Healthy New Year!

Time to make a New Year’s resolution? What will it be? Usually, I don’t bother. But I’m hoping you will keep be accountable. I need help!

• Lose weight—about 15 pounds would be good.

• Exercise more—anything would be better than what I’m currently involved in.

• Get more sleep—but there’s so much to do.

• Stress reduction—no time for that either, although, I enjoy this one the most.

To combine these four healthy habits and be successful, I must change my mindset. Instead of trying to lose 15 pounds in three months, walk at least 10,000 steps per day, get seven hours of sleep a night, and eliminate all stress from my life on January 1, I plan to take baby steps.

If I strive to lose two pounds per month, that’s better than gaining!

At one time 10,000 steps per day was no big deal, but in recent months I have taken on a more sedentary life. I average around 5,000 steps. Time to increase that to 6,500 and work my way back up to 10,000 in a few months.

The average of 6¼ hours of sleep per night, according to my Fitbit, needs to stop. I require more to survive. Baby step will be to consistently get 6½ hours and work my way up to 7.

For stress reduction, the increased walking and extra sleep will help. Listening to music, a cup of tea in the evenings, a good book, spending time with family, or laughing with friends are additional ways to decrease the stress in my life. And as always, studying and reading my Bible along with praying for others also bring benefits.

These are ways I hope to improve my overall health and well-being. Care to join me? Let’s share our progress in a few months.

May your year be healthy and blessed!

If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution, please share in the comments below.

Have a Good Laugh

In September, I came across an article on the health benefits of laughter. Advantages cited included lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormone levels, improves cardiac health, and my personal favorite—works your abs. Yes! Let’s get laughing!

I work with civil engineers. Not that engineers aren’t fun or funny, but they are a serious group for the most part. There are times this introverted gal feels stretched to the max trying to be the outgoing one of the group.

On a Monday morning, at a departmental staff meeting, the question was asked, “How was your weekend?” Everyone around the table gave a response. “Okay.” “Didn’t do much.” “Fine.” All very monotone and boring. I spoke last. I nearly jumped out of my chair, raised my arms into the air, and said, “Fantastic! I had a great weekend.” A couple of the engineers at the table nearly fell out of their chairs because of my exuberance. Rare for me to get that excited, but their dullness made me want to go back home and sleep. We needed a spark.

There’s one gentleman I work with who is not an engineer. He’s an extrovert. He keeps us on our toes and works our abs. A couple of months ago Stan (not his real name) posted on our Intranet Out of Office board that he and his supervisor were traveling on a karaoke tour. This board is available to the entire company—almost 200 employees. I couldn’t let this opportunity pass without finding out more. I sent Stan an email and asked if the two men were slacking off on company time. He soon responded with, “Hold on. The boss is on stage singing now. I’ll get back to you later.” Instead of doing my work, I was laughing. My response, “Take a video. I want to see this.”

He didn’t send me a video on that day, but a few days later, his boss forwarded a video to me that Stan sent him. Stan wearing a fish head costume talking about feeling a little fishy. The boss’s response to Stan’s humor, “He’s goofier than my teenage son.” He may be goofy, but his humor is beneficial to my health.

The benefits of laughter are nothing new. Proverbs 17:22 states, “A joyful heart is good medicine…” (ESV) and “Being cheerful keeps you healthy…” (GNB).

Take some time to laugh every day. You’ll feel better.