When you give up your boundaries in a relationship you:
| When your boundaries are intact in a relationship you:
|
Reading from http://www.yourpotential.net/3/5/A_Checklist_on_Boundaries_in_a_Relationship.html
Thursday, March 31, 2011
A Checklist on Boundaries in a Relationship
The goal in an intimate relationship is to feel calm, centered and focused. When we lack these elements in our relationships it is due in large part to an inability to establish and maintain healthy boundaries with one another. Healthy boundaries allow a person to experience comfortable interdependence with other people, resulting in well functioning relationships and positive self-regard.
Reading from http://www.yourpotential.net/3/5/A_Checklist_on_Boundaries_in_a_Relationship.html
Reading from http://www.yourpotential.net/3/5/A_Checklist_on_Boundaries_in_a_Relationship.html
Friday, March 25, 2011
The 11 Most Important Rules For Healthy Eating...Yes, Most Important
The 11 Most Important Rules For Healthy Eating...Yes, Most Important
You know what to do in theory, don’t you? Avoid processed foods and trans fats, include more lean protein, load up on the fresh fruits and veggies. Easy! Until, of course, you realize that the last time your weekly menu even partially resembled such a wholesome eating plan was sometime in the early 90’s, before stress, or adulthood, or the perils of keeping up online took over your life.And these days the idea of eating healthy sounds moderately confusing at best, and just like too much hard work at worst. But it doesn’t have to be that complicated. In fact, if you follow these 11 rules for healthy eating you just might find that it’s a lot easier than you thought to be one of those annoyingly perky healthy people.
- Eat food that is as close to its natural state as possible
While it’s true that not everything found in nature is good for you, the stuff that’s been classified as food is a pretty safe bet. The advent of the modern-day diet industry initially taught us that we know better than Mother Nature but really – what are the chances of that?
Over the past 50 years we as a people group have adhered to ever stricter diets and in the same time-frame Western-world rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease have skyrocketed. Isn’t it time we got back to basics?
My rule is to always choose foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. Eat the whole egg, not just the white. Choose full-fat organic dairy over low-fat, antibiotic-ridden dairy. Include a small amount of nature’s fats (organic meat, avocado, oils, nuts and seeds) in your diet rather than opting for the packaged foods that may be low in fat but are typically high in sugar, synthetic chemicals, and heavens knows what else. - Calories don’t count
Visit the tribes of the Maasai people in Africa, or the Brazilians who live deep within the Amazon and you’ll visit a people exuding health, energy, and – for the most part – an enviable physique. Ask them how many calories they stick to each day in order to be so healthy and you just might be laughed out of the jungle. And you know what? This is not a situation unique to uncivilized people groups. Take a trip to the typical Frenchwoman’s home, or head over to the Dominican Republic, and you’ll find a similar situation (possibly minus the hunting and sparse clothing).
If you choose to eat a balance of natural foods you’ll soon learn that calories don’t count. This is because when it comes to energy in versus energy out, 2 + 2 does not always make 4. Your body is perfectly capable of doing whatever it wants with the foods you eat, and I’ve seen people gain weight and feel awful on a low-cal diet, while others regularly indulge in meat, (good) fats, and a daily feast of vegetables, seeds, full-fat dairy, and nuts.
It’s all about listening to your body – which is tough to do if your mind is overwhelmed with sugar and chemicals from all that low-fat food. - Avoid dieting
If you’re not going to count calories, then I guess you’d better give up dieting as well. (Bet you’ll be sorry to say goodbye). I don’t have to tell you that most diets depend on restricting something –whether it’s calories, a certain food group, foods at a certain time of day, etc. In fact, I’m sure you’ve been there at least once.
Well the evidence is in, and it’s not pretty. Studies have shown that the more frequently you’ve dieted, the greater your chances of being overweight and even obese later in life. Dieting also puts you at greater risk of developing food intolerance and digestive problems due to the over-consumption of certain foods as others are excluded. Throw out the diet books, switch off Oprah, and take the time to find a lifestyle diet that will work for you for the long-term. - Include protein
Protein based foods are the building blocks of a healthy diet and protein has several important roles in your body, including cell repair, cell regeneration, hormone production, and blood sugar management. In fact, pretty much every different diet, while possibly excluding carbohydrate or fat, recommends some form of protein. This alone should indicate how important it is.
In my experience, most people do not eat enough protein. If you think some chicken breast in your evening stir-fry or a slice of ham in your lunch focaccia is going to cut it, think again. I’m talking quality protein at all 3 main meals – and possibly in between, depending on your level of activity. Your main sources of protein should be from natural sources such as dairy, eggs, poultry, meat, and fish. Legumes, nuts and seeds also provide some protein.
My personal recommendation is to stay away from soy due as many natural health experts are now linking it to hormonal imbalance and increased toxicity in your body. Read The Whole Soy Story by Kayla Daniels for more information on this. - Be smart about fat
If you’ve heard of Omega 3 - perhaps even swallowed the occasional capsule - then you’re already onto the benefits of smart or good fats. The most commonly known smart fats are the essential fatty acids Omega 3 (O3) and Omega 6 (O6). It’s crucial that you include these fats in your diet as your body is not able to produce them, and they are critical to your health.
Good fats serve many wonderful purposes, including the reduction of inflammation, improved detoxification, and they’ve also been linked to weight loss.
The typical Western diet tends to emphasize O6, through over-consumption of vegetable oils such as corn oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil. Corn oil in particular, is used in most baked and processed foods. A healthy diet should include an O6:O3 ratio of anywhere between 1:1 and 1:4, so it’s crucial that you take steps to increase your O3 intake. You can easily do this by including eggs, walnuts, oily fish, flaxseeds, leafy greens, and a good (mercury-free) O3 supplement. In nature you would eat up to 40 grams of O3 each day, and considering that a heart salmon steak only has around 7 grams of O3 I’d say that supplementation is a good option for everybody! - Choose foods you enjoy
What’s the point in trying to be healthy if it’s all uphill work? Many people I speak to are convinced that switching to a healthy eating plan requires them to give up everything they love and subsist on dry crackers with the occasional raw vegetable stick. The reality couldn’t be further from this miserable scenario.
A truly healthy diet is one that embraces all elements of what nature has to offer. If you include loads of variety in your day-to-day food choices, and plenty of nature’s rich indulgent foods along the way then you’ll not only be eating as you should be, you’ll be enjoying a feast everyday. Of course you don’t have to eat every different food out there, and if there’s something you especially loathe then just steer clear. Myself, I’m not a big fan of broccoli and it never features in my diet.
