Heart Choices: 2008-09-28 -->

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How Getting Organized Can Help Your Heart



What does getting organized have anything to do with the health of your heart?

Do you ever feel like the woman in this picture?

Even if you don't work outside of your home can you relate to feeling overwhelmed and out of control at times?

Is your multi-tasking becoming a major problem?

Does the thought of getting organized give you feelings of anxiety and dread?

Maybe you like to live life on your terms and take pride in doing things your way. You've got your own system, even if you're the only one who understands it. Nobody is going to tell you that you need a schedule and "rules to follow". No way! After all, if you don't feel like doing something...it's just not going to happen.

Or maybe you're just the opposite. You live by a structured schedule and have become quite compulsive when your perfect life is upset by other people. Why can't your child or husband understand that there's a place for dirty laundry... and it's not on the floor?

Well, maybe you might consider another approach.

An approach that provides more balance and yet brings some organization to your life. And I might add...it's less stressful. But it involves some planning, discipline and cooperation from family members to succeed.

I was talking to a friend recently and she asked me how I had enough time to read so many blogs and books. She said that she's always doing laundry and cleaning and never seemed to have any extra time.

It prompted me to share a few secrets I've learned that have helped me:

  • I have set days for specific tasks. Saturday is my day for cleaning the house, doing the laundry and ironing, food shopping and errands. That's a lot to do on Saturday but this way I'm not worrying about getting everything done during the week. My husband knows by now to put his clothes in the hamper...or else they don't get done. You may need to teach your kids that they don't need to change their clothes three times a day. Did I mention there is a learning curve for everybody involved? You may find it easier to break up your tasks during the week and focus on one area of your house each day instead of doing it all at once.

  • I always clean out the kitchen sink every day. There's nothing like seeing a sink filled with dirty dishes. I learned about this from FlyLady. If you've not discovered her website you must check it out. She has great tips to get organized.

  • I set out my exercise clothes and any equipment needed the night before. If your plan is to include exercise on a regular basis, taking this extra step the night before is essential to your success.

    Have a daily quiet time and organize your materials ahead of time. I find that spending some day alone each morning helps me tremendously. For me, this involves time to pray, read my Bible and be still. You may have other ways that you use to begin your day. I just know that for me, I am so much easier to be around and get stressed less quickly when I have my time alone.

I will focus on this topic for the next few posts because I believe it is so important to living a healthy life with less stress. I welcome your comments about ways you've found that are helpful for you.

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Enjoying Exercise


Enjoy exercise...can that really happen? Or is it going to continue to be that thing you know you need to do? Can you really find things that you enjoy and they're actually good for you?

I was thinking about a friend of mine from high school as I was sorting through my pictures. I wanted to find interesting photos that might show that you can actually enjoy exercise.

JoAnn and I reconnected after many years. She was living in Florida and I was in Arizona. She exercises regularly like me but her sport is biking. I love to hike and walk.

We decided to spend some time at our cabin in Flagstaff. It was much cooler there at the higher altitude than it was in Phoenix. And we wanted to spend time outdoors.

When I pulled out Greg and my electric bikes, JoAnn laughed. We had regular bikes but there are times when I was tired of being left in the dust so...once in a while I used the motor. Here's JoAnn pumping up those tires. I'm no dummy...compete with a world class biker? No way!


However, we did get to go hiking too. And I'm much more comfortable with that. We even went to the awesome Grand Canyon and hiked halfway down. The views are so spectacular. It's something everyone must experience for themselves.

There's something so cool about reconnecting with an old friend who knows exactly where you've come from. We both shared our childhood years growing up in Lindenhurst, NY (Long Island). And at the same time, we were able to get exercise and feel good about the huge meal we'd be eating that evening. Maybe?

Here are a few of our pictures:



This one was overlooking Oak Creek Canyon just north of Sedona.


Now tell me that this view of the Grand Canyon isn't spectacular?

What are some fun activities that you enjoy doing with friends and at the same time give you exercise?

QuickEdit

Is It Really A Thankful Thursday?



Can you really be thankful when the circumstances in your life are less than perfect? As I turn on the TV and watch the news, so much is happening in our world...

  • Financial crisis
  • Depressed home values
  • Uncertain retirement savings
  • Presidential election
  • Wall Street "rescue"
  • Accidents
  • Breast cancer
  • Heart disease
  • Child abuse
  • Collapse of the family
These are very real issues and I'm not suggesting we live with our heads in the sand and have a Pollyanna attitude. But if we choose to focus only on the uncertainty and seeming impossibilities, we often miss out on the lessons we may need to learn. We can become depressed and miss out on the opportunities we are given each day to grow.

I think of my mom, who died a little over three years ago. She suffered with Addison's disease and had a pain pump implanted in her spine for severe ongoing back pain. And yet, she always managed to tell a joke as she loved to laugh and hated to focus so much on her pain and suffering.

Here is my mom on a visit to Norway goofing off with her cousins. She suffered much with pain but almost never complained and was determined to live her life, despite the challenges.


As I was deciding what to write about on this Thankful Thursday, I clicked on one of the participating blogs Iris (organizer of Thankful Thursday) listed who were participating this week. I just "happened" to choose one called Lori- The Simple Life at Home. Well, little did I know that she lives in Qatar and is dealing with issues like getting stuck in sand dunes, a home that is less than ideal, loneliness, and lack of home school support. And yet...she writes that she's thankful that through it all she's learning contentment and to trust and rely on God.

Wow; so I guess I answered my own question?

Can you be thankful when the circumstances in your life are less than perfect?

YES YOU CAN...if you choose to look for the blessings only God can give and how He often uses people
  • to offer words of encouragement
  • a needed hug
  • a beautiful sunset
  • a rainbow in the sky

I want to make the choice to look for the blessings and also to learn the lessons through the challenges in my life... and to choose to be thankful not only on Thurday, but everyday.

How about you?

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How To Stay Motivated


Sticking to your exercise plan can be challenging, especially if this is something new for you. But I just want to say that if you followed through and went for your walk this morning - congratulations!!!

You took the first step...remember those baby steps!

Did you set your clothes out the night before? Were your sneakers accessible so you could slip right into them? I can't tell you how much that helps me to be consistent. The less you have to think about first thing in the morning the better, and the more likely you'll be to just do it.

On a previous post, I wrote about developing the habit of exercise so that it simply becomes a part of your daily routine...sort of like brushing your teeth. Try to be consistent but if you miss a day, don't beat yourself up about it. Just get back on schedule the next day. It takes 21 days to form a habit and 100 days for it to become automatic. So, make a commitment to continue at least three weeks and... you may find yourself looking forward to those morning walks.

I've found that music is a great way to keep me motivated during exercise. Having a quick tempo keeps your body moving quickly. It's also a great distraction if you're finding it difficult to keep going. Think of the theme song to the Rocky movies.

Keep your eyes on your goal. Are you trying to lose weight? Or are just trying to stay healthy or have more energy?

I have two pictures I keep posted in my office of how I want my stomach to look; you know those six pack abs! It helps me to keep one of my goals in mind.

You might consider taking a picture of yourself now and then another in six weeks. If you're trying to improve your blood pressure or cholesterol readings, it's great to chart your progress with new readings. Improved results will help to keep you motivated and on track.

If you started walking yesterday, I hope you'll post a comment and let me know so I can encourage you.
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