Blog Posts by Reader s Digest Magazine

Smile!
Forcing yourself to smile actually makes you happier. And people perceive those with broad smiles as being younger than those who don't smile as much.

Sleep on your back.
When you sleep on your side or stomach, you bury your face into the pillow, "pressing in" wrinkles and crevices. Lying on your back also helps prevent fluid buildup in facial tissue, so you avoid that puffy look.

Stand tall!
Think of yourself as a puppet with a string coming out of the top of your head. Now imagine that someone's pulling on that string, causing you to sit (or stand) straight and hold your head high, with your chin tucked in slightly. You'll take 10 years off.

PLUS: 7 Anti-Aging Secrets

Lie back on a couch or easy chair with your legs higher than your heart.
This lets blood that has pooled in your legs drain downhill toward your heart. For a more active approach, lie on your back near a wall, placing your heels on the wall with your legs at a 45-degree angle. Hold the position for three

Beyond, sight, sound, touch, smell and, even, taste, the 6th sense is the emotional experience of dining that transcends food.Can a puff of oak wood smoke or the sound of lapping waves change the way you taste food? More and more chefs are starting to think so. At the 6th annual International Chef's Congress organized by StarChefs.com, the theme for the year is the 6th sense. Beyond, sight, sound, touch, smell and, even, taste, the 6th sense is the emotional experience of dining that transcends food.

This sensation in the diner is not one thing; it is different for every person. It could be a sense of home or a memory of childhood. It could conjure up the feeling of autumn or a sensation of love. As Chef Grant Achatz of Alinea in Chicago says, people are no longer solely seeing dinner as the bridge to something else in the evening, "dinner is the movie" Here's how you can bring this idea of the 6th sense into your home by emulating what top chefs are doing across the world.

1. Change the Place
The restaurant The Fat Duck in the UK has a course where the diner is adorned with headphones and listens to the

If you think people don't care about etiquette at the table as much as they used to, think again. One soup slurp or tooth pick is all it takes to turn some people off. So to stay on your toes, here is a quick-and necessary-table manners refresher course from Louise Fox of the Etiquette Ladies, Canada's Etiquette Experts:

Watch: Top 10 Table Manners You Need to Know

• If you are the recipient of a toast, keep your glass at arm's length-never drink from it. Instead, simply nod your head and graciously say, "Thank you."
• Never take your cocktail to the dinner table.
• Allow your food to cool on its own-never blow on anything.
• If you wear lipstick, keep it off your plate and napkin by blotting it as soon as you apply it.
• Your napkin is there for you to dab your mouth only. Do not use it to wipe off lipstick or (God forbid) blow your nose.
• Keep your elbows off the table at all times.
• Don't put your purse, keys, sunglasses, or eyeglasses on the table.

Whether you frequently struggle to get to sleep or you'd just like to get a better night's rest, its important to make your room a sleep haven. Try our tips and enjoy the benefits of a great night's sleep.

Sound machine
Invest in a sound machine and fall asleep to anything from a babbling brook to a busy city street. Not ready to make the purchase? Try downloading sound generators on your smart phone or turning your radio to a static station.

Elevate your legs
Add a small pillow or two under your legs for added support. Perfect for back pain sufferers, this position relieves pressure from the lower back.

Sleep like a cat
Cats generally sleep on their sides with their front and back legs extended so that their body's weight is evenly distributed. Next time your cat naps, take some notes.

Paint your room
Make your room an escape from the outside world. Paint the walls in whatever color soothes you. Try cool, calming colors like blue, purple, or

We all hear about it when celebrities make money mistakes because they're often big, expensive, headline-making mistakes. But what's the take away for the Average Joe? Lessons learned, below:

1. Pay Your Taxes
When talking about taxes/back taxes/tax evasion, names like Willie Nelson, Leona Helmsley, Marc Anthony, Richard Hatch (remember him from Survivor?) are just a few names that come to mind. Understand that there are only two things in life that are certain: death and taxes! You must file your taxes every year on April 15th. If you can't make that deadline, you can always file for an extension (That gives you an extra 6 months to get it together), but even so, that's just an extension to file. If you owe the government money, you have to pay your best estimate -- within 90% accuracy -- of what you think you owe on April 15th or you'll be hit with interest and penalties on any balance due.

2. Know and Investigate Where Your Money Is Going
Uma Thurman was taken for a million dollars

These classic may look delicious, but skip them and try a healthier candy this Halloween.

1. Spend some time with the little people in your life
Studies show that being with their families is what children like best. Hang out with your kids, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews to cheer yourself up and bring them happiness too.

2. Take a chance
You've been dying to ask your boss for a raise and a promotion that you know you deserve, but fear of rejection prevents you from summoning up the courage. Sound familiar? According to Working Mother magazine, if being afraid of disappointment keeps you from taking chances, you're actually making yourself less happy by holding back. Next time, go for it. If you get what you wanted, you'll be thrilled-and if you don't, you'll probably find it stings less than you expected and you'll discover how resilient you truly are.

PLUS: Happiness Secrets for Tough Times

3. Mix it up
You're a creature of habit, and you're at your best when you get into the groove of a routine. Or so you think. Consistency, it turns out, doesn't always make you

If you knew these things, you wouldn't need a marriage counselor, would you? This insider info comes from psychologist Karen Sherman and from psychotherapist Wendy Allen, Ph.D., author of How to Survive the Crisis of an Affair.

• Sixty-nine percent of all arguments between you and your partner will never be resolved. So don't try so hard.
• A couple that doesn't fight is in trouble.
• Having a "good enough" marriage is the most couples can expect and is actually quite an accomplishment.
• Letting go is sometimes better than discussing everything to death.
• Respect, not sex or money, is the most important factor in a happy marriage.
• There are marital breaches worse than an affair.
• A therapist cannot teach, train, or guide you to "be happy." That is not a reasonable outcome to expect from therapy.

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