Learn about the science of happiness at Mentor Public Library

Be the happy one.

You know you want to be happier, but you're not sure how to get there.

We want to help, so we called in the expert.

Mentor Public Library's Get Healthy series continues at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, with a talk on happiness from James Kargakos, a psychology professor and certified life coach.

He'll discuss the science behind happiness and what detracts from it. He'll also offer advice on how to be naturally happy and live a happier life.

We started the Get Healthy series to help you become healthier—physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.

Each month, we offer a different program on how to improve an aspect of one’s health. In January, we offered a free introductory boxing class at TITLE Boxing.

In March, we’ll learn about homeopathic medicine with Remedy Jane.

All of our Get Healthy programs are free and open to the public. Attend one of them; come to all of them; and get healthier!

Get healthy with Mentor Public Library

A library patron gets his hands wrapped before a free class at TITLE Boxing Club in Mentor.

There are all kinds of way to be healthy—physical, emotional, even spiritual—and Mentor Public Library wants to help with all of them.

That's why we've started our Get Healthy series: to help you become your healthiest self. Each month, the library will offer a free program on how to improve an aspect of one’s health.

We began with a free class last week at TITLE Boxing Club in Mentor. In addition to learning some basic boxing techniques, we also learned the different parts of the body that boxing exercises. (It’s definitely more than the arms.)

But we won't be punching bags every month.

The boxing class included cardio, to improve heart health and stamina.

The Get Healthy series continues with a talk on happiness on Tuesday, Feb. 23, at Mentor Public Library’s Main Branch. James Kargakos, a psychology professor and certified life coach, will discuss the science behind happiness and what can detract from it.

Then, in March, we'll learn about homeopathic medicine with Remedy Jane.

All of our Get Healthy programs are free and open to the public. Attend one of them; come to all of them; and get healthier!

Our Get Healthy series is open to everyone.

Visit Mentor Public Library's Facebook page for more photos from our Get Healthy program at TITLE Boxing Club.

Get moving (gently) with yoga at Mentor Public Library

Enjoy a free session of chair yoga every Monday morning this month at Mentor Public Library's Main Branch.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?

To lose weight? Be healthier? Reduce your stress? Try something new?

We can get you started with all of that in a single step.

Have you heard of chair yoga? It's a relaxing, low-impact way to get moving and reduce stress.

Every Monday morning in January, Mentor Public Library is hosting a free chair-yoga session at 10 a.m. in our Main Branch. The sessions will be guided by the professionals from Awaken Yoga in Mentor. They will teach some positions and maneuvers that can be practiced from the comfort of a chair.

You can register for any or all of these sessions on our online calendar.

Yoga has been linked to everything from reduced stress and boosted immunity to weight loss and stronger muscles.

Come join us this month and see what yoga can do for you.

Jennifer Langsdale of Awaken Yoga shows everyone how to relax their shoulders. "Shoulders hold all of our shoulds," she says. "That's why it can feel like they're carrying the weight of the world."

5 ways Mentor Library can help you keep your New Year’s Resolution

Want to lose weight? Decrease stress? Mentor Library can help you with that and much more.

Depending on what think-piece article you’re reading, anywhere between 88 and 92 percent of New Year’s Resolutions don’t survive the year.

But you can shift the odds in your favor with help from your local library.

We at Mentor Public Library are ready to help you lose weight, save money, find a better job or attain whatever goal you have set for yourself in 2015.

1. Lose weight & be healthier

This is the most popular resolution, so let’s start here.

If you want to lose weight or just generally be more fit, we have books on eating better, cookbooks with healthy recipes and exercise DVDs you can borrow.

We also have a special weekly program for seniors who are trying to find a fun way to get moving.

Starting Monday, Jan. 4, Awaken Yoga is offering a free introduction to chair yoga at our Main Branch. Yoga is a great way to relieve stress, build strength and (when paired with a healthy diet) lose weight. You can register for it here.

