TIP OF THE DAY - SUNDAY

TAKE A VACATION... A few days off can recharge your batteries and help you relax. After all, employers give you vacation time for a reason. Don't be afraid to use it when you need a mental break.
If you have used all your vacation time then take a weekend. Do those very same things that you would do on a mini vacation, sleep in, do quick and easy meals, relax in the sun or indoors in front of the AC or a fan and read a book, work on a hobby or craft, watch a chick flick, go to some garage sales. Just relax, have fun and do nothing that requires deep thinking, or work. Enjoy yourself for 2 full days.

TIP OF THE DAY - SATURDAY

STAY PRESENT...When stressing about the past or future, remind yourself to focus on what matters right now at this very moment. After all, there's no use in worrying about things you can't change.
This is a good tip for me. I am always worrying about something that may or may not happen "some day". I think it is another age thing.

TIP OF THE DAY - FRIDAY

CRY IT OUT... Some experts believe crying is an important stress reliever. Perhaps that is why you feel better after a good cry. Instead of holding in those feelings, open the flood gates to release.
I like this and I don't think it has to be a big reason to cry. Put a good chick flick in and watch it and sometimes that will start you crying and then one things leads to another and you have a good cry over the movie, money, home, friends, family, work and life in general. You will feel better.

TIP OF THE DAY - THURSDAY

PRACTICE PATIENCE...When you are in a hurry, everything becomes urgent. Give yourself plenty of time to get things done. Think of that slow driver as a teacher, encouraging you to take your time and be patient.
This makes sense to me. I am going to teach a Relief Society lesson this coming Sunday on friendship for a friend who is suppose to teach but because of family she isn't going to be there. When I teach, I usually have 6-8 weeks to prepare. No worries and no stress. With this Sunday's lesson I have less than 2 weeks. Lots of worries and stress. I am trying to be patient and just relax and enjoy the chance to teach. So far it is not working.

TIP OF THE DAY - WEDNESDAY

GIVE YOURSELF A MASSAGE. Just like getting a professional massage, self-massage of your shoulders, neck, feet, and other pressure points can reduce tension and stress. Simply rub your tension away.
Nice try but this does not work at all for me. Maybe you will have better luck than I did.

TIP OF THE DAY - TUESDAY

MEDITATE...When you meditate on a word, sound, symbol, or image, you develop mindfulness. This allows you to ignore distractions, and engage in the present, helping relieve stress and enhance well being.
There is no way I can meditate. I have tried it over and over again. My mind just goes wild and goes in a thousand different directions. I am sure it would be restful if you can do it but not for me.

TIP OF THE DAY - MONDAY

COMMUNICATE OPENLY. Holding in your thoughts and feelings about stressful situations like your work, relationships or parenting won't help you deal with stress or find solutions. Open up to a good friend.
This is a good tip. Maybe it should go one step further and say once you open up and tell a friend, then "LET IT GO!"

TIP OF THE DAY - SUNDAY

PLAY A GAME...You probably have a dozen games stashed in the closet, waiting to be dusted off. A quick game of Candy Land, Shoots and Ladders, Connect Four or even Twister are always good for a smile or two.
When we were camping we played poker. That was fun and of course I had made mini marshmallow guns that the kids and adults had fun with. Now a days we also have the Wii and that is not just for exercise but fun with the bowling game my favorite, so get a game out and even by your self have some fun and smile.

TIP OF THE DAY - SATURDAY

KEEP A JOURNAL...Expressing your feelings in a positive way to deal with stress, and journaling captures emotions as you experience them. Let it out, close the book, and get on with your day.
We have had this tip many, many times but it is worth repeating. It does not matter if you had a good day or a terrible day, if you fell off your diet or not, if you were happy, sad or depressed. Write it down. You will see when you go back months later to read it that on certain days when you were stressed you were also not sticking to your diet. But which came first? The stress or the no diet that day. It will help you see what triggers your eating habits and how you can better cope. Try it and see.

TIP OF THE DAY - FRIDAY

DON'T BUY A NEW CAR...We are thinking about buying a new (used) car. We have been talking, looking, praying and then talking, looking and praying some more. TRUST ME when I say that is a very stressful time. Do we want to spend all that money? Do we want another payment? What happens if Calvin loses his job? Should we just keep the car we have and make it meet our needs? If we buy a new (used) car will we be able to sell ours? How much do we really want a different car? Is this a need or a want? The questions never stop, and many have answers that can change from day to day... This is stress, anyway for me. We will make a decision within 72 hours so I guess the stress will be lessened then.

