Whether or not you celebrate a winter holiday, the season can hold events that you might have expectations about or that push a few buttons. Family, weather, gift exchanges and travel are just a few things that you may encounter. While it’s easy to get caught up in a state of stress or anxiety, it is possible to refocus and chill out (pun intended).
Read MoreHoliday time can occasionally lead to excess buying and eating or too many late nights. Some of the advice that I have read about cutting back or having a “green” holiday came across as preachy or grinchy, which I do not find all that motivating. However, a number of years ago, I did learn a concept that I find quite helpful – not just over the holidays but throughout the year.
Read MoreNow is a time of year when I find it’s very easy to get caught up in a rush – the feeling like I need to hurry to get ready, wrap up work projects at my day job, finish everything on my list and fit in some fun activities, too! If that sounds like your experience, I want to take this opportunity to remind us both that it’s OK to slow down.
Read MorePerhaps, like me, you know someone with a chronic health condition who does not do the things s/he should to manage it. Or, maybe that person is you. There are often good reasons for not taking the time for adequate care of the body. One reason is modern life often puts us in our heads and we become out of touch with our bodies. Another is just life: so many competing demands for our time. I struggle with this, too, even though I have a bit more flexibility in my schedule than many people.
Read MoreThose of you who know I hurt my foot recently while exercising may have also heard my (somewhat tired) joke that being healthy can be bad for you. The reality is, apparently, just the opposite as described in this recent LA Times article about a new study on fitness.
Read MoreI hope you will exercise your right to vote this Tuesday. Every vote matters! Don’t squander the opportunity to have a say in how your local, state and national government operates.
Read MoreSince the weather is not quite so hot nor quite so rainy as it was earlier this year, I have been out in the garden a bit more often. I enjoy researching plants and visiting other gardens for inspiration. Planning the garden stretches my creativity and I get a good deal of satisfaction from a lovely plant or a tasty tomato that I’ve grown.
Read MoreBefore I expanded my outdoor gardening efforts, I kept lots of indoor plants. I liked their good looks and having a year-around connection to nature. While I keep fewer indoor plants now, there is a good reason to maintain at least some. Plants can help clean indoor air of certain volatile organic compounds (air toxics).
Read MoreYou probably know that getting enough sleep is important for good health. An occasional night of bad sleep is usually not a big concern. Frequent poor sleep or insomnia is more worrisome. Chronic lack of adequate sleep can cause problems like memory issues, lower immune function, and decreased pain tolerance.
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