For those looking for something a little more challenging, you can get a free intro to the health benefits of boxing on Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Title Boxing Club in Mentor. An instructor will teach the basics of boxing. Boxing gloves will be provided but comfortable clothes are a must. Be prepared for a workout.

2. Learn something new

There are hundreds of thousands of ways to learn something new. Literally every item in our collection could potentially teach you something you didn’t already know.

Beyond that, you can check out Gale Courses for hundreds of online classes. They offer classes on everything from music to technology to accounting, many of which are taught by college professors. And they’re all free with your library card.

We also have programs at our library on everything from the Civil War to local history to Auschwitz survivor Primo Levi.

3. Save money and get your finances in order

We have more than 200,000 books, movies and CDs in our collection, and that’s not even counting our digital services that let you read eBooks and stream music, movies and audiobooks anywhere and at anytime. (And that includes several books on how to best manage your money.)

Every time you borrow something from us, that’s money you saved. That can add up to a lot of savings over the span of a year.

Also, if you want to know more about your finances, you can come to a free program about understanding your credit score on Feb. 25 at our Main Branch.

4. Find a better career

On Jan. 29, we're hosting a job fair with several local employment agencies from noon to 4 p.m. at our Main Branch.

Come by and bring your resume. It could be your first step toward your new career.

5. Spend more time with your family

We offer a menagerie of story times for families, and they’re starting a new session on Jan. 5.

But there are a lot of ways to use library resources to spend more time with your family. Borrow a stack of DVDs and start a family movie night.

And, while our story times are a lot of fun, there’s no substitute for reading to your child.

So we hope to see you soon. Whatever your resolution is, I’m sure we have a book, video or program that can help. Don’t be shy. Just come up to the reference desk and ask for recommendations!

10 Tips for Healthy Weight Maintenance with Dr. Morris

Dr. Misty Morris visited Mentor Library Tuesday to suggest ways people can maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Eat right and exercise. We know.

Everybody knows how to stay healthy. It's just so hard to do sometimes.

That's why we regress on our New Year's Resolutions. It's not that we don't know better. It's just broccoli-and-5 am-calisthenics fatigue sets in, and a cheeseburger catches us in a moment of weakness. And so do the fries. And a shake. And maybe some mozzarella sticks.

To that end, Dr. Misty Morris visited the library Tuesday to recommend 10 ways we can get and stay healthy this year.

1. What are you eating? You can exercise as much as you want. If you don't eat healthy, then you won't see the results you want. Lean meats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and remember to shake up the menu sometimes so you don't get bored.
2. What are you drinking? And it's not just food either. You'd be surprised how many calories can fit in a smoothie, a milkshake, a can of soda or a beer. Liquid nutrition is still nutritious and liquid junk is still junk.
3. 70/30. You don't need to be perfect. All asparagus and no play makes Jack freak out at 2 a.m. and eat a dozen soft tacos. Keep it proportional. If 70 percent of your calories are nutritious, then that 30 percent won't undo you. (Though you'd be better off with an 80/20 or even 90/10 split, but the point is that 100/0 never lasts long.)
4. No plan is a plan to fail. Plan out your meals. If you're thinking, "I'll come up with lunch on the fly," you're going to eat what's convenient and not what's healthy. Also, know when and how you're going to exercise. If you think you'll just fit in in later, you won't.
5. Have fun with motivation. Don't be afraid to reward yourself. Give yourself goals and, when you reach them, treat yourself. (But don't keep treating yourself. If every day was Mardi Gras, we'd all be sick by Palm Sunday.)
6. Let's get physical. Yes, exercise is important. No, exercise doesn't need to be running marathons in the snow. Get active—go for walks, try out an exercise DVD, check out a gym or the YMCA. (Your first visit is free with your Mentor Library card.) Don't feel the need to do everything at once. Start where you are, but try to move for at least 20 minutes a day.
7. Get some sleep. While sleep requirements differ from person to person, a healthy adult needs between seven and 9 1/2 hours a day. If you don't get enough, it hurts your metabolism, your focus, your attitude—everything.
8. The first thing you need to change is your mind. It doesn't help if you're never satisfied. If you want to lose 30 pounds, you can still be proud of yourself for losing five. You need to look in the mirror and be happy with yourself during each step of the process.
9. Get your friends involved. You're going to run into doldrums—that day you don't feel like getting off the couch. When that happens, lean on your friends. Instead of calling your friends to go out and eat, why not go snowshoeing or hiking? It won't feel like a chore with your friends in tow.
10. What's your motivation? You clicked on this story for a reason. Why do you want to be healthier? So you can fit into that old dress (or suit)? So you can be there for your family as you get older? So you can lift your groceries without wheezing? Keep that motivation in mind when you're working out or eating those carrot sticks. Ultimately, that reason will help you stay the course.

