Road Train

How to date a girl who is way out of your league.

I consider myself to be pretty well on the geeky side, I am an electrical engineering student, avid member of the computer community, and a dabbler of all things technical. I have never been extremely social or outgoing, I'm not the life of the party. Normally I am the kinda guy that you would look over, especially if you are a hot girl. However I have had more than my fair share of girlfriends way out of my league. For instance, the last 2 girls who I dated seriously have both been well out of my league/social circle, who I met in completely different ways/places.

This is what works for me, I have told this to many people, and it has worked for those who followed through. Its not a magical spell to make anyone fall in love with you, but it definitely helps tip the scales in your favor.

my disclaimer is that this works for me, It might not work for you. I do not treat women badly in any way, and I have the utmost respect for women, same as men. I understand that this, or any set of guidelines is not completely definitive or sure-fire, but it is my way, if you don't agree, theres no need to wage any sort of comment war. I guarantee you some men will think I am wrong, and alot of women will. These guidelines have worked for dozens of people.



step 1Be Yourself
I know this isn't the most original way to open up, but it really is the most important step. If a girl doesn't like who you are once she gets to know you, she isn't worth your time. Furthermore if you have to change who you are to attract, or keep a girl, you are cheating both yourself and her. In my opinion that is the biggest lie... to be anything other than yourself

Some people just won't like you, and just won't click... it just won't work.
Get over it.


Lying is the worst. If have to lie to get something, its not for you, and its not worth having to lie to keep it. Girls are no exception to the human race, they appreciate honesty above all. This is a good thing to realize about all people, if you plan on dealing with them for the rest of your life. By honesty I don't mean "Yes, that dress makes you look fat," I mean honesty of character.

You have to be pretty confident, and realize that ultimately you are selling yourself--Not everyone is buying, but being confident and straightforward is the best sales pitch.


-don't deceive
-Be Honest
-Let her be herself



step 2"The Hook"
This is half the battle right here. You're not the most suave guy, and you want someone to notice you. Guess what, I am not going to give you cheap tricks, or cheesy lines.... infact I am of the personal belief that if its a line at all, its cheap. The best contact comes spur of the moment, not necessarily some heartfelt speech, but most likely a comment, or a joke or a witty interaction based on the situation.

Don't
-Approach a girl who doesn't seem to want to be approached
-Approach a girl in a bar, or club--these girls are looking to be wooed by a fast car, cheap haircut, and lame lines. They have their guard up, and don't want to be bothered.
-Try to hard. This is the biggest game killer ever. I can write pages on this, but I'll put it at this "if you're frustrated--you probably trying to hard, if she's frustrated--your definitely trying too hard"


Do
-Place yourself in a situation you are comfortable with
-Give yourself any social edges possible
-Not rule out friends as possible romantic interests
-Not rule out the idea of meeting someone in the strangest places
-Act confident and natural


Conversation is after all the heart of getting to know someone. "First contact" is the most important. If you can keep someones interest and make them laugh, and feel good about themselves, you've got someones interest, and can take it to the next level... phone number, going on a date, etc. There are some things to avoid during conversation, for instance you want to avoid any serious subject... war, politics, religion, abortion, etc. If one of these does happen to come up, keep it light, and change the subject matter. Also you want to avoid complimenting her too much, this comes across as desperate/needy.

Be interested in her personality, be genuine, try to get to know her. talk about your common ground, get her talking about what excites her, what her interests are. Do talk about yourself, do be polite. Don't ramble on about yourself, this can happen if there is a gap in the conversation it only proves to makes this awkward. As a general rule of thumb a girl will ask you if she is interested to know something about you. Pay attention, don't just hear, listen. Make a mental note of things she says, remember them, there will be a quiz later.


You want to keep your body language in mind too... there are far better resources on body language than this article, and I strongly suggest you look into them. Mainly you want to keep a firm grasp on what you are saying with you body. Keep a good posture, relaxed but not slouching. Don't let your eyes wander too much, be confident and look her in the eye when speaking to her. Mind your hands, don't let them fidget and play with something (tablecloth, hair, keys, etc). Don't move too much, nervous feet shuffling, shifting your weight. Act casual, and try to keep your actions on your mind so that you don't let them get the best of you.


