speed and natural problem solving skills. I’ve had a chance to play these games before and I can personally vouch for their effectiveness!

30) Take A Nap – Taking a nap has been proven through research to significantly improve task-performance and thinking abilities. If you are feeling tired throughout the day and have time to take a quick nap, it is recommended. Naps are a wonderful refresher and quick little mental booster.

31) Turn Off The T.V. – Watching T.V. may not be the only reason which rotting begins in the brain, but it is a key ingredient to the rotting process. A little T.V. will never hurt anybody, but it does definitely change brain functioning. The act of watching T.V. slows brainwaves and causes a decline in brain fitness.

32) Paint A Picture — Being able to visualize where you want paint to go on paper sparks pure creativity from within. Painting is an exercise that gets the right-brain fully functioning and improves your creative side. If you haven’t tried painting a picture, give it a shot and notice that you’re likely to feel and be more creative.

33) Start Crying — Don’t be afraid to cry when the time is right! Crying actually heals emotions and promotes healthy circulation within the brain. Those who are able to cry are actually cleansing the inside of their brain, which is another very healthy way to increase brain power.

34) Eat Less — Eating too much food has the effect of decreasing blood-flow to the brain and increasing blood-flow to the digestive system. Therefore, if you are able to cut-back on the total amount of food you consume, you will have enhanced brain functioning. In several lab studies, rats on a calorie-restricted diet had increased blood flow to their brains.

35) Eat Breakfast — When kids who hadn’t eating breakfast for awhile, began to eat breakfast, their math grades went up an entire letter grade (on average). Breakfast is probably the most important meal of the day — it provides your body with fuel for the rest of the day. If you don’t have time to eat an entire breakfast in the morning, at least have some sort of snack… It could give your brain a powerful edge!

36) Go For A Walk — Exercise deifnitely benefits the brain, and walking is a great form of exercise that is easy and very effective for boosting brainpower. Walking puts your mind in a relaxed state of clear thought and brain function. Walking gives your brain a chance to wander and free itself from any troubling thoughts.

37) Mimic Others — Being able to mimic other’s actions and talk activates several areas of the brain that are usually inactive. Mimicing others, if done in a fun, playful manner, can improve your brain power and the brain’s natural ability to adapt quickly when faced with new situations.

38) Solve Puzzles — Solving puzzles is a great way to stimulate your brains ability to critically think and process information. Puzzles are thought provoking, challenging, and a fun activity. The great thing about puzzles is that they require activity in the left-hemisphere of the brain to work with, and transfer information to, the right hemisphere’s visual center of the brain. Want a more integrated brain? Solve a puzzle!

39) Do Neurofeedback — Neurofeedback is a great way to learn to consciously control your brain wave patterns. Neurofeedback builds brain structure and helps promote flexibility within a brain’s neural network. Though neurofeedback is somewhat costly, if you’ve got enough money — it may very well be the best investment you can make for your brain!

40) Cut Alcohol Consumption — Alcohol in moderation isn’t terrible for the brain, too much alcohol is damaging to brain health and function. If you want to boost brain power, cutting alcohol is a great way to do it. Alcohol can cause memory problems and encourage “foggy,” disorganized thinking.

41) Live A Drug-Free Lifestyle — Everyone knows that drugs are bad for them. Drugs do not foster creativity, they kill creativity and deplete brain cells. Depending on the drug, effects can range from brain bleeding, to cell loss, to impairments in neural growth. Live drug free and keep your brain more powerful!

42) Drink Fruit Juice — Drinking fruit juice revitalizes the brain and provides cells with a refreshing jolt of nutrients. Great juices to drink include: grape juice, orange juice, cranberry juice, and apple juice. Most juices provide your brain with vital nutrients which in turn, provide you with more mental energy and focus.

43) Be Self-Aware — When you learn to let go of ego-driven and emotional aspects of life, rational thinking kicks in. Rational thinking will allow you to become self-aware, which in turn allows you to make better future decisions to achieve optimal brain health. Activities like meditation, self-hypnosis, and introspection allow us to increase our self-awareness.