5 ways Mentor Library can help you keep your New Year's Resolution

Only eight percent of people stick to their New Year's Resolutions.

That's pretty harrowing.

But we at Mentor Public Library are ready to help you lose weight, save money, find a better job or attain whatever goal you have set for yourself in 2015.

1. Lose weight & be healthier

This is the most popular resolution, so let's start here.

If you want to lose weight or just generally be more fit, we have books on eating better, cookbooks with healthy recipes and exercise DVDs you can borrow.

Your Mentor Public Library Core Card also lets you try out local gyms, karate and studios for free, including Lake County YMCA, Mentor Heisley Racquetball and Fitness Club, Karate Institute, Family Karate and Spotlight Dance Studio. (Here's a list of all the discounts you get around town—just for having a library card.) Get out there and see what works for you.

We also have a pair of programs scheduled for January, specifically designed to help you get healthy.

On Monday, Jan. 5, Awaken Yoga is offering a free introduction to yoga at our Main Branch. Yoga is a great way to relieve stress, build strength and (when paired with a healthy diet) lose weight. This class is designed to accommodate people of all health and skill levels. You can register for it here. By the way, Awaken Yoga is also of our Core Card partners.

Then, on Jan. 13, Dr. Misty Morris of Morris Chiropractic will offer 10 steps to help people lose weight this year.


2. Find a better career

This year, we're teaming with experts from Ohio Means Jobs for a series of programs designed to help you jump-start your career. In January, we'll talk about how to build a winning résumé; in February, we're hosting a computer class specifically for job seekers; and, in March, we'll offer advice on how to ace job interviews.

This is in addition to the computer classes on how to use Facebook, Microsoft Word, Publisher and email we have slated for this February.

3. Learn something new

There are hundreds of thousands of ways to learn something new. Literally every item in our collection could potentially teach you something you didn't already know.

Beyond that, you can check out Gale Courses for hundreds of online classes. (You may remember the service by its former name, Learn4Life.)

Gale Courses has classes on everything from music to technology to accounting, many of which are taught by college professors. And they're all free with a Mentor Public Library card.

If you specifically want to learn a new language, try Transparent Language. Its online classes offers a simple, intuitive way to learn the basics of more than 80 different languages—pretty much any language you can think of, everything from Albanian to Zulu.

4. Save money and get your finances in order

We have more than 200,000 books, movies and CDs in our collection, and that's not even counting our digital services that let you read eBooks and stream music, movies and audiobooks anywhere and at anytime. (And that includes several books on how to best manage your money.)

Every time you borrow something from us, that's money you saved. That can add up to a lot of savings over the span of a year.

Also, our Core Card helps you save money with businesses and organizations all around Lake County.

5. Spend more time with your family

We offer a menagerie of story times for families, and they're starting a new session on Jan. 5.

But there are a lot of ways to use library resources to spend more time with your family. Borrow a stack of DVDs and start a family movie night.

And, while our story times are a lot of fun, there’s no substitute for reading to your child.

So we hope to see you soon. Whatever your resolution is, I'm sure we have a book, video or program that can help. Don't be shy. Just come up to the reference desk and ask for recommendations!

