One of the things I find most mystifying about this season (besides wondering why nobody ever writes new Christmas songs – I’m a fan of all the big holiday hits but a girl can only hear Jingle Bell Rock so many times, especially if it’s Mariah Carey singing it) is why people want to wait until January 1st to do things. See, I’m impatient. And impulsive. And while the two combined have resulted in many a comical life disaster (ask me about the time I showed up to a job interview wearing a dress that I had shortened with a pair of scissors ten minutes beforehand in the parking lot), the good thing is that once I decide to do something I do it. Right then. Even if it is the middle of the night. People love this about me. So much so that my husband now takes sleeping pills and refuses to discuss anything of import with me after 10 p.m.
So in the spirit of the New Year and a toast to immediacy, I offer you seven healthy changes that you can do right now. Today! Maybe even this very second! Why waste a month (or a good hem) in waiting?
1. Move your fruit bowl to the middle of your table. A) It’s a pretty centerpiece so people will think you decorate and stuff and b) you’re more liable to eat it if you see it first thing when you walk into your kitchen. Studies say that the average American eats less than 2 servings a day of fruits and vegetables. While I find that hard to believe about my readers – if I have learned one thing doing this blog it is that you are hardly average! – we could all use a fiber barrier between us and the eggnog cooling device a.k.a. the Fridge of Ill Repute.
2. Call your sister. In the famed Harvard longevity study, one of the most surprising correlations they found was that people who had a good relationship with a sibling – particularly a sister – lived longer and were happier. I’m fortunate to have two very smart sisters whose sole purpose in life seems to be entertaining me via the hands-free attachment of my cell phone. It’s gotten to the point where my kids think Aunt LaLa is really my imaginary friend who appears during Mommy’s Crazy Time (i.e. the hours between dinner and bedtime) to talk me down from the ledge.
3. Laugh. A popular axiom points out that babies laugh an average of 50 times a day and while it fails to point out that the little nippers also cry 50 times a day, it is worth noting that we seem to lose some of our good humor as we get older. A good belly laugh releases a flood of endorphins and all that fizziness counteracts the bad effects of the stress hormone cortisol. What was YouTube invented for if not to make you giggle? A fast connection and plenty of bandwidth and the world is your oyster! (Shhh…surprise kitty!)
4. Meditate. Quietly pondering life, the universe and everything – or nothing – has many benefits. If you are the kind who doesn’t like to just sit and stare at your eyelids, try moving through a couple of gentle yoga postures. Sure you’ll have to wear those stupid head bands Mischa Barton has been pimping and say things like “groovy” but it’ll be worth it when you can bust out the calming breaths the next time the cashier closes the line right before you.
5. Write with your left hand. You know what’s fun at parties? Showing off your ambidexterity! If you’re single you can write down two numbers at once, although how you juggle two dates at once without anyone pulling a Tiger Woods is up to you. Plus it’s like insurance in case you ever have to cut off one hand to save your life (what? It happens!). Seriously though, research has shown that doing small tasks like eating or writing with your non-dominant hand or tying your shoelaces backwards is like steroids for your willpower muscle. And everyone needs beefed-up willpower this time of year whether it’s holding your tongue when your mother-in-law plays Rorshach with the stains in your carpet (“Hmm… this one looks like vacuum! Wonder what that means?”) or the tray of Christmas bon-bons left on your doorstep. My favorite way is to do a my daily crossword puzzle – yes, I’m in the AARP – with my left hand. See? Healthy can be fun!
6. Notice 5 new things. How often do we rush through our days without really seeing what’s around us? Case in point: yesterday I didn’t see a man behind me who apparently wanted to open a door for me. I opened it myself and he chastised me for not waiting for him. (His exact words, weirdly enough, were, “In Texas women are real ladies.” Ok, then!) Anyhow, we both would have felt better had I noticed him there and allowed him his gentlemanly act. Although now that I’ve just typed that out, the situation seems oddly creepy. So whether you are noticing the creepy gentleman behind you or the way the light shines off the snow on the tree branches, taking note of the novelty around you will sharpen your senses, brighten your day and make you grateful.
7. Do something kind for someone else. Nothing will make you feel better faster than this.
Finally, healthy changes you can actually do in Just 15 Minutes a Day! While it won’t get you Washboard Abs or even a washboard, I guarantee it will make you feel better and that’s more than most diets can say.
What is your favorite do-it-right-now healthy tip?
1. I'm baking cookies for my year of law school as a celebration for our last exam (as if we can learn ethics from a prof…either you're good or your not.) They're checkerboard sugar cookies, with the vanilla and mocha flavour- it's three kinds of jittery, espresso, chocolate AND sugar!! What more could a bunch of burnt out law students want? Well..a lot of alcohol, but I'm not giving them that.
2. Christmas Music Recommendations: Sharon, Lois and Bram "Candles, Snow and Mistletoe". Pretty much the most amazing Christmas CD ever. I loved it so much when I was little the CD stopped working from all the little scratches. I saw them live whenever they were in Toronto, and their Christmas show was the BEST.
OK, it may be a little on the childish side, but it's on my iPod and it is my current gym playlist.
