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Nutrition Dense Foods You Should Be Eating!

In an era that is filled with fast food and food that is low on nutritional value, there is every need to seek out food that is rich in nutrition. But, richness is not enough, because it is nutritional denseness that counts, in ensuring that your body gets the requisite supply of nutrients. Given that you eat three square meals or many small meals in a day, there is a limit on the number of meals one has. This makes it all the more important to pack in as much nutrition as possible. Here are some of the most important nutritionally dense foods that your body needs.
– Green vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and cabbage, are some of the most healthiest kinds of foods because of the extent of density in the nutrients they contain. Most of these vegetables comprise nutrients such as iron, potassium, magnesium, folate, calcium and Vitamins A, C and K.
– Fish are a food group that is rich in nutrients. Salmon is exceptionally rich in resources of Omega-3, along with several other nutrients such as protein, magnesium, potassium, selenium and Vitamin B group of vitamins. Shellfish such as clams, oysters and other types of shellfish are extremely nutritious – loaded with zinc, vitamins and minerals aplenty.
– Garlic is another nutrient dense food, comprising a host of nutrients such as Vitamins B1, B6 and C, Calcium, Potassium, Copper, Manganese and Selenium. Garlic also has an active ingredient known as allicin, which helps in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and fights cancer.
– Tubers, particularly potatoes and sweet potatoes are useful and nutrient rich foods that help pack in healthy carbohydrates, starch, potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, and Vitamins C and B.
– Organ meats outweigh muscle meats significantly, with their range of nutrients within. Out of the range of organ meats, the healthiest is animal liver, especially because it comprises a range of animal protein, vitamins and minerals.
– Bean Sprouts are also very useful for good health, given that they are really rich in nutrients. Since sprouts are not yet fully grown plants, they are rich in many nutrients that are stored for the plant that will grow out of them.
– Nuts, though high in calories, are exceptionally dense in nutrients. The best of the lot are almonds, since they are filled with vitamins and healthy fats that can help reduce harmful cholesterol, and increase energy, improve skin and boost brain functioning.
– Eggs are among the most nutrient dense foods available, especially since they are packed with protein and minerals.
– If you thought chocolate was junk food, think again. Dark Chocolate is one of the best resources for nutrients – replete with everything from fibre, iron, magnesium, copper and manganese, it is also one of the richest sources of antioxidants among most foods.

Reference:
http://healthmeup.com/photogallery-diet-fitness/15-nutrient-dense-foods-you-should-be-eating/15052181/8

Photo Courtesy: drlibby.com

Meditation for clarity of the mind

In a world that is filled with stress and so many burdens on one’s mind, what with work and life and the myriad demands of both. You often feel bogged down by thoughts of work, thoughts of the future, and the fact that there are tremendous pressures to deliver despite all the odds. Step back a little, and find a way to de-stress, so that you can recharge and get right back in order. One of the best ways to do this is to meditate. When you meditate, you attempt to find a way to a clear state of mind, where the cloudy mix of thoughts lifts and lightens things up for a bit. A long-standing and time-tested method, meditation has a long track record of success.
– Meditation keeps you calm. Just spending some time and dispelling all the thoughts in your mind can ease you out of confusion and tensions, and let you sit back a little. The calmness that meditation gives you helps your mind ease itself out in a way that lets it see things with clarity. A calmer mind is a far more efficient mind than a cluttered one.
– Meditation Increases your energy levels by allowing you to channel positivity through clarity. By allowing your doubts and confusion to be siphoned out of your mind, you begin to focus on things that are positive, and things that are a useful way to spend your energy. In the process, your creativity expands, and you get to invest your energies in achievements.
– Meditation helps you focus better, and gives you strong concentration levels. When you meditate, you are practicing ways to keep your mind focused on a particular target. With constant practice, this becomes a way of life, where you allow your mind to focus specifically on the tasks at hand and don’t let you get distracted.
– Meditation helps you let go, and avoid any unwanted energies and influences to play a role in your thinking.
– Meditation helps you with observation, perception, and expression, by allowing you to see things clearly, and to act on them with as much clarity. It helps center and ground you in a way that does not allow you to descend into negativity and cluttered thinking.
– Meditation helps your body’s health improve. Through constant practice, your body begins to experience lower stress levels, and encourages your body processes to ease into a more comfortable frame of operation. You sleep better, you digest better and you remain illness free.