Get a free introduction to yoga at Mentor Library

Get a free introduction to yoga on Monday, Jan. 5, at Mentor Library's Main Branch.

What's your New Year's resolution?

To lose weight? Be healthier? Reduce your stress? Try something new?

We can get you started with all of that in a single step.

Have you ever tried yoga? At 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 5, Mentor Library is hosting a free introduction to yoga at its Main Branch. You can register for it here.

The professionals from Awaken Yoga in Mentor will talk about the history of yoga, its current popularity, its health benefits, and also teach some simple poses even the newest of beginners can do. This class is for all skill levels, including those interested in "chair yoga."

One note: You'll want to wear comfortable clothing, because we will be moving around during the exercises.

Yoga has been linked to everything from reduced stress and boosted immunity to weight loss and stronger muscles.

Come join us on Jan. 5 to see what yoga can do for you.

Also, Awaken Yoga is one of our Core Card partners. So if you enjoy your introduction to yoga, it's easier to stick with it. If you pay for a 5-class package with Awaken Yoga, you get the sixth class for free—just because you have a Mentor Library card.

So jump-start your New Year's Resolution, and join us at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 for your introduction to yoga.

7 Tips for Setting & Sticking to a Healthy New Year's Resolution

Cori Kitaura of the Lake County General Health District visited the library Wednesday to talk about some of the ways people can stick to their New Year's resolutions to be healthier.

Some people want to lose weight. Others want to eat better. Some just want to feel fitter.

Either way, Kitaura offered seven tips (via Cleveland Foodbank) that can help. Those tips are:

1. Make a specific goal. Don't just say you want to exercise more. Specify how many days a week you're going to exercise and for how long.

2. Phrase your goals positively. Don't say, "I want to eat less junk food." Say that you want to eat more fruits and vegetables.

3. Write your goals down. Then put them in a place where you can't ignore them: your wallet, your bed stand, as the background on your computer.

4. Be reasonable with yourself. It's good to have big goals, but make sure you give yourself small goals on the way to your big ones. Don't try to do everything at once. All you'll do is overwhelm yourself.

5. Tell your friends about your goals. This (like Tip #3) is another way to keep yourself accountable. Also, the more people you tell, the more support you will have.

6. Forgive yourself if you make a slip-up. You can miss one workout or eat one chocolate bar and the world won't collapse. Lifestyle changes take time.

7. Quality over quantity. Just set one or two goals and focus on them. If you stretch yourself too thin, you'll stress yourself out and that might do more harm than good.

Here's a weekly meal planner that may help you with your resolutions.

The LCGHD will return to our Main Branch on Feb. 5 to talk about heart healthy diets. As always, the talk is free and open to the public. You can register for it here.

For more information on events and programs at Mentor Public Library, visit www.mentorpl.org.

Our New Year's Resolutions for 2014

We've swept the confetti and picked up the balloons.

We've eaten our last Christmas cookie for about 11 months.

This morning, we had no holiday to observe—just driveways to shovel and trees to take down.

It's 2014. The holidays may be over, but that doesn't mean there's nothing left to celebrate.

Now we celebrate the ways in which we will make ourselves better this year.

What was your New Year's Resolution? Even if you don't make resolutions, what do you want to accomplish this year?

Do you want to get fitter? Find a better job? Learn something new? Spend more time with your family? Mentor Public Library can help you do all those things and more.

And, yes, we have some resolutions this year too. We want to create young readers, stimulate your imagination, satisfy your curiosity, connect you to the online world, and help you find and understand the information you're looking for.

We're also resolving to read more. (We are, after all, a library.) And we hope you join us.

Over at our Main Branch, some of us will fill out stars with our Reading Resolutions—that is, the names and number of books we resolve to read in 2014.

You're all welcome to post your Reading Resolution at the library too. These stars will decorate the Main Branch's first floor.

You could even win a prize. All you have to do is check out a young adult or adult book at Mentor Public Library and bring the receipt to the reference desk at the Main Branch. That will enter you into our “Reading Resolution Raffle.”