44) Take Gingko Biloba — Gingko Biloba has been scientifically researched and documented to significantly increase blood-flow to the brain. Gingko Biloba is a farily inexpensive way to pump up your brain’s blood-flow. Increased bloodflow to the brain is correlated with an increase in focus and problem solving. Try some Gingko Biloba and allow your brain to reap the benefits!

45) Have Sex — Having sex is a great way to naturally release vital hormones in the brain. When involved in a loving relationship, having sex improves social connection as well as emotional intelligence. Sex is connecting, stress-relieving, and a great way to give your brain a boost. Chances are that sex will also improve your confidence and ability to think positively!

46) Drink Caffeine — Research shows that students that drink coffee before exams, have higher scores. Why? Caffeine seems to stimulate activity in the brain, speed up thinking, and improve focus. Too much caffeine is never good as it can cause stress or trigger anger. A little bit, however, may be the ticket to an “A” on your test. Drink some and find out how it affects your focus and thinking abilities!

47) Sniff Some Basil — I personally haven’t tried this method, but there seem to be many claims testifying for Basil’s effectiveness at improving overall brain function. Either way, certain fragrances actually change brain functioning. Taking a whiff of peppermint speeds up brain functioning, while other fragrances actually slow things down! Since scent is the strongest thing tied to memory, some good fragrances can definitely help out brain functioning.

48) Stay In School — If you are in school, chances are good that you will boost your brain power more than the average dropout! Keeping up with school work, means giving your brain a good workout in areas of self-discipline, learning, and mental processing. Stay in school, or do something to always be learning something new!

49) Ask Questions — Asking questions is a phenomenal way to keep your brain in shape. Get in the habit of questioning others and their thoughts. Questions can provoke new thoughts and ideas and asking them is a great way to build up brain power!

50) Re-Read This List – Want to boost your brain power? Start by re-reading this list and highlighting several methods that you can apply to your life. As a matter of fact, print this list out and staple it up someplace that you will view everyday. That way, when walking past the list, you can take a glance and randomly choose an activity to boost your brain power!

50 Things That Kill Brain Cells

1) Sniffing paint — Yes, sniffing paint will give you a “high” for awhile, but it can really inflict severe brain damage. Avoid inhalants like paint and keep your brain cells healthy. Even worse than just killing your brain cells is the fact that sniffing paint has the potential to kill you — even on your first time. Stay away from this stuff and get help now if you are addicted.

2) Taking cocaine – Thank you captain obvious, right? It’s possible that not everyone out there knew that cocaine killed brain cells. Cocaine doesn’t just kill random brain cells either, it wipes out the brain cells in your brain’s pleasure center — brain cells that make you feel good and are triggered with positive emotion and pleasure. Want to keep having fun in life and feel pleasure? Stay away from cocaine.

3) Too much stress — A little bit of stress is healthy for everyone. It keeps you motivated and motivated to achieve goals. When stress gets out of hand to the point where you’re having adrenaline rushes, your body produces an excess of the chemical “cortisol.” Too much of that cortisol is what kills brain cells. Please don’t stress after reading this.

4) Getting a concussion – Unfortunately most people don’t have much control over getting concussions. The fact is, concussions are neuronal killers and should be avoided if at all possible. There are special precautions to take to avoid concussions such as: wearing a helmet in contact sports, wearing a helmet when riding your motorcycle, even wearing a helmet when riding your bike.

5) Rapidly shaking your head – Rapidly shaking your head around back and forth causes axons to tear, which causes brain cell death. A very easy way to prevent brain cell loss is by NOT shaking your head. You have complete control over the shaking of your head; don’t do it!

6) Eating junk food — What happens to your brain cells when they aren’t provided with the healthy nutrients they need to survive? They starve and die! A little bit of junk food won’t hurt, but unhealthy food on a consistent basis without any healthy food will cause brain cells to die. Again, you have complete control over what you choose to eat. Pick healthy foods and give your brains the adequate nutrients that they need to flourish.