For Indian actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sharmila Tagore, meditation has been a very important part of life. To her, it means calming down, and being in touch with oneself despite the daily buzz and coping with stress. When she practiced mediation, she found herself feeling happier and breathing better. It helped her get over panic attacks and calm down overall, while also sleeping and thinking better, thereby becoming healthier.

References:
http://healthmeup.com/news-healthy-living/meditation-for-clarity-of-mind/15050647
http://www.artofliving.org/meditation/meditation-experiences/Sharmila-Tagore

Picture Courtesy: art of living &womenplanet

Tips to Improve Blood Sugar Control

When one is diagnosed with diabetes or high blood sugar that is not yet diabetes, there is an imminent need to control the extent of blood sugar or glucose in the blood, to ensure that the body balance is maintained. Here are some important steps to follow so that your blood sugar remains in check.

– Always make it a point to monitor your blood sugar levels and blood glucose levels. This will help you keep an eye out for ways that you can stay in control, and not go overboard with your intake of sugar.

Identify the ideal sugar level and glucose goals for your body, and make sure that you remain within the established levels. This can be done through regular check-ups, or if you are willing, perhaps through a glucometer that you can invest in, on your own.

– Keep an eye on your carbohydrate intake. Make sure that you indulge in a balanced meal that helps your body retain its levels of blood sugar and blood glucose in check. Counting carbohydrates is important so that your blood glucose is not elevated.

– Exercise regularly, but be aware of how your exercise affects your blood glucose levels. It is important to keep a few strips, meters, glucose tablets and also an emergency phone on your person while exercising.

– When you are ill, your blood glucose levels are also affected. It is important to understand what your illness is like, and how your blood glucose can rise or fall accordingly. In such times, it is important to monitor your blood sugar levels and ensure that it doesn’t slip below the lower level.

– Make sure that your stress levels are low, and that you sleep well every day. The lack of sleep and the presence of high levels of stress can affect your blood sugar levels. When you know that you are in a space in life with a high sugar levels, make sure to invest in ways to de-stress regularly and to give your body the rest it needs.

– Hormones in the body can play a fairly significant role in affecting the extent of blood sugar and glucose levels. This is especially so in the case of women who are pregnant, and women at and around menopause. Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly, and visit your doctor if there are drastic changes.

– When you are on certain kinds of medication, or when your body is being administered new medication, it is important to understand the kind of impact that it can have on your sugar levels. Certain kinds of medication cannot be taken in when one has a sugar issue, so always be sure to tell your physicians when they prescribe medication that you are on blood sugar monitoring medications. Staying within your blood glucose ranges is exceptionally vital for your wellbeing. It is always advisable to be vigilant, and to follow instructions with astute care and importance for timeliness in medication and dietary needs.

References:

http://www.diabetescare.net/authors/clara-schneider/how-can-you-control-blood-sugar?utm_source=Outbrain

Photo Courtesy: www.medicaldaily.com

Workout At Your Workplace!

Sitting hunched before your desk for long hours leaves you with a tremendous burden on your mental and physical health. One of the foremost problems that the modern lifestyle brings with it is a sedentary existence, where even so much as spending time in open spaces outside has become a difficult thing to factor into the average workday. The best way to do ensure that you overcome the sedentary ways of such a lifestyle is to factor in a work out while you’re at work. Here is a glimpse at a few ways to do just that.
– Run on the spot! Sure, it probably sounds like a random activity to throw into your workday, but if you get off your desk and run on the spot for a good minute’s worth every few hours, you give your body a burst of energy, and helps circulation, which keeps you mentally and physically active. The exercise is a perfect way to give your body a cardio boost, and engage your body in entirety.
– Take a brisk walk. There are plenty of instances where you take a break while at work, to perhaps grab some coffee or to just munch a snack in the cafeteria. Instead of looking for a snack, a better alternative for you would be to take a nice, brisk walk and return to your desk. The burst of adrenaline and the exposure to the spaces outside the confines of your workstation can make you a whole lot more productive and your body on active mode.
– Jumping jacks are a clever way to work out in the course of your day. The fun part is that you can even do it sitting down! Sit down with your back straight and your knees bent and legs together with your toes touching the floor lightly. Quickly, open your legs and flex your feet and land on your heels with your arms touching overhead, and then return to the start position. Try to do this as fast as you can so your body begins to gain from the exercise.
– Skate about. No, this does not mean indulging in a pair of roller skates, but rather an adaptation of the exercise. Sit on the edge of your chair, bend the right knee out to the side and extend your left leg out straight towards the side. Keep your toes pointed. Extend your arms and lean forward, reach the left arm to the right foot and raise your arm above, behind your body, and twist through the torso.
– Make sure to include the regular activities of bending, stretching, squatting and reaching in your everyday activities. This will help keep your body flexible, supple and the blood in circulation.
– Knee lifts and leg lifts help to tone your quadriceps, inner thighs and abs. Sit on the edge of the chair, extend your leg out straight with the other foot on the floor, and then switch. Another variation is to bend your leg and lift the knees up in alternation.
References:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/Guide-to-working-out-without-leaving-your-chair/articleshow/45832647.cms

