According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, health care expenditures accounted for 17.8% of the U.S. gross domestic product in 2015. There are a variety of factors that contribute to the increased cost and varying opinions on how resources should be allocated to account for the cost gap. One thing is certain: The United States spends an inordinate amount of dollars on health care. The strain on the economy is obvious, and health care professionals are attempting new and innovative measures to contain costs.

​Based on the CMS stat, you could argue that health care spending in the U.S. has run rampant over the last decade or so. The cost of health care for employees and employers continues to climb sharply, and proper access to health care is challenging, to say the least. An article in Aging International noted that the price of health care is “on the rise and is spiraling out of control.” Cost containment is a critical factor. However, there will need to be a great deal of creativity in the marketplace to achieve savings. To determine how to regain control of costs, one must first identify what expenditures are moving the needle.

Skin is your body's largest organ. It serves as a protective barrier between your insides and the rest of the world, helps regulate body temperature and acts as a filter. Skin exists in a constant state of growth, with old cells dying as new cells are forming. It's affected by every aspect of your life, from what you eat to where you live. Healthy skin is better able to fight signs of aging, heals much faster and staves off potential disease better than unhealthy skin.

Appearance

Proper skin care is vital if you're concerned about your physical appearance. Unhealthy skin tends to appear sallow and dull, whereas healthy skin appears full and vibrant. Wrinkles develop with more ease and sink deeper if your skin is dehydrated and unhealthy, and it can result in uneven patches that have a mottled color. When skin is unhealthy it loses elasticity, which can make it sag and appear thin.

If you read any personal development advice, you’ll rather quickly come across the idea that it’s important to focus on positive aspects of life. Rather than dwelling on what could be better or what you feel you should be doing, you’re encouraged to pay attention to the areas which are already going well.

The concept makes sense: by concentrating on what’s good, we’re likely to be encouraged and motivated, and we’ll automatically start looking for ways to get more of the same. The problem, though, is how to focus on what’s positive in our lives – when it’s easy to dwell on mistakes and regrets.

​These are four simple techniques to try:

It took me a while to notice the connection, despite the fact that it was in front of me all along. I didn't start waking up early until I had some sort of idea of what I wanted to do with my life.

The truth is, you create your life's purpose, it doesn't just fall into your lap.
It's something you decide, not some other-worldly stroke of destiny which rains down upon you all of sudden, although creating your sense of purpose can sometimes feel that way because of how strongly it drives you once you've established it.

​And another bit of truth: without this great purpose in mind, waking up early consistently is extremely difficult to do.

There aren’t enough words in the dictionary to describe the significance of giving back. Even the most simple acts of benevolence — the ones we think of as “random acts of kindness” or “no big deal” — are actually incredibly important. Volunteering in all shapes and forms strengthens our communities, brings people together and provides us with valuable experience and insight. And selfishly, when I give my time and energy to others, I just feel better — about myself and my community.

​I have to admit that I didn’t start volunteering purely to help others. Initially, volunteering was a way for me to gain career experience, develop new skills and build my resume — and that’s all fine. But once I got going, (my first “job” was as a volunteer for the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department) philanthropy began to mean much more to me. Some of my most memorable, rewarding and character-building experiences came from volunteering. I loved it. But I never imagined I could build my career around it.

Achieving the health and fitness goals you've set yourself for the year starts with small steps, and going for a morning run can be part of that. But there are more reasons to run than just for fitness - it can help improve mental clarity and bring you inner peace too. Whether you're a sprinter or a jogger, prefer running with views of the city skyline or a rural run by the canal, we've got 8 reasons for you to get up and go for a morning run tomorrow!

#1. Get some perspective

It's too easy to fall into the trap of thinking you're having a bad day, but going for a run first thing can help to give you some perspective. You might have broken your iPhone by dropping it this morning, but somewhere out there, there's somebody who is going without even basic necessities such as food and water. Putting your life in perspective in this way and taking the time to be gratefulfor the things you have, rather than taking them for granted, sets you up to be a more positive person. Take the time to appreciate the scenery around you as you run - use all your senses - and think about the little things you have that you're thankful for, such as your health, friends and family and food in your fridge. Think of it as meditation, on the go!