Are we taking care of ourselves, D.E.A.R.?

Effective use of essential oils, or any natural remedy, is supported by personal choices that promote balance and health. It is not reasonable to expect any therapy to take the place of taking care of ourselves and being aware of our bodies, spirits and the environment in which we live. Attention to a few basic aspects of daily life will minimize health problems as well as supporting the therapies we choose when we do need help. Couple your use of essential oil with a check-up on your choices.

DIET provides us with the building blocks to replace and build tissue as well as the essential nutrients to keep our internal chemistry working well. Fresh food, prepared and eaten with gratitude and joy, supports optimal health. Poor quality food, or food eaten in a hurried or stressful manner, offers little support and may create toxicity. Either way, diet profoundly influences mood, energy, immune response and the quality of tissue in the body. Remember that plenty of fresh water is an important part of diet. Nutrition comes from food, not from pills.

EXERCISE channels energy through the body, maintains bone and muscle health, moves the lymph to prevent toxic stagnation, and releases the brain’s natural feel-good hormones. Exercise increases base metabolism and helps maintain healthy weight. Exercise in the fresh air is especially beneficial. Get moving every day so you can keep moving for the rest of your life. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. Choose activities you enjoy. A simple brisk walk supports both body and soul. Start simple, but start.

ATTITUDE has been scientifically proven to alter body chemistry and affect everything from pain to digestion. Nobody realizes all of their dreams or is immune to life’s disappointments. Every day, each of us has the choice to either count our blessings or to resent what we do not have. This choice colors our days, our relationships and our lives. A few classic “attitude exercises” can help:

• Change what you can. Accept what you can’t. Learn to know the difference.
• Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t…you’re right!
• Don’t sweat the small stuff. Life is too short.

REST is imperative to physical and mental health. “Time poverty” afflicts many of us, and we have a hard time saying “no” when there are so many choices and so much to be done. However, if we do not put a priority on RESToring ourselves, we will be depleted and have nothing left for ourselves or anybody else. It is during sleep that the brain processes information, as well as tuning our immune systems. It is said that every hour of sleep before midnight counts for two. “Early to bed, early to rise” is sound science. It is important to find personal time for the things that give us joy. We can’t do it all. The art is in prioritizing.

Taking Care of Yourself is Easier Than You Think! Putting the D.E.A.R Principle to Work

“I know I need to take better care of myself, but I just can’t seem to find the time.” How often do you say this to yourself, or hear it from a friend?

Well, the good news is that it’s not complicated and it doesn’t really take much time. You can greatly improve your life with simple routines that require no special equipment or travel. These simple routines actually save you money rather than adding to your expense. Let’s look at a great plan for jump-starting the D.E.A.R. principle in your life.

DIET: All you need to do is a few simple things.

• Buy food at the grocery store or farmers market, not at restaurants or delis.
• Shop the perimeter of the grocery store. All the fresh food is there.
• Cook at home. Make enough so you have a few extra servings for healthy take-along lunches. However, don’t keep leftovers more than a day or two.
• Sit at a table to eat, and concentrate on the meal and the company. No TV!

EXERCISE: There is one simple exercise that strengthens your bones, gets the lymph moving to cleanse your body, boosts your levels of vitamin D (necessary to absorb the calcium in your food), lubricates your aching joints, works your heart and lungs, and requires little or no training. That exercise is a brisk 30-minute walk outdoors. Shoot for 4-5 days per week to start.

• Invest in a good pair of walking shoes. This will cost you less than $100 and they will probably last 18 months or more.
• Pay attention to good posture as you walk. Keep your head up and take in the view. Leave any problems or worries behind for 30 minutes.
• Walking with a buddy or your dog is great. If you walk alone, take your cell phone if safety is a concern.

ATTITUDE: This one is the simplest and the most powerful. Count your blessings-CONSCIOUSLY. Do this twice a day. Once when you awake, and once when you are ready to sleep. No matter how rough the day, there is always a blessing to count. You will be amazed at the results, guaranteed.

REST: Here’s a simple recipe to make you look, feel and think like you are years younger.

• Buy a great bed if you don’t already have one. This is the most important piece of furniture you own. A bad bed is a health hazard.
• Remove all TV’s and computers from the bedroom.
• Allow a full eight hours for sleep and try to get to bed no later than 10:00.

Try this simple program for a full month, and see how many little health problems simply disappear, D.E.A.R.