When switching to a purely natural diet it can initially be tough to adapt to foods and flavors that are not overly sugared or caked in chemicals, but trust me – give yourself a week or so and you’ll realize just how delicious real food can be. Try going back to a junk food or packaged food diet after this and I guarantee you’ll be digging your heels in every step of the way. - Be adventurous with herbs, spices, and traditional foods
Of course part of enjoyment is being adventurous with different tastes. I know I’d get pretty bored living entirely on meat and veg night after night. The good news is that herbs and spices from all the corners of the earth are a great way to make things interesting, and have tremendous health benefits to boot.
Chili, for example, has been said to increase your metabolism, parsley keeps your breath fresh, and garlic may help to lower blood pressure.
You can also freely add organic sea salt to any of your food. I love my salt so much that I actually add it to my drinking water from time to time (it’s a great way to re-mineralize purified tap water). Organic sea salt can be found at your local health or organic store and is grey or pink in color. It often comes in chunks, and contains over 90 different essential minerals - what a wonderful addition to your diet.
It’s also worth considering traditional foods such as raw cacao (mmm, chocolate), coconut oil (high in medium-chain fatty acids, are great for your liver and metabolism) , and wild berries such as the goji berry (a wonderful snack which is high in antioxidants). - Eat when you’re hungry but not before
There is so much information out there telling you what to eat. Just trying to read and decipher it all is a headache in itself, and that’s without even considering additional questions such as how often you should eat. It’s popular for modern-day diets to recommend that you eat small meals at regular intervals throughout the day. This approach has taken off as it’s said to regulate blood sugar levels and ensure you don’t give in to the temptation that can come about when hunger’s a-gnawing. While this is a good approach for many people, it’s not necessarily the right one for you.
The truth is that some people do need to eat 5 or 6 or even more small meals each day, but others function and look their best when they eat only 2 to 3 times per day. If you consider yourself someone who ‘lives to eat’ as opposed to ‘eats to live’, you probably fall into the first category. It’s important that you listen to your body. The key to health and ideal weight is to wait until you are hungry to eat. Not starving, mind you. But you definitely shouldn’t be eating ‘just because’ it’s lunchtime. - Quality counts
It stands to reason that a diet rich in nature’s rich foods is one with a focus on quality. Unfortunately the typical supermarket fare that most of us consume is often produced as efficiently (cheaply) as possible, and you pay the price with your health. There’s a tremendous difference, for example, in the health-giving benefits of a cage egg (which has an O6:O3 ratio of around 20:1) compared with an organic egg (which has ideal O6:O3 ratios).
According to many health experts, supermarket fruits and vegetables (which, let’s face it, often lack color and flavor, have in many cases been boosted with dyes, waxes, and even fresh smells in order to trick you into believing they’re fresh. How do you think the supermarket gets the produce on the shelf looking ‘just right’ without first picking it before its time and then taking steps to slow the ripening process. I’ve heard of one major supermarket chain that keeps its apples in its warehouse for up to 12 months! My recommendation is to buy from smaller grocers, markets, or organic stores wherever possible. When it comes to meat and dairy, choose organic or at least free-range.
- If it sounds too good to be true, it is
If a product tells you it’s low-fat, or low-cal, or maybe even low-sugar, and still promises to deliver all the taste of its more natural cousins, then you can bet there’s a problem. Your body was not designed to subsist on foods that come in a package or are all but 100% man-made in an effort to meet the latest government ideal of what’s good for you. A simple check to determine the BS factor on any product is to check the ingredients label. I tell my clients that the longer the list, particularly if it includes things you can’t pronounce, the worse it is for you. I don’t have to tell you that healthy eating is built on real food, not chemicals and artificial sweeteners. - Be realistic and don’t be afraid to break the rules once in a while
It’s all very well to proudly follow a healthy diet, and I do believe that you really will feel so good eating this way that you simply won’t want to revert to old habits. But we all have occasions when we just can’t be bothered making an effort, when we run out of time, or when we’ve simply earned the right to indulge and let loose. In my opinion this is actually an important element of healthy eating.
Binging on chocolate or chips is not healthy, but taking the time to enjoy them ‘just because’ is great for the soul and could even benefit your body if it means it keeps you on track the rest of the time. I recommend you follow the 80/20 rule – make an effort and eat the right foods 80% of the time, and let your hair down the other 20%. Just don’t be surprised if it ends up being only 10% as your energy, health and motivation builds with each consecutive day of healthy eating!
 | Written on 8/5/2009 by Kat Eden. Kat is a Personal Trainer from Australia. Visit her blog Body Incredible to be inspired with the latest nutrition tips, weight loss advice, and motivational thinking. . |
Reading from http://www.dumblittleman.com/2009/08/11-most-important-rules-for-healthy.html
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Characteristics of a Healthy Relationships
Article by Mukta Gaikwad ( Reading from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/healthy-relationships-characteristics-of-a-healthy-relationship.html )
To be in a relationship means to be able to relate to someone you love. Being in a relationship is the most beautiful state to be in. Many of you readers might be in a relationship already or might be looking forward to getting into one. Just as it takes two to tango, it also takes two to build healthy relationships. A successful relationship takes a long determined effort by both the partners. There are many characteristics of a healthy relationship. Let's make a start to build healthy relationships as we go through characteristics of healthy relationship. A nice idea would be to read the traits of a good relationship with your partner.
Characteristics of a Healthy Relationships
Congratulations for making it to this page! The next step towards building healthy relationships would be reading this article with your spouse or partner as mentioned earlier. If that's not possible, then you have an interesting topic to talk about with your love on the dinner table tonight. For more on stages of healthy relationships, read on.
Sharing is Caring
Sharing is not restricted to sharing of tangible items with your loved one. Busy lives leave little room for sharing our personal space with the person we love. This makes them feel dejected and often neglected. Share with your partner the events of the day, what was the highlight and the low point. Ask them what did they do and how their day was. Try beginning with different questions such as 'What did you eat today for lunch?' or 'What were you working on today?'. Beginning with different questions can help your spouse open up differently and help him/her share things that are generally left out.
