As we head into the colder weather, the darker days, and longer nights, I would like to share some sound advice that I received from one of my email friends. This advice will help us combat the winter blues and live a more positive lifestyle.
- Take a 20 to 30 minute walk every day. While you walk, smile. It not only makes people wonder what you are up to, it is the ultimate anti-depressant.
- When you wake up in the morning, complete the following statement; “today my purpose is to ______”. No, you are not allowed to say “lie in bed all day” as that is not purposeful.
- Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and less food that is manufactured in plants.
- Try to make at least three people smile every day.
- Do not waste your precious energy on gossip, issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control. Invest your energy in the positive present moment.
- Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a college student with a maxed out credit card.
- Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
- Make peace with your past so it will not spoil the present.
- Do not compare your life to others. You have no real idea what their journey is about.
- Frame every so-called “disaster” with these words – “in five years time will this really matter?”
- What other people think of you is none of your business. (Think about this one!)
- However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
- Each night before you go to bed, complete the following statements: “I am thankful for _______” and “Today I accomplished ______”.
On another note, the time switched back to Standard Time on the weekend, so I thought I would share some insight on how to adjust to the time change and the reduced hours of daylight.
- Take advantage of the opportunity to get an extra hour of sleep, but do not stay up later in anticipation of the time change.
- Eat healthy and keep hydrated. Avoid caffeinated beverages, since too much caffeine can further disrupt your natural sleep rhythm.
- Increase your exposure to bright light and physical activity during the day until late afternoon/early evening to help compensate for the overall reduction of daylight hours.
- Get your daily dose of Vitamin D. The two best ways to get the Vitamin D you need are to get adequate sun exposure when possible, or to take vitamin D supplements.
- Drivers should be extra alert — pull over if you are driving and feel drowsy. The only cure for sleepiness is sleep. Opening the window or turning up the radio are not effective ways to stay awake.
- Use this clock-change weekend as an opportunity to make home safety checks. If you have not done so already, check and replace batteries in home smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
Finally, Remembrance Day is an important day in the Canadian calendar and is an opportunity to give meaning to past sacrifice and acknowledge the courage of those presently serving. Each year, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, we gather in memorial parks, community halls, workplaces, schools and homes to observe a moment of silence and mark the sacrifice of so many. Lest we Forget …thank you.