1. Make your $$ work hard
Women who see their life savings dwindling are understandably �scared, angry, and confused,� says financial expert Suze Orman, author of Suze Orman�s 2009 Action Plan. But �fix-it-now� decisions can put long-term financial security in danger. Her advice: �Resist the temptation to stop investing in stocks. If you have time on your side�and that means at least 10 years, preferably longer, before you need the money�keep a large portion of your retirement money in stocks.
� Why? Once you move your money out of stocks, you give up any chance to recoup your losses, Orman says. Sure, a safe and stable fund may inch along with a 3 to 4% gain a year, she says, �but chances are that�s not enough to help you reach your long-term investment goals.�
2. Hang with happy people
A new Harvard study shows that happiness is contagious, spreading from one person to nearby family members, neighbors, and friends. �One happy person can increase the happiness of others she comes into contact with by 8 to 34%�and the effect can last up to a year,� says Health�s life coach M.J. Ryan.
3. Get paid to be healthy
If you need a carrot dangling in front of you to get you moving, there�s good news: Many companies are offering incentives for healthy behavior. Even in a recession, you can get paid as much as $200 to $300 a shot for doing what�s good for you, from taking a weight-management or stop-smoking course to getting your heart attack risks appraised. At companies like Aetna, employees can earn more than $1,200 a year for participating in health-and-fitness activities and programs. Ask your human resources department what they�ll pay you to get fit or stay well.
4. Be good to yourself
Financial uncertainty takes a toll on your health, says Andrew Weil, MD, director, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. In fact, a recent study following healthy unemployed people found that 80 percent were diagnosed with a new health problem within 18 months of being laid off. The key to staying well in bad times? �Get enough rest, sleep, and physical activity, and have fun,� Dr. Weil says. He also recommends eating an anti-inflammatory diet that includes fish oil (2 to 3 grams a day), taking a good multivitamin or multi�mineral, and doing deep-breathing exercises.
<<Print>>