Earn Respect
'You can't be respected, unless you learn to respect' is the true basis of a healthy relationship. Constantly making fun of your partner by jokes, abusing him or her, subjecting him to public humiliation and among friends, can leave indelible scars on the relationship. Respect your partner's discomforts and try to strike a balance. Appreciate your partner's career choices and if you disagree, try to talk it out instead of acting unreasonably protective. For more on making a relationship last, go on reading.
Honesty is the Best Policy
Signs of a healthy relationship will tell you that honesty is the best policy. Being honest implies to both, the man and his lady. Once again, busy lives have been the reason for 'emotional infidelity', but the same can be resolved by understanding each other and devising ways of better communication. Communication differs from talking, as the former includes comprehension and its implementation than just hearing. Honesty will prevail only if you understand and appreciate the person you are with. Thus, an important relationship advice is to be honest and open in your approach.
Promise a Commitment
Relationship issues develop due to lack of commitment and the feeling of helplessness. 'Commitment' is an unwelcome word for many. However, it is because we are worried about losing freedom, that we devalue commitment. We fail to see that committing to the person we love is actually freeing ourselves from the fear of losing freedom. In this way, we can be more free than what we are. Commitment means being there for the person you love, knowing him, understanding his points of view, accepting him just as he is and loving him unconditionally like every moment is your last! Characteristics of a good relationship, will time and again show that you are committed and belong to him like water belongs to the sea. But the important part of 'commitment' is, that it needs to come mutually, which strengthens the relationship.
Healthy relationships are honeymoons that never end. Building healthy relationships is setting a foot on the journey that would lead, and surely lead you to happiness. The destination may be far off, but the journey will teach you lessons of love, learning and understanding. Before you get into a relationship, learn to relate to the person you want to be with. This will give you a head start to begin the most romantic honeymoon ever!
To be in a relationship means to be able to relate to someone you love. Being in a relationship is the most beautiful state to be in. Many of you readers might be in a relationship already or might be looking forward to getting into one. Just as it takes two to tango, it also takes two to build healthy relationships. A successful relationship takes a long determined effort by both the partners. There are many characteristics of a healthy relationship. Let's make a start to build healthy relationships as we go through characteristics of healthy relationship. A nice idea would be to read the traits of a good relationship with your partner.
Characteristics of a Healthy Relationships
Congratulations for making it to this page! The next step towards building healthy relationships would be reading this article with your spouse or partner as mentioned earlier. If that's not possible, then you have an interesting topic to talk about with your love on the dinner table tonight. For more on stages of healthy relationships, read on.
Sharing is Caring
Sharing is not restricted to sharing of tangible items with your loved one. Busy lives leave little room for sharing our personal space with the person we love. This makes them feel dejected and often neglected. Share with your partner the events of the day, what was the highlight and the low point. Ask them what did they do and how their day was. Try beginning with different questions such as 'What did you eat today for lunch?' or 'What were you working on today?'. Beginning with different questions can help your spouse open up differently and help him/her share things that are generally left out.
Earn Respect
'You can't be respected, unless you learn to respect' is the true basis of a healthy relationship. Constantly making fun of your partner by jokes, abusing him or her, subjecting him to public humiliation and among friends, can leave indelible scars on the relationship. Respect your partner's discomforts and try to strike a balance. Appreciate your partner's career choices and if you disagree, try to talk it out instead of acting unreasonably protective. For more on making a relationship last, go on reading.
Honesty is the Best Policy
Signs of a healthy relationship will tell you that honesty is the best policy. Being honest implies to both, the man and his lady. Once again, busy lives have been the reason for 'emotional infidelity', but the same can be resolved by understanding each other and devising ways of better communication. Communication differs from talking, as the former includes comprehension and its implementation than just hearing. Honesty will prevail only if you understand and appreciate the person you are with. Thus, an important relationship advice is to be honest and open in your approach.
Promise a Commitment
Relationship issues develop due to lack of commitment and the feeling of helplessness. 'Commitment' is an unwelcome word for many. However, it is because we are worried about losing freedom, that we devalue commitment. We fail to see that committing to the person we love is actually freeing ourselves from the fear of losing freedom. In this way, we can be more free than what we are. Commitment means being there for the person you love, knowing him, understanding his points of view, accepting him just as he is and loving him unconditionally like every moment is your last! Characteristics of a good relationship, will time and again show that you are committed and belong to him like water belongs to the sea. But the important part of 'commitment' is, that it needs to come mutually, which strengthens the relationship.
Healthy relationships are honeymoons that never end. Building healthy relationships is setting a foot on the journey that would lead, and surely lead you to happiness. The destination may be far off, but the journey will teach you lessons of love, learning and understanding. Before you get into a relationship, learn to relate to the person you want to be with. This will give you a head start to begin the most romantic honeymoon ever!
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Traits of a Healthy Relationship:(Part II)
"The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships." - Anthony Robbins
Article by Kaskmira Lad ( Reading from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/traits-of-a-healthy-relationship.html )
Successful relationships are not something that is built in a day. There are many factors that go into the making of a healthy relationship. Being intimate with a person does not always mean you shall connect in a better manner. Healthy relationships are all based on how well you connect even from within. A healthy relationship is one where both can be their individual self and also learn to accept each other with all the qualities and flaws. When you are in such a relationship, both partners give each other complete freedom and also support each other in every aspect of their life. There are certain components that are required to create a base for a healthy relationship. Here, we shall check out certain traits of a healthy relationship.
Traits of a Healthy Relationship:
Having a healthy bond of friendship:
Having a bond of friendship between the couple is very necessary if you wish to have a healthy relationship. Couples that discover this beautiful bond end up knowing each other to a deeper level. Friendship is a bond that will help you to connect in various ways and considering your partner to be your buddy would help you to enjoy each other’s company to the fullest. Being a friend can help you to care and share and understand each other in various other spheres of life.
Mutual respect for each other:
For a relationship to be truly compatible in every aspect, couples need to maintain respect for each other. This respect can be towards one’s career or any other issue related to life. The moment you display a sign of respect towards your partner and appreciation for what he/she is doing for you, it will only help to strengthen this very special bond you share! Mutual respect only helps a couple to grow in a relationship.
Affection and intimacy in a relationship:
The right levels of affection are required in a relationship in order to strengthen the bond. Although physical intimacy is required, it does not always mean there is no other way to express your love. A simple ‘Love You’ works wonders when your partner is having a hectic schedule. You might be surprised how well a tight hug can keep couples more connected. A healthy relationship therefore can be gauged when couples share a lot of affection and are intimate with each other no matter how busy the schedule may appear.
