What does living healthy really mean?

Posted on by melmel

Healthy living is huge. We hear about ways to live better all the time. Things we can do to be more healthy. But what exactly is health anyways? It can’t mean the same thing for everyone. 

For me, living healthy means a mix of work and play. It means getting some exercise – walking the dog, chasing after my son, getting to yoga class. It also means a mix of treats and food that nourishes my body. I love licorice. So I eat it. But I also make a point of eating salads and some vegetarian meals. I go for a mix. There’s no right or wrong, no absolute. I don’t know if there is even a perfect mix. I know my body’s needs change daily, so what I need to do to live healthy changes too. 

What does living healthy mean to you?

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We can’t do our best work when we’re stressed

Posted on by melmel

We do our best work when we’re not stressed to the max. It’s the times we have balance in our lives that we shine. The best ideas often come to us when we’re taking a break – like while we’re working out or in the shower. It’s no coincidence. Spending too much time working without a break is not healthy for us. So how can we change our behaviors? Start small. Take a one minute break whenever you think about it. The first step is building awareness. If you even begin to think of taking a break, as a possibility, that is a wonderful sign. Try these small one minute breaks as an experiment. See what happens. What do you notice, what do you feel? This is your first step towards being the best you can be.

Pets can reduce stress

Posted on by melmel

Sandy's Thoughts

Socks and Inti

We all have such busy lives. One way to reduce stress is to love a cat. It’s good for you. It’s good for the cat.

Let me count the ways… (Scott, 2015)
1. Cats can improve your mood. Think of how restful a cat’s purr sounds. Feel her soft fur beneath your fingers. Petting a cat is beneficial for both you and the cat.
2. Cats can help fight loneliness by providing unconditional love.
3. Cats can help reduce blood pressure.

The health benefits of owning a cat is backed up by scientific studies. Researchers extracted data on 3,435 Americans aged 30 to 75, from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Study that took place from 1976 to 1980. 2,435 of the participants were current or former cat owners, while the remaining 2,000 had never had a cat. During the 10 year follow-up period, the cat owners had a…

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The Internet of Everything

Posted on by melmel

Connected objects are everywhere. We’ve got smart phones, TVs, Apple TVs, FitBits, and Nest thermostats. More objects are available to us each day. I was considering a new luggage tag that lets you track the location of your suitcase. But I wondered, does this mean I will need to use another app to track this specific object? I already have a number of apps on my phone to track different connected objects. I don’t really want any more apps to do this sort of thing. It would be great if there was an app that covered all of these objects and let me control them from one spot. The problem of having too many apps for lots of connected objects is just going to get bigger unless it gets addressed somehow.

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Stress Relief During Times of Change

Posted on by melmel

dreamstime_xxl_19083524We all experience life changes from time to time. Whether it’s moving, getting married, divorced, or having kids, life is far from static. Change in itself is stressful. So how do we cope during times of change?

First, keep it simple. Take things one step at a time. Need to do laundry and make dinner and feed the dog and watch the baby? Pick one thing to keep yourself from getting completely frazzled. What can you delegate to others? Can you get some help around the house? Maybe you can ask your partner or family member to help by feeding the dog today. Ask yourself, how can I get just one thing off my plate right now? The more we focus, the simpler things become, and the less stressed we feel.

Express Your Needs and Be Your Best Self

Posted on by melmel
Do you ever feel like you give, give and give without getting anything you want or need in return? Always saying yes and agreeing with what others prefer?
 
Take a few minutes and think about the past 24 hours. Have you expressed what you wanted or needed? Or did you just go along with what others wanted? Think about it. If you haven’t expressed your needs to others explicitly (e.g., by telling them verbally or in writing) then take a step towards doing so.
 
In the next 24 hours, express something you need at least once to someone. Take the time to care for yourself and see how you feel.
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