Work less
A study finding for those of you burning the midnight oil (and I know there are plenty of you — and I’m guilty of it, too, lately):
Overworking (working more than 11 hours a day) doubles your likelihood of becoming depressed compared to people who work 7 to 8 hours a day.
Perhaps take this as a wake-up call to get more balance in your life.
Make a commitment to your health through a daily dose of happiness
“Tell me why-eeeee…”
Ah, hearing this song (“I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys) fills me with such joy. I’m not exaggerating. It’s one of my favourite songs of all time — deal with it. In fact, when I’m running and my iPhone’s on shuffle and this song comes up, I take it as a good omen and run with more spring in my step.
(and don’t ask me which way it is that they want it, because I don’t know what the song means!)
And I’m thinking I need to listen to it more often — because it may help me make better health decisions.
A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that people who were encouraged to experience a sense of happiness and to practice self affirmation made better decisions when it came to their health and wellbeing.
So, for example, they were asked to think of something small that made them happy (they gave the example of a sunset, I suggest to you the Backstreet Boys) when they awoke and to continue thinking of it throughout the day. Plus, they were also asked to think of times when they were proud of themselves (such as when you graduated) as a way to help overcome obstacles.
This method seems to shift our behaviour; we will do what we need to in order to meet goals we’ve set for ourselves when it comes to our health. One researcher gives the example of not feeling like going for a run in the rain — when you’re really not feeling like getting soaked during your run, yet with these simple tools, we are able to get over this and do the exercise so that we fulfill a promise we’ve made to ourselves.
So my prescription? “I Want It That Way” on repeat.
Where’s your daily tidbit of happiness come from?
Product giveaway: Schick Hydro Silk
(Sponsored)
I recently discovered that it’s odd that I shave my legs every day. Yep, you read right, every day (OK, maybe six days a week in the winter). I kinda thought everyone did this…any trace of stubbly hair on my legs drives me absolutely bananas.
All this to say that I’ve used my fair share of razors. And I’m kinda diggin’ this new one, the Schick Hydro Silk. The slightly rubbery handle makes it feel more secure in my hand (less chance of dropping it); there’s a hole angled just so where my index finger rests just right for shaving action; the broad shaving head with five (five!) blades gives a nice, smooth shave (no nicks or cuts for me — the blades are said to be curve-sensing). And the colour is a nice, pleasant watery blue (kinda spa-like in feeling).
One benefit it promises? More hydration. Now that I’m undecided on whether it delivers. My skin’s pretty dry on an average day and right now it’s particularly parched cuz it’s winter so hard for me to judge if my legs have more moisture. But in the meantime, I keep touching my legs like a weirdo to check their hydration status (besides enjoying how smooth they are).
Anyhow, this razor’s been seven (seven!) years in the making, and overall all the design and innovation has paid off, in my opinion. You can find out more about it at www.facebook.com/HydroSilkCanada btw.
What’s your opinion? Well, here’s the good news — you can try it out for free and let me know!
I’ve got 50 razors to share with 50 of y’all.
All you have to do is email me (healthandswellness@gmail.com) with your name and address (please put Hydro Silk in the subject line) and you’ll get a Hydro Silk of your very own to test out. (oops, plus you have to be a Canadian resident, forgot to mention that before!)
In return, all I need you to do is email me your feedback on the razor — five simple questions, I promise it’ll take you only a few minutes. And I’ll be compiling your replies into a blog post in a few weeks.
Worth it, right? So email me ASAP as only the first 50 people will be getting a razor to test out.
[Legal info]
Schick will use your personal information in accordance with its Privacy Policy and as detailed in applicable contest rules.
Colour me smaller
Plate it up! And play with colour if you’re looking to whittle down your portion sizes.
The size of your plate plays a role, but I’d heard that before as you probably have, too (use a smaller plate and you’ll serve yourself less as it’ll appear larger on your plate). Use larger plates and you may serve yourself anywhere from 9 to 13 percent more food.
But the plate colour influences your portion size, too, it turns out, according to a new study from the Journal of Consumer Research. Use a different colour of plate (we’re talking a high contrast of colours), say, for example, spaghetti and meatballs with red sauce on a white plate, and your portion size may be as much as 21 percent smaller.
(Reason enough for me to get these plates I’ve been coveting at the AGO, dontcha think? Plus, it’ll encourage me to eat fewer non-white foods, more bright veggies and the like. That’s the ticket, I NEED these plates because they’ll help me eat better…).
(Taste Collection plate, shopAGO)