Generally treat a girl the way you would like to be treated, be polite, considerate, and genuine. It seems like common sense, and it really is, but alot of people forget that, or overlook it. Try to keep that in mind.



step 3How you treat her
This isn't dating for dummies, so I'll skip the rules about going on dates, when to hold hands when to compliment someone, when to call etc.

First of all the more attractive a girl is, the worse she is ultimately treated by everyone. Alot of guys treat girls like jerks--this works. If you try it, it will likely work for you, however it has the unfortunate side effect of making you a jerk... jerks are never happy in the long run. Its some deep seeded psychological appeal that attracts girls to these sorts of guys. I won't get into it, because I don't understand it well enough to make a case as to who/what/where/when/why/how.

Attractive girls also have to deal with the "nice guy effect." I've been there, and I'm sure you probably have too. Its where you idolize a really attractive girl, you let yourself be completely there for her for whatever she needs, you become her friend. This is terrible because you are nervous around her, you aren't necessarily yourself, you look up to her, and you cherish everything she does for you or says to you. Despite what they may say, girls won't respect you in the way you want them to. You loose your confidence and your control of the situation. Theres a theory that does a pretty good job of explaining this http://www.laddertheory.com.
Again I'm not a psychologist, so I won't even try to delve into the deeper meaning of these interactions.

You do want to fall somewhere in between the jerk and the nice guy. This relates back alot to step 1 where you make sure you are yourself. You need to think and know, that no matter how attractive a girl is, that she has (mostly) the same stuff inside of her as you. She has fears and insecurities just like anyone else. Don't let her walk on you, but don't take advantage of the situation and walk on her. You have to be confident and strong of character. You're going to want to treat her like you would treat a friend, someone you respect, but don't take crap from. This is probably the hardest step.

What you have to realize is the more attractive a girl is, the more phonies she is going to get, and many girls are so sick of phonies and people trying to force themselves into some sort of mold that society has defined that someone who is genuinely confident and a solid character is an instant attraction. This is how beauty and the beast got together in the first place.

Furthermore, many guys see a really attractive girl, and are only interested in one thing, and that is their body/looks/sex. The more attractive a girl is, the less a guy tries to get to know who she really is. Make sure you are interested in who this girl really is, (her hopes, dreams, fears, ambitions, quirks, oddities, favorite things, etc.) if you're not interested in that, your not after her for the right reasons. This really handicaps attractive girls, it can make them suspicious of just about any guy, because they know that so many are out there for the wrong reasons. Eventually everyone wants to be noticed and recognized for who they are as a person, not how they look.


Keep all of this in mind, and know that once you get someone to let their guard down, and let you inside, they are generally fragile creatures

step 4Communication
Once you get past talking, you get into communication. Talking is essentially ice breaking, communication is the portrayal of ideas, emotions, concepts and stuff like that. You need to know how to communicate whether your on a first date, having some pillow talk, or discussing what you want to name your children.
Lots of guys try to skip over communication or fake it. Guess what, it catches up with you eventually and always.

Communication is essentially just expressing thoughts feelings and ideas in their entirety. Its more than just talking, although its just talking. Confused? good.

Finding a happy medium. Everyone has different levels on which they communicate, some people feel the need to blabber on unintelligibly with ever single thought that pops into their heads, some people hardly ever talk. You need to make sure to find a happy medium with a girl, weather its a first date, or a serious relationship. Some girls want to talk nightly on the phone, some don't like to talk while eating, while you may be blabbing away about how good the pizza is. Its up to you to judge each other and find a happy medium, if you can't find one without severely putting someone out, then it probably wasn't meant to be.