7) Drinking too much alcohol — How many brain cells does one beer kill? Chances are good that drinking just one beer won’t kill any. Getting drunk probably won’t even kill any brain cells. Alcohol can cause a temporary chemical imbalance and structural changes. If you are an alcoholic or you frequently “drink too much alcohol,” you will most likely kill brain cells. MRI’s of alcoholic patients show a decreased brain volume.

8) Taking ecstacy (MDMA) – Common-day club drug, Ecstacy literally puts holes in your brain. Brain scans have compared healthy brains to brains of those who’ve used ecstacy and have found that the “brains on ecstacy” had holes in them. Ecstacy depletes serotonin manufacturing cells, which are important for keeping a positive mood and promoting relaxation. If you frequently go “clubbing” make the choice to stay away from “X,” as it is very common in clubs. Avoid this drug, and your brain will be much healthier than if you didn’t.

9) Dehydration – Without sufficient levels of water in the brain, ions get disrupted and the result is brain damage. Replenish your body and brain with necessary water levels to avoid dehydration and keep your brain cells healthy.

10) Using methamphetamines – Taking methamphetamines is probably the most uneducated decision you could possibly make. Not only are they one of the most addicting groups of drugs, they destroy lives and kill brain cells. The sad part is, methamphetamine use results in severe to permanent brain damage even long after the drug has been stopped. In my opinion, methamphetamines are the most dangerous group of drugs to get involved with. Stay away from them, get help now if you use them, and help a friend if you know they are a user.

11) Getting a contusion – A contusion is a severe bruise within the brain. It does cause neuronal death (brain cell death). Unfortunately, most people that have contusions couldn’t really do much to avoid them. Sports like boxing where taking jabs to the head is common, influences the development of contusions. Safety precautions: wear a helmet or hardhat when debris or other objects have potential to damage your head. The great-est Mohammed Ali suffered brain contusions from his heavy involvement in boxing.

12) Having a stroke – A stroke results from temporary loss of blood-flow to the brain. Usually, the damage from having a stroke is centralized in just one side of the brain. Strokes can cause anything from small lesions, to widespread cell death. Unfortunately strokes cannot be avoided, but there are things that you can do to reduce your risk: lowering stress levels and staying active are just a couple healthy activities that reduce risk of a stroke. An interesting fact: millions of brain cells die each minute a stroke is left untreated.

13) Avoiding exercise — The act of avoiding exercise doesn’t kill brain cells, however, the effects that are associated with lack of exercise happen to be killers. Exercise reduces stress levels, chance of brain damage, and even creates new brain cells. If you are avoiding exercise, you happen to be setting your brain cells up for an early death. Make time in your schedule to exercise and reap the benefits; exercise should never be avoided.

14) Sensory deprivation – We know from my “hearing voices” article that sensory deprivation may cause you to have auditory hallucinations. When your brain undergoes sensory deprivation for longer periods of time, you lose brain cells. When cells are not stimulated for long periods of time, your brain reorganizes itself; you naturally lose the unused, understimulated cells.

15) Taking absinthe — Most types of absinthe contain extremely high amounts of ethanol and a chemical called thujone; both of which can cause brain cell death. Thujone has the opposite effects of barbiturates like Xanax and in high doses can cause seizures and possibly death. It is definitely best to avoid absinthe and not put your brain at risk of damage.

16) Drinking too much water — The act of drinking too much water in too short of time period will actually flood your nervous system and kill off brain cells. How exactly does this work? When the ratio of water to sodium escalates, your brain swells and brain cells die in the process. Individuals on low-sodium diets may be especially vulnerable to “water toxicity.” It is important to stay hydrated, but be reasonable; you know what’s right for your body. Don’t go overboard and kill off your brain cells!

