 I didn't always start my day with the intention to realize spiritual fulfillment. In the past, I put no intentional thought into how I wanted to experience my day; I just gauged it a success or failure by the number of tasks that I crossed off my "To Do" list.
Outwardly, I judged myself a contributing member of society, but inwardly, I felt restless, unsatisfied, and joyless.
Then it occurred to me that perhaps I could set a spiritual principle to guide me in creating a satisfying day rather than relying upon my lengthy task list. This could manifest as me being more mindful, cultivating compassion, or demonstrating courage. Of course, stuff still needed doing, but accomplishing it with the intention of honoring a grander picture envisioned for my day, made it relevant and more enjoyable.
If you're trying to develop healthier habits or lose weight, how about setting your intention to do so every morning through honoring a spiritual principle? What I propose is getting up ten minutes earlier to spend a little time with yourself. Sit quietly and go within. Ask God/The Universe/Wise Self/Spirit for your divine plan for the day. Then take some mindful breaths, and listen for guidance.
Instead of looking at the day ahead, wondering how you'll ever manage to limit your calorie intake, you can set your intention to express gratitude for your body by feeding it reasonable portions. Or you might decide to demonstrate courage today by trying a new martial arts class as a way to get physically fit. Perhaps you'd like to see yourself acting with more compassion by instituting a meatless Monday for your family.
You can invite joy, compassion, courage, gratitude, or any other number of inspiring principles to lead your day and see what happens. Who knows? You might just find yourself integrating healthier living habits with ease and enthusiasm.
What spiritual principle will you set to guide yourself today?
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 A growing body of research indicates that sleep deprivation does more than just leave you feeling grouchy. It can contribute to a weight problem too.
People who sleep less may suffer greater fatigue and exercise less than their rested peers. Stressed out individuals, suffering from poor sleep, may also overeat as a coping mechanism. Not only that, impaired or inadequate sleep has been linked to hormone imbalances which may alter your appetite and eating patterns as well.
Other negative consequences of a lack of rest include lower mood and impaired memory and learning ability.
If you struggle to get a good night's sleep, here are some suggestions for good sleep hygiene:
- Go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends.
- Nap for no more than 30 minutes once daily.
- Avoid caffeine within 6 hours of retiring to bed.
- Limit your alcohol intake - it impairs the quality of your sleep.
- Keep your room cool and add extra covers if necessary.
- Do not exercise or take a hot bath/shower within 2 hours of going to bed.
- Reserve the bed for sleep and sex. Get out of bed to go watch TV, read, or surf the net.
- Get 30-60 minutes of vigorous exercise earlier in your day.
Obviously sleeping serves an important function, because we spend almost a third of our lives doing it, and you need yours too. Troublesome sleep can indicate sleep apnea, depression, or another serious medical problem. If the tips above aren't sufficient, please see your health care provider.
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