You have some great ideas that I want to try myself since I'm kind of impulsive and a little bit impatient too..lol! However, personally, to take the jitters off, I go for a nice massage once a week and that works wonders for me. Keeps me sane…stable I mean…LOL!!! Thanks for sharing such great tips. Keep em' coming!
ok I know this wasnt entirely directed at me but the CALL YOUR SISTER is something Ive been thinking a lot about.
I call mine.
A LOT.
frequently.
all the freakin time.
my daughter? an only and destined to stay that way.
Im hoping I can teach her the importance of strong female friendships which can serve as surrogate sisters.
My healthy tip? let go.
well i am left handed so i brush my teeth with my right hand. i read somewhere that it's good for keeping the brain active. i also have a book of crosswords for that purpose too.
love the tips: great ways to feel good 🙂
Great post, lots of food for thought. Have you heard of Straight No Chaser? They are amazing and have some great Christmas music.
I'm screwed. I do the crossword and Sudoku over lunch everyday at work.
Crap.
-Joshua
Fav do-it-right-now thing: Just what you said.. I don't wait till tomorrow to be healthy.. for me, it is always today! Even if I eat an unplanned or unexpected treat or just too much.. I am right back to it. I don't wait till tomorrow or Monday or January!
LOVED THIS POST!
Wonderful list!! As usual we are both writing about a season of giving, and hopefully for all, the gifts given will come home to each of us this season!
Fresh veggies cut up and crisping in water in the fridge. I crave crunchy things…then when I open the fridge, there they are!
Yes, yes, I love this, not that I needed another reason to call my sister. Just reading this made me feel more calm and sane and content. Does this mean I can skip meditating? No? Maybe I'll start Jan. 1…
I agree, why bother waiting until January? Love the tips!
I really miss my sister now that she's travelling… but it's nice to have email and skype to keep in touch with each other.
PS I was eating breakfast as I read this and I totally started using my left hand as soon as I got to that tip 😉
Great ideas! Afraid "Impatient and Impulsive" I am not. Much more the "Slothful and Dawdly" type. These tips are even more valuable for my sort, because they're simple enough to actually contemplate doing sometime this century instead of putting them off.
I already use my left hand for stuff, so I'm one up on you! Oh, wait…. that isn't what you meant?
Hehehehehehe
Great tips, Charlotte!
I love giving my children hugs when they are screaming at me. It calms them down, gives them what they need, and saves me from doing something I regret.
I love that you do things right away. My family laughs bc I will be up painging trim in the house at 11:00 bc it needs to be done NOW! Once I have something in my head, there is no stopping me.
And the guy might have been trying to be nice but to reprimand you for not allowing him to be nice? weird.
I agree wholeheartedly; why wait for January? That's just what they're expecting us to do! (One of my fave lines from "Airplane!") Talk about belly laughs!)
I've also re-discovered Spinning. SO fun!
And I agree with Miz: let go. (Unless you're hunched over the bike in the middle of a Spin class. Then you might wanna hold on.)
I don't start healthy things at the drop of the hat but I do that with cleaning. I have been known or reorganize and clean all the kitchen cabinets on Christmas day just because I noticed dust while taking out dishes – my husband says I am twisted.
For healthy, an instructor at my gym told us to do 20 pushups a day. Everyone can work that in and you don't need to do them all at once. I have been trying to do that pop pilates every day but have only been fitting it in every other.
How about drinking green tea. We buy the huge box of sensa at Costco and both my husband and I are addicted (having an instant hot in the kitchen makes preparing it a breeze).
Lastly, subscribe to the SAT question of the day. Sounds dorky (but I was in the math club in high school) but I had signed my girls up years ago (both to practice and because my youngest complained that she did not get enough email). I signed myself up too and work them out whenever I find a break in my work day.
Impatient, yes. Impulsive, no. I am a ridiculously slow decision maker, but I'm getting better. Love the tips! I'll add mine – train for a half marathon during the holidays, so a few indulgences aren't the end of the world. Tee hee!
Okay, I'll try doing sudoku with my left hand 🙂
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I am so a "Do it right now person" as well. Glad to know I'm not alone. I don't get why everyone puts off everything until Jan. 1 either. It's like the world stops in December.
My Do It Right Now Healthy Tip…call your friend you've been meaning to talk to for forever…the one whose voicemail has been saved in your mailbox for over a month. Yeah…I need to get on that.
Oh, Charlotte, I love you, impulsive and impatient, alternate-hand using woman that you are. I can't wait to tie my shoes backwards because I eat left, write right, carry my messenger bag left, and try to brush my teeth left.
New Christmas songs? How about Christmas songs like you've never heard them before? Check out Bob Dylan's holiday album-the free song on iTunes this week is a polka holiday song sung by Bob Dylan-it's the best laugh I've had in days! Funny & disturbing…
Does Sudoku count? I'm gonna try the left hand trick- if nothing else it'll slow me down and then maybe I'll meditate!
maybe its just me, but after reading a lot of your posts, it seems you preach a load of wonderful information and facts, but hardly practice it. be better to yourself Charlotte! you deserve it.
Haha – thanks Lydia! I’m working on it – it’s kind of a two steps forward, one step back kind of thing. Besides, wasn’t it He-Man who said “knowing is half the battle”?! So at least I’ve got 50% going for me. Seriously though, I’m doing soooo much better now than I was several years ago but I appreciate your concern!