Also keep in mind that there is more to communication that what you say and hear. Body language is also a huge key factor. How you carry yourself, how your face looks, what you do with your hands, tone of your voice, etc. This is why its hard to tell a lie, or something you don't believe in. Even if you try to act convincing your body will still tell her that you are lying, or that you aren't serious about what you are saying, and women have some sort of "intuition" (I call it built in lie detector). Be honest.

Listening to her, like I said earlier, she has more to say than just words, she is conveying Ideas, thoughts and emotions. Look for those and make sure you get them. Sometimes these can not be conveyed over the phone, or during a commercial break, come to a compromise, but don't ignore her, the subject matter will be on the test later. When you ignore someone who is really trying to communicate, tell you something you are insulting them on a personal level. There may be issues over the time/situational appropriateness you need to work out a compromise ultimately.


Telling her your feelings. True story: communication isn't just for girls. They appreciate knowing what you think and feel. It shows them respect and in turn helps you get closer. Don't be afraid to say what you think, because it'll come out eventually.




step 5The wrapup
It can all be summarized as being yourself, and remembering to be respectful. Don't be fake, no one likes fake people. If you think that some cheap decals, some neon lights, and a spoiler make your car "pimpin" then this article probably didn't help you. Pretty much keep everything I said here in mind, it maintains its relevance weather you are trying to get a date, or have been with someone for a long time. Be genuine and be yourself, and remember, that if someone isn't buying what your selling, there are plenty of other worthy buyers.

The 7 Habits of Highly Successful Fathers

A great father makes all the difference in a kid’s life. He’s a pillar of strength, support and discipline. His work is never-ending and, oftentimes, thankless. But in the end, it shows in the sound, well-grounded children he raises.

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that parenthood comes with no instructions. It can be difficult to balance everything in life, especially since every father-child relationship has its own individual challenges. Although there are no clear-cut methods to successful parenthood, there are some habits you can develop as a father to ensure that you are prioritizing the right things, and to guarantee that your family sees you as a real hero.

1. Keeping stress to yourself.

Children shouldn’t have to be burdened with adult problems. They have enough to deal with just being kids; growing, learning, exploring, and evolving. Instead of sharing your difficulties with them, keep your time with them about them. Try to keep your stress to yourself and don’t let it affect your attitude when you’re around your kids.

In order to do this, find a different outlet for your stress that you can use before you see them. Go to the local gym on the way home and let it out on a punching bag or stop at your favorite coffee shop and spend a few minutes unwinding with a good book. Whatever it takes, your kids will appreciate seeing a fresh face and a positive attitude when you get home.

2. Leading by example.

A successful father is above the old “do as I say, not as I do” credo. He’s not smoking if he doesn’t want his kids to do it, and definitely not drinking heavily. He teaches them to deal with conflict with a family member and with others by being firm but reasonable at the same time.

A good father also illustrates how significant is affection by professing his love for their mother in front of them. And he won’t fight with her in their presence. In all, he adheres to the values he’d like his kids to follow.

3. Being consistent.

Ensure that what you say is actually what you do. Every child needs to believe he has a dependable father, so if you promise you’ll make it to that basketball game or take him to the zoo or make his favorite dinner, it’s important to follow through no matter what comes up in the meantime. If your child believes your word, trust will soon follow.

Another important point about consistency is structure in discipline. Remember that your kids aren’t perfect — despite what you may think — and they need guidance. It can be hard to discipline your children because you’re ready to stand at their defense no matter what. But remember that rules and structure are important in life and the earlier they learn that, the easier their lives will be. Rules are there for a reason and you need to make sure your children understand this.

4. Staying involved.

Being involved with your kids is often twisted to mean that you ought to do the morning carpool and attend sports games. Although this is true, there is much more to involvement with your kids than just being a personal driver and cheerleader to them. Watch the soccer game, but also listen to school stories. Hear what your kids have to say, know their interests and their friends. Being involved seems like a no-brainer when it comes to parenthood, but it’s so easy to forget.

If your kids feel important enough to garner your interest, this will raise their confidence, their trust in you and their willingness to share the details of their own lives with you. All these things will give you more opportunities to guide your children and keep them out of trouble.

