Oh, the memories: as kids, there were hours and hours of Lego building, watching your favorite movie on repeat, bike riding, tree climbing, buying penny candy at the corner store and playing school (of course you were ALWAYS the teacher). As teenagers you battled acne together, confided in each other about your middle school crushes, argued about borrowing clothes and commiserated with each other about your parents' "stupid" rules.

But now you and your siblings are adults, and life is suddenly much more complicated: school, jobs, spouses (or no spouses), children (your own or theirs), time, distance and differing political or religious views can change and affect your relationships with your siblings. Or, maybe you didn't have a close relationship with your siblings growing up, and that challenging relationship has continued into your adulthood.

No matter the status of your relationships with your siblings now, research shows that strengthening or preserving your relationship with your brothers and sisters is a way to help you be happier and healthier throughout your life. Check out the tips below to stay connected to your brothers and sisters:

• Learn what your siblings are involved in and make active efforts to support them. Understand what they do for work or what they're studying in school and ask them, "how's it going?" Go to your younger sibling's soccer games or go check out your older sibling's new home or apartment. Know enough about your siblings to celebrate successes and offer support to challenges.

• Forgive and forget. Avoid bringing up mistakes made- whether from your childhood days or from last year's Christmas party- and move forward. Trust that your siblings are doing their best and give them the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps your sibling has made poor life choices or battles personal challenges that have had a serious negative impact on you or your family. Continue to be patient and loving, but be sure to care for your own health and safety as you seek to help your sibling or maintain a relationship.

• Speak with kindness and treat your siblings as you would a friend- with respect. Don't lash out on social media, take jabs during a family dinner or diminish your sibling's opinions as wrong or stupid. Sometimes we treat a passersby on the street or an obnoxious co-worker with more compassion and patience than our own family members, and they deserve the same respect we give others.

• Keep trying! Do family vacations always end in an argument between you and your sister? Are family dinners awkward or uncomfortable because you have a hard time connecting with your brother? Keep trying. You'll never regret genuine and sincere efforts to reach out or make a new connection.

• Communicate and keep your siblings in the loop. Will you be in town? Are you unable to attend the next family gathering? Are you preparing for a big exam and need prayers or good vibes? Technology makes it easier than ever to keep your siblings informed.

• Have fun together. As adults, family gatherings can sometimes turn into a burden or something you "have to do". Alternate formal family dinners and mandatory birthday or holiday parties with something fun you all enjoy- a game night, movie night, soccer game or hike. Be willing to compromise and participate in new or different activities.

• Use technology to connect. Call. Text. Facetime. Comment on your sister's photo of her daughter's Halloween costume. Like a photo your brother posts of his latest vacation.

• Steer clear of politics and controversies. It's okay for you and your siblings to have fundamental disagreements about politics or current events, but there's no need to be disagreeable. Prioritize preserving relationships over being right or convincing your sibling they're wrong. Be respectful and humble. Diffuse challenging situations with humor. Focus on what you and your siblings have in common.

• Let your siblings grow up. Your baby brother who was seven when you graduated from high school is now an adult, so treat him like one. Learn about his talents and interests. Talk with him as you do your peers.

The post 9 ways to stay connected to your adult siblings appeared first on FamilyToday.

The rustling newspaper from the corner chair. A gruff, but friendly voice. The smell of steaming coffee. Worn out jeans and carefully combed grey hairs. A hearty laugh and a warm smile. These are the memories I have of my grandfather who passed away from Alzheimer's in 2008.

Even though he's been gone for nearly ten years, I often think about my grandfather's subtle but powerful influence on me and my family- his commitment to education, his dedication to years of civic and community service, and his journey through grief when his eldest son died much too young. His values and life experiences have shaped me, but what if I didn't know as much about him as I do? And what if I knew more?

When my grandpa's memory began to fade, my dad met with him a few times to interview him about his life. My dad asked him about his parents, his siblings, what it was like growing up, how he met my grandma, etc. These recordings, in my grandpa's own voice, are priceless. Thanks to these interviews, we have a record of my grandpa and his family, most of whom passed away long before me and my siblings were born and never met.

Our grandparents won't always be around, but if we take the time today to get to know them and record their memories and experiences, their influence will live on long after they're gone. Check out the ideas below to get to know your grandparents and preserve their memories:

1. Record an interview with your grandparents

With the miracle of modern technology, the only tool you need to interview your grandparents is probably tucked in your pocket. Video or voice record the interview on your cell phone, type a transcript of the interview, and then save and share the interview with other family members. Everyone in the family will learn something new, and your grandparent's valuable and precious memories will be preserved. This is especially important if your grandparents know or remember family members that you or your siblings or parents never met. Ask them to describe these individuals and share their stories.

2. Spend quality time with your grandparents and let them know you care

While it may come easy for some, spending quality time with your grandparents outside your annual reunion or the occasional holiday may not feel totally natural to others. Perhaps you didn't grow up with a close relationship with your grandparents, but you can choose now to get to know them better. Take them to lunch. Give them a call or send them a text. Visit them at home. Play a game with them. Send them a handwritten card. You will never regret quality time spent with family or efforts to express love and affection, especially once your grandparents are gone.

3. Learn from their experiences

Your grandparents have likely gone through many of the same struggles and challenges you will experience- dating, family life, career choices, buying a home, traveling, tragedy, discouragements, etc. Ask them questions about how they handled these life experiences and managed change, discouragement, prosperity and difficulty. You will learn more about your grandparents and gain some valuable insight and advice to tackle your own challenges.