Picture Courtesy:tinymuscles.com

10 Ways to Help the Environment

Do you know that the environment plays a major role in our health?  As humans, we leave the largest carbon footprint on the planet, and the more we keep harming the environment, the more it affects our health, as a species. Today being World Environment Day, Here is a list of 10 ways you can help protect the environment, and even help reverse some of the harmful effects of our lifestyle.

  1. Walk More:  Walk or ride a bicycle when your destination is close to home. Short trips are generally the hardest on your car and on the environment, so swap out your car for your feet or bike. The less time you spend driving, the less Carbon Dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
  2. Reduce the use of plastic bags:  When you go to grocery stores it is better to stop buying plastic bags, move to using reusable bags instead.
  3. Learn to love leftovers: Plan your meals so that you don’t cook more than you will eat. Store your leftovers and use them up at your next meal. If you do have a lot of food, such as after a party, share it with friends. You can also freeze the leftovers.
  4. Switch off electricity when it’s not used:  If you’re not using an electrical object, turn it off. This goes for lights, televisions, computers, printers. They consume a lot of power so it is always better to switch it off when it’s not used.
  5. Recycle: . Be sure to separate your trash cans into glass, metal, paper, etc. the more we recycle the less we waste.  Try to recycle as much as possible.
  6. Don’t waste Food: If possible, choose more local, organic and seasonal food. This will reduce unnecessary transportation ways, keep the environment cleaner and your body healthier.
  7. Plant a tree: Trees clean our air and create oxygen. This is a great way to compensate for the pollution of our environment and a small way to start!
  8.  Save Water: Don’t let water run when you don’t use it. For example while brushing your teeth, washing vessels or when you shampoo your hair make sure you don’t let it run when it’s not being used.  It will save a lot of water.
  9. Say no to plastic bottles: Why buy plastic bottles when you can do so much better? Go for glass bottles and jars instead of throwing water bottles on the road.
  10. Solar Panels: Solar electricity is a definite way to start! Install solar panels on your roof and it converts sunlight to electricity.

References:

http://www.wikihow.com/Help-Save-the-Environment

http://greatist.com/happiness/ways-help-environment

http://www.ebay.com/gds/10-Great-Ways-to-Help-The-Environment-/10000000002574285/g.html

Benefits of Eating Oatmeal Every Morning

Oats are often considered to be a breakfast cereal: but a little known fact is that it is exceptionally beneficial as a regular meal option too. A rich source of nutrients and full of wholesome goodness that not only keeps your body healthy, oats are a good way to fill your stomach well.

Here are some of the more significant benefits of oats.
– They are a low calorie food. A serving of oats is just 130 calories, and these calories aren’t empty – they actually help fuel your body with energy.
– Oats can fill your stomach well, and leaves you feeling full for a good number of hours after your meal. This is especially good because it keeps cravings at bay.
– Oats are incredibly rich in fiber, which is very good for the body since it aids digestion and keeps the bowel movements in check.
– The best part about oats is that they comprise low levels of fat and high levels of protein, which ensures that your body gets the right kind of energy resource that is not converted into fats. It is among the few grains in the world with the highest protein levels.
– Oats also help stabilize the extent of blood sugar and keeps diabetes (type 2) at bay by helping the body slow down the conversion of the whole food into sugar. Furthermore, it also has a high amount of magnesium which helps the body in using glucose properly and to encourage insulin secretion.
– Oats is also a great cholesterol removing agent. It gets rid of the bad cholesterol while leaving the good cholesterol untouched. This is because of a unique fibre in oats, called beta-glucans.
– Oats are also gluten-free and safe, so it is a perfect option for people with gluten intolerance and celiac disease.
– It is also scientifically proven that oats can help keep heart disease and cancer at bay, through the presence of lignans, which are strong agents that fight against hormone-dependant cancers and heart disease.
– Oats also contain a unique set of antioxidants that are beneficial for heart disease. It is scientifically proven that there is a considerable decline in the extent of heart diseases in people who made it a point to include a bowl of oats in their diet.
– There are tremendous boosts to the immune system by including oats in one’s dietary regimen, for the presence of beta glutens and neutrophils helps keeps infections at bay.

