Healthy home and life

Archive for the ‘living health’ Category

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The drain: Energy-sucking friends

The fix: So it’s all about her? Take control by steering conversations and outings to your interests, says Tina B. Tessina, PhD, author of It Ends with You: Grow Up and Out of Dysfunction. “All connections should have a tennis-match feel—I put something out, you send something back,” she says. If you’re not getting what you give, it may be time to cut that friend off.

The drain: Piles of stuff

The fix: Get junk under control by tackling high-visibility spaces, like your mail table, first. “Once you see how good it feels to have tidier surfaces, you’ll be motivated to tackle bigger projects,” Tessina says. Create temporary and permanent storage—a basket to drop mail in, for instance, and an accordion file, where it gets moved to later.

The drain: A.M. chaos

The fix: Stressing over getting your children to school on time is no way to start the day. The night before, lay out clothing and prepack lunches, so the kids can get dressed and out the door quickly, Tessina says. Also, keep healthy breakfast bars and drinkable yogurts handy for when you need to eat and run.

The drain: Calls galore

The fix: Always being on call can be emotionally draining. Set limits, such as no e-mail after 7 p.m. And reserve weekly Me Time. “On Thursdays, I go for a swim and have lunch alone at my favorite restaurant,” Tessina says. The only rule: Turn the crackberry off.

 
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7 1/2 Hours-That’s the amount of sleep you need to avoid midday fatigue, as well as health problems including insulin resistance, weight gain, and endocrine issues, says Reed Young, MD, a sleep specialist at Park Plaza Hospital and Medical Center in Houston.

Find out how you can get the zzz’s you need with these slumber-inducing tricks and treats in our ultimate health kit. View the slideshow.

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Gut check! Everyone gets a feeling when a situation feels right—or really wrong. It’s our intuition talking, but many of us ignore it. Laura Day, author of Practical Intuition, shows you how to hone your sixth sense and let it lead you to a more rewarding life.

Listen to that nagging feeling
Whenever you start to fret about something, like a relationship or financial matter, pay attention, Day advises. That hunch may pay off: “Out of the blue, I started to worry about the stock market a few years ago, and I sold everything,” Day says. “I avoided a financial crisis.”

Tune in to your senses
Intuition is actually an extension of your senses—so paying attention to the things you smell, hear, taste, touch, and see throughout the day can sharpen your intuitive skills. You’ll pick up info that could feed your intuition and lead you in new directions.

Do a reality check
Not every thought that pops up is worth following. Think about what else could be at play, Day suggests. Maybe you’re feeling down on your new job just because you skipped breakfast and your blood sugar is low. Also, ask yourself if you are reacting to a phobia, rather than your intuition.

Pick up the connection
If your past suddenly comes to mind, it may be a hint about what would make you happy in the future. Say you flashed back to happily playing the violin in school. Your subconscious could be telling you to play again. Not sure why you thought of something? Jot it down and reflect on it. Take action if it feels right.

 
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Q: I’m so stressed that I forget things, like where I put my keys and plans with friends. Help!

A: The first thing to do is stop panicking—and stop telling yourself that you’re losing your mind. Stress can interfere with memory and creative thinking, so the more you calm down about not remembering, the better you’ll actually remember. On the practical side, organizational guru David Allen says that everything you need to get done belongs out of your head and into a tracking system so you can let go of trying to remember it. That alone will reduce stress.

Put plans with friends and other to-do items on a calendar, and refer to it daily. (Set an alarm on your computer or cell phone as reminders, if necessary.) For things you often lose, like keys and sunglasses, pick an easy place to keep them—a tray on the foyer table, for example—and get in the habit of putting them there when you’re not using them. That way, you’ll be far less likely to leave items in random places.

Q: My job is very demanding, and it’s hard to shut out my BlackBerry at night. Any tips?

A: You have to be convinced that your e-mail is not worth looking at. For two weeks, give yourself a deadline (no checking e-mail between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for instance) and see how you feel.

My clients often notice that their work doesn’t suffer significantly, they sleep better, and they have more time for themselves. Once you see the benefits, keeping your commitment to yourself—and logging off from your work e-mail—will be a lot easier.

Q: I get flustered when I talk to someone who has authority, like my boss or a store manager. How can I feel more relaxed and confident?

A: Before you begin a conversation, ask yourself the outcome you’re hoping for. A refund? A raise? Empathy from the other person about your situation? (I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve asked clients what they want out of a conversation and heard them say, “I have no idea.”) Then, when you begin talking, state the issue and your dream outcome: “I would like a refund for my broken toaster oven.” The clearer you are on what you want, the easier it will be for you to speak up and get what you want.

One move that will help calm your nerves: Write down your main points on a note card and practice what you’re going to say with a friend or family member beforehand. That way, you’ll go in prepared and won’t forget the key talking points.

“It’s cold season. Help!”

Neither. When it comes to fighting off a cold, there’s no definitive evidence that vitamin C or echinacea really work. In fact, a Cochrane Library review of 30 studies found that C is only effective for people under high physical stress, like marathon runners. And several studies have concluded that echinacea is ineffective for preventing colds.

“Anecdotally, I have patients who swear by both,” says Brent Bauer, MD, director of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Program at the Mayo Clinic and author of the Mayo Clinic Guide to Alternative Medicine 2007. If taking something makes you feel better (regardless of the evidence), most experts suggest that you go with C: “There are too many variables with echinacea,” Bauer says. Vitamin C is safer, less complex, and more affordable. “You don’t have to worry as much about where it came from or what it really is,” he explains. “It’s something our bodies need anyway, and its anti-inflammatory properties might make you feel a bit better, even if it’s not really preventing colds.”

Want to avoid a cold this winter? Experts agree on this: Wash your hands. A lot.

 
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