Let The Sun Shine!

Hello sunshine! Goodbye dreary sky!

Thank goodness the sun decided to show itself today!  I was really starting to wonder if it would ever come out again.  I don’t know about you, but I feel depleted and down when I don’t have sunshine for extended periods of time.  I feel more anxious, irritable and just…blah.

I had just read that in the winter when it’s gray and dreary, it’s hard for our bodies to make enough serotonin, thus affecting our moods and our sleep habits.  That makes complete sense with my sleep habits and moods lately.  I’m telling you, my sleep schedule is so off, I’m lucky if  I get 3-4 hours of sleep a night – broken up!  I’m exhausted!

So, what are we supposed to do if we aren’t blessed enough to live in a tropical climate where the sun seems to shine year-round?  Well, you could try one of those light boxes that provides enough bright sunlight wavelengths and even a full-spectrum light bulb is supposed to help.  You just keep it beside you so that you can see it out of the corner of your eye while you’re reading.  1,000 units of Vitamin D supplements are another good option.  Most Multiple Vitamins have Vitamin D in them, so check to see how much you need to supplement with if you’re taking one.

All of these are great simple and easy ways to trick your body into thinking it’s getting real sunshine to help it relax and get back on schedule.  I’m really going to try each of the tips above to see if they help.  I’ve drank all the chamomile tea I can handle!

Are you finding yourself down and having bouts of insomnia this time of year?  What do you do to combat it?

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Need to unwind? Try A Warm Bath!

Well, I’m still on my path to Quality NOT Quantity in the New Year and  I must say that I’m doing pretty well.

One of the things that I haven’t done enough of since I became a mom of two children, is to relax in a bath.  I used to enjoy a bath at least on Sunday nights with some candles lit and some yummy smelling bubbles.  But, now the only ones enjoying a bath are the kids and the dog!  So, I’m taking back my “me” time at least once a week!

The bathroom is most possibly the most relaxing room in your home.  Try to make it a place  where you can escape from the kids, the housework, and the phone – a retreat.  Light some candles, play some relaxing music, enjoy a cup of herbal tea and escape from the world for a few minutes in the evening after the kids are in bed.

Make sure to get the temperature just right.  Too cold and you’re uncomfortable 5 minutes into it and too hot and your body temperature rises and it’s too over stimulating.

Have you ever tried a tea bath?  Add a couple of chamomile and green tea bags to a large teapot on the stove. Stew the tea bags into just boiled water and let steep before adding to your already full bathtub.  Squeeze the water from the green tea bags and put over your eyes while you relax for 15 minutes or so.

Enjoying a little time to yourself in the evening can help relax and ease stress and tension from the day.  You’ll sleep better and feel more rested for the next day.

How do you relax at the end of the day?  Share your tips for your “me” time with me!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Start The Day With Positive Thinking

If you start your day with positive thoughts, you are less likely to experience stress and anxiety throughout your day.

So many times we hit snooze as many times as we can and have to jump out of bed, rush to the shower and get dressed in record time.  That stress and anxiety we’ve created will most likely set the tone for the day ahead.

Try setting your alarm 5 – 10 minutes earlier each day so that you can linger in bed a bit longer and get ready to start your day.  Upon waking, try thinking about an event in the past that made you happy or one that is coming up that you are excited about.  Feel those feelings of happiness and hope for 3-5 minutes and let them swell from your heart to prepare your body and mind for the day ahead.   Try doing a few stretches in bed to get your body moving and awake.

Now that you’ve started your day with peace instead of stress, you’ll think clearer, your body will be more relaxed and you’ll be ready to take on the day!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Focusing on Quality Of Life, NOT Quantity In The New Year

Happy New Year everyone!

For most of us, it’s back to work and school today and the temps outside are frigid.  It’s awesome that some of us get to stay inside and stay warm.  My kids (Ella and my daycare kid, Eva) don’t start back to school till the end of the week, so we still have a few more days to relax and hang out before we get completely back in gear.

At this time of year, we tend to think of New Year’s Resolutions and what we think we can accomplish in the year to come.  I think most of us make the same ones year of after year: lose weight, stop smoking, get out of debt, etc…  And, those are great goals to have and I think they’re very attainable, if that ’s your thing.  This year when I thought about my resolutions/goals for myself, I decided that I’m focusing on “Quality of Life”, NOT “Quantity”.

We tend to spend our days cramming in as much as we possibly can from the time we get up to when we go to bed at night.  It causes high blood pressure, stress, insomnia and bad moods. It’s not good for us and it’s not good for our families.  Yes, we may think we’re doing a good thing for all those around us when we fix the perfect breakfast, get the kids to school, play groups, doctor’s appointments, lunch/play dates, do the dishes, the laundry, fix dinner, get the kids a bath and a story and then the kids to bed, more laundry and so and so on, all in one day.  We end up falling in bed late at night and not getting quality rest and wake up fatigued, stressed  and more tired than we were when we went to bed the night before. I’m guilty, I admit it and it’s not good for anyone – especially us!

