Balance at Work and at Home Are Attainable

- by Dr. Christina Grant

When you are in balance and harmony with life you can be most effective in your business. What you want to achieve suffers when you are too much engrossed in the tasks or worries of work and not taking time to maintain harmony [...]]]>

Balance at Work and at Home Are Attainable

- by Dr. Christina Grant

When you are in balance and harmony with life you can be most effective in your business. What you want to achieve suffers when you are too much engrossed in the tasks or worries of work and not taking time to maintain harmony within your body, mind, and spirit.

Most of us have been trained to work hard. If we are not working hard, we have been programmed to feel guilty about not working hard. Ever heard someone called lazy because they weren’t working hard enough?

Hard work has held the promise of reward, but there is a downside if we find ourselves not enjoying the living of it all. If balance between work and life outside of work is not maintained, your well-being can suffer, harming your peace of mind, physical health, and your relationships.

Even if you love your work, thrive on it, and can do it all day and into the night, it is important to take some time to rest and create a balance. Stop, reflect, restore, and revitalize. Your relationships need attention, your spirit needs nurturing, your body needs care, and your mind needs some time off. If these are neglected, is there any amount of success that can make up for their loss?

I think it is important to work at something you love, or at least like. Simultaneously, it is important to pay attention to your inner world. This helps you maintain a healthy balance. There are 10 simple things you can do each day to aid you in this worthy endeavor. I practice them myself and hope you will join me.

1. Inhale with awareness.

2. Walk in nature, even for just 10 minutes. Aim for 30.

3. Sit in silence and still your mind for at least 10 minutes each day.

4. Notice if you are thirsty, hungry, tired. What do you do about it?

5. While eating, slow down and give your full attention.

6. Avoid people who consume your energy.

7. Embrace people who accept and support your endeavors.

8. Regard the beauty of your surroundings.

9. Appreciate the freedom and ability to work or establish a business of your own.

10. Exhale completely.

Author Bio – Dr. Christina Grant is a holistic healer and spiritual counselor who works in person and by phone. She has helped hundreds of people attain physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. Her writing is published nationwide. She is co-author of Eight Minute Muse and is completing a book with a fresh perspective on women’s health. Her website is www.christinagrant.com.

 - by Helen Laird

“Tension is who you think you should be, 

Relaxation is who you are.” 

- Ancient Chinese proverb

How much time do we spend trying to live up to our own expectations? How much time do we spend trying to live up to the expectations we think others have of us? 

Many of us naturally fall into [...]]]>

 - by Helen Laird

“Tension is who you think you should be, 

Relaxation is who you are.” 

- Ancient Chinese proverb

How much time do we spend trying to live up to our own expectations? How much time do we spend trying to live up to the expectations we think others have of us? 

Many of us naturally fall into the role of our own harshest critic. We tell ourselves we’re letting the team down, when the truth may simply be that we’ve set the bar far too high. Either way, when we fall short of the mark we end up feeling disgruntled, upset and tense.

The Yoga Sutras, the first yoga text book written over two thousand years ago, warns us that expectations only lead to disappointment. Our mind loves to race off into the future, predicting a great future for ourselves. But more often than not it just ends up tripping over itself. We paint a glorious and detailed picture of that imaginary future, then attach large portions of our self-worth to that vision coming true. When it doesn’t, we feel a sense of loss. 

Expectations are not inherently a bad thing – if you never set targets for yourself, how would you know what to aim for? – but the trick lies in not getting tied to our expectations. Or rather, not tying our sense of self-esteem to whether we have achieved those goals.

To free ourselves of attachment to our expectations, yoga suggests that we learn to live in the present moment. Yoga practices, including the poses, breathing techniques and meditation, all aim to keep us centered in the “now”. They teach us how to calmly observe what is happening in our body, our breath and in our mind. Living in the present moment, we develop a sense of relaxed peacefulness.

It doesn’t matter if you can’t get to a yoga class to de-stress after a day of the toddler terrors. You can still learn to live mindfully in the now. Here are three simple yoga techniques to try:

• As you chase after the kids, cook dinner, or keep in touch with family via email, take the time to observe the sensations in your body.
• Before you begin any new task, take one full nose-belly breath: watch the breath as the air flows down to fill the deepest part of your lungs, and watch again as it flows back out.
• Take a step back from whatever you’re thinking about. Witness your thoughts as they pop to the surface of your mind. Watch them come and go without judgement or prejudice. 