Honesty and building the trust factor:
Honesty between a couple helps to bring them closer to each other and also know more about each other. For any healthy relationship, it is necessary both partners are completely honest about their opinions about all issues in life. Honesty will help to build the right amount of trust in a relationship and couples can even learn to value each other’s opinions and beliefs. This will in turn help to develop the right levels of respect for each other.
Sense of Humor:
Laughter can sure be a great way to ease things between couples. Having a great sense of humor and being able to share funny moments help to take the relationship to a new level. Having the perfect sense of humor without really hurting sentiments of people around you is one of the traits that go into the making of a healthy relationship. It also helps couples to overcome difficult situations with more ease.
Perfect Communication:
A relationship would require you to constantly communicate with your partner and get one’s feelings across. Communication is required so that couples can understand each other perfectly and also avoid misunderstandings from being created. With proper communication, a healthy relationship is possible without any added hassles! There could be no other better way than to express your feelings before your partner and also gain his/her confidence in due course of time.
To maintain a healthy relationship, a couple would also need to have a common vision and goal. This would help couples to get the most out of life together!
Article by Kaskmira Lad ( Reading from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/traits-of-a-healthy-relationship.html )
Successful relationships are not something that is built in a day. There are many factors that go into the making of a healthy relationship. Being intimate with a person does not always mean you shall connect in a better manner. Healthy relationships are all based on how well you connect even from within. A healthy relationship is one where both can be their individual self and also learn to accept each other with all the qualities and flaws. When you are in such a relationship, both partners give each other complete freedom and also support each other in every aspect of their life. There are certain components that are required to create a base for a healthy relationship. Here, we shall check out certain traits of a healthy relationship.
Traits of a Healthy Relationship:
Having a healthy bond of friendship:
Having a bond of friendship between the couple is very necessary if you wish to have a healthy relationship. Couples that discover this beautiful bond end up knowing each other to a deeper level. Friendship is a bond that will help you to connect in various ways and considering your partner to be your buddy would help you to enjoy each other’s company to the fullest. Being a friend can help you to care and share and understand each other in various other spheres of life.
Mutual respect for each other:
For a relationship to be truly compatible in every aspect, couples need to maintain respect for each other. This respect can be towards one’s career or any other issue related to life. The moment you display a sign of respect towards your partner and appreciation for what he/she is doing for you, it will only help to strengthen this very special bond you share! Mutual respect only helps a couple to grow in a relationship.
Affection and intimacy in a relationship:
The right levels of affection are required in a relationship in order to strengthen the bond. Although physical intimacy is required, it does not always mean there is no other way to express your love. A simple ‘Love You’ works wonders when your partner is having a hectic schedule. You might be surprised how well a tight hug can keep couples more connected. A healthy relationship therefore can be gauged when couples share a lot of affection and are intimate with each other no matter how busy the schedule may appear.
Honesty and building the trust factor:
Honesty between a couple helps to bring them closer to each other and also know more about each other. For any healthy relationship, it is necessary both partners are completely honest about their opinions about all issues in life. Honesty will help to build the right amount of trust in a relationship and couples can even learn to value each other’s opinions and beliefs. This will in turn help to develop the right levels of respect for each other.
Sense of Humor:
Laughter can sure be a great way to ease things between couples. Having a great sense of humor and being able to share funny moments help to take the relationship to a new level. Having the perfect sense of humor without really hurting sentiments of people around you is one of the traits that go into the making of a healthy relationship. It also helps couples to overcome difficult situations with more ease.
Perfect Communication:
A relationship would require you to constantly communicate with your partner and get one’s feelings across. Communication is required so that couples can understand each other perfectly and also avoid misunderstandings from being created. With proper communication, a healthy relationship is possible without any added hassles! There could be no other better way than to express your feelings before your partner and also gain his/her confidence in due course of time.
To maintain a healthy relationship, a couple would also need to have a common vision and goal. This would help couples to get the most out of life together!
Traits of a Healthy Relationship
Signs of Healthy Relationship
The first sign of a healthy relationship is that you are passionate for each other. This means that you are still in love with each other as deeply as when you first met. Being passionate with each other also means that you are enjoying each other's company. This does not necessarily mean that hardly a day passes by without you seeing each other. There may be times that you will be far from each other. True passion, however, is measured by your faithfulness, loyalty and commitment.
Secondly, fighting does not necessarily mean bad if it can settle issues instead of making your partner feeling worse. However some couples may boast that they never fight. You should raise your eyebrows with such pronouncement and ask such couples if they truly know each other and if they are talking with each other. Chances are their answer would be a resounding no.
Don't worry much if you have differences like most couples. This means that you are transparent and honest with each other. You disclose enough of yourself to generate friction and conflict. If you ever decide to get married, you will need your skills at smoothing out your conflicts and your fights for as long as you stay married.
Lastly, there is no "perfect" relationship. Your relationship is healthy if you know how to sort out your differences and settle your conflicts. But if all you ever do is fight, then something is terribly wrong and breakup is imminent like rain about to fall from an overcast sky.
Reading from http://www.articlealley.com/article_748579_35.html
The first sign of a healthy relationship is that you are passionate for each other. This means that you are still in love with each other as deeply as when you first met. Being passionate with each other also means that you are enjoying each other's company. This does not necessarily mean that hardly a day passes by without you seeing each other. There may be times that you will be far from each other. True passion, however, is measured by your faithfulness, loyalty and commitment.
Secondly, fighting does not necessarily mean bad if it can settle issues instead of making your partner feeling worse. However some couples may boast that they never fight. You should raise your eyebrows with such pronouncement and ask such couples if they truly know each other and if they are talking with each other. Chances are their answer would be a resounding no.
Don't worry much if you have differences like most couples. This means that you are transparent and honest with each other. You disclose enough of yourself to generate friction and conflict. If you ever decide to get married, you will need your skills at smoothing out your conflicts and your fights for as long as you stay married.
Lastly, there is no "perfect" relationship. Your relationship is healthy if you know how to sort out your differences and settle your conflicts. But if all you ever do is fight, then something is terribly wrong and breakup is imminent like rain about to fall from an overcast sky.