So, my goal this year is to cut back on the “stuff” and spend more time on creating a more relaxed quality of life for myself and my family.  So maybe the dishes will sit in the sink for half the morning while I have a cup of coffee that isn’t cold, it’s OK.  Maybe we have cereal for breakfast one day instead of eggs, toast and fruit or pancakes.  The kids won’t care and may actually prefer it sometimes!  And, we must remember that life will go on if I have to do all the laundry in one day instead of breaking it up over the week. It’s all OK!

It’s OK to be a little selfish and take time for ourselves too.  Maybe head to Starbucks on a weekend afternoon while the kids are resting and hubby hangs out. (my fav thing to do!)   Maybe get a pedicure or manicure once a month or even just head to the library for a little quiet time with a good book or magazine.  Carving out a few minutes a week for ourselves will do a world of good for us all!  We end up calm, more patient and better moms.

So, I invite you to join me this year in focusing on your “Quality of Life” instead of “Quantity of Life”.  It may be a little hard in the beginning to calm down and let a few things go or to give up a few things, but I think it won’t be long before we’re saying NO a little more and saying YES to ourselves!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Achieving Timeless Living

One of my favorite spiritualist is Deepak Chopra.  He always has uplifting advice – no matter the area of your life you need it in.   Below is an excerpt from one of his articles that I thought you’d enjoy and find useful – wonderful thoughts to live by.

First Rule: Where the Mind Goes, the Body Must Follow

Almost everyone has heard of the mind-body connection. But they often reduce it to simple notions about positive thinking or “You’re only as old as you think you are.” In reality, everywhere your mind goes, your body must follow.

Second Rule: Memory Freezes Time

Memory is how we hold on to the past. This means that a toxic memory is the same as a toxic experience being repeated over and over. Regret, hostility, anxiety, insecurity all depend upon trying to relive the past and change it.  There is no life there, even when you dwell on a happy past. Your body wants to be alive here and now.

Third Rule: Aging Is Rooted in Stuckness

Every experience leaves a residue in your cells. That’s because your body’s version of being happy or sad, angry or loving, agitated or at peace comes down to chemistry.  Every cell can clear out old experiences as easily as breathing. If you let the old be breathed out, you will be fresh and open to new experiences, which is a perfect definition of being young. Stuckness brings fatigue, staleness, habit, ritual and the repetition of outworn beliefs. When you get unstuck, life flows like water.

Fourth Rule: A River Never Ages

Flow is why a river never ages. Your body is also a river, constantly changing. The direction of change is up to you. As long as you keep growing, change will move forward. As long as there is forward motion, stagnation is impossible.

Fifth Rule: Beyond Time, the Experience of Youth Can Be Eternal

Ultimately, an ageless body depends on a timeless mind.   The mystery of immortality can be solved this very minute if you decide to. All it takes is a willingness to find the part of you that is timeless already.

Deepak Chopra is a world-renowned authority in the field of mind-body healing, a best-selling author, and the founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing. Heralded by Time Magazine as the “poet-prophet of alternative medicine,” he is also the host of the popular weekly Wellness Radio program on Sirius/XM Stars.

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

Quick & Healthy Mommy Snacks

When it comes to eating during the day, it’s so easy to grab a handful of junk food to eat as you pass through the kitchen on your way to change a diaper or to get your toddler down off the table before he dives head first onto the floor (or is that just me?).  Let’s face it, it’s easier to grab a handful of chips, crackers, or your child’s leftover fruit snacks, than it is to fix a healthy, nutritious snack.

But, as a busy mom, the last thing we need is something that won’t give us energy to get through the day. We need fast, easy to prepare and eat snacks to eat on the go (and if you’re lucky enough) or in those extra 5 minues you have while your toddler is busy unrolling the entire roll of  toilet paper onto the bathroom floor. (Is that just me again? Oh well!)

Try these no-fail ideas that you can eat or drink no matter how much you’re dealing with!

How about a wrap?  Toss some fillings into a tortilla and you’re off!  Keep some low-fat tortillas or pita pockets in the fridge and fill with veggies, garbanzo beans, hard boiled eggs, Greek yogurt, low-fat cheddar cheese or even some cream cheese and canned salmon.

Try a smoothie that you make at home or even one that you buy pre-made at the store.   Stonyfield Farms, Dannon and Horizon are just a few of the companies that offer drinkable yogurts full of probiotics and antioxidants to boost your immune system to fight off the winter yuks.  You can make your own at home by grabbing your blender and throwing in some low-fat yogurt (any flavor you like) and some fruit such as, bananas, blueberries or raspberries.

Grab and go snacks such as all natural cheese sticks, mixed dried fruit, fresh veggies or almonds are always a good choice if you’re really pressed for time.  Have some premixed dips such as, peanut butter and honey, cottage cheese and dry ranch dip mix or salad dressing on hand to jazz up your snack a little as well.  A banana, cheese cubes and a few whole grain crackers, a homemade whole wheat muffin, frozen grapes or a mini bagel is always a better tasting choice than chips and high sugar snacks any day!

Make your own or buy a healthy version of a hot pocket and stick in the microwave for a 60 seconds for a quick, filling meal.  Buy dinner rolls at the store and fill with your favorite sandwich meat or chicken, cheese and veggies.  Heat and go!

The healthy, filling snack options are endless!  Do some research on the web before you head to the store next time.  I’m sure you’ll be able to come up with some easy favorites of your own!

Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.