Take Care of the Caregiver – How to Maintain Your Health and Sanity

caregiverRecently, I was asked to comment on: “How to take care of the caregiver?” Are you caring for others? Finding yourself exhausted and overwhelmed? If so, this is for you.

How do you remember to take care of yourself when you’re a caregiver?
If we’re spent, depleted and exhausted, we don’t have much to give. As a caregiver, it’s crucial to take care of ourselves so we have the energy, focus and patience to deal with others within our care and reach. If possible, it’s best to plan our our self-care plan because “if we fail to plan, then plan to fail.” That may mean getting in a quick workout early in the day, planning out healthy meals and snacks so we have what we need vs. being at the mercy of whatever is available, and writing down what we need to do for ourselves on a daily basis as an appointment, if necessary. Just as we respect our other appointments, if we schedule time for “an appointment with ourselves,” it’s more likely it’ll get done. Continue reading “Take Care of the Caregiver – How to Maintain Your Health and Sanity”

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Becoming a Positive Thinker: 7 Proactive Tips to Create the Good Life

yes2While it may seem as if good things just seem to happen to “good” people, and the good life seems to be easier for some to attain than others, here’s some good news.

These people don’t simply “get lucky.” Instead, they’re proactive in the way they live their lives. They’ve made a choice: to take deliberate action, avoiding what often becomes the chaos of reacting. And the experiences they create begin with the thoughts they think.

What can you do to bring more positivity to your life, and the lives of others?

How Positive Thinkers Think

How does the positive thinker create the good life just by thinking differently?

Positive thoughts naturally lead to positive feelings.
Positive feelings lead to positive emotions.
Positive emotions then promote positive behaviors.
Positive behavior creates positive outcomes.

A real example of applying these proactive steps could look something like this: Continue reading “Becoming a Positive Thinker: 7 Proactive Tips to Create the Good Life”

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Feeling Good About Yourself: How a Delicious Life Can Be a Piece of Cake

heart cakesIf you’ve ever baked a cake, you know that if you put in fresh, delicious ingredients in the appropriate amounts at the appropriate time, you often create something delicious. You also know that while other ingredients may be available to you and within easy reach (like mustard, pepper, garlic or vinegar, for example) they simply don’t belong in your cake so you purposely and consciously choose to leave them out, right? Feeling good about yourself can be a similar process.

You’re completely aware that wrong ingredients will ruin your cake and you wouldn’t expect a positive result, because it’s all very logical and rational when it comes to baking, isn’t it? So here’s my question:

If you desire to create a “delicious” life, why add ingredients that you know don’t work… and leave out the ingredients you know would make your life… a piece of cake?

So many things impact your “cake,” from the food you eat, to the people you spend time with. Even the thoughts you think are important to having a delicious life. Here’s my list of seven important ingredients that can make having a delicious life a piece of cake:  Continue reading “Feeling Good About Yourself: How a Delicious Life Can Be a Piece of Cake”

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What Do You Do to Show Yourself Some Self Care?

What do you do to show yourself some self care?

Recently, a hair care company conducted a study involving 3,000 women. While a whopping 84% admitted they let their appearance slide, over 94% revealed that they feel better when they take measures towards their own self care. So, if we feel better when we take the time to care for ourselves, why don’t we make it a priority?

For many people, they just don’t know where to start.

I always recommend starting small and making a few minor changes, which may encourage you to make a few more alterations in the right direction. Here are a few ideas that many of my clients have tried. Choose any one which feels right and motivates you to continue on your wellness journey. Continue reading “What Do You Do to Show Yourself Some Self Care?”

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Yes and No: The Words That Can Make Us…Or Break Us

I’ve discovered that for many people, “yes” and “no” are two of the most misused words in our lives today. We say “yes” to things that zap our time, energy and strength, and “no” to the things that could give us joy, pleasure and fulfillment.

For example, maybe you already have a hectic, chaotic schedule. You feel stressed, overwhelmed and overcommitted. Someone asks you for a favor and what do you say… ”Yes!” On the other hand, when you have an opportunity to try something exciting, potentially rewarding and enriching, because you’re overcommitted or have convinced yourself you are [not ready, not smart enough, too old, too heavy, etc.], what do you say… ”No!”

Getting our “yeses” and “nos” straight may take some work but it’s worth it in order to stay true to our values and work towards a healthy, balanced lifestyle. Sure it may be difficult to say no, but if it means extra time with your family, time to pursue an interest or just catch up on some sleep, isn’t it worth it?

Are you getting the right words out at the right time? I’d love to know, comment and share!

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Our Bloggers

  • Paula Gallagher
    Paula Gallagher
    Paula is a highly qualified and experienced nutrition counselor on the staff at Village Green.
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  • Margo Gladding
    Margo Gladding
    Margo's impressive knowledge base is the result of a unique blend of educational and professional experience.
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    Dr. Neal Barnard
    Dr. Barnard leads programs advocating for preventive medicine, good nutrition, and higher ethical standards in research.
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    Dr. Joseph Pizzorno
    Dr. Joseph Pizzorno, ND is a pioneer of integrative medicine and a leading authority on science-based natural medicine.
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    Debi Silber
    Debi is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition, a personal trainer, and whole health coach.
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    Teri Cochrane
    Teri is a is a Certified Coach Practitioner with extensive certifications and experience in holistic medicinal practices.
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    Dr. Rav Ivker
    Dr. Rav Ivker is a holistic family physician, health educator, and best-selling author.
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    Susan Levin
    Susan writes about the connection between plant-based diets and a reduced risk of chronic diseases.
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    Dr. Rob Brown
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May 2024
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