TIP OF THE DAY - THURSDAY

ACCEPT IMPERFECTION...Be realistic-no one is perfect. Don't be afraid to ask for help, and appreciate the outcome of your best efforts, even if it falls short of ideal.
This is another great tip...we need to remember that this is not just a day, week or month process, but a life time changes we are making to improve our health. We can't get upset with one or even ten set backs. It is to keep going that we need to do and remember that we can do it. Oh course it is hard, no one said we it would be easy but we can do this, and yes I am talking to my self mostly.

TIP OF THE DAY - WEDNESDAY

TRY SOMETHING FUN...Set aside time to participate in activities you enjoy on a regular basis. Plan a weekend trip, take a drawing class, or schedule a round of golf to take your mind off things.
For us camping is a great way to relax. Just spending time in the "wilds" with children and grandchildren is very restful and lots of fun. I am looking forward to our next camp out on August 20th along the Umpqua river. We drive along the Umpqua when we travel to Myrtle Point and the drive is beautiful and we are always saying we want to camp along there so this should be fun. Come visit us and relax too.

TIP OF THE DAY - TUESDAY

TRY YOGA... This form of exercise helps reconnect your mind and body in the present moment, decreasing stress and enhancing well-being. Try a class at a local studio, or a video in the privacy of your own home.
I am not sure if they still do it or not but Laurie and Emmeline when she was younger would do "yoda" all the time. Emmeline loved it. I would think if it really relieves stress and with 4 little kids and sleeping in a tent, Laurie would be doing it daily if not every few hours.
Remember you can get videos and DVDs from the library.

TIP OF THE DAY - MONDAY

EXPERIENCE AROMATHERAPY...Certain scents can evoke a calm state of mind.Known relaxants include lavender, chamomile, patchouli, rosemary and more. Try candles, incense, or air fresheners.
I love the scent of lavender. It really is very relaxing. For my birthday, Janet, (Laurie's mother) gave me 2 pair of aloe socks and I have to tell you if you will give yourself a nice foot bath, scrub on the heels, lotion on the feet, and then put on these aloe socks you will totally relax. It is hard to believe how soothing these silly little socks really are. Try them for yourself.

TIP OF THE DAY - SUNDAY

SEEK DIVINE HELP...It really does not matter if you go to church or not or what church you attend. The point is "when the going gets tough, the tough pray..." okay maybe that is not how the quote goes but maybe it should. Even though we are pretty much in the diet/exercise alone, since no one can lose weight for us and no one can make us exercise, there is one who we can talk to and ask for help. That is our Heavenly Father. I know this is not a religious blog and I don't want it to be, I know that prayer is a great help in all walks of life and if you are stressing out about something in your life prayer is a great way to destress. Think about it for a minute before you dismiss this tip.

TIP OF THE DAY - SATURDAY

DON'T MULTITASK...With a lot to do in a little time, you might think it's efficient to multitask. Talk about stressful. "He who chases two rabbits, catches neither." Focus on one thing at a time to be more successful.
I am not sure about this. First think in the morning I will start the washer, dryer, (since I am washing one tonight) and clean up after breakfast at the same time. Then while doing the laundry I am going to cut out and assemble 20 Disney figures so next week I can put together 2 candy bouquets. Sounds like fun and I will get the laundry done at the same time.

TIP OF THE DAY - FRIDAY

TAKE IN A MOVIE...Emmeline, Calvin Thomas, and I went to see Toy Story 3 today and I have to say it was very relaxing. If I was going to pick a movie for myself it would have been to go see Eclipse again, but this movie was good. It is always fun to go see a kids movie with kids. They were good as gold too which helped with the relaxing. I had to use the ladies' room half way through the movie which was sad, but the kids didn't even fuss about missing a few minutes of the movie. I am telling you watching a movie is a great destressor. Now if you can't afford the movies which cost an arm and a leg, then just go and rent one or better yet borrow one from family or friends.
So sit back with a bowl of light salt and butter free popcorn, a large glass of ice water and enjoy the movie. Here's two thumbs up for a movie night at home.
HOW RELAXING.

TIP OF THE DAY - THURSDAY

SLEEP IN... Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Staying well rested keeps your mind and body healthy and better able to handle stressors. A good nap itself can even decrease tension.
YEAH RIGHT...I would love 7-8 hours of sleep at night. Shoot I would settle for 6 good hours of sleep. I just don't know how to sleep at night, no matter how I try. Sparkpeople need to do 30 days of how to get the sleep you need.

TIP OF THE DAY - WEDNESDAY

DEVELOP A MANTRA...Does a particular word, phase or quote help you calm down and relax? Make it your mantra. Write it, think it, and repeat it any time you feel stressed, impatient, or anxious.
I had to think of this for a long time. It makes sense. I think mine would have to be; "if it is to be, it's up to me".
Okay if you read this then leave me a comment and tell me your mantra.

