Stay in Your Best Zone -

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Stay in Your Best Zone

One of my favorite things (besides cooking & writing!) – Travel with family and photographing nature’s beauty

Take care of You

If you don’t take care of yourself, there won’t be enough for you — or for anyone else — to go around. So make sure you’re getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep a night and that you’re eating right. When you reach for that candy bar or artificially sweetened food, remember that eating fresh and natural foods minus the chemicals is better for your health. Read labels. If the ingredients are one’s you can pronounce or can’t readily identify, don’t buy the product.

When you purchase food look for the “USDA Organic” label because these national standards define organic as those foods that are produced without the use of most conventional pesticides and without synthetic fertilizers. Food products cannot use the USDA Organic seal unless at least 95% of their ingredients are organic.

Additionally, the food can’t be genetically modified, irradiated to kill bacteria, or fertilized with sewage sludge from waste treatment plants. Organic meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products come from animals that are given organic feed and no antibiotics or growth hormones. Currently, there are no organic regulations for fish.

Also look for foods that are NON GMO Project Verified and make sure when you buy whole grains; you’re really getting whole grains. Look for labels that say 100% Whole Grain (47g or more per serving) vs. Just Whole Grain (8g or more per serving) at the beginning of the ingredient list.

When buying meat or poultry, it says ‘natural,’ that may mean the meat just hasn’t been fed hormones in the last 12 months before finding its way to the grocery shelf. Ask for ‘never never’ meat — as in never used growth hormones or antibiotics. Grass-fed is another step up in terms of flavor, quality, and nutritional benefit.”

Plant a Garden

Not getting enough fresh fruits and vegetables? Plan a garden. Gardening, a wonderful distraction to everyday life, allows us to focus on the task at hand. In doing so, it actually helps to decrease stress. The great thing about gardening is that you’ll also benefit from all the fresh locally grown produce. If you don’t find gardening appealing, enjoy another hobby on a regular basis – dance, tennis, and bird watching – any hobby that allows you to escape and live in the moment.

Learn how to say NO

Before you agree to paint a friend’s house, host a dinner for 40, join one more networking group, go over your schedule and figure out if it’s coming to come with a price. Saying yes to everything can often create stress and unnecessary activity in our lives keeping us from the things and people that mean the most to us. Evaluate what each activity will take, the pros and the cons, and how it will impact your precious time.

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Take a Trip with a Friend or Loved One – Leave the kids at home

Family vacations are fantastic and important. However, Mom and Dad have got to have their time away from the kids. Parents need to connect as romantic partners. If you don’t have kids, or the kids are long gone, you still need to get away every now and again. For a long weekend — or a week or more vacation. Planning a fun getaway is a great way to have something exciting to look forward to, dream of and talk about.

A Few of Your Favorite Things

We all remember that song Julie Andrews sang in the “Sound of Music” — “My Favorite Things.” Well, make a list of what yours are. It might be enjoying that first cup of coffee of the day outside sitting in your garden. Maybe it’s having a glass of wine at night looking at the stars, talking a long walk by the shoreline or volunteering for an important community event. Make sure you do at least one or more of these activities daily to put a smile on your face.

Live. Love. Laugh.

Live to your fullest. Love a lot and laugh daily. If you do this, the best in life will come to you and your heart will be open to receiving.