Category: #UpbeatAuthors

#UpbeatAuthors: Relaxation

I often say, “I read the way most people watch television.” And I think that’s true. I usually read several books a week. Sometimes those books are re-reads, but thanks to the public library and my Kindle, I have easy access to more new-to-me books than ever.

Reading is how I relax. A good story is my vacation from the real world. I know a lot of people who are into travel, going on cruises, visiting exotic locales, etc. I would rather read a good book. When I do go away, I tend to stay in my hotel room and read. Why spend money to do that when I can indulge  in the comfort of my own home?

There is absolutely nothing as wonderful as coming home from a challenging day at the day job and losing myself in a well-written tale.  Not only is it relaxation, it is a blessing.

 

#UpbeatAuthors: Efficiency & Stress

Maximizing efficiency doesn’t necessarily mean upping stress levels. It’s been my experience that I’m more productive if I slow down, take several deep breaths, and focus on completing one task at a time.

Research indicates there is no such thing as multitasking. The brain can do only one thing at a time. MRI imaging shows a bottleneck in the part of the brain that routes input when the brain tries to process too much information. So why make your brain inefficient by overloading it? Why add to your stress levels by trying to do too much?

You may wonder how a person walk and chew gum at the same time.Those actions, as well as other “muscle memory” functions like typing and playing a musical instrument, are the products of habit learning and are controlled by a different part of the brain than the declarative memory learning process.

Studies have shown that workers who don’t fragment their attention are more productive and more accurate than those who try to accomplish too much at one time. Another way of saying maximizing efficiency.

All that said, we live in an age of information overload. We are expected to “multitask.” Here are a few suggestions of ways to cut down on the distractions that fracture of focus while increasing our productivity:

Create a to-do list

  •  Prioritize each duty.
  • Refer to list often.
  • Keep list up-to-date.

 Clear away distractions from your work area

  • Spend 10 minute each day decluttering.
  • Keep only one thing at a time in front of you.

 Manage your e-mail

  • Don’t check your e-mail until you complete an assignment
  • Check e-mail at set points in the day.
  • Turn off e-mail alerts.

Reflect & review your accomplishments at the end of the day. It refreshes the brain.

 

Water Water Every Where

Today is World Water Day.

Water is a subject always on my mind. About thirteen years ago, I read a disturbing article that stated the next war would not be fought for oil, but rather for water. Potable water. That was scary. I wish I could find the article again, but although I’m fairly savvy on the internet, no luck.

Now I read that Cape Town, South Africa is due to run out of water on July 9 of this year.

Living near the Great Lakes (the planet’s largest basin of liquid fresh water), I am careless with my water consumption. Fresh water is there for me. I should know better. The California drought conditions are eventually going to impact the entire country–an awful lot of our food is grown in California.  I wonder silly things, such as when I’m rinsing my recyclables which have to be clean before I put them in the bin for pick up, how do Californians clean their recyclables when water is a rare and precious commodity?

The city in which I live is located on one end of one of the most polluted bodies of water on Earth. Yes, much progress has been made in cleaning up Onondaga Lake, but there are days when you can still gag from the stench when driving past the lake. Eating fish caught in the lake is strongly discouraged.

I grew up only hundreds of feet from the banks of Onondaga Creek. Clean water is in my consciousness.

We once took clean water for granted. It’s time to realize we need to work to make sure we have enough clean water for future generations to survive.

 

 

#UpbeatAuthors: Renewal

One of the many things I love about being an #UpbeatAuthor is the way the weekly topics encourage me to explore aspects of my faith I might not have previously considered.

Example: renewal. Every morning is a renewal. Wow.

Every morning, when I wake up, I am renewed because what happened the previous day is over. Done. Gone. The day ahead of me is a fresh start. It is going to be a good day. Renewal is just that simple.

 

#UpbeatAuthors: Healthy Eating

Like everything else, defining “healthy eating” depends on one’s point of view. What my niece with celiac disease considers healthy is totally different from the foods her sister who is allergic to casein (milk protein) knows are safe. Peanut butter was a staple in my house when the Chromos were growing up. It would be deadly in other cupboards

Too often we forget mental health when it comes to eating. There are days when nothing less than Chinese for lunch will do. Or a carton of Ben & Jerry’s. Or a jar of Nutella. On those days, these food are healthy. No apologies. No judging.

And what about comfort food? Homemade macaroni-and-cheese? Grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup? Comfort is good for the soul. That’s healthy, too.

Now, I’m not saying we shouldn’t be conscious of what goes into our bodies. Most of the time, I do try to eat foods generally considered healthy: Greek yogurt for breakfast, green salads for lunch, whole grain breads and low-fat cheese on my grilled cheese sandwiches. This past summer I swapped out making pasta salads for making quinoa salads, and it wasn’t a sacrifice.  My standard pot-luck contribution is a fresh berry/fruit salad. Naked. Lots of antioxidants and vitamins. Y-chromo called me the other night to find out how to cook butternut squash. X-Chromo preferred vegetables to any kind of sugar, even as a toddler. I stopped drinking coffee nine or ten years ago because the withdrawal symptoms when I was fasting were brutal. If I was that addicted to something, maybe it’s not good for me.

But don’t ever try to take away my Nutella.