TIP OF THE DAY - TUESDAY

GET A MASSAGE...A professional massage can provide soothing, deep relaxation. As the tense muscles relax, so does your entire body, as well as your overstressed mind.
Okay, I know a lot of ladies who love massages but not me. First I don't want to take my clothes off for any reason and second I can't imagine someone else to touch me. Oh Yuck. I am sure it is a relaxation experience but not for me.

THANKS ELIZABETH

A BIG THANK YOU... to Elizabeth for taking on the task of keeping up with the blog while I went camping. I am not sure if anyone reads this but I know speaking for myself I get something out of doing the blog everyday. This is for me as much as anyone else. It is always to get a new prospective when someone else gives the tip or comments. Thanks again Elizabeth. I am grateful for your help.

TIP OF THE DAY - MONDAY

SHARE WITH OTHERS...Let others know your concerns, worries, and goals. By sharing with family and friends can lighten your load and much of the pressure you are probably putting on yourself. I have been lazy this year and I can now admit it. I think it is my only fault. I have lost close to 140 pounds but I am still down just 85-90 pounds because I have been yo-yoing since January. I am hoping by sharing my concerns with all of you I can get on track. I am really going to have to be careful now because while camping I tweaked my knee and foot again and it is impossible to move without pain. At the same time if I don't start losing weight and keeping it off I am going to regret it. The doctor has told me that I am going to need to have knee replacement surgery in the future but by losing weight I can put that off. Come everyone lets share and work together to keep moving forward.

TIP OF THE DAY - SUNDAY

We all feel less stressed when we're happy and enjoying life and since it's mom's birthday... today's tip is to celebrate. Celebrate all the small things and big events in your life.

• Find reasons to be happy and enjoy life.
• Look for reasons to smile
• Laugh, laugh, laugh
• Meet up with friends to a chat
• Send a card to someone
• Make a phone call
• Look on the bright side
• Go for a jog or walk and enjoy the sunshine, or even the rain
• Count your blessings...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR YVONNE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.

Happy birthday momma! Hope you have a wonderful day.

TIP OF THE DAY - SATURDAY

Well, my perfect evening with my daughter didn't go as planned. MaKenna got sick about 7:30 and was up every half hour - 45 minutes throwing up. We are both exhausted (more her I'm sure) and tired. It's a bummer, but on the bright side, we do not have to go running around and doing errands today. I will be able to catch up on all the laundry and house cleaning I have been putting off.

Which leads us to our de-stressing tip - don't procrastinate. It might feel good at the moment, but will lead to additional stress later on. I know this from lots of practice. I am bad at putting off things that I just don't want to do.

1. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! Break larger projects into manageable "bites" and create a timeline for yourself to accomplish these smaller tasks.

2. Remember that each project expands to the time allotted to it, so set a limit for yourself: "I am going to return all my phone calls in one hour." "I will file papers for 30 minutes." "I will spend 15 minutes picking up around the house." Set a timer. You will be amazed how much you can get done when you focus your time.

3. Eat a live toad first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day. Tackle that "toad" -- the task you have been putting off, the one that's hanging over your head -- because it will lift an immense load and you will feel much more productive.

4. Make a weekly appointment with yourself to plan your coming week. During your planning session, schedule important activities and tasks so you have a concrete plan for following through with your intentions.

5. Take 15 minutes at the end of each day to put things away and look at the calendar for the next day. Gather what you need ahead of time so you will be prepared for tomorrow.

TIP OF THE DAY - FRIDAY

Along the lines of de-stressing... My boys are headed of with Steve tonight for a Father / Son Campout. (They are using an actual tent and not the trailer, so we'll see how things go.) It will be a very relaxing evening and day tomorrow for MaKenna and I. This is very rare, but I'll take it.

• Make the most of what you're given. Even if it's just 24 hours, or even 12 hours. Take time for your self and do something you enjoy. That might be reading a book, taking a walk, riding a bike, etc. MaKenna and I are going to make her birthday cake. I'm sure she'll want something fancy - two tiers, ribbons, bows, and the whole 9 yards.
• Fit in fitness every day. Getting regular physical activity works wonders in coping with stress. Give your stress to the pavement or the treadmill and let it go from your body. Staying active in winter elevates your mood and reduces stress.
• Enjoy natural sunlight, especially in the winter. It can be depressing to be stuck indoors during the shortened days of winter, but a brisk walk in the sunshine can be a real mood enhancer.
• Identify the situations that cause stress and overeating and develop a list of how you will handle these challenges. Be realistic.
• Relax. Give yourself 15 minutes each day of peace and quiet, a time to be reflective, meditate, or simply unwind. Soaking in a hot bubble bath can help release your troubles into thin air. Breaking free from the family, a breath of fresh air, or escaping to a quiet room will energize and empower you.
• Eat healthfully. Proper nutrition promotes health, well-being, and rejuvenation, which in turn enhances your resilience to stress.

