Why a series of Blogs about little steps? The answer is that we live in the now and the best way to start change is with little steps in the right direction. I have discussed taking short breaks, how to get the most out of those breaks, and the need to keep hydrated. All things that we know are good. So why discuss them in such detail. The reason is simple, we know, but we don't always do these things. These Blogs are a memory aid to remind us of what we need to do. If we can find ways to make these part of our routine then we are moving in the right direction. Set a timer on our computer, or watch or phone (which ever is best for you). Now use that to help remember the little steps. The more we remember the more this becomes part of our routine. We will not keep this routine always but when we stray then we can think back to little steps and get back to keeping the routine that is good for us.
For our little breaks I recommend if you have sinus pain or sore muscles that you get a microwave compatible pack to use during the short breaks. The kind I use comes from CVS but I know most other pharmacies have similar packs. They are a clay mud mix in a plastic bag with a cloth bag on the outside. My bag heats in a microwave in about 55 seconds. When I feel a sinus infection starting I try to put a hot pack on it three or four times a day. Find a place where you can lay back for your break and put the pack across your eyes. If it is too hot try less time in the microwave next time. It should feel hot but not burning. For sore muscles put the hot pack directly on the painful area. I find I can sit and work at the computer with the pack balanced on the back of my neck. The heat slowly sooths the sore parts and we can return less stiff to the rest of our day. For sore backs you can take the heated pack to you car for the drive home. A really nice treat on a cold day. So I guess sometimes we have to take a little heat to get ahead.
In summer we think of keeping cool. One way to help is to keep a supply of ice in the freezer. Even at work most places have a refrigerator where you can get some ice. If not it is a good suggestion (to management) as a morale booster. I find if a drink is not served hot, than the colder it is the better it refreshes. If you are using a water bottle that has a narrow neck you can get ice trays that make long thin ice cubes. You can find these with a web search for narrow ice trays. It can also be used to sooth pains. I find sinus or stress headaches can be temporally soothed by ice. Just rap an ice cube in a wash cloth, napkin or even a paper towel and hold it where you feel the pressure. If you are really hot take the ice cube in the cloth and slowly rub it across your forehead. There are many good medical uses for ice. Check out www.WebMD.com for suggestions. Having ice for those short beaks can help cool and calm you down for the next part of your day. So dont forget to be nice and use ice.
Greetings, A few more thoughts on keeping life in balance. Like the force used by Jedi Knights, water keeps us going. Most of us do not drink enough water during the day and we get dehydrated. This is one reason we feel tired and stiff at the end of a work day. So we need to keep track of our water intake. This is not hard to do; we can basically count the ounces of liquids we consume during the day. Water, Juice and Milk count one for one in water intake. Drinks with caffeine in them (coffee, tea, most sodas) are two thirds water (caffeine is a diuretic and we lose some water to that effect). Drinks with alcohol loss most of the water removing the alcohol and so do not count. For detailed specifics on intake values you can consult sites like http://www.webmd.com/ for more details. One good approach is to meter your intake by the breaks you take. If you are scheduling little breaks as I suggested in my first Blog you can use that time measure to keep track of intake and add as needed. If you like to drink water as I do it usually tastes better when it is quite cold. So try to find a source of ice at work to keep the water cool. I also try to keep a special drink (favorite juice or soda) for my mid-afternoon break. It gives me something to look forward to. So continue to set a schedule and keep track of these "little moments" to ensure we keep them in balance. Take the time to help yourself help balance the demands and let you enjoy life more fully by watching your water. Hope this added hint also helps, Mr. G.
Greetings. Just a few thoughts on keeping life in balance. As life goes faster and faster and more things (phones, work, TV, Internet, etc.) get in our way, we feel more and more overwhelmed. It is very important given this pressure that we capture "little moments" just for us. By this I mean find short periods (even just five or ten minutes) to do something for yourself. Try to ensure that every hour to two hours you take some break. If you only have a short period, do just breathing. Find a quiet place where you can be alone. Then concentrate on slow deep breaths. Do this for up to five minutes. If you have longer try stretching. Make sure you stretch the neck, arms, shoulders and back. Most days try to walk for at least fifteen to twenty minutes. This helps get the circulation moving, burns calories and keeps you more wake for the rest of the day. It is important to set a schedule and keep track of these "little moments" to ensure we keep them in balance. To get started schedule them, if necessary set timers to ensure you take the breaks. If you take the time to help yourself this will start to help balance the demands and let you enjoy life more fully. Hope this helps, Mr. G.
Add Comments