Here’s a nifty recipe you can use to craft a clever meal out of oats!
Tomato and Oats Sandwich
Ingredients
– 12 slices of whole wheat bread
– butter for toasting/ grilling
– sliced tomatoes
– sliced onion (rings)
– 3 potatoes, coarsely mashed (about 200 grams) – added the potatoes in grams
– 1 Packet Saffola Masala Peppy Tomato Oats
– 1 teaspoon grated ginger
– 2 green chillies, finely chopped
– 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
– 5 to 6 curry leaves, finely chopped
– a small bunch of coriander leaves, finely chopped
– salt to taste
– 1 teaspoon Saffola oil
– 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
– 1 teaspoon urad dal
– 1 teasoon channa dal
– 1/4 teaspoon asafetida
– Method for the spicy potato filling
Method:
Take a deep pan and heat up some oil. Add the mustard seeds, urad dal and channa dal and allow them to roast until they are lightly golden brown. Next, add ginger, curry leaves, green chillies and asafoetida. Add turmeric, salt and potatoes and the oats. Stir the mixture until all the ingredients are well blended. Cover the pan, turn the heat to low and simmer for a few minutes. Allow it to cool once cooked.
Next, take a slice of bread on a flat surface and add a bit of the potato filling on top of the slice and spread it. Lay on top of it a few slices of tomatoes and onion rings. If you’d like to, sprinkle salt or pepper and cover with the other slice of bread, and then place another slice of bread atop this. Grill the sandwich, with or without butter, and you’re good to go!

References:
http://www.fitfoodie.in/recipe/peppy-tomato-oats-sandwich/?utm_source=Outbrain&utm_medium=CPC&utm_content=OatsSandwich&utm_campaign=Outbrain-FitFoodie

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/oatmeal-everyday-powerfood.html

Picture Courtesy: cassandrebeccai.com

Is rice bad for you?

Today’s topic is one that’s dear to the heart of most Indians – Rice! Rice has recently developed a reputation of being bad for you and being the cause of obesity in many Indians. Today’s Slice of Health show was aimed at busting myths, and answering the burning question – Is rice bad for you?
The expert guests are Jayvani shivkumar, Chief Nutritionist at Lifeline Hospital, Adarsh, a Fitness and Nutrition and Shail a noted Dietician.
Adarsh is of the opinion that the real question is not whether you should eat rice, but how much rice should you be eating. And that in controlled quantities, rice is not a bad thing at all!
Jayvani says that these days there are a lot of different varieties in rice that can be substituted for white rice like brown rice, organic millets, and whole grain rice. These options are a lot healthier and retain vitamins and fiber, while polished mill white rice can increase sugar levels in diabetics.  Shail points out that in the traditional Indian diet, there’s the concept of combination food like pongal, idly, kichidi, etc, which is essentially rice, combined with vegetables and other ingredients. She says that when you add protein to rice, it creates a balanced meal and you can add fiber in the form of vegetables. Don’t have to feel bad about having white rice, as long as you’re managing your diet properly.
There are 40,000 known varieties of rice. It’s a common belief that the healthiest option is brown rice as it has more nutrients and high fiber content.
Jayavani tells us that millets are a form of rice, just a smaller variety. They’re often called as miracle grains. It’s a good option for people who want to lose weight, for diabetics and heart patients. It is high fiber content and essential fatty acids. A small quantity fills you up more than white rice. Unpolished rice is healthier than polished rice. She advises us to experiment with types of millets and choose what you like best.
A caller, Anuradha, wants to know, while making the transition from white rice to brown rice, whether it is alright to eat it at any time, even for dinner
Adarsh says that white rice is not a bad thing as long as it’s balanced with protein or veggies. If rice is part of a well-rounded diet plan, it is fine. If a person has no activity, and is prone to overeating, replacing their regular quantity of white rice with brown rice will not help. He says that the quantity of rice per meal should be between 240-270ml and not more.
Anuradha asks a follow up question – is it ok to substitute white rice with brown rice for the kids so that they get used to the taste?
RJ Jane agrees that your dietary habits are formed when you’re a child.
Jayavani on the other hand, says that when it comes to kids, it’s a bit of a challenge. Firstly, they won’t like it much, so it’ll be a herculean task. Also it’s not really necessary! Instead give them urad dal rice, which has 80% nutritional value. She also points out that sometimes rice is a comfort food. Rice boosts your serotonin level, which contributes to your mood. So she wouldn’t advice cutting out rice from anyone’s diet, considering there’s a psychology to it.
Shail insists that instead of switching to brown rice, combination foods like kichidy, idly and sweet pongal are better for the kids, and they’ll also eat it willingly!
Rice is naturally gluten free, high in nutrients and low on fat.
Adarsh gives us 3 points as a mantra for rice eaters:
1. Prioritize the proteins and veggies. Don’t overload on carbohydrates
2. If you are inactive, get active. Figure out what activity you enjoy most, and do it. Your body was made to move.
3. Get smaller tiffin boxes. To control your intake, pick up a 240ml box. The ratio should be 2 cups of veggies for 1 cup of rice.
Shail says that the first thing is to analyze your situation. What is your body condition? Your diet should depend on that. For digestion, white rice is good. For summer heat, curd rice is best. When combining rice with dhal or sambhar, even with unpolished white rice, you’re compensating for the missing nutrients. Her advice is to eat sensibly, watch your portions, exercise, and think positive. It really helps! Don’t feel guilty so much about what you’re eating, but instead eat consciously.
Adarsh highlights the importance of adding proteins like eggs, diary, lentils, fish and chicken to your rice.
Jayavani concludes by advising us to make sure carbs is only a quarter of your plate, while half your plate should be veggies and another quarter of protein. Carbs play a very important role in immunity, but for weight control, reduce the carbs and increase the protein.
Most importantly, don’t stress yourself out about it, and stay positive!