TIP OF THE DAY - THURSDAY

Mom is off de-stressing and asked me to keep the tip of the day going. When she mentioned the theme of less stress, my first thoughts were, don't get a job, don't get married, don't have kids, don't go back to school, don't, don't, don't... Causes of stress are all around us, the tip or the secret is how to deal with the stress.


Stress Tip:

Get Enough Sleep: It may seem counter-intuitive to spend time sleeping when you are already busy and would like to have more time in your life, but skimping on sleep can make you move slower, think less clearly and be less productive overall. It’s better to get the full 7 or 8 hours of sleep you need so you’re functioning at optimum levels so you’ll get more done and enjoy your life more during the time you’re awake.


How to get to sleep:

• Don't go to bed feeling hungry, but don't eat a big meal right before bedtime.


• Exercise regularly, but no sooner than three hours before bedtime.


• Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol in the late afternoon and evening.


• If you have trouble sleeping at night, don't nap during the day.


• Establish relaxing pre-sleep rituals, such as a warm bath or a few minutes of reading.


• Create a pleasant sleep environment. Make it as dark and quiet as possible.


• If you can't sleep, don't stay in bed fretting. After 30 minutes, go to another room and involve yourself in a relaxing activity until you feel sleepy.

Diet implications:

Sleep loss appears to do two things:
1. Makes you feel hungry even if you are full. Sleep loss has been shown to affect the secretion of cortisol, a hormone that regulates appetite. As a result, individuals who lose sleep may continue to feel hungry despite adequate food intake.


2. Increases fat storage. Sleep loss may interfere with the body's ability to metabolize carbohydrates, which leads to high levels of blood sugar. Excess blood sugar promotes the overproduction of insulin, which can lead to the storage of body fat and insulin resistance, a critical step into the development of diabetes.

TIP OF THE DAY - WEDNESDAY

TAKE TIME TO STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES... Don"t get so bogged down with things "I have to get done", that you forget those things you want to get done. That craft project you were excited about last year and didn't finish. That book you keep starting but can't seem to finish, that new twilight movie you want to see just one more time while it is still in a theater near you, those friends you want to call, the family members you should write, call, or see. Take a few minutes this month, this week, today to do something that you have wanted to do for a while now and enjoy your time doing it. I plan on doing that myself for the next 5 1/2 days.

TIP OF THE DAY - TUESDAY

HOLD HANDS...A recent study published in Psychological Science found that hand-holding calms the body's reaction to stress. So grab the hand of a friend or loved one whether your='re sitting on the couch or taking a walk.
I am really going to follow this tip this week while I am camping. I am sure Taylor would love to go walking around the campground and hold hands with Nana. How cool will this be.

TIP OF THE DAY - MONDAY

JUST BREATHE...When a stressful situation arises, breathe in and out slowly and deeply for 10 full breaths. Exhaling slowly decreases your heart rate and calms the body helping reduce stress.
I like this one too. When Calvin and Emmeline were young and started getting over excited we would have them raise both arms in the air and while slowly lowering them they would blow out and make a face. It didn't take but 2 or 3 breaths and they would be laughing and in a much better mood. This does not work with everyone young or old but it is worth a try. I know that Jillian, age 2 1/2 just tells me to "charge your attitude" when I suggest she do it and I rather doubt it would work with little Noni. What a sweetie. It does work for me.

TIP OF THE DAY - SUNDAY

WORK UP A SWEAT... Exercise is one of the best ways to destress. Pop in a workout video, hop on your bike or grab your jump rope. Picture the stress leaving your body through your pores, and let it go.
I don't know about different exercises, but I know for me a nice walk is always very relaxing and peaceful. Go out and enjoy the sun.

TIP OF THE DAY - SATURDAY

REACH OUT...Develop a network of friends and family who you can rely on and confide in. Call or visit them when you need to talk or vent. By sharing and listening, they will help you calm down.
I think this is a great tip. I know having all of you available, supportive, and understanding what I am doing and not judging ALL my backslides is very important and reassuring. Thanks for all your help.

TIP OF THE DAY - FRIDAY

NEW MONTH AND NEW THEME FOR TIPS...July's theme is 31 days to less stress.
Stress has been so ingrained into our days and into our culture that you probably don't even recognize it any more. But summer time is the perfect time to relax, slow down, and just enjoy the weather. What better time than July to use these lazy days to relieve any stress you've been experiencing? Learn to cope with stress from this month forward by starting with these 31 daily tips.
I think that tip number one should be "TAKE A BREAK, GET AWAY, VISIT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS, ENJOY SOME SUN!" Good idea, I think I will just do that next week.