5. Scheduling family recreation.

I know how all-important it is to work hard all week, but you also have to schedule some fun activities for downtime and stick to them. It is far too easy to just assume that family time will come naturally when the weekend arrives. Unfortunately, work spillover, visits from family members or home improvement projects — just to name a few scenarios — can easily take that time away.

Not to mention that as your children develop their own social schedules, they’ll quickly let quality time with their families slip away. For this reason, planning ahead is decisive in maintaining this important aspect of your family life. Just like you’ll keep New Year’s resolutions more often if you write them down as a promise, making appointments with your family will make time with them a priority — for both you and them.

6. Teaching.

There’s something especially touching about learning. Learning something new boosts self-assurance and is a lot of fun. For the teacher, there is a unique feeling of pride in seeing how you helped create ability.

If you show your children how to do things you will develop a unique bond between the two of you. You may assume you don’t know that much, but whatever tidbits you can pass along will be highly valued by your kids. Do you play guitar? Are you a chess master? Your children may learn this stuff in life anyway, but if you’re the teacher, they’ll not only remember the skill, they’ll remember the great master who gave them that knowledge.

7. Creating family rituals.

Because kids are so impressionable, structure can be very important to how they learn and grow. It can also instill a sense of significance in what goes on in the home.

Establish a firm supper time (when the whole family gathers around the table), a time for a story before bed, game night or even an evening where the entire family watches a TV show together. Doing this will ensure that the event will be known as “family time” and that it will stick out as something sacred for your children.

The value of a great father is often overlooked. But there are few things as priceless as a father who will do everything he can, and provide all the tools he has so that his children can become better than him.

Anyone can be a father, but it takes a real man to be a daddy.

How To Build A House in A Day

This is a wood framing technology, originally from Japan. Essentially a small group of untrained people can erect an entire house frame in 1-3 days, depending on the size of the structure. Thanks to qureyoon for the submit. Seems not really stable, though.

The world's smallest radio controlled helicopter Heli-Q

Maiko Murayama, an employee for toy giant Tomy shows off the world's smallest radio controlled helicopter – the Heli-Q on October 23, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan. The toy can fly for five minutes with a 20-minute charge of its lithium-ion battery and will cost the equivalent of £15 when it goes on sale in Japan next month.

The oldest elephant in the world.

An elephant at the Panna Tiger Reserve in India, is probably the oldest elephant in the world. an elephant 86-year-old elephant at Taipei's Mucha Zoo, which holds the world record.The elephant, Vatsala, in her nineties, came to the Madhya Pradesh sanctuary in 1971. Her carers want to prove she is older than Lin Wang.

World's longest necks

Ice Rain

Insane People

Huge elephant - terminator

Make a cool hologram illusion!

Make a cool hologram illusion!
This instructable will show you how to easily make a convincing floating head hologram.

It's a great addition to your Halloween decorations!
step 1Supplies
You only need a couple of things for this illusion:

1. A piece of glass.

The size of the glass is relative to the size of the area where the illusion will be viewed.


2. A monitor (and computer, of course).

Either an LCD or CRT monitor will work. CRT monitors tend to give a better reflection, but an LCD monitor can be used in a much smaller spot.

The LCD monitor I used had a removable stand. That made it much easier to hide in the cabinet.


3. Floating head movie.

I recommend Big Scream TV.







step 2Location, Location, Location
This illusion works well, but the monitor must remain out of view of the spectator.

For this instructable, I used a bookshelf/cabinet and the front window of my house for the trick-or-treaters to enjoy.

Projectors are relatively cheap these days. You could easily project the image onto a piece of glass 30 or 40 feet away. The projector would need to be located very close to the path of the intended viewer, however.

A great example of using a projector would be on an eave of your house. The glass could be suspended at an angle towards the front of the house, and then the image would be projected on it from a hidden spot on the roof. As the trick-or-treaters walked up to the house, they would be greeted with a creepy floating head on your roof.




step 3Display Setup
To keep from giving away the source of the image, adjust the brightness to the lowest setting and the contrast to the highest.

