 Clearing the way to Wellness... "Sometimes I stay up so late that I have my morning coffee before I go to bed." Hello, again! In 60 seconds or less, learn something new every month about the link between two critical areas in your life that can affect your success. They are disorganization AND nutrition, health, and fitness.
Thank you for taking the time to read each month my quick and easy newsletter "Nutrition & Organizing Morsels," which links disorganization to the dramatic effects it has on your nutrition habits, health, and fitness. I have a question for you...Is it just me, or does it seem like no one in this town sleeps? Ah, sleep. We all need it, we all want it, but some of us need and want it more than others. There is a phrase, "I can sleep when I'm dead." Well, yes, that is true. We will all be sleeping for a verrrry long time at some point in the hopefully verrrry distant future. But while on the planet, we "should" try to do everything we can to get enough sleep. I am just as guilty as the next guy. I have to admit I love the hours between 10:00 P.M. and 12:30 A.M., late-night T.V., and I have always been that way my entire life. In all seriousness, though, sleep is a very important component to overall health, happiness, productivity, AND also maintaining a proper weight set point, believe it or not. There are many risk factors when we don't get enough zzzzz's. I could list for you endless reasons why we should make a concerted effort to achieve optimal slumber, but this should at least get you thinking. I will list a few little-known secrets that you can implement immediately. DID YOU KNOW ... 1. Caffeine. Insomnia is many times linked to adrenal fatigue. Caffeine can leave its residual effects long after consumption during the morning hours. Wired and tired. Sound familiar? If you are one of those that burns the candle at both ends, meaning you don't eat right, you always have to be busy, you can never say "no," you don't get exercise, or enough of it, you're carrying around too many pounds, and you drink caffeinated coffee every day, to name just a few, there is a constant assault on the body to be in high or higher gear from the caffeine, and then you throw these other assaults on top of it, and that adds insult to injury. People will say to me, "I only drink X number of cups of coffee a day." As far as I know, we gauge everything by our days; so that means every day your body gets no rest from caffeine and is always being pushed. It is being forced to operate in high gear, even when it's tired. This can most definitely lead to adrenal fatigue and other secondary illnesses. If this sounds like a familiar scenario, have your adrenals checked by an integrative or naturopathic doctor. 2. No T.V. before bed. Are you a T.V watcher in bed? As tempting as it is, T.V. can disrupt the pineal gland and its secretion of melatonin, which is what helps us sleep. You might consider -- although I know it's a lot to ask -- moving your T.V. out of your bedroom. It can stimulate the brain and cause insomnia. 3. Make it dark! A few month ago, I checked into blackout shades, but they were rather expensive and involved. Instead, I happened upon, recently, a $3.00 face mask -- I know it's a sexy visual! -- to solve the problem of that light that just wants to creep into your bedroom. Unless you have the classic hotel "dark" shades, this is a very inexpensive alternative, and it really does work. 4. At attention! I have never liked getting jolted out of bed by an alarm clock, and, I have to say, have tailored my life so that I don't have to rise and shine at the crack of dawn. This is a very stressful way for your body to wake up. If you have to be woken up, pick something soothing, such as music or a type of sound, maybe something from nature, to lessen the shock first thing in the morning. 5. Happy Hour. Yes, it is a very happy time of day until you are lying in bed ruminating, heart racing, counting sheep, whatever you do while lying awake wondering when you might slip into slumber. Ever notice you feel rundown the next morning after a few cocktails? Those yummy beverages make you feel great for awhile, and when it's sleepytime, you fall asleep and then wake up after a couple hours. Alcohol can prohibit you from getting deep sleep and can interrupt your body from the deeper stages of sleep where the body does most of its healing. Stay tuned as I'll share with you next month ways to improve that trusty stress level despite our busy schedules. We need to remember that without health, ya got nuttin'!! I think I've heard that before! Don't forget that lack of energy will get in the way of our staying organized. Don't get caught up in that loop... you know the one: abusing the body, eating unhealthy foods, feeling tired, having no energy to stay organized, procrastinating, and feeling unproductive. One leads to the next, most definitely. It's a domino theory. I will give you food for thought in every single Morsel that will lead you to create more energy in your everyday life; so see you next month!
Nutrition & Organizing Morsel #16: Use one calendar only! Kids, meetings, working out, soccer, appointments, dinners,
trips, etc.! Having more than one calendar is a very scattered way to keep track of life and a great way to set yourself up for failure by missing appointments or being late. |
