Studies also show that you derive far more benefit from exercising if you do it at intervals. If you walk for ten minutes, walk slowly to warm up for first minute, then speed it up with a little burst for next minute or two, then slow way down to relax and rest up for your next, more rapid interval. This way, you are never more than a minute away from a resting point, and you don’t feel so much pressure to perform. Interval training (or I.T.) has remarkable benefits (compared to mere "steady state" exercising) – including reducing of stress. So go alittle harder on Tuesday in your exercise routine, and a little easier on Wednesday. Then pick up pace again on Thursday. Train at intervals.

4. Keep your house very clean at all times, especially bathrooms and kitchen. This is where germs tend to accumulate. All houses have some dirt and mold in them. Dirty houses have a great deal more than clean ones, and over long haul to much micro-garbage in air will tend to cause all sorts of allergy problems and other harmful side-effects. Keep toothbrushes well insulated when not using them, and store them in a room OTHER than bathroom. It could tell you why, but some of you might be eating. Trust me, just do it.

If your circumstances make it too difficult to keep house very clean, hire a cleaning service. Your health is worth cost. And wash your hands – and your children’s hands – often throughout day. This simple practice can reduce illness-related "down time" by as much as 50% or more

5. This one may seem a bit odd at first, but there is good logic behind it. Try not to use heater or air-conditioner in your vehicles much, especially if you travel on rural or dusty roads. The air blown into cab (and blown into faces and lungs of driver and passengers) has NO FILTER. This is nuts, but it is true. Just think about it for a minute.

Your engine has an air filter in it because dirt blows under hood and can clog up mechanical works. Hence filter. But same dirty air, which blows across engine and into cab of your vehicle, doesn’t have to traverse a filter before it reaches your lungs.Yikes.

It is often quite dirty – especially if you live near a construction site or dirt road – and this dirt can accumulate in your lungs, and possibly even your bloodstream. I have no idea why no one seems to have thought of this when they built vehicles we drive, especially when so many now spend countless hours commuting – sitting behind wheel, with heater or A/C blasting away. I know of no studies on this topic either, but common sense says "Don’t blast a steady stream of dirt into your lungs over long periods of time."

If you can, instead of using heater, put on another layer of clothes, or a very warm jacket. If you can, instead of using A/C, just roll down window(s) to cool off – or drink some cold water. And remember, exercise helps keep your system stay cleaner too, so take that advice seriously and put it into practice.

Your personal health ranks very high among your personal assets, so take it seriously enough to spend some time thinking about it, and doing something to improve it. Start with our "big five." You will be glad you did.

There are many people that you may come in contact with as a part of your regular day that would be more than willing to take on a bit of homeschool instruction for you. If not to come by as a guest teacher, most will provide invaluable information for you to supplement your lesson plan. It’s a great experience! And what a feeling of accomplishment!

The key to remember don’t panic. Resources are everywhere and many are right in your very neighborhood. Children are always learning. If you don’t feel like you can effectively teach a particular subject, set up a field trip, or do a project together. Many outside home resources are delighted to have a young person who is genuinely excited and interested come by for a visit. And are more than willing to assist you with teaching a subject you don't know!

And you’ll learn something too!