The goal is to make the background as dark as possible. Play the movie you want to use full screen, then adjust as needed.

For the cabinet configuration, suspend the LCD monitor above the viewing area. Then create a Halloweenish looking scene inside, and then place the glass over it at an angle that will reflect the image to the viewer.

For the windows configuration, set the monitor on the floor pointing up, create your scary scene, then place a much larger piece of glass over it at an angle that will reflect the image towards the window.

In either setup, the bottom edge of the glass should be as close to the bottom edge of the monitor as possible. That will make the image float in front of your scene, instead of behind it.

Adjust the angle of the glass to control the height of the floating head.








step 4Turn it on
Once it gets dark, turn it on and adjust as needed.

Once again, the camera doesn't do this illusion justice. It looks very good in person.

Watch the video to get an idea of how it looks:

World's Oldest Surviving Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce For sale - Venerable old car, only three previous owners. Offers around 2 million pounds ($4m). But this is no ordinary -- albeit expensive -- car. It is the world's oldest surviving Rolls-Royce, a star in the automobile enthusiasts' firmament.

Built in 1904, car 20154, a small 10 horsepower open-topped two-seater, is only the fourth vehicle produced by the landmark cooperation between Charles Rolls and Henry Royce and the oldest one still running.

How to Calculate the Distance from Lightning

You know how it is - a thunderstorm is approaching, and suddenly you hear an absolutely deafening clap of thunder. Whoa, that sounded close! But how close is the lightning, really? It is difficult to determine the distance of a lightning bolt just by looking at it, and the volume of the thunder isn’t a good way to tell either. Read on for a simple, potentially life-saving method you can use to approximate how far away lightning is.

(4)Steps:

1. Watch the sky for a flash of lightning.

2. Count the number of seconds until you hear thunder. If you have a watch with a second hand or a digital watch that has seconds, begin timing as soon as you see the lightning and stop as soon as you hear the thunder start. If you don’t have a watch, do your best to count the seconds accurately. Say "One one thousand, two one thousand etc." in your mind for each second.
3. Divide the number of seconds by 5 to calculate the distance in miles (or divide by 3 for kilometers). In other words if you counted 18 seconds from when you saw the lightning, the strike was 3.6 miles (6 kilometers) from your location. The delay between when you see lightning and when you hear thunder occurs because sound travels much, much more slowly than light. Sound travels through air at about 1100-1200 feet (330-350 meters) per second (depending on altitude, relative humidity, pressure, etc.), which is a little more than one mile per five seconds (one kilometer per three seconds). In comparison, the speed of light is 983,571,058 feet (299,792,458 meters) per second.
For example, if lightning strikes a point 1 mile away, you will see the strike approximately .00000536 seconds after the strike while you will hear it approximately 4.72 seconds after the actual strike. If you calculate the difference between these two experiences, a person will hear a strike approximately 4.71999 seconds after the strike actually occurred. Therefore, 5 seconds per mile is a fairly robust approximation.

4. Seek shelter immediately if a storm is approaching.

Tips:

* If a lot of lightning is occurring close together, it may be difficult to approximate how far away a given flash is, since it will be hard to tell which clap of thunder "belongs" to which flash of lightning. In this case, you’ll need to keep trying the steps above until you can finally be certain that a given bang resulted from a given flash. Of course, if safety is your primary goal, start counting from the last flash you see. This way it won't matter which flash was closest (or furthest), you will know how close the nearest flash was to you irrespective of which flash it was or how bright the flash was, assuming of course that no other flashes interrupt your count.

* If you are in an area with a lot of background noise (if you are on a busy city street, for example, or working around heavy machinery) you may not be able to determine when thunder starts, if you can hear it at all.

* Sound travels through air at slightly different speeds depending on air temperature and relative humidity (density). The difference is fairly small, however, and won’t substantially affect your calculations. For more information, see the sound speed calculators in the external links section below.

* If you have a map and compass, try plotting the location of each lightning strike by drawing a line on the map in the direction of the lightning, and a cross at your calculated distance along this line.

