Living Naturally
When anger, anxiety, frustration, or fear starts to take over, it can be hard to know what to do in the moment. These eight simple calming strategies can help you interrupt the downward spiral and regain your sense of balance.I’ve found that I can’t do much to prevent the rise of negative emotions, but I have found ways that help to halt a downward plunge. I call it “calling down the…
I love rocks! Do you? Just like early farmers, I put them to good use, too. If you have rocks, stones, and boulders that litter your landscape, they may be a blessing in disguise.
In my home state of New Hampshire, the Granite State, you see evidence everywhere of the boulders that our forefathers and their sturdy beasts dug up and hauled away to make room for pastures and…
Nuts are a superfood! They can help with weight control and so much more. But which nut is healthiest? Let’s go nuts about one of nature’s most perfect foods!Nuts and Weight ControlIf you love nuts of any kind as much as I do (provided you don’t suffer from allergies to them*), you’ll rejoice at this published research suggesting that, on average, folks who eat a…
String beans. Green beans. Snap beans. Not only is this native vegetable healthier than you may realize, but also they give back to the soil! Here are 5 health benefits of green beans. Go green!Whatever you call ‘em, green beans are the immature form of the common kidney-shaped bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, harvested before beans begin forming inside the pods.While you can find green beans…
“Use it or lose it” isn’t just a marketing slogan. It’s how our bodies work. And using our muscles more often is tied to better mental and emotional health. Have you noticed this? What’s amazing is that a lot of activities we do in everyday life help us in so many other ways!
Why Muscles are “Use or Lose”
Use it or lose it is how our muscles work. It…
When most people think of exercise, they think of “cardio.” However, as you age, lifting a little weight is so important for a raft of health benefits—improving strength and balance, boosting metabolism, and helping prevent injury. Here are a few tips.
I get a lot of my exercise splitting big chunks of cedar wood into kindling. After 10 minutes, I am huffing and puffing! However, I…
Sometimes, it can be difficult to start exercising—and even more difficult to stick with it! Here are some tips to help you start exercising again, even if you do not have a gym membership.
Why Bother Exercising?
Let’s start with this thought: If your doctor gave you a prescription that she said would improve your mood, improve energy, keep you mentally sharp, help you manage…
Trouble getting up and out the door in the morning? Hoping to lose some weight, as we shed layers of clothes for warmer weather? Sign up to walk in a local footrace! Yes, we are serious! Find out where and get inspiration.We’re not talking about a race with world-class runners. Make your goal this season an ordinary 5k walk or run with ordinary people—of all shapes and sizes and…
Look at some of your regular household items differently! Here are ways to repurpose, reuse, and upcycle old items, with everything from paper towel tubes to toothbrushes and plastic lids.There’s a famous New Yorker cartoon from the early 1990’s about recycling. It shows a long stream of people trudging up the many switchbacks of a flaming ramp to deposit items in an endless string of boxes…
Ever heard of “slow walking”? It may sound too good to be true, but simply walking slowly and consciously is good for your health. Not only does it burn a surprising number of calories and decrease joint stress, but also it adds an element of meditation and mental well-being to our lives.You’ve probably heard about Slow Food. The whole slow movement is about downshifting…
We always knew tea had health benefits, but it may come as a surprise to learn how a couple of daily cups of tea can help manage blood sugar, promote weight loss, and more. Learn the benefits of tea for health and home—and the best way to brew tea.The Benefits of TeaAfter water, tea is the world’s most popular beverage. Whether you drink black, green, or oolong tea, they’re…
It’s been gray and cold outside. I feel washing down hot cocoa smothered in whipped cream, sinking back into my recliner, and waking up in April. But let’s touch on the simple joys, the short naps, the comforts of winter—and bolster our resolve to bolster our mental, physical, and emotional health!Whoa! Forget New Year’s resolutions. About mid-January is we’ve recovered…