GENERATE ENTHUSIASM FOR MONDAY MORNING
Does your Monday feel like the first day of spring or the first day of winter? Some people can't wait to get started on the challenges of the new week. Others, even those who like their work, dread Monday morning. If you are in the second group, here are some ideas on how to generate some enthusiasm for Mondays.
* Before leaving work on Friday, make a note of what you will do on Monday. Include something you like to do. If you think about work on Saturday or Sunday, you'll have something enjoyable to anticipate. It can take the pressure off Sunday night and Monday morning.
* When you are checking your wardrobe on Saturday, decide what you'll wear on Monday. Make it something nice.
* Stop thinking ahead about work on the weekend when you should be involved in personal activities. Author and consultant William Bridges says many people live 18 hours ahead of themselves. He advises people to learn the mindfulness of the moment.
* Enjoy the whole weekend. Those who dread Mondays often rob themselves of the joys of Sunday.
Safety experts say Monday morning is also a danger zone. More accidents occur then and people may not work as well because they are not mentally prepared. When you wake up on Monday morning and you know what you will do, you'll be ready for the week. You will be safer and more effective. You'll have a head start.

GET SOME SUN BUT NOT VERY MUCH
A few minutes of direct sunlight each day can bring big benefits. Sunlight prompts the body to produce vitamin D. Studies show that people who get the least exposure to the sun have a greater risk of prostate cancer, multiple sclerosis, depression, and high blood pressure according to a University of Alabama study. Twenty minutes in the sun also helps the body produce folate. Folic acid may help to prevent buildup of fat in the arteries. It is an essential nutrient for women in childbearing years because it helps prevent birth defects. People often think that a tan will protect them from the sun's UVA and UVB rays. Not true. A tan is the body's desperate attempt to protect itself from sun damage. Rather than being helpful, sun tanning can lead to wrinkles, skin cancer, and other skin problems. When you will be outdoors for more than 20 minutes, use a sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. At the beach, use one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30. If you will be involved in sports or working out, use an oil-free spray-on sunscreen like Coppertone Sport Lotion sunblock. It keeps protecting you even when you sweat.

MOSQUITOES: READY OR NOT HERE THEY COME!
Now that mosquitoes are spreading West Nile virus, repellents are about more than avoiding ruined campouts and itchy bites. Where malaria and mosquito-borne dengue fever are endemic, repelling mosquitoes can save lives.

DEET is hard to beat. It was first patented by the U.S. Army and has been in commercial use since the 1950s. Worries about its safety have tapered off, possibly because people are more concerned that a bite could make them sick. Many repellents have bright stickers that highlight the DEET content. When you apply the repellent, it creates a cloud of molecules within a fraction of an inch over the skin. It doesn’t actually repel a mosquito, DEET confuses it. The mosquito loses its appetite when those molecules clog receptors on its antennae.

Research reported in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that all DEET products delayed the first bite for much longer than other repellents. A product with a relatively small amount (6.65 percent) lasted an average of 112.4 minutes. OFF! Deep Woods (23.8 percent) lasted 301 minutes; Sawyer Controlled Release (20 percent) lasted 234 minutes. Citronella products lasted 10 to 20 minutes.

The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against using repellents that are more than 10 percent for children. Others say all DEET products are safe for children. Visit health.harvard.edu/health for more information