* Tell people about this method. Many people still believe the myth that the number of seconds you count is equal to the number of miles away the lightning is.

Warnings

* This is not an exercise to perform outside. If there’s lightning around, get to shelter immediately.
* Lightning can be deadly. These instructions can help you avoid danger, but only if you take action when lightning is near. See the related wikiHow article for more information on staying safe in a thunderstorm.
* Storms can travel very fast, and lightning frequently strikes up to 10 miles from a storm (occasionally up to 50 miles). Thus, even if you determine that the lightning is quite far away, you should seek shelter, as the next strike could be much closer.
* Due to the way sound travels and how various objects, such as mountains and buildings, interact with soundwaves this is not the most reliable way to predict lightning distance. Don't let your life depend on it. Listen to local weather authorities.
* If you do not see the lightning strike directly, the sound you hear may be a reflection off a building or a mountain, which adds time between the two events (the flash and the bang, thus making the lightning seem farther away than it really is. Consider the effect of nearby (especially large) objects/obstructions, as sound must "bend" around and bounce off of them. Any indirect path must be larger than the distance which you are trying to calculate.

22 Natural Ways to Prevent Colds and the Flu

The flu season is just around the corner. And while those flus won’t kill you, they can weaken your immune system to the point that other, more dangerous, germs can take hold in your body. Just think how many times your cold turned into bronchitis or a sinus infection. And given that the average adult suffers two to three colds a year, that’s a lot of opportunities for serious illness — and just as many to prevent one!

Now I can’t promise you’ll never get hit with another cold or endure another bout of the flu, but you can increase your odds of staying well with these natural strategies. If you do get sick, I’ve also included some great tips for getting better faster.

1. Get gargling.

Japanese researchers found that a daily gargling with water reduces your cold risk. People who gargled with water were 36 percent less likely to be struck down when compared with non-garglers. The study suggests that simple water gargling is effective to prevent upper respiratory tract infections.

2. Drink, drink, drink!

Hot liquids like fruit teas and lemon drinks will ease any nasal congestion you feel coming on and prevent dehydration. A dried-out respiratory system will leave you more prone to infection.

3. Take a Sauna.

Researchers aren’t sure exactly how it works but a German study found that people who got steamed twice a week got half as many colds as those who didn’t. It may be down to the fact that sauna air temperatures are too hot for cold and flu viruses to survive.

4. Stop the blaming.

Believe it or not, blaming yourself makes you more likely to catch a cold! At least, that’s what Austrian researchers found when they studied more than 300 workers over three months. Even those who had control over their work were more likely to begin sneezing if they lacked confidence or tended to blame themselves when things went wrong. Researchers expect such attitudes make people more stressed on the job, and stress, as you know, can challenge your immune system.

5. Microwave your toothbrush.

Run your toothbrush through the microwave on high for ten seconds to kill germs that can cause colds and other illnesses. You think it gets your teeth clean — and it does. But once you’re done brushing, your toothbrush is a breeding ground for germs. Sterilize it in the microwave before you use it, or store it in hydrogen peroxide (rinse well before using), or simply replace it every month when you change the page on your calendar and after you’ve had a cold.

6. Crack open a window.

Leave the windows in your house open a crack in winter. Not all of them, but one or two in the rooms in which you spend the most time. This is especially important if you live in a newer home, where fresh circulating air has been the victim of energy efficiency. A bit of fresh air will do wonders for chasing out germs.

7. Focus on one word.

Once a day, sit in a quiet, dim room, close your eyes, and focus on one word. You’re meditating, a proven way to reduce stress. And stress, studies find, increases your susceptibility to colds. People experiencing emotional stress have weakened immune systems and are twice more likely to catch a cold than their calmer counterparts.

8. Wash you hands!

And do it often. Most cold and flu viruses are spread by direct contact. The Naval Health Research Center conducted a study of 36,000 recruits who were ordered to wash their hands five times a day. The recruits cut their incidence of respiratory illnesses by 45 percent.