You have all of January to enter the raffle. The winner will get a $25 gift certificate from Barnes & Noble.

But our biggest resolution (this year and every year) is to help you be the best possible you that you can be.

So whatever you want to do this year, come to Mentor Public Library. We'll help you do it.

How Mentor Library can help you keep your New Year's resolutions

Get healthier? Read more? Both? What's your resolution?

Depending on what think-piece article you're reading, anywhere between 88 and 92 percent of New Year's Resolutions don't survive the year.

There are already plenty of articles giving general advice on how to stick to your resolution. Instead of recapitulating their advice, we wanted to offer some specific ways in which the library can help you maintain your resolve.

1. Lose weight & be healthier
Let's talk about the big one first—the most popular resolution of all.

If you want to lose weight or just generally be more fit, we have books on eating better, cookbooks with healthy recipes and exercise DVDs you can borrow.

We also have a pair of programs scheduled for January, specifically designed to help you get started.

First, a nutritionist from the Lake County General Health District is coming to our Main Branch on Jan. 15 to suggest healthy lifestyle changes that are more effective than any crash diet.

Then, on Jan. 16, Dr. Misty Morris of Morris Chiropractic will talk about some commonly made mistakes that can lead to weight gain and poor health.

You can follow the hyperlinks to register for either or both programs on Mentor Public Library's website.

2. Get your finances in order
Don't just get physically fit in 2014. Become fiscally fit.

The Society for Financial Awareness will talk about overcoming financial challenges, setting goals, managing debt, investing basics and developing spending plans on Jan. 23 at our Main Branch.

The program is, of course, free and open to the public.

3. Find a better career
Sometimes the first step to getting your finances in order is finding a better job.

And, even if you have a job that pays enough, it might still be time for a career change if the job drives you crazy.

Either way, the people at Ohio Means Jobs have teamed with the library to help you find the right career. We'll be hosting a series of Career Coffee Talks in which experts from around the region will give suggestions to job hunters.

The first talk is Jan. 23. The speaker is Charlene Long, the Talent Acquisition Specialist for Progressive. She’ll offer advice on what companies like Progressive are looking for in prospective employees.

Additionally, Ohio Means Jobs and The Reserves Network are holding a job fair at the Mentor Public Library's Main Branch on Jan. 17 to help people find both temporary and long-term employment.

4. Learn something new
This resolution is definitely one we can help with.

There are a lot of ways to learn something new at the library: read a book or a magazine, watch a documentary, come to one of our programs. But one of our favorite ways to keep people learning all their lives is via the digital service Learn4Life. (You may remember the service by its former name, Ed2Go.)

Learn4Life gives you access to free online courses, most of which are taught by college professors, on a variety of subjects.

Accounting, digital photography, college readiness, computer fundamentals, creative writing, alternative medicine, paralegal—take a look at all of your options. Learn4Life is bound to have something that interests you.

And I can't stress this enough. It's free! All you need is a Mentor Public Library card. (Here's a video by MPL Librarian Mary Pelton explaining how to register for and use Learn4Life.)

5. Spend more time with your family
Yes, we have a Family Story Time every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in January.

But there are a lot of ways to use library resources to spend more time with your family. Borrow a stack of DVDs and start a family movie night.

And, while our story times are a lot of fun, there's no substitute for reading to your child.

6. Read more
In 2014, we're resolving to read more and we hope you join us.

Over at our Main Branch, some of us will fill out stars with our Reading Resolutions—that is, the names and number of books we resolve to read in 2014.

You're all welcome to post your Reading Resolution at the library also. These stars will decorate the Main Branch's first floor.

Teens and adults can also enter the library’s “Reading Resolution Raffle.” All they have to do is check out a young adult or adult book at Mentor Public Library and bring the receipt to the reference desk at the Main Branch.

Then they will be entered into a raffle to win a $25 gift certificate from Barnes & Noble.

You have all of January to enter the raffle. We'll pick a winner at the beginning of February.