These days no one goes on a trip without having the equivalent of Google Maps for directions. Why? Because we need guidance to efficiently reach our destination without getting lost.
Hunger is a natural feeling. Thousands of years ago, when the body was in need of nourishment, it was a survival advantage to feel hungry and seek food. For those whose bodies didn’t experience hunger, they didn’t store enough calories to survive the winter. Cravings represent a whole different phenomenon.
Anyone can grow a home garden in very little space, even on a deck or balcony. All of my crops are grown in pots which range from a one gallon container to a large flower pot. It’s easy to do once you understand a few basic things, which I will address in a future article.
These are challenging times as COVID-19 rips through our community and our nation. Many of us have self-quarantined, instituted social distancing and changed everyday patterns in order to protect ourselves and our families. These changes can make us anxious and stressed, and many of us eat when stressed. What can we do? Without easy solutions, we’re more likely to go ‘off the rails’ and begin to eat irresponsibly and become more sedentary.
The COVID-19 pandemic has the full potential to affect both our short-term and long-term health if we fail to plan ahead or to be aware. Over time, a major contributor to people falling off plan is the unexpected or unanticipated event, or stressor, that alters our lives and interferes with our daily routines. The reality, most of us will survive the COVID-19 threat but a minority will not. To improve our odds, we can direct our focus, during this major crisis, to developing an action plan to minimize the risks to ourselves and our families.
March 11th – 17th, 2024 is Brain Awareness Week and, compared to other days or weeks dedicated to great causes, this week is one of the most important for many reasons. While many kick off the new year with dedication to exercise or learning a new skill, many forget that behind the scenes, for everything involved with being human, it’s our brain that makes it all happen. A healthy, stimulated and ultimately rested brain that’s kept in optimal condition, will reap the benefits of having peak use throughout our life.
