A Lovely Time for Rest

Looks to be a beautiful January afternoon (you just don't hear that enough here in Michigan, really!). I hope you find your shades and get outside or make time to read and sip hot chocolate in that favorite chair by the window. 

Keep in mind that it is still winter, however, the season of rest. Short trips outdoors for fresh air and direct sunlight are best. Consider that leisurely stroll around the neighborhood, and then heading inside to enjoy a steamy cup of tea and just relaxing for a moment or two. Take a few deep breaths and ponder making some delicious soup or baking those healthy muffins you've been meaning to try. Catch up on your reading or maybe watch your favorite movies for the rest of afternoon. Call a friend and/or make time to write a heartfelt letter. It may not always be a possibility, of course, but please keep in mind that rest and relaxation aren't just luxuries, they are important to your overall health and well being.

There's also this thing called beauty sleep. As Jolene Hart reminds us, "Be sure to use this season of rest to renew your skin and boost your immunity with full nights of sleep. Research shows that the skin of women who sleep less is more prone to fine lines, less elasticity, and uneven pigmentation. But women who sleep more arm themselves w/stronger defenses against sun and environmental damage. During sleep, your body secretes human growth hormone (HGH), which increases skin cell production, collagen, and damage repair."

If you have trouble falling asleep, consider going to bed at the same time every night, getting plenty of aerobic activity throughout your day (but no work outs within hours of bedtime), cutting out foods that contain caffeine by mid-afternoon, making dinner your lightest meal and finishing it a few hours before you go to bed, turning off or walking away from your computer, television, video games and cell phone at least an hour before bedtime and making sure your room is as dark as possible when you finally crawl under the covers.

Let's make the most of our down time this winter by staying in touch with those who matter most, relaxing when possible, eating colorful and comforting foods, drinking plenty of water and hot tea and making sure we're getting at least seven hours of sleep as many nights as possible.

Take care of you, yeah?