This is prime time for cold, flu, depression and basic sloth-like behavior. Why do I know this? Because I fall into this trap year after year. However, this year I have decided to approach things differently and have listed below some suggestions to help you get through the cold, dark, miserable winter blues:
- If you are in an office surrounded by sniffling, sneezy, achey, fever so they cannot rest people, take a packet of Emergen C with an Airborne. Don't wait until YOU feel sick, just trust that you may end up that way, so stop it before it starts. Ask nicely, "Do you have a cold?" When the response comes back with a sad nod of the head, run don't walk to make your Emergen C with Airborne Cocktail!
- If sickness snags you, please don't be a hero and go to work, because really what you are being is selfish, spreading your germs around for others to catch. Instead, GO TO BED and stay there until you are well. To the ill with cold, I offer the following Hot Toddy recipe: One boiled lemon for tea, Honey, Bacardi Gold Rum. Put as much as you like of each three in a mug and sip it while watching something pleasant on TV. It will help you sweat out the cold and sleep it off without a nasty cold medicine groggy hangover (of course, too much rum and you'll have a real hangover).
- Get outside! Breathe the air and soak up some sun. Sun light is absolutely necessary for Vitamin D absorption, which will elevate your happy levels. Leave off the sunglasses for ten minutes to get the light in your eyes!
- Plan a weekly party or get together. Make it BYOB. Make it simple. Spending time with friends and family is good for the soul and will give you something to look forward to.
- Put down the newspaper and turn off the news for a little while. Let's face it, the media is screaming FIRE and sending the world into a panic. Why succumb to such misery? It is important to be informed and realistic, but it does not mean you have to stop living.
- Exercise and MELT! Just 10 minutes of physical activity will make you feel better. Get on a treadmill, go for a walk, ride a stationary bike... whatever! And MELTing, aside from easing aches and pains, will help bring your nervous system back into balance, quieting the 'stressors' and enhancing the 'resters'.
- Get 8-10 hours of sleep... I know, that may seem impossible, but it is not. Eat dinner, read something and turn off the light by 9:00pm or 10:00pm. You can train yorself, believe me. However, DO NOT fall asleep in front of the TV. That will only keep your brain awake. How about you just don't turn on the TV at all?
- Eat well. Learn about eating well if you don't know what that means. I suggest reading up on metabolic typing (you can read about it in How To Eat, Move and Be Healthy by Paul Chek, and for more in depth, read The Metabolic Typing Diet by William Wolcott).
Those are a few ideas to help you through. Pick just one and you are off to a good start!
Be well,
Amanda