17) Being a chronic negative thinker — The act of simply thinking negative will not cause any sort of brain cell loss. Most people have negative thoughts that creep in their consciousness from time to time. It is when the negative thinking takes over, gets “out of line” and causes stress, and you to make unwise decisions such as taking drugs like Ecstacy to improve your mood at the club when you are probably losing brain cells. The side-effects and byproducts from negative thoughts are what make you more likely to engage in activities that kill brain cells. Negative thinking is an indirect killer; surround yourself with positivity and a healthy circle of friends!

18) Post traumatic stress disorder – Victims of post-traumatic stress disorder unfortunately deal with memory problems, anxiety, flashbacks, and happen to lose brain cells in the process. Post traumatic stress disorder causes the brain to produce a surplus of the stress hormone “cortisol,” which kills brain cells. Like other stress related disorders, they don’t lose a huge amount of brain cells overnight, but they definitely can lose a significant amount if they don’t get adequate assistance and treatment.

19) Head trauma – The scary thing about head trauma is that it not only kills brain cells, it also damages the brain’s ability to repair itself after the damage. Head trauma is linked to Parkinson’s disease and poor sensorimotor processing within the brain — always try to protect your head whenever engaging in a contact sport, working construction, riding a motorcycle, etc.

20) Elevated testosterone levels — Having too high of testosterone levels has been proven to be detrimental to your brain’s health and does kill brain cells. If you are taking supplements that increase testosterone levels, be aware that too much of the supplement could potentially cause the death of your brain cells!

21) Chemotherapy — Unfortunately for those who have undergone chemotherapy, the process not only kills the cancerous cells, but many of your good brain cells. In order to avoid cancer, take steps to reduce your risk of developing cancer such as: eating healthy, exercising, getting proper sleep, etc. Not everyone is able to avoid cancer, but you can certainly make an effort to try.

22) A single stressful event — Yes, you read correct — just ONE stressful event has the potential to kill off brain cells. If you live in a high-stress environment, are always on the go, and never take time to just chill, your mind is most likely overactive and you are losing brain cells. If you know that you will be exposed to stressful events, I recommend learning stress coping methods like meditation, deep breathing, guided imagery, yoga, etc. There are many things you can do to lower your stress response to hectic events.

23) Smoking cigarettes — The act of smoking cigarettes is not only detrimental to your physical health — it could be taking a heavy toll on your mental health. The fact is, scientists have found that “smoking” kills brain cells and stops the production of new brain cells (neurogenesis). If you are a smoker, work hard to kick the habit. If you are smoke-free, stay that way and encourage smokers to quit.

24) Taking steroids — Taking steroids is terrible for your brain and body. Steroids elevate testosterone levels and increase stress levels: 2 activities [mentioned earlier] that are known to deplete brain cell. Steroids cause early death, an increased suicide risk, and give the user absolutely ZERO fulfillment in the long-term. Take the time to lift the necessary weights and don’t expect to get “ripped” overnight; you will be better off in the grand scheme of life.

25) Extreme anxiety and panic — Anxiety and panic in extreme situations will definitely provoke feelings of stress, release cortisol, and will kill your brain cells in severe forms. Light and moderate forms of anxiety and panic may feel uncomfortable, but will probably not damage your brain. Learning valuable coping techniques by visiting a psychotherapist, using relaxation techniques consistently, and considering medication are all things that will stop you from losing brain cells from anxiety and panic.

26) Food additives — Food additives contain a group of compounds commonly referred to as “exotoxins,” which slow and destroy cognitive development in the brain. “Exotoxins” are not just present in a few foods, they are present in virtually ALL processed foods. To avoid future health problems and keep a healthy brain, your best bet is to eat healthy, non-processed foods.

27) Oxycodone abuse — Oxycodone abuse kills brain cells, heart tissue, damages kidneys, and has terrible side-effects. If you or someone you know abuses Oxycodone, seek help immediately! Your brain and body will thank you in the long run — Oxycodone is nothing to fool around with.

28) Exposure to electricity — Short and long-term exposure to electricity has terrible effects on your brain. Electricity doesn’t just cause you to lose a few brain cells either, it causes you to lose millions! If you or anyone you know works with electricity on a consistent basis, you may want to take special precautions or reconsider!