Every time we practice these simple techniques we are bringing our mind back to the present moment. In the present moment there is no space for our past to worry us. Nor do we get pent up about the things we are yet to achieve. 

Letting go of our expectations and  learning to live in the now helps us to relax and discover who we really are. And that’s the greatest journey of our lives.

Author Bio - This post continues our yoga series by guest blogger Helen Laird of Yoga in One Syllable. Helen is passionate about helping people see where yoga already exists in their lives and inspiring them to bring more yoga into it.

We’ve all had those nights – it seems no matter how hard you try, your eyelids are spring loaded and refuse to shut.  Television commercials promise a restful night’s sleep with a prescription – but listen to the warnings.  Under their influence, you might just [...]]]>

Get some sleep naturally with a little help from your herbs.

We’ve all had those nights – it seems no matter how hard you try, your eyelids are spring loaded and refuse to shut.  Television commercials promise a restful night’s sleep with a prescription – but listen to the warnings.  Under their influence, you might just wake up behind the wheel of your car!  Not for you?  Try some herbal remedies for your insomnia and say nighty-night.

Chamomile – There’s no way to build up the usefulness of chamomile too much.  What may sound to you like your grandmother’s tea is one fantastic little herb.  Relaxing without hangover effects in the morning, gentle enough to drink during the day without knocking you out; for generations people have relied on its calming effects for a good night’s sleep.

Cat Nip – What?  Rob your cat of Mr. Bobo, her favorite nip-stuffed mouse?  No need to take things that far.  Cat nip – or cat mint if you please – is great dried for tea or taken as a tincture.  A bit stronger in effect than chamomile, yet without the morning-after effects, this is my favorite herb for a sure shot at shuteye. 

Valerian – Here’s where we pull out the big guns.  As a tea it positively stinks (in particular the stemmy stuff purchased commercially.  If you manage to wildcraft it yourself, it’s not so rank).  But boy, does it work!  If you prefer, you can take it as a tincture or encapsulated.  Fair warning, however:  Although valerian is a powerful natural sleep aid, even an excellent pain reliever and muscle relaxer, some people do experience a valerian “hangover” if used over time, sometimes resulting in mild depression.  And unfortunately, a few people experience exact opposite effects – valerian actually hops them up making sleep more difficult.  But this isn’t the norm so I’ve included it due to its effectiveness.  Consider using valerian only when insomnia is at its worst, or when you know you’ll only be relying on it for a short time.  

Lavender – Placing some dried lavender in your pillowcase, or even using essential oil of lavender, is often the perfect solution for those with sleep issues.  Lavender oil is used in aromatherapy to calm and to aid in sleep, and it’s also great for depression and anxiety relief.  Some people even enjoy using dried lavender to prepare a tea before bedtime.  But if you prefer to avoid taking anything internally, then simply smelling the aroma is enough to aid in a restful night.  Don’t take the oil internally, however.  And if applying topically, make sure it’s blended with a carrier oil.  Lavender oil on its own can be too harsh for the skin.

Although caution must often be taken no matter how natural our sleep aid, the good news is there are plenty of safe alternatives that won’t leave you heavy lidded come morning.  Just a few nights without sufficient sleep can be enough to throw off your health, both mentally and physically, so trying some herbs could be just what you need to cure your insomnia.  The best news?  You won’t wake to find yourself driving to Boston after a cup of chamomile!

All Dressed Up and Ready for Cake

We all have that strange array of stuff in our kitchens – mounds of molded cake pans, plastic cookie cutters shaped like “only-once-a-year” pumpkins, foil cupcake holders with faded shamrocks on them.  Occasionally we may dig through it all, hoping to weed out the unused baking supplies.  ”Throw [...]]]>

All Dressed Up and Ready for Cake

We all have that strange array of stuff in our kitchens – mounds of molded cake pans, plastic cookie cutters shaped like “only-once-a-year” pumpkins, foil cupcake holders with faded shamrocks on them.  Occasionally we may dig through it all, hoping to weed out the unused baking supplies.  ”Throw it away?  Recycle?  Can I recycle a teflon coated Easter Bunny pan?”  Next time you purchase a new item for the kitchen, try getting something recyclable.  Don’t know where to go?  I’ve been testing an Eco Cupcake Stand from GreenPartyGoods, where all their items are planet friendly.