Reading from http://www.articlealley.com/article_748579_35.html
The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People
Enriching Lives through Online Training The 100 Simple Secrets of Happy People
By David Niven, Ph.D. (Following is a brief explanation from the back cover of the book, and the Table of Contents)
Scientists and academics have spent entire careers investigating what makes people happy. But hidden in obscure scholarly journals and reports, their research is all too often inaccessible to ordinary people. At last, social scientist and psychologist David Niven, Ph. D., distills the scientific gobbledygook of over a thousand of the most compelling and important studies on happiness and habits for happiness is illustrated with a clear example and illuminated by a straightforward explanation of the science behind it to show you how to transform a ho-hum existence into a full and happy life.
Table of Contents
1. Your Life Has Purpose and Meaning
2. Use a Strategy for Happiness
3. You Don’t Have to Win Every Time
4. Your Goals Should Be Aligned with One Another
5. Choose Your Comparisons Wisely
6. Cultivate Friendships
7. Turn Off the TV
8. Accept Yourself—Unconditionally
9. Remember Where You Came From
10. Limit Yourself to Thinking About One Subject as You Lie Down to Sleep
11. Friendship Beats Money
12. Have Realistic Expectations
13. Be Open to New Ideas
14. Share with Others How Important They Are to You
15. If You’re Not Sure, Guess Positively
16. Believe in Yourself
17. Don’t Believe in Yourself Too Much
18. Don’t Face Your Problems Alone
19. Age Is Not to Be Feared
20. Develop a Household Routine 21. Don’t Be Overprotective
22. Pay Attention. You May Have What You Want
23. Don’t Let Your Religious Beliefs Fade
24. Do What You Say You Are Going to Do
25. Don’t Be Aggressive with Your Friends and Family
26. Root for the Home Team
27. Don’t Confuse Stuff with Success
28. Every Relationship Is Different
29. Don’t Think “What If”
30. Volunteer
31. If You Can’t Reach Your Goals, Your Goals Will Hurt You
32. Exercise
33. Little Things Have Big Meanings
34. It’s Not What Happened, It’s How Your Think About What Happened
35. Develop Some Common Interests with Loved Ones
36. Laugh
37. Don’t Let Your Entire Life Hinge on One Element
38. Share of Yourself
39. Busy Is Better Than Bored
40. Satisfaction Is Relative
41. Learn to Use a Computer
42. Try to Think Less About the People and Things That Bother You
43. Keep Your Family Close
44. Eat Some Fruit Every Day
45. Enjoy What You Have
46. Think in concrete Terms
47. Be Socially Supportive
48. Don’t Blame Yourself
49. Be a Peacemaker
50. Cherish Animals
51. Make Your Work a Calling
52. Never Trade Your Morals for Your Goals
53. Don’t Pretend to Ignore things Your Loved Ones do that Bother You
54. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
55. Buy What You Like
56. Accomplish Something Every Day
57. Be Flexible
58. Events Are Temporary
59. Be Your Own Fan
60. Join a Group
61. Be Positive
62. There Will Be an End, but You Can Be Prepared
63. How We See the World Is More Important Than How the World Is
64. Keep a Pen and Paper Handy
65. Help the Next Person Who Needs Some Minor Assistance
66. Take Care Not to Harshly Criticize Family and Friends
67. Some People Like the Big Picture, and Others Like the Details
68. Do things You Are Good At
69. Go visit Your Neighbor
70. Smile
71. Don’t Accept Television’s Picture of the World
72. You Always Have a Choice
73. Be Agreeable
74. Don’t Ignore One Part of Your Life
75. Listen to Music
76. Let Your Goals Guide You
77. Use Your Job Positively
78. Don’t Forget to Have Fun
79. Believe in Ultimate Justice
80. Reminisce
81. Be Conscientious
82. Don’t Dwell on Unwinnable Conflicts
83. Enjoy the Ordinary
84. Focus Not on the World’s Tragedies, but on the World’s Hope
85. Get a Hobby
86. Envying Other People’s Relationships is Pointless
87. Give Yourself Time to Adapt to Change
88. Focus on What Really Matters to You
89. Realize that Complete Satisfaction does Not Exist
90. Surround Yourself with Pleasant Aromas
91. Don’t Let Others Set Your Goals
92. You Are a Person, Not a Stereotype
93. Know What Makes You Happy and Sad 94. Keep Reading
95. We Must Feel Needed
96. Say “So What”
97. Have a Purpose
98. You Have Not Finished the Best Part of Your Life
99. Money Does Not Buy Happiness
100. What Does it All Mean? You Decide
Reading from http://pslinstitute.com/happypeople.html
Enriching Lives through Online Training
Saturday, March 12, 2011
THE BEST FOOD FOR SKIN
THE BEST FOOD FOR SKIN
The best skin care regime involves paying attention to both the external and internal needs of the skin. Skin requires nutrients derived from inside the body in order to protect itself from damage and replenish dead skin cells with new healthy cells. Eating the best food for skin goes a long way towards having the best and healthiest looking skin possible.
What is the best food for skin? There are many foods that if eaten regularly as part of an overall well-balanced diet will benefit the skin. However, some foods are better than others and eating these foods provides the extra nutrients required to boost your skin’s health and give you that great complexion you always wanted.
Below is Healthy-skincare.com’s list for the best food for skin in no particular order.
Brazil Nuts
A Brazil nut is an excellent food for skin health. The reason is because Brazil nuts are an excellent source of the mineral selenium. Selenium improves the elasticity of skin, helps to battle skin infections, and is thought to help individuals with acne. Selenium is necessary for the production of glutathione, which neutralizes free radicals in the body that can lead to the deterioration of collagen and elastin in the skin. In addition to skin benefits, selenium improves the hair and nails.
These nuts are also a good food for skin health because they contain zinc, which helps with skin inflammation problems, skin cell growth, maintenance of collagen and elastin, and dry skin related problems such as eczema and psoriasis. Turkey is another food that is high in the mineral zinc and provides similar benefits for the skin.
Brazil nuts and other nuts contain fatty acids that help to prevent skin dryness and the powerful antioxidants vitamin A and vitamin E, which contribute to anti-aging of skin and good overall skin health.
Carrots
Carrots are a good food for skin because they are a high source of beta-carotene. The body coverts beta-carotene to vitamin A for use within the body. Carrots are also a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that mops up free radicals, such as those produced by overexposure to the sun, that lead to the premature aging of skin. It also aids in skin collagen formation. Collagen helps skin look young and plump.
