- Watching television? Use the commercial break as an exercise break. Do a few sit-ups, leg raises or stretches.
- Thinking about going swimming, for a walk or to the gym? Don't. Just gather the things you need and go. Too much time spent in thought often leads to not! Paralysis by analysis.
- Keep some healthy snacks in your car. If you are delayed and your blood sugars take a dip, you're far less likely to hit the nearest drive-through window if you have some options in the car.
- Read food labels. If you can't pronounce it, restrict your intake of it; it's usually a manufactured food. Sounds like an oxymoron to me!
- What are your food rules? If you make some simple ones, you'll find it's easier to stick with them when the going gets tough. For example, you may wish to have a dessert day where you can eat any dessert you'd like or no eating after dinner.
- Sunglasses. I don't wear my sunglasses at night! But, I do wear them in rain, sleet and sun. Not only do they prevent UVA and UVB damage, but they also provide invaluable eye crinkle wrinkle control.
- Laptop not! There is conflicting research as to the safety of having a laptop on your lap. I prefer to err on the side of caution and work with the laptop as far away from sensitive organs as possible.
- Are you in bed, cosying up to a nice, hot.........computer, cell phone or other electronic device? Make the bedroom an electronics-free zone. Sleep cycles are interrupted by the allure of checking your email one more time before bed or the buzzing of an incoming text message. Each time you respond you are forging new neural pathways, entrenching a habit, that may seem innocent enough in the beginning. Set up some rules about who is the boss of the electronics. Hint: It's you, not the electronics!
- Too much retail therapy leading to buyer's remorse (stress)? Create a time-out zone for your new purchases. Place them in a special spot and wait it out. After a few days, you may find that you aren't really in love with that bejeweled sweater or that you don't need those blue suede shoes, after all.
- Practice stress transformation as you go about your day. How do you stop the cascade of 1400 chemicals that are released during stressful times until you can get to the spa, the gym or the bathtub? Learn techniques that you can apply right when you need them.
Related post:
Good tips, Auntie Stress. The closer we get to Christmas, the more we need such salutary reminders!
Best wishes,
Carol
Thanks for the tips, Auntie Stress. The closer we get to Christmas, the more we need the salutary reminders to take good care of ourselves during the festive — let’s face it, sometimes too festive season.
Warm regards,
Carol