Author: TECH

SUBMITTED PHOTO, BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF PRINCE ALBERT Natasha Thomson, Development Coordinator Big Brothers Big Sisters of Prince Albert Submitted Staying connected and engaged as we age plays an important role in maintaining both physical and emotional well-being. Volunteering—especially in relationship-based roles like mentoring—offers a meaningful way to support others while also supporting your own health. One of the most significant benefits of volunteering is a renewed sense of purpose. Research shows that older adults who volunteer regularly report higher life satisfaction and a stronger sense of meaning in their daily lives. Knowing that someone looks forward to seeing…

A daily calming routine does not need to look like a wellness retreat or demand an hour you do not have. Most people are not searching for a personality transplant or a color coded planner. They want their days to feel steadier, less reactive, and more livable, even when the calendar is full and the news cycle is doing its thing. Calm, the usable kind, comes from repetition and restraint, not reinvention. What tends to work best is a rhythm you can return to on average days, not just the good ones. That rhythm does not shout. It nudges. It…

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay ReporterFRIDAY, Feb. 13, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Tweens addicted to the digital world — mobile phones, social media, video games — are more likely to develop mental health and behavioral problems as teenagers, a new study says.“Problematic screen use is when kids can’t control their time online, even if they try, and it starts to cause stress, conflicts or problems at school or home,” said lead researcher Dr. Jason Nagata, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California-San Francisco.“It can also lead to withdrawal-like feelings, needing more time online to feel satisfied and repeated…

Social Security beneficiaries nationwide are due to receive their February 2026 money next week, as the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) three-Wednesdays payment cycle continues.On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the SSA is scheduled to issue benefits to certain Americans who receive retirement, disability or survivor pay.How does the three-Wednesdays payment system work?Of 70.6 million people who claim retirement, disability or survivor benefits in the U.S., most receive their monthly payments on the second, third or fourth Wednesday in each month. A recipient’s designated Wednesday depends on the date of birth of the worker whose Social Security taxes have accumulated the benefits entitlement.…

Sargent Ranch oak woods – credit, Ted Miller supplied by POST One of the largest private land purchases for conservation in California’s Bay Area was just carried out to save a historic ranch from being turned into a sand quarry. Before it was called Sargent Ranch, it was the sacred home of the Amah Mutsun Indian Band, and now it’s going to be protected for what one would assume to be a long, long time to come. Located in south​ Santa Clara County, the ranch is about 27 miles from Monterey Bay. Here, the Palo Alto-based nonprofit Peninsula Open Space…

President Donald Trump made bold promises about Social Security during his 2024 campaign, pledging to eliminate federal taxes on benefits and protect the program from cuts. As 2026 unfolds, millions of retirees are discovering which promises have materialized and what changes are actually taking effect. The most concrete change hitting in 2026 is the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for 75 million Americans will increase by 2.8%, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). For the average retired worker, the 2.8% COLA translates to about $56 more per month, raising the average…

Success often looks like a time-management problem. You buy a planner, set reminders, and hope that next week will be different. For a few days, it works. Then stress hits, motivation drops, and old patterns return. The issue usually is deeper than your schedule. It lives in how you see yourself. That is why a growth identity matters. When you view yourself as someone who can learn, adapt, and improve, your actions start to match that belief. You stop chasing quick fixes and start building a stable inner system. Instead of asking, “How do I force myself to do this…

As the holy month of Ramadan approaches, Muslims across the world prepare for a time of fasting, prayer, self-discipline, and spiritual reflection. From dawn to dusk, fasting teaches patience and gratitude, but it also brings changes to daily routines, eating habits, sleep patterns, and energy levels. To experience Ramadan in a healthy and fulfilling way, it is important to care not only for the soul, but also for the body and mind. With mindful choices around food, physical activity, rest, and emotional well-being, Ramadan can become a truly balanced and uplifting experience.Understanding Wellness During RamadanFasting is a spiritual act, but…

Meditation, in the Himalayan understanding, functions as a process through which life itself gains intelligence. It is a discipline that enables a human being to hold greater responsibility, clarity, and depth while remaining stable under pressure. Rather than standing apart from life, meditation refines the way life is perceived, engaged with, and directed.Within the Himalayan approach, meditation is introduced as a method of developing inner efficiency. Rest emerges when effort becomes intelligent. When the mind starts calming down the flow of thoughts, and calmness begins to enter. There is no longer an emptiness in silence but it is filled with…

The Union Budget for 2026–27 makes an important acknowledgement: that persons with disabilities deserve access to opportunity, not just support. In a policy landscape that has historically framed disability through welfare and assistance, this in itself is a meaningful shift. However, access alone does not create equity and opportunity; when narrowly defined, it can quietly become another form of exclusion. The Budget introduced initiatives such as the Divyangjan Kaushal Yojana, focused on customised skill training for persons with disabilities, and the Divyang Sahara Yojana, aimed at improving access to assistive technology and independent living. These are necessary interventions. They signal…