Vitamin A aids in the development of skin cells and the maintenance of proper skin cell health. A vitamin A deficiency can lead to dry skin.
Eating carrots can be a natural sunscreen, providing a SPF factor of 2 to 4 in people with light colored skin.
Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene and vitamin C as well. In addition, these potatoes contain vitamin E. Vitamin E helps the body regenerate vitamin C and therefore is necessary in order to maximize the effectiveness of vitamin C. Foods that contain high quantities of vitamin C and vitamin E are very effective antioxidants for skin protection.
Berries
Berries such as blueberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, rasberries, cranberries, and strawberries are a good food for skin. Generally, berries help the body manufacture collagen which makes the skin supple and smooth. Berries (especially blueberries) are loaded with antioxidant compounds that are very effective in neutralizing damaging free radicals (that lead to skin cell damage and premature skin aging) generated in the skin by excessive UV exposure or from other sources.
Blueberries and other berries are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin E, riboflavin, and soluble and insoluble fiber.
Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice contains anthocyanins that act to strengthen the walls of the tiny blood vessels that supply nutrients to the skin. Therefore, drinking pomegranate juice can help stop the formation of spider veins.
Salmon
Salmon and other oily fish (sardines, mackerel, fresh tuna ) play an important role in skin health. Salmon contains a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids which the body cannot manufacture on its own. These fatty acids improve the skin by decreasing the occurrence of clogged pores, reducing the body’s production of inflammatory agents that can lead to skin damage, reducing skin dryness and skin dryness related problems such as eczema, and improving the skin’s elasticity. These fatty acids are responsible for healthy cell membranes. They prevent harmful substances from entering the cells, but allow essential nutrients in. Because these substances strengthen the cell membrane, they help to keep water in and keep the cells hydrated. This helps the skin maintain its proper moisture level resulting in skin that is plump and younger looking.
Salmon is also high in selenium, which improves various skin problems and overall skin health.
Avocados
Avocados are high in fat, but most of the fat is monounsaturated and thus is considered a healthy fat. An avocado is a good food for skin because, as is the case with omega-3 fatty acids, it keeps skin plump and youthful looking and helps prevent dry skin.
Avocados contain both vitamin C and vitamin E, which act well together as a powerful skin anti-aging combination.
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds provide a lot of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps slow down the aging of skin. The seeds also provide essential fatty acids that help keep the skin lubricated and soft. This food is thought to reduce the appearance of blackheads and acne, helps prevent psoriasis, and other skin problems such as atopic dermatitis.
Dairy Products
Dairy products are a good food for skin because they provide vitamin A. As previously stated, vitamin A is important for proper skin health. Unlike foods containing beta-carotene, which is the precursor to vitamin A, dairy products provide vitamin A directly. Therefore, individuals with certain health problems that interfere with beta-carotene to vitamin A conversion will still get vitamin A into their bodies if they consumed sufficient amounts of dairy products.
Whole Grains
Whole grains, as can be found in certain breads and cereals, are a good food for skin because they are loaded with the B group vitamins. B group vitamins are essential for normal skin functioning. They are required for the growth of new cells, replacing those that have died, and help strengthen the skin against infections and stress. Specifically, whole grains help prevent the peeling and cracking of skin, rough skin on the hands and feet, and conditions such as mouth ulcers.
Green Tea
Green tea is a valuable food for skin. It provides a wide range of benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is thought to play a role in preventing certain types of skin cancers by reducing the risk of damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Green tea is loaded with a variety of antioxidants and is a good food for skin and overall good body health. It is high in vitamins C, D, and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron.
In addition to being a good food for skin, it is also used in skin creams in order to take advantage of its potent antioxidant activity directly on the skin.
reading from http://www.healthy-skincare.com/food-for-skin.html
The best skin care regime involves paying attention to both the external and internal needs of the skin. Skin requires nutrients derived from inside the body in order to protect itself from damage and replenish dead skin cells with new healthy cells. Eating the best food for skin goes a long way towards having the best and healthiest looking skin possible.
What is the best food for skin? There are many foods that if eaten regularly as part of an overall well-balanced diet will benefit the skin. However, some foods are better than others and eating these foods provides the extra nutrients required to boost your skin’s health and give you that great complexion you always wanted.
Below is Healthy-skincare.com’s list for the best food for skin in no particular order.
Brazil Nuts
A Brazil nut is an excellent food for skin health. The reason is because Brazil nuts are an excellent source of the mineral selenium. Selenium improves the elasticity of skin, helps to battle skin infections, and is thought to help individuals with acne. Selenium is necessary for the production of glutathione, which neutralizes free radicals in the body that can lead to the deterioration of collagen and elastin in the skin. In addition to skin benefits, selenium improves the hair and nails.
These nuts are also a good food for skin health because they contain zinc, which helps with skin inflammation problems, skin cell growth, maintenance of collagen and elastin, and dry skin related problems such as eczema and psoriasis. Turkey is another food that is high in the mineral zinc and provides similar benefits for the skin.
Brazil nuts and other nuts contain fatty acids that help to prevent skin dryness and the powerful antioxidants vitamin A and vitamin E, which contribute to anti-aging of skin and good overall skin health.
Carrots
Carrots are a good food for skin because they are a high source of beta-carotene. The body coverts beta-carotene to vitamin A for use within the body. Carrots are also a good source of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that mops up free radicals, such as those produced by overexposure to the sun, that lead to the premature aging of skin. It also aids in skin collagen formation. Collagen helps skin look young and plump.
Vitamin A aids in the development of skin cells and the maintenance of proper skin cell health. A vitamin A deficiency can lead to dry skin.
Eating carrots can be a natural sunscreen, providing a SPF factor of 2 to 4 in people with light colored skin.
Sweet potatoes contain beta-carotene and vitamin C as well. In addition, these potatoes contain vitamin E. Vitamin E helps the body regenerate vitamin C and therefore is necessary in order to maximize the effectiveness of vitamin C. Foods that contain high quantities of vitamin C and vitamin E are very effective antioxidants for skin protection.
Berries Berries such as blueberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, rasberries, cranberries, and strawberries are a good food for skin. Generally, berries help the body manufacture collagen which makes the skin supple and smooth. Berries (especially blueberries) are loaded with antioxidant compounds that are very effective in neutralizing damaging free radicals (that lead to skin cell damage and premature skin aging) generated in the skin by excessive UV exposure or from other sources.