Cupcakes are all the rage these days – kids get their very own little cake, all decorated and all to themselves.  Even weddings offer up more elegantly decorated cupcakes.  Cupcake stands give the baker the ability to stack up and arrange the cakes like a pyramid of goodies, which is a far sight more festive than simply piling them on a plate.

GreenPartyGoods’ Eco Cupcake Stand comes unassembled, which makes for easy storage, since when assembled it’s a surprising 20 3/16″ tall!  (Add the cupcakes and you’ve got quite an impressive party centerpiece.)  The recyclable cardboard is sturdy and white, making for a good natural backdrop without being “cardboard tan”, and the decorating possibilities are endless on this one.  The stand has a double-sided polished wipeable surface.  I also found assembly to be rather straightforward.  The end result is a sturdy display for your cupcakes.  And if your cupcake baking days every become a thing of the past, you’ll have no problem answering the question, “Can I recycle it?”  But after seeing the results of this one, those days are a long time coming.

Want to win your own Square Eco Cupcake Stand ($28.95 retail)?  Enter here!

Multiple Options for Multiple Entries:

1.) Just visit GreenPartyGoods and tell me what else you liked or learned there. (***You may enter once a day, but please list a new item you like each time.) Remember, leave an interesting comment. If I cannot contact the winner, you might be chosen instead based on your comment.

2.) Blog about, Twitter, Subscribe and/or Become a Fan on Facebook! Get an extra entry for each of these activities.  This time just leave a separate comment for each (only one time for each extra activity completed), giving me a link to your blog post, your Twitter name, and/or a note saying you’re an FB Fan and/or subscriber.  SUBSCRIBE HERE!   (Psst!  My Twitter name is dkMommy.)

3.) EXTRA!!!  Become a fan of GreenPartyGoods on their Facebook page and earn yet another entry!  Leave a comment here telling me you did so.

Feel free to do all five to gather multiple entries to win! You have until midnight EST on Wednesday, March 17, 2010, to enter.

Got GERD? No need to lose your head. Natural remedies may be just what you're looking for.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a “condition in which acid, bile and partially-digested food in the stomach back up into the esophagus.”  For many people, GERD is making a difficult time of their daily lives.  But there are [...]]]>

Got GERD? No need to lose your head. Natural remedies may be just what you're looking for.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a “condition in which acid, bile and partially-digested food in the stomach back up into the esophagus.”  For many people, GERD is making a difficult time of their daily lives.  But there are a few simple and natural remedies that can take the edge off the discomfort.

First, try not to eat when you’re stressed.  So many of us eat in a hurry, under pressure, or when we’re all stressed out – as if we’re still those cave men and women trying to get that meal in before the sabertooth comes along to claim his portion!  Before eating, give yourself a few moments of peace and quiet.  During meals, chew thoroughly to aid in digestion.  And think of Uncle Howard, the guy who always loosened his belt at the dinner table:  Don’t wear clothing that restricts your stomach.  (And here you thought Uncle Howard was just a little gross.)

Try and wait three hours after eating before lying down.  And when you do tuck in for the night, you might want to sleep on your left side, which will keep your stomach below your esophagus.

That most versatile of herbal remedies, chamomile, produces a fabulous tea that is known for its ability to soothe gastrointestinal spasms, so you may find a cup of this warm herbal brew is just the thing to naturally relax your GERD.

Of course it’s always good to consult your doctor, but by trying a few natural remedies before taking the trip to the office, you may just find conditions like GERD are controllable without the need for pharmaceuticals.  Nature’s just smart that way.  And so is Uncle Howard.

Lives of the Trees is a delightful hardcover filled [...]]]> If you’re a lover of trees and perhaps a bit of a history buff, and if you enjoy learning all manner of interesting tidbits about your arborial friends, Diana Wells’ book Lives of the Trees: An Uncommon History will have a welcome spot in your bookshelves’ nature section.

Lives of the Trees is a delightful hardcover filled with a forest of trees, three or four pages devoted to each variety.  Readers will delight in the oftentimes surprising history of some of our most loved trees.  I myself have been looking at a few species in a new light!  Along with Wells’ treasure of information, you’ll find beautiful little illustrations by Heather Lovett, which greatly adds to the charm of this book.

Diana Wells, author of four books, holds an honors degree in history from Oxford University and is a contributing editor of the journal GreenPrints.

Lives of the Trees is a perfect gift book for the garden and nature buffs in your neck of the woods.  It’s published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill and sells for $19.95.