Can you remember the last time you read a book cover to cover? For most of us, it may have been a while. As we learned growing up, reading is an essential part of life. It broadens our life experience. Reading is to the mind, as exercise is to the body. The benefits are endless.
It’s Fun and Offers New Worlds
Provides Mental Stimulation
Reduces Stress
Increases Knowledge
Expands Your Vocabulary
Improves Memory
Aids in Analytical Thinking
Creates Better Writing Skills
Develops Concentration and Focus
If you are searching for the perfect book to get started Amazon.com’s editors have put together a great list: 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime
You’ll find everything from books to read to your grandchildren, to books on self-help, biographies, history novels, fiction, non-fiction. There’s something for everyone.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” ― Dr. Seuss , I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
Another great resource is www.goodreads.com . You can create a free account that allows you to see which books your friends are reading. Track the books you're reading, have read, and want to read. Check out your personalized book recommendations. Their recommendation engine analyzes 20 billion data points to give suggestions tailored to your literary tastes. Find out if a book is a good fit for you from our community’s reviews.
Reading is a great habit to embrace, no matter your age or location. You can read anywhere. Whether you prefer an actual hard cover book, log online with your E-Reader, or listen to audio books in your car, reading is time well spent.
Find some time to read and you’ll find an entirely new world.
So, 2017 is already flying by. How are those resolutions coming along? Don’t worry…did you know 41% of Americans make New Year’s resolutions but only 9.2% of those people feel they were successful in achieving their resolutions? We suggest taking the pressure off the resolutions and focusing on healthy habits instead.Eating, setting daily agendas, and workouts are great resolutions. Some key factors in maintaining your fitness and health goals include:
Maintaining adequate sleep
Keep it Clean in the gym (Sanitize)
Stay up to date with doctor check-ups
Wear proper clothing to workout
Drink plenty of fluids
Make sure to stretch
Stay physically and socially active
Eat healthy/balanced meals
Enjoy your workouts
Eating a healthy, balanced breakfast is a critical task to starting your day. The reason is simple, it kick-starts your metabolism. Food provides nutrients that our bodies require to survive. These nutrients give us energy and strength; as well as affording a variety of benefits to our health. The best way to ensure success with your diet is to make sure you are balancing the proper amount of protein, carbs, and fats into the meals you eat.Another important activity that is vital to your health is exercising. Exercise allows our bodies to maintain stress levels, improve mood and cognitive functioning, increase energy levels, and help build a healthier, stronger immune system. Some ideas to help get you back in the groove of your exercise routine include: expanding the diversity of activities you do on a daily basis. For example, taking advantage of the Overture Fitness Classes. When planning for a successful and effective workout, try not to rely on things like a time restraint, instead push yourself past the burn. This allows a biochemical process that leads to larger stronger fibers. With increased strength and stamina, your body is more likely to prevent the loss of muscle mass and reduce your risk of falling.If you are interested in strength training, it is recommended to do it two times per week to make sure your muscles stay active and strong. A few ways to build strength are:
Weight Lifting
ResistanceTraining
If you are looking to elevate your heart rate during your workout, it is recommended to use cardiovascular exercises. A few ways to amp up your cardio include:
Swimming
Walking at an increased speed and/or incline
Rowing
Jogging
Cycling
Line Dancing
If you’re interested in balance and flexibility look into: Yoga Tai Chi Be realistic about how much you can do, stay motivated by rewarding yourself with a treat every now and then, and most importantly find a fitness routine that you enjoy!!
ABOUT AUTHOR
Jeff Jackson
Jeff Jackson serves as the founder and owner of Crossroads Fitness (2014-present) and is the principal of Crossroads Fitness, LLC. Jackson has more than 5 years of fitness experience in a wide variety of fitness assets representing hundreds of clients and thousands of hours of fitness and health interactions. Jackson continues to instruct and educate those within his company, as well as the thousands of people who are affected by his reflection among Crossroads Fitness.
I want to get organized this year, but…
“I just don’t know where to start.”
“I’m overwhelmed.”
“I haven’t gone through there in years (or decades)!”
Choosing to get organized whether achieving a New Year’s Resolution, acting on a long procrastinated “to do,” or preparing for a move can be a huge endeavor.
However the results can be liberating. Consider these three particular actions and ease the stress around organizing and start in such a way that you will finish your project and reach your goals.
1. PRIORITIZE ROOMS
One of the first actions in getting organized is prioritizing the spaces you want organized. If you are unsure where to start, ask yourself:
What area annoys me the most?
Which room has to be decluttered by _____?
What could I do in this space if it was organized?
How would my life be easier if _____ was organized?
These questions will lead you to identifying the priority areas of your home. Select the top three and start with those spaces.
2. TIME BOUNDARIES
Once you have your top three areas selected, take your first priority and think realistically about how much time and energy it will take to go through the items, then block off time to accomplish the task. Some rooms require more time, so work in two or three-hour blocks to spread the work over several days.
If you do have a larger project, use that block of time to tackle one aspect of the room at a time. For instance, organizing your kitchen might take four, two-hour blocks:
Block 1: the drawers in your kitchen,
Block 2: your upper cabinets,
Block 3: the bottom cabinets,
Block 4: refrigerator and pantry.
This helps because during organizing everything is pulled out and you don’t want too much out or to leave everything out until your next work session. You want to be able to use your space! In addition, finishing the smaller project gives you a sense of accomplishment.
3. UTILIZE A METHOD
Now that you have your top priority room booked into your schedule, you will want to use your time most efficiently by utilizing an organizing method. Most people just open the door and pick up the first item and decide to keep it or toss it. That works until you get three hours into a project and can’t remember what you did with that other shoe or if you had another hammer in there.
This organizing method is simple, easy to follow, and gleans maximum results:
1. Sort. Sort everything into broad categories.
2. Decide. Take each category and decide what items stay or go.
3. Rehome. Find a home befitting the quantity of items in a category.
4. Containerize. Use an appropriately sized container to house the items.
5. Maintain. Each item has a “home,” so make sure the items return to their home.
Remember, setting smaller goals, pacing your self, and using a method will make all the difference. It’ll help lower your stress levels around organizing; you’ll accomplish more; and you’ll succeed in reaching your organizing goals.
If you follow these three tips, your stress levels will be lower, you’ll accomplish more, and succeed in reaching your organizing goals. Remember, pacing yourself and setting smaller goals will make all the difference.
ABOUT AUTHOR
Suzanne Holsomback
Suzanne Holsomback is an Austin, Texas based holistic, Professional Organizer. She works individually with clients to get organized and manage their time better, so they can rest and enjoy the important things in life!
Suzanne holds a Bachelor of Art in Religion from Baylor University, a Master of Divinity from George W. Truett Seminary, and a Master of Philosophy in Social Anthropology from the University of Oxford. Her background includes working for the Girl Scouts and the Oxford University Student Union as well as George W. Truett Theological Seminary.
You can reach Suzanne at [email protected] or via her website www.suzanneholsomback.com/contact as well as on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, & Instagram.