Blueberries and other berries are an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin E, riboflavin, and soluble and insoluble fiber.
Pomegranate Juice Pomegranate juice contains anthocyanins that act to strengthen the walls of the tiny blood vessels that supply nutrients to the skin. Therefore, drinking pomegranate juice can help stop the formation of spider veins.
Salmon
Salmon and other oily fish (sardines, mackerel, fresh tuna ) play an important role in skin health. Salmon contains a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids which the body cannot manufacture on its own. These fatty acids improve the skin by decreasing the occurrence of clogged pores, reducing the body’s production of inflammatory agents that can lead to skin damage, reducing skin dryness and skin dryness related problems such as eczema, and improving the skin’s elasticity. These fatty acids are responsible for healthy cell membranes. They prevent harmful substances from entering the cells, but allow essential nutrients in. Because these substances strengthen the cell membrane, they help to keep water in and keep the cells hydrated. This helps the skin maintain its proper moisture level resulting in skin that is plump and younger looking.
Salmon is also high in selenium, which improves various skin problems and overall skin health.
Avocados
Avocados are high in fat, but most of the fat is monounsaturated and thus is considered a healthy fat. An avocado is a good food for skin because, as is the case with omega-3 fatty acids, it keeps skin plump and youthful looking and helps prevent dry skin.
Avocados contain both vitamin C and vitamin E, which act well together as a powerful skin anti-aging combination.
Sunflower Seeds
Sunflower seeds provide a lot of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that helps slow down the aging of skin. The seeds also provide essential fatty acids that help keep the skin lubricated and soft. This food is thought to reduce the appearance of blackheads and acne, helps prevent psoriasis, and other skin problems such as atopic dermatitis.
Dairy Products
Dairy products are a good food for skin because they provide vitamin A. As previously stated, vitamin A is important for proper skin health. Unlike foods containing beta-carotene, which is the precursor to vitamin A, dairy products provide vitamin A directly. Therefore, individuals with certain health problems that interfere with beta-carotene to vitamin A conversion will still get vitamin A into their bodies if they consumed sufficient amounts of dairy products.
Whole Grains
Whole grains, as can be found in certain breads and cereals, are a good food for skin because they are loaded with the B group vitamins. B group vitamins are essential for normal skin functioning. They are required for the growth of new cells, replacing those that have died, and help strengthen the skin against infections and stress. Specifically, whole grains help prevent the peeling and cracking of skin, rough skin on the hands and feet, and conditions such as mouth ulcers.
Green Tea
Green tea is a valuable food for skin. It provides a wide range of benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is thought to play a role in preventing certain types of skin cancers by reducing the risk of damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Green tea is loaded with a variety of antioxidants and is a good food for skin and overall good body health. It is high in vitamins C, D, and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium, and iron.
In addition to being a good food for skin, it is also used in skin creams in order to take advantage of its potent antioxidant activity directly on the skin.
reading from http://www.healthy-skincare.com/food-for-skin.html
9 best foods for your skin
Are you too trying to improve your skin eating the right foods? Well, then, this list of 9 best foods for your skin will show you which foods have the biggest toll on our beauty!
Are you too trying to improve your skin eating the right foods? Well, then, this list of 9 best foods for your skin will show you which foods have the biggest toll on our beauty!
1. Low fat yogurt …
Low fat dairy products are full of vitamin A. This essential vitamin does wonders for our skin. If you have a thyroid problem or diabetes that’s another reason for you to stock up on organic law fat yogurts!2. Berries …
I am talking about plums, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries (No, not the phone!). These berries have a great antioxidant capacity which means – the more of these we have, the longer our skin will look youthful and healthy!3. Salmon …
Our skin needs essential fatty acids. If fish isn’t your thing, try walnuts, flax seed or canola oil. All these will give you an amazing result! Omega 3 and Omega 6 may sound like a Sci-fi flick, but these fatty acids are a must for a beautiful, well moisturized skin.4. Green tea …
This drink contains polyphenols which have anti-inflammatory characteristics. And despite what they say, a good tea will not dehydrate your body, it will only work as an anti-oxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent that’ll keep bacteria at bay and will fight off those free radicals that make our skin age early.
5. Water …
Did I even need to mention it? :) Good hydration is our skin’s best friend, right? And I’m talking about good bottled or filtered water in its purest form and not sodas or energy drinks. So ensure that you’re getting at least 8 glasses of water a day for your beautiful skin.Reading from http://allwomenstalk.com/9-best-foods-for-your-skin/
Why health and fitness is important?
Importance of keeping fit
Society's attitude towards health and fitness has changed over the past few years and we are all much more aware of the need to be positive about our health and recognize the importance of physical fitness then ever before. We are encouraged to adopt a 'positive attitude' to our health by taking better care of both our bodies and our minds - but what does positive health and keeping fit really mean?Positive health is about maintaining a minimum level of health and fitness to keep your body looking and feeling good, but also maintaining a level of physical fitness which will enable you to manage and enjoy your daily lifestyle.
Health and fitness is determined by what we eat, how we live our lives, our choice of leisure pursuits and what we do to keep ourselves physically fit.
Keeping fit is about how we as individuals choose to live our lives and the levels of fitness we aspire to. We all need a certain amount of the right type of exercise to keep us healthy, regardless of our lifestyle, age or physical ability.
Remaining physically fit is important for the following reasons:
- Maintaining a good level of physical fitness will give you a feeling of better health through increased energy and vitality, making you feel better about yourself and about your life.
- Being fit helps the activities in your life easier to manage; it keeps your body in shape and keeps you looking good, which in turn provides 'the feel good factor' making you work more efficiently and effectively.
- Keeping fit can help improve your quality of life and help maintain a good standard of health, preventing or delaying heart related diseases.
- Exercise helps reduce stress & improves personal performance.
- Exercise helps you control your weight and body shape.
- Team sports such as football or rugby can improve your social life
Click here to find out more on getting fitClick here for solving barriers to getting fithttp://www.hifit.co.uk/general-fitness/importance-of-keeping-fit.htm
Top Five Changes for a Healthy Life
Top Five Changes for a Healthy Life
A Healthy Life Can Be Yours!