Picture Courtesy:wattpad.com

Fair? Not Fair!

The love for fair skin has been a considerably significant undercurrent in the Indian social milieu. Whether it is in the many Bollywood song lyrics or in the portrayal of women on screen, the emphasis on fair skin became something of a norm. This went so far, that a whole industry of fairness creams, bleaching products and skincare pivoting around melanin reduction mushroomed and grew from strength to strength. In the cultural backdrop that was built up around this, dark skinned, wheatish-skinned and brown women had no elbow room whatsoever.
The science behind one’s complexion is very simple: melanin. The actual skin colour of different humans is affected by many factors – but the most important one that lends colour to one’s complexion is melanin, which is produced within skin cells that are called melanocytes. There is a direct correlation between the geographical distribution of UV radiation and the extent of skin pigmentation around the world. In a country like India, which has a tropical climate by and large, it is but common for plenty of people to have a brown, wheatish or dark brown skin tone. This is not to mean that one’s complexion cannot be changed – for bleaching agents and powerful chemicals can wind up cutting the melanin down. However, doing so comes with the unsubtle undercurrent of racism.
Recently, Kangana Ranaut refused to endorse a fairness cream brand on account of the fairness bias that prevails across the fabric of the country. There are plenty of prejudices that pivot around one’s skin tone: many women testify to being considered “dowry burdens” because of their dark complexion. Still other women face a lot of flak for being dark skinned – not only from their families which tend to think that their daughters are incapable of being married off because they are dark skinned. And this, it appears, has been a regular occurrence for many years together. When girls are born, apart from communities that berate the birth of a female child, there are whole communities that ask if the girl was born fair, first, before anything else. Skim through any of the listings in the classifieds’ matrimonial section and you’ll find the prerequisite for brides being fair, more often than anything else.
Against this backdrop, Kangana Ranaut’s stand has come as a breath of fresh air. However, before Kangana’s outright act of defiance of the norm, Nandita Das has been a crusader for the cause of women with a dark skin tone through the “Dark is Beautiful” campaign. The fight against the colour bias and prejudice on one’s skin tone has a long way to go – but with influencers and prominent artistes in the limelight making a strong statement against the mainstream perspective, things are definitely looking up.

