To Your Health: Making small changes can leave you feeling recharged

By GILLIAN SLADE on February 10, 2020.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade

Do you feel as though you need a vacation?

Most of us feel that way at this time of year but it is not possible for us all to take advantage of that for a variety of reasons.

Well you know what they say – a change is as good as a holiday.

With that in mind I have a challenge for you .

I am suggesting you make one change to your usual routine for one week. Who knows you may want to incorporate that in your lifestyle or keeping making changes.

Depending on your circumstances this may have to be very simple. If for health reasons you are not able to get out and about it could be something you do differently in your own home, in your routine.

If you are inclined to get up and read the newspaper, or listen to the news, while you have breakfast, make a change. Listen to a favourite piece of music while eating instead.

If you like to watch a lot of TV decide to turn it off for one hour a day and during that time listen to music and do a jigsaw puzzle instead. You may even want to do this near a window to enjoy the view outside and where the light is brighter.

If you have never chatted to your neighbour or someone you often see in the mall food court while you have a coffee, smile at them this week and tell them you like to see familiar faces and it is nice to see them there.

If you hardly ever read a book, take a book out from the library and make a point of reading one chapter a day. If you have had trouble finding books that you enjoy reading, I would suggest taking out several books so that if you really are not enjoying one you can switch to another until you have an author who “speaks” to you.

Talking of reading – if you typically only read fiction make a point of choosing a non-fiction book instead.

These may seem like very small and even inconsequential changes but it can actually switch things around in your brain and the benefits can be better than you imagine.

Here’s to those changes that may feel like a holiday and here’s To Your Health.

To Your Health is a weekly column by Gillian Slade, health reporter for the News, bringing you news on health issues and research from around the world. You can reach her at gslade@medicinehatnews.com or 403-528-8635.

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