10 Ways to Relieve Stress Naturally and Get Less Stress in Your Life!!

Before I give you this ancient old wisdom...let me preface by saying, if you signed up for Simply Healthy Newsletter, you may be getting this information twice...but don't stress about it...because we really don't retain it all the 1st time we read it.

10 Ways to Relieve Stress Naturally

1- Lavender- Is the most widely used Essential Oil in the world and has been used for thousands of years to calm.  2-Massage- Everybody loves a massage, get someone to do it for you or learn the many ways that you can accomplish this by yourself. There are special massage wands available along with foot rollers etc that are very effective if you can't fit a massage in your schedule or your budget. 3- Meditation- Get a CD, download off Youtube, be creative. Just don't do it while driving. You don't have to be a guru, just relaxed. 4- Exercise- With Yoga, Tai Chi, QiGong, walking...all release endorphins into the brain, which improves your mood. 5-Organize your life- If you hate it or can't figure out how, either ask a friend to help out for a day or hire it done for you. Studies show that clutter makes a person feel edgy. 6-Eat Healthy- Junk food makes us depressed. Eating Healthy gives your body and mind the energy it needs to overcome stress. 7-Unplug & Dissconnect- TV, Radio, Cell, Laptop, Tablet...all are causing us to be over informed, over stimulated and over stressed. 8- B Vitamins- the brain/nervous system vitamins...keep your nerves healthy. Any deficiency of these amazing vitamins can cause irritability, depression and apathy (you just don't care). 9- Aromatherapy- Inhaling certain pleasing scents can calm the nerves. Essential Oils  stimulate the Limbic system which releases chemicals in the brain promoting feelings of relaxation, calm, love and excitment. Popular scents are Lavender, Cypress and Rosemary. 10-Sleep- This is the MOST important stress reducer. Too little sleep leaves you cranky, irritable and on edge. Reduce the caffeine ( coffee, tea, chocolate/cocoa, soda pop, energy drinks, supplements for energy, sugary stuff ) 3-4 hours before bed. No big meals before bed either. These can cause indigestion, reflux of stomach acid and heartburn.

Stay Healthy!

Top 10 Health Secrets Revealed

In quiet celebration of our health Top 10 Health Secrets Revealed

1-STRESS LESS  2-SPRINKLE NUTRITIONAL YEAST ON YOUR FOOD  3-EAT LESS  4-EMBRACE GOOD BACTERIA  5-OPT FOR NATURAL REMEDIES  6-MAKE FRIENDS A PRIORITY  7-STAY pH BALANCED  8-EAT GARLIC  9-DETOX REGULARLY  10-GET ENOUGH SLEEP Sign up over on the right of this blog to get more details by email! These topics are all so important we'll do them one at a time. Be sure to sign up!

Watchdog on duty!

Day after day I sit half awake watching an "organization show" that I absolutely love. Whatever is going on in the house, takes second place to this half hour show. It's kind of addicting. I started out telling myself I would learn some great ideas for organizing my own life. Well, I did pick up a few things here and there and put them into practice. I even bought some shelving and some baskets and rearranged and organized. I would get frustrated if anything interfered with my "show" even angry at times that I had to miss the best part for some reason or other. Then the re-runs started. I had already seen them, I said to myself I have seen this one already and before I knew it my butt was in the chair and eyes glued to the TV. So why am I sharing this stupid admission of watchdog fever with you? Probably because it happens to us all. We all share some crazy addiction to one thing or another. It consumes our time, our life and sometimes it even ruins it.

We believe we need it. We tell ourselves we can't live without it. Our lives are better because of it....and on and on we talk to ourselves don't we? Just listen the next time you rationalize something you are addicted to. I don't know about you but it bugs me to give away my power. But I still have trouble not doing it.

I was watching the Steve Harvey show last week and there was a busy couple on that were having trouble finding time to be with each other. They wanted Steve to tell them where in their crazy schedule they actually carve out time. So he looked over each of their schedules and he pointed out a couple of things they could both do and the wife said to Steve that her husband had a girlfriend....the look on Steve's face you can just imagine...she was talking about her husband's TV time. His girlfriend was the TV because he ALWAYS scheduled in time to watch her.

Point to ponder is...What are we letting steal our precious time ?? How can we get more out of life if we just let things pull us in one direction or the other? I encourage comments:)

Are you expired?

If we only came with a "GOOD UNTIL" date, we would know how fast and how hard to live wouldn't we?
Do you know people that have already expired, that are way past their "buy before" date?? They have given up and given in to defeat. Their attitude stinks, they have let their health go, they have given up hope...or thrown in the towel of life??

On the other hand, imagine for a minute, those people that have been given some bad news. They have a dis-ease or cancer and have been told they have 6 mos to a year to live. But they ignore that expiration date. They beat the odds, they steal from the gravedigger. Time takes on a whole different meaning to them doesn't it?? You really would want an 8th day of the week. You would push to the max to do things to get healthy. You would say and do the things you had been putting off. (Or at least the ones that really mattered to you)

So we have looked at both ends of that spectrum and I suspect you and I are somewhere in between? If you are like me, some days pushing the envelope, trying to get in all done and some days just relaxing and enjoying the moment. It's the middle that gets muddled. There is no urgency, no "good until" date to keep us moving forward. Some things seem important, but then that fades with either lack of money or lack of time to pursue it.

