End of Holiday Blues

"The time is far spent," along with all your money! January and a new year is upon us. Its time once again to think of resolutions we know we will forget in a few weeks. So, forget about resolutions. Instead, set up a few simple goals you wish to accomplish by the time 2008 comes around, and set up easy objectives that will get you there.

For example, if you want to get more exercise, figure out what type of exercise would be best for you and set up simple objectives to get you there. Lets say you wanted to walk and increase your endurance. Set up your goals and objectives like this.

Goal:
Improve Physical Endurance

Objectives:

1. Walk 20 minutes a day for six days a week for eight weeks.
2. Walk 30 minutes a day for six days a week for eight weeks.
3. Walk 40 minutes a day for six days a week for eight weeks.
4. Walk 40 minutes a day for six days a week and substitute in an hour walk 3 times during each month for the rest of the year.

You can keep up with your progress in a journal of daily events, on a calander, or make a special chart on your computer and print it out. This will give you something to look at and encourage you to go on with the program.

Important!

1. Set no more than five goals.
2. Make the objectives simple and reachable.
3. Don't panic and get discouraged if you get off track due to circumstances beyond your control. Just go back to your plan as soon as possible and don't worry about it.

In conclusion, the watch words are "don,t stress out.' Just keep going along at a steady pace doing a little at a time. Then, check back over your records between Christmas and New Year's Eve. If you followed these suggestions you will see all the progress you have made over the year.
Happy New Year
Ben Gustafson; RMT

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Poor Betty

Its November and poor Betty does not know what to do! She is running all over town to collect “fixings” for a twenty person Thanksgiving feast at her home. She is feeding one grandmother, four aunts, two uncles, two of her children (with their spouses), six grandchildren, two family friends and her husband. (She’s not including herself. She doesn’t think she will have time to eat.)
And, on top of shopping for “Turkey Day” she has lots and lots of Christmas presents to buy, cards to send out and holiday decorations to put up. Thank heavens she is going to her daughters house on New Years Eve and will not have to prepare refreshments for that party. She merely has to drive five hundred miles to get there!
So, with the holiday season in full sewing Betty doesn't seem to have as much energy as she should. She’s tired all the time and has to take naps during the day. But, at night she suffers from insomnia. And worse that all of that, she feels so sad most of the time. What's poor Betty to do?
Well, what she did was speak to her friend Lois. Lois told Betty she should see her doctor to rule out any medical conditoins that would cause her to be tired and sad all the time. So, that’s what Betty did.
Her doctor told her she was fine. She was just suffering from a little depression-the holiday blues. He said it could even be a mild case of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and her gave her a list of things she should do to beat it. This is the list he gave her:

• Go easy on yourself. Its not a weakness to feel depressed.
• Get moving physically to keep your spirits up. Take a walk, go to the gym or just get out of the house for a while.
• Avoid self medication with alcohol or drugs not prescribed by your doctor.
• Eat a healthier diet. Avoid too many sugary and starchy treats; and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Engage in positive conversations with family and friends.
• When it’s a sunny day go outside sun for about twenty minutes.

Betty’s friend Lois added one more item to the list. “Get a massage at least once a month.” Lois said the massage relieves her stress, helps her have more energy and she feels healthier.
Betty took the advice given her and no longer has a problem with her mild depression. She feels great, enjoys life and is looking forward to next years holiday season.
You can feel better this holiday season as well by following the advice given to Betty.
Ben Gustafson; RMT
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