29) Exposure to lead — It is known that the early exposure of lead may lead to later brain aging in life. What about brain cell loss from lead exposure? Scientific evidence shows that exposure to lead leads to brain cell loss and damage years later. Scientists figure that a single exposure is equivalent to at least 5 years of brain aging. Avoid lead exposure at all possible costs and do what you’ve got to do to keep your brain healthy!

30) Mercury toxicity — Chances are good that you probably know that avoiding exposure to mercury is recommended. When a person is exposed to mercury, they can develop what’s known as “mercury toxicity” in the brain. Mercury toxicity is a known brain cell killer. I find it interesting that many old, tooth-fillings could be releasing mercury into your body and you could be a victim of mercury poisoning. To watch a boring, yet informative research video about mercury poisoning, check out this video.

31) Carbon monoxide poisoning — Yes carbon monoxide itself can kill brain cells, but the reason brain cells die in carbon monoxide poisoning is mostly due to the fact that inadequate amounts of oxygen get to the brain. To avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, take necessary household precautions such as installing a detector and check for burning.

32) Getting Lyme disease — Severe forms of Lyme disease cause memory impairments and brain cell loss if left untreated for a long period of time. Lyme disease is usually carried by deer ticks, but can be found in other types of ticks. To avoid Lyme disease, it is recommended to always check your body after long expeditions through the woods.

33) Exposure to pesticides — It is always important to take the necessary precautions when working with pesticides or being in an area around pesticides. Pesticides kill brain cells quickly and cause abnormal mental and physical development. If you are in an environment where pesticide exposure is common, get out, save yourself, or report the company and people using the pesticides to proper authorities. Pesticides are linked to Parkinson’s disease and many other forms of mental illness!

34) Certain types of cosmetics – Certain types of cosmetics have been proven to have an adverse interaction with mental health. Some forms of shampoo have ingredients that have been shown to kill brain cells. Be aware that certain types of cosmetics have ingredients that will kill or damage your brain cells.

35) Using cleaning solvents — Taking a good whiff of a solvent can really knock you out! If “sniffed” with the purpose to get high, solvents can cause severe brain damage and possibly death. They can cause severe learning impairments, declined social functioning, and reduce the capacity of your short-term memory. Most cleaning solvents, when used properly for their intended purpose (to clean), will not cause any harm. If you know someone that is abusing solvents, get them help! You are not only helping their brain, you are helping their life!

36) Ingesting aspartame — In case you didn’t know, aspartame is an artificial sweetener found in gum, candy, and Nutra-Sweet. Several studies made connections that link aspartame to brain cell destruction. It is a very controversial substance that has been proven to be bad for health in some studies, and has been proven safe in others. Either way, I’d avoid aspartame; it’s nothing to risk your brain cells over.

37) Indoor air pollution — Indoor air pollution affects the spinal cord, kidneys, blood cells, central nervous system, and the brain. Depending on the type of indoor air pollution, effects can range from being unnoticeable to causing brain cell loss. It is important to keep the air inside of your home and business clean and safe to breathe. Don’t underestimate the potential of indoor air pollution to be detrimental to the health of your body and mind!

38) Lack of quality sleep — We all know that when we don’t get enough sleep, we cannot properly function the next day! Not only does lack of quality sleep interfere with learning and social functions (left-hemisphere), it does kill brain cells. In order to prevent brain cell loss from lack of sleep, it is recommended to get good quality sleep. Some people run effectively on just 6 hours of sleep, while some need 9 to keep a clear head. You be the judge of what works best for your body and brain!

39) Using heroin – As you probably expected, using heroin will kill your brain cells. Heroin has been linked to Alzheimer-like brain damage. Opiate use has been associated with sped up aging in the brain. Heroin causes nerve-cell damage in essential parts of the brain. Don’t let a drug like Heroin ruin your brain and your life!

40) Paint remover — When you put paint remover on paint, it eats it away. When you inhale paint remover, it eats away at your brain! Paint remover, when sniffed, crosses the blood-brain barrier and eats away at your brain tissue and cells. Make the decision to help others that have a problem with “sniffing” or “huffing” paint remover by getting them psychological assistance and being around for support.

