TIP # 3

GET A GOOD NIGHT SLEEP!!!

Sleep is so very important. It's time for your body to heal and recharge. If you let worry deprive you of sleep, it will create a vicious cycle. The less sleep you have, the more stress you have.

If you suffer from chronic insomnia, seek help. You may have some underlying health issues that prevents you from experiencing a good night sleep.

For occasional sleep disturbances here are a few ideas to help you out:

• keep regular hours, try going to bed at approximately the same time every night
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• do not eat after 7:00-8:00 at night. Digesting food will hinder your sleep.
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• have more 'calming" activities before bedtime.... ie. Do NOT watch the news but instead maybe read a good book, have a soothing hobby.
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• try some calming teas like chamomile, lavender, etc
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• try a hot bath or shower
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• do not drink caffeinated products from late afternoon till bedtime
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• write any thoughts or to-do list down before bedtime so they will not occupy your mind all night long. You may even want to keep a notebook on your night stand.
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• when you are lying in bed, take time to review in your mind all the things you are grateful for in your life
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• meditation, yoga have great calming capacities
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• increase your light exposure during the day. Make sure your circadian rhythm is well set
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• turn your TV and computer off at nigh. Not only does the light suppress melatonin production, but TV can actually stimulate the mind, rather than relaxing it.
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• make sure your bed in comfortable
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• keep your room cool with adequate ventilation

Be smart, stay healthy!!!

TIP # 2.

Learn to say "NO"

Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a surefire recipe for stress.

Tip #1

Set up priorities!!! Create a list.

Not everything is urgent. But if you start thinking so you will drive yourself crazy trying to complete every item on your to do list. Set up a ranking system of priority.

• What is a true emergency?
• What needs to be done immediately?
• What can wait till tomorrow?
• What can wait till next week?
• What is something I want to get done but really do not need to get done?
• What can I delegate?

Write your list down. Scratch out the items off your list as they get completed. You will feel better about having accomplish the real priorities and you may even have time to get a heads up on tomorrow's priority list.

At night you can take a look at your list and see how much you truly accomplished during your day. You will sleep better and feel much less stressed out about the things that did not get done.

Merry December!!!

Tis the Season to be jolly and merry and share in some quality time with our loved one... in theory.

But Christmas time has become more synonymous with "STRESS".

In honor of keeping the spirit of Christmas and spreading goodwill toward all, I will post tips on how to reduce stress in your life. Take time to apply them and you will have a much more enjoyable Season!!

Fructose anyone??

The fructose content of the high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) used in many popular soda brands has been sorely underestimated. Around 100 years ago the average American consumed a mere 15 grams of fructose a day, primarily in the form of fruit. One hundred years later, one fourth of Americans are consuming more than 135 grams per day, largely in the form of soda.

Fructose at 15 grams a day is harmless (unless you suffer from high uric acid levels). However, at nearly 10 times that amount it becomes a major cause of obesity and nearly all chronic degenerative diseases. Instead of consisting of 55 percent fructose and 45 percent glucose, many soda brands, including Coke, Pepsi and Sprite, contain as much as 65 percent fructose, nearly 20 percent higher than originally believed.

According to one study, the mean fructose content of all 23 sodas tested was 59 percent -- higher than claimed by the industry. When you consider that Americans drink an average of 53 to 57 gallons of soda per year (depending on the source of your statistics), this difference in actual fructose content could make a huge difference in your health.

Calories VS workout

Thinking about indulging in a Big Mac, large fries and a Coke? Sure no problem... you'll work it off in a good workout and no harm done right??

Do you know that you will need to jog or do high impact aerobics for THREE hours to just burn off the calorie content??

And we are not even counting the damage to your health here.

Still want to indulge???

LAUGH !!!