By Elizabeth Scott, M.S., About.com Guide
Updated October 08, 2009
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
In the spirit of developing New Year’s Goals, rather than resolutions, here are some goals that can make a real difference in the level of stress you experience, and the quality of life you enjoy:
Maintain An Organized Living Space:
A cluttered environment can literally drain your energy and cause additional stress! Conversely, a beautifully decorated, soothing environment can be a haven where you can escape from the stressors in your life. Working on de-cluttering your home, getting organized about cleaning, or even practicing Feng Shui are all ways you can work toward the goal of having a beautiful and organized living space.Learn to Organize Your Time:
By keeping a schedule, learning to say no to excessive demands on your time, and utilizing shortcuts in your life, you’ll be less frantic, and have more time to do the things that energize and de-stress you. You’ll also have more time to do things that you enjoy in life.Cultivate A Supportive Social Circle:
Those with a supportive social circle, or even just one close friend or partner to talk to and lean on in times of crisis, enjoy healthier, less stressful lives. (And they have more fun!) If you make the commitment to meet more people, and better develop the relationships you have, you’ll find that the payoff is more than worth the effort.Take Care of Your Body:
If your body is healthy and in good repair, you’re better able to handle stressors in your life. However, an unhealthy body can cause great amounts of additional stress. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, getting massages and pampering yourself are all good ways to take care of your body and make stress management easier.Renew Your Spirit:
We carry stress in our bodies, and hold it in our minds, so a stressful experience can stay with and keep affecting us after the actual experience has ended. Managing stress in your daily life can be much easier on your mental, physical and emotional state if you take regular breaks from it. There are many great stress-relieving exercises that can help you release both the tension from your body, and the stressful thoughts from your mind, making you more at peace and able to handle the stress that comes in each new day.As you develop these stress-relieving practices in your daily life, you should experience less stress, and be better able to handle the stress you do experience, leading to a happier, more healthy life.
http://stress.about.com/od/lowstresslifestyle/a/lowstresslife.htm?once=true&
Maintaining Healthy Habits-In Five Simple Steps
Maintaining Healthy Habits-In Five Simple Steps
By Elizabeth Scott, M.S., About.com Guide
Updated January 02, 2009
About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
Step One: Choose Wisely
Choosing the right activity for you is very important!
Many people have excess stress that affects their health, happiness, and other areas of their lives. (In fact, it’s been estimated that more than 90% of health problems that bring people into the doctor’s office are stress-related!) But while virtually all of us could benefit from adding healthy habits to our lifestyle, it’s harder to begin a new habit than it seems, especially when you’re already overscheduled and overstressed! The following steps can help you navigate a clear path from your good intentions to the reality of a healthier, happier lifestyle that includes less stress. Ready? Here we go!
Step One: Choose Your Activity Wisely:
The first step in creating a healthy new habit that will be a long-term staple in your lifestyle is to choose an activity that fits well with who you are and how you live. If you don’t, you may find that you’re working against personality and lifestyle factors that are two ingrained to change, and your new healthy habit never quite takes root. When choosing a new practice, keep in mind factors like your strengths, your schedule and lifestyle, and the complexity of the new habit, as well as your current stress level and time available, and find an activity that fits well with all of these variables. For a more in-depth look at these factors, take The Stress Reliever Personality Test, which will assess which stress relievers would work best for your lifestyle and personality, and provide you with a list.
Step Two: Build The New Habit into Your Schedule
Putting your plans in writing can help cement them.
If you don’t have a specific plan for sticking with a new habit, it’s all too easy to find that your already-packed schedule won’t allow you the ‘spare time’ necessary to do anything new very often. You’ll be too busy, too tired, or will easily find another excuse to let inertia snuff out your best intentions. That’s why a crucial next step is for you to find a specific time in your schedule that’s allotted just for your new stress management activity. Whether it’s ‘every morning before my shower’, 'during my lunch break', or ‘weeknights at 8’, you need to have a time that you know is set aside for your chosen activity so that you won’t need to continually find a reason to practice your stress relief program.
Step Three: Enlist Support
Having help from others can help you in many ways.
You’ll find much more success if you have others who are helping you along the way. Not only will they give you support when you need it, but you’ll also have them to answer to if you feel like skipping your new stress management practice, and this will make it harder for you to make excuses and quit. One way to get support that is growing in popularity is to hire a personal coach. However, you can also get support by having a buddy start with you, or joining a class where they practice your chosen activity (like a yoga class, for example, or a meditation class). If you’d rather do it alone, you can always ask a friend to keep you accountable for the first few weeks, or keep a journal where you record your activity and success every day or at the end of each week. Whatever route you choose, it helps to have someone to keep you accountable, at least in the beginning.
Some great healthy habits that go great with a friend include: Step Four: Use Goals and Rewards
Little gifts to yourself along the way can add the extra momentum you need!
Although the great feelings you get from stress management can be their own reward, in starting any new habit, it helps to also have some more tangible rewards. (Think of how teachers use stars and other tokens to encourage good behavior, or how you can train pets to do just about anything with a few small treats; none of us is above the power of a few good rewards, either.) The trick is to reward yourself for your first few steps until your new healthy habit becomes ingrained into your way of life. (The first month or so is especially important, as that’s the approximate time it takes for a new behavior to become a habit.) The rewards you give yourself are a personal choice, and you probably know what would be the best incentive for your own success, but I recommend something small and enjoyable. For example, when I first started going to the gym, I would reward every five gym visits with a new piece of workout clothing—that way I’d feel like I ‘earned’ the new outfits, and I’d also get the payoff of looking better in the dressing room each time I found myself there. Others I know have given themselves pedometers (to reward regular walking), soothing music (to reward and use with yoga practice) or beautiful new pens (to reward journal writing). For additional ideas, I suggest the following:
Step Five: Check In With Yourself to Be Sure You're On The Right Track
Be sure to look inward and re-examine your choices regularly, and make changes as needed.
As you go, pay special attention to how you feel. Does your new practice seem to fit with your lifestyle? Is it easy to maintain your new habit, or do you think you may need to try something new? If you find that you haven’t kept up with your new plans as you’ve hoped, rather than beating yourself up over it, congratulate yourself for noticing that you need a change of plans—it’s the first step in building a new plan that will better serve you! And, if you’re trudging along with it, but have decided that you really may need to try something else instead, at least you know what doesn’t work for you as well, and now you can try something else that you may end up loving. All in all, it’s best to learn several new stress relievers and stress management techniques anyway, to have a few options available for reducing stress in your body and mind. (For ideas on what to try, visit this article on how to choose a stress management habit you can stick with.) Good luck, and have fun!
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