9. …twice is even better.

When Columbia University researchers looked for germs on volunteers’ hands, they found one handwashing had little effect, even when using antibacterial soap. So wash twice if you’re serious about fending off colds.

10. Public restrooms’ strategy.

Studies find a shockingly large percentage of people fail to wash their hands after using a public restroom. And every single one of them touches the door handle on the way out. So after washing your hands, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet. Use another paper towel to dry your hands, then open the door with that paper towel as a barrier between you and the handle. It sounds nuts, but it’s an actual recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control to protect you from infectious diseases like cold and flu.

11. Use your knuckle to rub your eyes.

It’s less likely to be contaminated with viruses than your fingertip. This is particularly important given that the eye provides a perfect entry point for germs, and the average person rubs his eyes or nose or scratches his face 20-50 times a day.

12. Eat that yogurt.

Researchers from University of California found that individuals who ate one cup of yogurt — whether live culture or pasteurized — had 25 percent fewer colds than non-yogurt eaters. Start your yogurt eating right away to build up your immunity before cold and flu season starts.

13. Inhale air from your blow-dryer.

It sounds nuts, I know. But one study conducted at Harvard Hospital in England found that people who breathed heated air had half the cold symptoms of people who inhaled air at room temperature. Set the dryer on warm, not hot, and hold it at least twenty inches from your face. Breathe in the air through your nose for as long as you can — 20 minutes is best.

14. Go garlic.

When 147 volunteers received either one garlic supplement a day or a placebo for twelve weeks between November and February, those taking the garlic were not only less likely to get a cold, but if they did catch one, their symptoms were less intense and they recovered faster.

15. Getting z’s = no flu.

The fact that a certain amount of sleep is required in order to remain healthy cannot be repeated enough. Not only does sleep help you stay alert throughout your day, but it also helps your immune system stay strong. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep a night, and you’ll be less susceptible to the flu.

16. Water does the body good.

How many times have you heard that eight glasses a day is good or you? Probably every day. This habit is a good one for your body in many ways, as it washes out your system, and is needed in order to maintain a healthy diet and a clear, healthy complexion.

17. Get some exercise.

Exercise is very healthy for your body, in many ways. By exercising regularly, you’re not only developing muscle mass and strength, you’re also making your immune system a heavyweight champion.

18. Lower the heat.

Lower the heat in your house 5 degrees. The dry air of an overheated home provides the perfect environment for cold viruses to thrive. And when your mucous membranes (i.e., nose, mouth, and tonsils) dry out, they can’t trap those germs very well. Lowering the temperature and using a room humidifier helps maintain a healthier level of humidity in the winter.

19. Wipe, don’t blow.

Your cold won’t hang around as long, according to a University of Virginia study. Turns out that the force of blowing not only sends the gunk out of your nose into a tissue, but propels some back into your sinuses. And, in case you’re curious, they discovered this using dye and X rays. If you need to blow, blow gently, and blow one nostril at a time.

20. Sneeze and cough into your arm.

Whoever taught us to cover our mouths when we cough or sneeze got it wrong. That just puts the germs right on our hands, where you can spread them to objects — and other people. Instead, hold the crook of your elbow over your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough if a tissue isn’t handy. It’s pretty rare that you shake someone’s elbow or scratch your eye with an elbow, after all.

21. Don’t pressure your doctor for antibiotics.

Colds and flu (along with most common infections) are caused by viruses, so antibiotics — designed to kill bacteria — won’t do a thing. They can hurt, however, by killing off the friendly bacteria that are part of our immune defenses. If you’ve used antibiotics a lot lately, consider a course of probiotics — replacement troops for friendly bacteria.

22. Doctor, doctor.

All these are simple ways to help you avoid the flu — but they are not substitutes for medical treatment or advice.

Remember that the flu is something that everyone gets once in a while, and there is no 100% guarantee to prevent it. But if you want to decrease your chances of being stuck at home with a pesky flu, use these tips. That doesn’t mean you can’t still call in sick once in a while…