Not enough time and not enough  money is most people's problem. But it's just an excuse disguised just enough to fool ourselves into believing that it really wasn't that important. Are you willing to let your plans expire? What date have you set to start something new? Maybe it could be today. www.sandra777.com

Keep Asking!!

I just have to keep asking. Can I? Should I? Will I?

As I was reading T.D. Jakes new book "Instinct" (which by the way is absolutely the best) I can't help but feel him speaking directly to me. What we are good at and what we are good for are in rhythm. I think, If we follow our natural God given journey, the one our soul is absolutely dying to fulfill, we will not only enjoy what we are doing but be awesome at it. Sound good? But in all honesty, only 10% of people are actually doing it. Think about yourself and what you wanted to do when you were say 16-17. When you felt your heart was happy and doing something it really really loved to do. Are you doing it now? Have you had the opportunity to pursue that to the fullest? I know I haven't.

So I just keep asking my heart why does it want what my head says is impossible. Ever have that struggle?? It really is a tug of war with no winner since it's a battle within myself. I want the pain of the need to accomplish it to just go away and leave me alone. I pile up excuses and reasons in front of the door to that very dream, but if it could be realized, it would blow my mind! I know it would!

So why the struggle? Like I always tell others...just do it! I want a wellness center and my heart won't stop until it gets it. I can't think of anything else. I visualize it right down to every detail. I have walked thru it room by room and soaked in the feeling that goes with my virtual tour. I can smell the elegant oils diffusing, can see the fountain and the lush foliage in the lounge, i sit in one of the soft leather chairs and look out the tall glass windows that make the circular welcome area. I see the juice bar full of chatting friends and the yoga room full of relaxation and invigoration, the kitchen is the center of a natural cooking class and the aroma of garlic and onions surround me as I open the door to peak in at todays menu. You see this dish is available in our natural food cafe' just down the hall. One of the local co-ops has opened a shop and several are huddled around one of it's members who is giving a demonstration.

Each night as my head hits the pillow, my dreams take off. More and more details reveal themselves and in the morning, I hate to wake up. Each morning I have to realize that it's not yet a reality. But I know that some day it still can be.

So what "wakes up in you each night" in your dreams. What does your heart still desire to do?When or will you do them?

I just keep asking how and when, but so far no answer. What do you think I should do? Should I stop living in a dream world or never give up hope?? I really don't know. What do you say??

Life...are you in??

It's a good question and one that we easily ignore.
Yes, we are all living. But ask yourself , am I engaged in life? Am I really in the game?
Have you pulled out all the stops? Do you attend every event that you can?
Do you call every family member when you think of it?
Have you sent out every card or gift that you really wanted to?
Did you get the oil changed in the car on time? Fill the gas tank and clean out the trunk?
Have you mowed the lawn? Played tennis, gone fishing, sewed that quilt?
How many things have you started that you still need to finish?
Life can get so complicated and so fast paced that we actually find ourselves retreating at times.
Raise your hand if you know what I mean here.
It's too much to get it all done. The work that is. Many of us are trying to work that 50 year plan.
You know the one your grandparents and parents worked. But now we need to keep working.
Longer and harder than they even did. Pray they don't change the retirement age before you get there.

So take a big breath here and let it out slowly...feel yourself relax.
Feel your bare feet in the warm sand of the beach as you wiggle your toes in deeper. Feel the sun warming your skin just enough. You are sipping some of your favorite cold beverage and the ocean breeze kisses your face with a light scent of some exotic flower blossom.
Love is in the air. Excitement everywhere. People are smiling and happy and laughing. You mind is
swirling with dreams. Those dreams that just won't die from way back. Some from your childhood and some you have added over the years. This is such fun, just thinking about those dreams feels so wonderful deep in side. You don't usually indulge yourself like this. It seems so foolish. It even hurts, because something tells
you, you don't deserve it.

Did you feel the wonderful high you got from experiencing those dreams?
Did you feel the energy sucking low of telling yourself to let go?

So , have you decided yet? Life...are you in??
Are you into the work part of life?
Now what about the fun, relaxing, exciting life you thought you would be having right now?
Are you in that part of life yet?
If not...do it! Get in the game. Get those dreams out and look at them,but this time get a way to make
them real. That's what I did. You can too.

You only need a way to do it and I have that just waiting for you.
So put all your excuses away and lets get going!! Together you can do it! It's time to get in!!

Get More Energy in your Day!

Greek Pasta Salad

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped garlic 
• 2 tablespoons oregano (or ask me about using essential oils in cooking)
• 1 teaspoon sea salt ( leave out if on a low sodium diet or have high blood pressure)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice ( one large lemon)
• 12 ounces dry pasta (Cook, drain and cool)
• 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata/favorite olives sliced in half ( use sparingly with low sodium diet)
• 1/2 cup grape tomatoes cut in half
• 1/2 cup sweet onions (chopped small) if people don't like onion pieces, use onion powder instead (no salt)
• 1 cup diced red or yellow bell pepper to taste ( if people don't like peppers, slice rings of pepper on top)
• 14-ounce can artichoke hearts drained, stems left on and quartered the long way (or leave out)
• 2 tablespoons of crumbled feta or blue cheese ( use smaller amount if on low sodium diet)

(See another version of this recipe on afamilyfeast.com)