Planning (Continued)
Good morning and happy Thursday!!!!! So I continue to remind myself of the importance of planning. Imagine a wedding that went forward with NO PLANNING!!!! This would be such a difficult situation to just wing your way through. Now imagine compounding the lack of planning with an ongoing lack of health and well-being? Lack of sleep, lack of exercise, lack of good dieting skills; all factors in disease development. So, how then can we become more effective planners?
Yesterday I mentioned starting with three small habits. So, for example, habit one could be; I’m going to drink one extra glass of water every day for the next 30 days and see what positive changes occur. Maybe you want less of that sweet or salty snack. Maybe you see a positive change in your skin. Maybe you notice that the puffiness under the eye area is greatly diminished. As you begin to notice positive changes, you are now inspired and motivated to continue with more healthy practices, changes, and skills.
Habit two could be to get a book on aromatherapy and study how scents impact our moods. Citrus scents tend to energize us, so during the day, maybe we choose citrus aromas in a diffuser. Lavender is known to calm, soothe and relax, so maybe we diffuse lavender oil in our bedroom before going to sleep. We can also put lavender drops on our pillow case to aid sleep.
Habit three could be reduce caffeine intake. For anyone who has known me for a long period of time, you know that my coffee addiction is notable. I order coffee with meals, I can’t wait for that first cup of coffee in the morning, and if I had endless amounts of money, I could have possibly been a Starbucks groupie. Caffeine is good, but again, anything we do in excess versus moderation, can be negative. Chocolate is good for us; IN MODERATION. Water is good for us; IN MODERATION. Yes, there is such a thing as too much water.
In my morning research today, I found some interesting information on healthy workouts for women over 50, information on the importance of sleep, and how the disease process can be enhanced with poor sleep over a prolonged period of time. I always knew sleep played an important role in health, but our brains literally required quality sleep for approximately seven to eight hours each night. We also need to practice shutting down the television at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime along with our other technology devices that have made life so “convenient.”
Plan to read at least 10 pages every night before bed. Plan to keep a glass or bottle of water near your bed each night for hydration. Plan to keep a notepad near the bed to record dreams rather than reaching for the phone. When planning your home, PLAN to keep televisions out of the bedroom. Plan your meals weekly if this helps maintain a schedule that provides you more time to work out. Plan you meals so that you incorporate more fruits and vegetables.
Lastly, plan to make it easier to stay healthy, to stay hydrated, and to stay focused. Love you as you would love your child; unconditionally, tenderly, and be as fiercely protective of your health and well-being as you would with the safety of your loved ones.