References:
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/kangana-ranaut-turns-down-offer-to-endorse-fairness-cream/article7244344.ece

Picture Courtesy: scoopwhoop.com

Ways to make the most out of your Gym membership

Chandler Bing, the much loved FRIENDS character, said, “Oh, yeah, I’m a gym member. I try to go four times a week, but I’ve missed the last… twelve hundred times.” If this sums up your narrative, stop right there! Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned gym veteran or a first timer, here’s how you can make your workouts a whole lot more effective and efficient.
– Make it a point to invest sometime in a trial. It is always good to know what you’re getting into. It doesn’t help you to invest a lot of money in something that you’re either not interested in, or does not give you what you’re looking for. Whether you’re already into fitness or not, this is an important step, for a training regimen should compliment your body and give it what it needs.
– Be regular! Your gym membership isn’t about exercising your wallet, but about exercising your body! Don’t let your money go waste if you’re planning to warm the benches. If not for anything else, feel motivated by how much you invest monetarily to surge ahead and workout.
– Eat a quick but light snack before setting off for the gym. The worst thing you can do is to hit the gym without eating, or on a completely empty stomach. You need to have some energy to work out, and being fatigued won’t get you there!
– Stock up on the protein. Your muscles need to gain strength to be able to work out comfortably, and to rebuild themselves. This can happen only if there is sufficient protein – but don’t overdose on it, because your kidneys need protection, too!
– Plan your workouts and identify where you’re headed. Go to the gym with a goal, and work towards achieving that goal. From drawing up plans with your trainer to actually implementing them through diet and workout charts, go the whole hog to derive the best out of your time in the gym.
– Make a workout buddy and stick with them. To get the best out of your workout and to stay encouraged and motivated, find a workout buddy who won’t slacken on you, and yet push you to do your best so you achieve results and stay committed.
– Maximise your experience at the gym. Use the help of trainers, find out how you can slowly build into your workouts, how you can maximise your calorie-burning capacity, and how you can strengthen your muscles all at once.
– Don’t stick to the same thing. When you keep following the same regimen, your body tends to plateau and does not gain anything from repetitive exercises.
– Don’t work out all the time! Make sure that your body gets adequate rest and intervals between your workouts. A five day work out week with two days in between as a rest for your muscles so you don’t wind up in a state of fatigue is a good idea. As much as your body needs an active work out phase and routine, you also need to have an active recovery routine in place.

Reference:
http://healthmeup.com/news-diet-fitness/10-tips-to-help-you-make-the-most-of-your-workout/15052304

Picture Courtesy : eblogfa.com

Tips to Get Monday off to a Great Start

Monday Morning Blues are a real thing: but it needn’t be something that should bring you or your morale down! Understandably, after a good weekend where you unwind – or sometimes, don’t get to quite do that – you tend to want to prolong the idle time rather than to rush back to work after the break. But here are some tricks and tips that you can keep in mind, so you can waltz back to office on Monday and start your week off on a good note!
Be weekend wise: Sure, your weekend is a good time to relax, unwind and pretty much do nothing. But the more lethargy you indulge in, the tougher it is to get out of the idle state back into work. Think about adding a few chores on your weekend, especially those that can make the rest of your week less stressful. For instance, make sure that your clothes for the week are in order, pay up any bills that are pending, catch up on meetings that you know might be impinging on your weekdays, so that you can comfortably get into the weekday mode with lesser on your mind.
Disconnect from tiring work over the weekend: The inadequacy of a weekend hits you hard when you see your weekends packed with a lot of demands. Try not to pack your weekend with too much to do, that you wind up spinning like a top. To relax, you really need to give your mind and body the space and freedom to do just that.
Cook ahead for the week: Let’s face it. Cooking can be a chore when it is not for an artistic, hobby centric pursuit. Putting meals together for the day can be harrowing, especially when you know that you need to be at work at a particular time. The easiest route you can take is to cook in advance on a Sunday evening, and stock up all the food in containers in the fridge, ready to be re-heated and eaten.
Approach Mondays with an open mind: Half the time, just the sheer thought of Monday can be a looming threat of annoyance and dullness. The best thing to do is to keep an open mind about the day: well, it’s only just another day in the week, and true, you’re working, but it’s also taking you closer to the next weekend! Listen to music on the way to work, or catch up on a happy feel-good radio show or an audio book, and you’ll do just great!
Prepare for Monday on Friday: Oftentimes, you head back to office with a huge load of pending tasks and unfinished obligations from the past week. Before closing down on work on Friday, keep track of the things you can attend to before Monday, or even space out through the week. While working through the week, try to look for ways to minimise the burden of work you will be carrying along with you into the next week.

How do you beat your Monday Morning Blues? Share it with us in the comments below!

References:

• http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/How-Productive-Monday-5679691#photo-5679691
• http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/02/25/11-ways-to-beat-the-monday-blues/

Picture Courtesy : www.huffingtonpost.com

 

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