41) Welding fumes — Exposure to welding fumes is an extreme health hazard. Welding rod fumes have been linked to Parkinson’s disease and many other illnesses. Most fumes from welding are produced during “arc-welding.” The fumes enter and damage your lungs, nervous system, and deplete brain cells. If you are a welder, you may want to check out this informational guide from the American Society of Safety Engineers.

42) Outdoor air pollution – Like indoor air pollution, outdoor air pollution can have terrible side-effects. Places like Mexico City have so much air pollution that many citizens chose to wear masks and filters to protect themselves. Depending on the type and severity of the air pollution, you can potentially lose a lot of brain tissue. Chemical gases build up quickly and mix with each other, those gases get trapped in the environment, people inhale the gases, and brain damage / cell loss is a result.

43) Microwaving “popcorn” — It doesn’t really matter what you are microwaving, if you stand close enough to the microwave or have a “microwave” leakage, you are killing your brain cells. By just standing close to a microwave that is fully sealed while operating, you do risk losing some brain cells — but not nearly as many as if there were a microwave leakage. It is important to always check up on your microwave and to repair any possible leaks. It is recommended to always stand a minimum of 2 feet away from microwaves while they are cooking.

44) Having narcolepsy – Having narcolepsy — a disorder characterized by excessive daytime sleepiness and uncontrollably falling asleep at random times. Research has shown that having narcolepsy kills “hypocretin” brain cells which are located in the hippocampus. Individuals without narcolepsy have around 70,000 hypocretin brain cells, while narcoleptics have have between 3,000 to 10,000 (a significantly lower amount). Luckily new advances and treatments are constantly being developed to help with narcolepsy!

45) Formaldehyde — Formaldehyde can be found in forest fires, automobile exhaust, and tobacco smoke. Formaldehyde can deplete brain cells and decreases cell counts within the brain. Formaldehyde exposure can cause burning of the eyes and nose, coughing, difficulty breathing, and could possibly cause leukemia. For great physical and mental health, formaldehyde exposure should be avoided.

46) Radiation treatment — It is not surprising that radiation treatment damages brain cells. After all, radiation treatment works to damage the DNA of cancerous cells. Some other cells happen to get hit with the radiation intended to take out the cancer cells, and healthy brain cells die. Most medically accepted treatments of cancer involve the killing of both healthy and unhealthy brain cells.

47) Taking the chemical MPTP — MPTP is a neurotoxin that causes permanent symptoms of Parkinson’s disease by killing neurons in the substantia nigra area of the brain. It’s scary that there’s an illicit drug like this… Hopefully you never even hear about MPTP other than on the internet.

48) Laughing gas a.K.a. nitrous oxide — When nitrous oxide is used in a controlled setting like the dentist’s office, it is fine and will not cause brain damage — the amount of the substance is carefully monitored. It is when nitrous oxide is illicitly used and abused that results in brain damage and cell loss. No need to freak out the next time the dentist uses this stuff. Don’t use this stuff in a non-medical setting and you’ll be fine.

49) Using ketamine – The use of ketamine, a common type of anesthesia, prevents brain cells from picking up “glutamate” — a protein which is essential for cell communication and survival. Like nitrous oxide, ketamine use should be limited to medical professionals. Using the proper amount of ketamine probably won’t do much damage.

50) Taking PCP – Most commonly referred to as “angel dust,” the drug PCP (Phencyclidine) can cause memory problems, inability to control thoughts, and compulsive action. PCP has been correlated with frontal-lobe brain damage and like most drugs, aids in the process of brain cell death. PCP is dangerous, triggers dangerous behavior, and should be avoided to keep a healthy brain.

Feel free to visit:

http://4mind4life.com/blog/2008/02/06/50-ways-to-boost-your-brain-power/

http://4mind4life.com/blog/2008/02/22/50-things-that-kill-brain-cells/