Mess leads to stress, which leads to fatigue. “It takes energy to process the visual information in a cluttered space, and that drains our cognitive resources . . . Disorder is a type of chaos, which switches on our fight-or-flight response to a small degree. “It breeds anxiety, and anxiety is costly in terms of energy. Begin [organizing] with items visible on the desk, table, bed, or floor,” she says. “This will encourage feelings of mastery. When we feel a sense of control, it’s energizing.” Then move on to more complex tasks like revamping closet space or finally cleaning out the garage.
Source: Evelyn Spence in Prevention Magazine (Jun2018, Vol. 70 Issue 6, p78-83. 6p)
Month: August 2019
Nutrition Hack: 6 of 10 Intuitive Eating Principles
Intuitive Eating Principle #6
Discover the satisfaction factor
Make your eating experience enjoyable. Have a meal that tastes good to you. Sit down to eat it. When you make eating a pleasurable experience, you may find it takes less food to satisfy you.
Source
Longevity Tip: Slam the Brakes on Aging
Inflamm-aging appears to be a major consequence of growing old. Can it be prevented or cured? “The key to successful aging and longevity is to decrease chronic inflammation without compromising an acute response when exposed to pathogens.” How do we do that? Nutrition. What we eat is “probably the most powerful and pliable tool that we have to attain a chronic and systemic modulation of aging process…”
Source
Health Hack: #2 of Life’s Simple 7 for Optimal Cardiovascular Health
A serving of 1/2 cup of raspberries has only 2.7 grams of sugar.
#2. Reduce blood sugar. Fasting blood sugar should be under 100 mg/dL. Over time, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels.
Source: American Health Association
Writers’ Wisdom: Write it Like You Feel
“All that writers can do is keep trying to say what is deepest in their hearts. ” ~Lloyd Alexander
God Moves in a Mysterious Way ~ William Cowper
God Moves in a Mysterious Way
William Cowper
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.
Today’s Quote: Miracles Abound
“To me, every hour of the day and night is an unspeakably perfect miracle.” – Walt Whitman
Nutrition Hack: 5 of 10 Intuitive Eating Principles
Intuitive Eating Principle #5
Respect your fullness. Just as your body tells you when it’s hungry, it also tells you when it’s full. Listen for the signals of comfortable fullness, when you feel you have had enough. As you’re eating, check in with yourself to see how the food tastes and how hungry or full you are feeling.
Source
Stress Hack: Attitude Makes A Difference
You Can Have Stress – Don’t Let Stress Have You
Stress is inevitable. But its cumulative effects over time are what damage your health. Chronic stress has been linked to a host of issues, including anxiety and depression, weight gain, inflammation, digestive issues, fertility problems, even poor memory. The way to avoid repercussions is by dealing with stress in the moment, as it happens.
Source: Lara Fielding in The 4 Pillars of Health (Stephanie Booth, author)
The idea is to become psychologically flexible—or in other words, to learn to balance your exposure to stress with self-soothing efforts. I often equate this to standing on a surfboard, on top of a bowling ball. You can lean into your uncomfortable emotions, and then discipline yourself to pull out of that discom- fort. Being able to toggle back and forth like that will make you more resilient.
Research shows that it’s not stress itself but our attitudes and beliefs about stress that can make it “toxic.” When you feel powerless, that’s when stress becomes harmful. So it’s really not the amount of stress you have in your life that matters. It’s the way you ride it out.