4. Review photographs and identify family members

Remember that your grandparents are your link to the past. Sit down and review old family photos with them and have them help you identify great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and others you've never met or who may no longer be living. Ask your grandparent to recount stories about the individuals in the old photographs- once your grandma or grandpa is gone, there may no longer be anyone else living who remembers these people and their stories.

5. Learn about special items and heirlooms

Maybe your grandmother has always worn the same necklace, or perhaps there is a special dish in her china cabinet that has been passed down for several generations. Do you know where these items came from, and why they're important to your family?

Take an afternoon to walk around your grandparent's house and ask them to describe these special items and where they're from (don't forget to pull out your phone to record!). You'll want to know the provenance of these items, even if they're only of sentimental value to your grandparent or your family. What a shame if the item's story or meaning is lost when your grandparent departs.

6. Learn family recipes and traditions

Everyone has special memories associated with food. Is there a recipe that takes you back to Saturday mornings at grandma's or to your favorite holiday with family? Ask your grandparent to teach you how to make the recipe or simply save it to share with your family.

Food is a wonderful and powerful tradition, but there are other traditions, too. Write down or save songs, stories, games and other activities that have been longstanding traditions with your grandparents and continue them with your own family.

The post 6 things you need to do with your grandparents before it’s too late appeared first on FamilyToday.

By the time I arrive at work, it's no wonder I'm already feeling behind.

Your average morning may not look exactly like mine, but if it follows a similar pattern, it's no wonder we often start our days feeling stressed, unfocused and tired. What's the secret to gaining greater control of your day and having improved energy and focus from the get-go?

The lives of successful executives, public officials, athletes and many others have shown that developing the habit of rising early can be the key to a productive, goal-driven day. While waking up before the sun isn't intuitive, people who rise early are able to accomplish tasks that may otherwise be crowded out by distractions, work or family responsibilities later in the day.

Here are 10 things many successful people do in the early morning hours to get a head start on their days:

1. Exercise

The benefits of exercise are no secret, and most successful early risers' routines include some form of exercise. If exercising in the morning seems like a daunting task, know you're not alone; however, running, going to the gym, practicing yoga or even just doing sit-ups next to your bed will help boost your mood, improve your fitness and give you added energy throughout the day. In addition, research shows that people who exercise in the mornings tend to be more consistent in their efforts to live an active lifestyle.

2. Quiet time

Whatever your spiritual beliefs or practices are, take time each morning to pray, meditate and be still. Each day is filled with constant distractions: phone calls, emails, texts, social media, TV, family and work demands, etc. Taking time for quiet meditation or prayer in the early morning hours is proven to increase focus, reduce stress and prevent common health ailments.

3. Plan and set goals

Planning, scheduling and setting short and long-term goals are habits of most successful early risers. By taking a few minutes each morning to review your schedule, your to-do list and your goals, you'll be able to stay on track to accomplish your most important tasks, priorities and dreams. Benjamin Franklin, known for his dedication to self-improvement, is said to have reflected each morning: "What good shall I do this day?"

4. Tackle big projects

Science shows our willpower and discipline is strongest in the morning. Plan to take on your most important, complicated or dreaded project first thing in the morning when your focus is sharpest and your determination is robust. Imagine the feeling of accomplishment you'll enjoy the rest of the day, knowing you've already completed the monster on your to-do list!

5. Stay informed

Many successful people say they couple early morning exercise and quiet time with reading newspapers, magazines or blogs to stay informed. It can be difficult to keep up with national, world and industry news, but setting aside time each morning to update yourself on current events will allow you to join in on discussions at work or with family, helping you develop professionally.

6. Read and learn

Successful people don't just read the news. They also read fiction, religious texts, psychology, poetry and more. Successful people are always learning, and reading in the early morning hours will allow for a pattern of lifelong learning while avoiding distractions that might draw your attention away from reading later in the day. The morning hours are also a great time to learn new fields and subjects by taking an online class or studying.

7. Disengage

Imagine if you had a few moments away from the constant distractions of work, email, Twitter or Instagram? Choose to disengage from email or social media in the early morning hours to take advantage of undisturbed quiet time. This will help you focus on whatever your morning priorities may be - reading, spending time with family or exercising.

8. Nurture family relationships

Happy and successful families eat meals together, but if family dinner is next to impossible between piano lessons, soccer practice and work, why not try developing the habit of family breakfast? While not for everyone, having a relaxing, fun breakfast with your spouse and children can be an appropriate substitute to family dinner that will help nurture family relationships. If breakfast isn't a possibility, try substituting morning TV time with reading or creative play time with children.

9. Think of others

Want to be happier, healthier and wealthier? Spend a few minutes each morning thinking about others. It might sound backwards, but research shows that people who serve and volunteer are happier than those who don't. So who might need your help today? Who would benefit from a phone call or a text message from you? Who may need some encouragement? Taking time in the mornings to think about others and plan action steps to help others can mean the world to those within your circle of influence, and it will help make you a happier person.

10. Maintain consistency

There is no right morning schedule for everyone. Successful individuals prioritize what they would like to accomplish and experience in the morning. Then they make a plan and track their progress. The perfect morning routine won't happen overnight, but with discipline, evaluation and consistency, you can make the most of productive early morning hours.

If developing a morning routine is difficult for you, you're not alone. Even former U.S. Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, known for rising at 4:30 a.m. to exercise before managing the country's foreign affairs, said, "I'm not on automation, I don't wake up every morning thinking, 'Oh yeah, let's go!' I have to push myself." Our challenge for you? Just break that snooze button habit! Commit to setting goals and taking action to make your mornings more productive, enjoyable and energizing.

The post 10 things successful people do in the mornings appeared first on FamilyToday.