Being a woman isn’t easy. Not only do you maintain a home and provide the majority of guidance and care in raising your family, most women today also have a career and are major bread-winners when it comes to providing for household needs. For most women, it just doesn’t seem like there are enough hours in the day. So, when you do find a few golden minutes for yourself, make them count. Here are a few great ways to make the most out of your precious “me” time…
Ways To Relax
•A Hot Bath
Nothing relieves stress at the end of a long day like a nice long soak in a hot bath. Add in a touch of lavender and lemon, a glass of your favorite wine and a few candles. Feeling achy? Throw in some Epsom salt as well.
••Meditation
It has been shown that mindfulness meditation not only has positive effects on a woman’s attitude toward life in general but also on her physical health. Take time to tune in and calm down. Ommm…
•••A Brisk Walk
Exercise releases endorphins that can help relieve pain and promote a feeling of well-being. Let a brisk walk in the fresh air become a key part of your workout routine. Even a quick walk around the block after dinner will do!
••••Music
Find a comfy chaise or maybe a low-slung hammock, put on the headphones and turn on your favorite music. Music has been found to elevate mood and enhance feelings of well-being. And who elevates mood better than Tim McGraw, Justin Timberlake, Adam Levine, Enrique Iglesias… and the list goes on and on.
•••••Friends
Women are social creatures. Make it a habit to get together with friends on a regular basis. Research shows that a good social network can be as important to emotional health as a good diet is to physical health. Got friends?
Marriage Boosters
•Write A Note
A handmade card or quick note says, “I love you!” For no special reason, make him a unique and special card. Be sure to mention some of the great times you’ve shared and the ones you look forward to sharing in the future.
••Talk Time
Take some time each day to turn off the television, computer, smartphone and tablet,and just sit and talk. Spend the first few minutes discussing your work days (yes, “work-talk” is important), and then set the jobs aside and enjoy a nice conversation about life, love and family.
•••Try Something New
Face it, anyone’s marriage can become humdrum, and many couples get stuck in the same old daily routines. Take a weekend and try something totally new—something you’ve never done before—surfing, parasailing, skydiving, snorkeling or maybe a spur-of-the-moment road trip to nowhere in particular. Leave your “safe zone” behind, and embark on a wonderful adventure together.
••••Why I Love You
Take turns writing down the things you love most about one another. This can bring back wonderful memories of when—and why—you first fell in love.
•••••Plan
Nothing strengthens a marriage more than shared dreams. Take some time to share your dreams and plan together for all those delightful years that lie ahead.
Movies You Have To See
•Love And
Friendship
Director Whit Stillman’s (Metropolitan, Barcelona) interpretation of the Jane Austen novella Lady Susan produces a wickedly delightful tale of romance spiced with just a tinge of deception… and Kate Beckinsale at her best makes even eighteenth-century England look fun.
••Passengers
A-list stars Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence are stranded together on a spaceship bound for a distant galaxy. Pratt and Lawrence provide great scenery, a bit of cosmic romance and plenty of excitement.
•••The Huntsman: Winter’s War
A woman’s war movie? Chris Hemsworth… Need I say more?
••••Equity
Women have been balancing the family checkbook for the last hundred years, but now they finally get to take their rightful place at the top in the male-dominated Wall Street world of investment banking.
•••••Suffragette
Unfortunately, this British film saw only a limited release in the United States. This is a historical drama that every woman (and especially every young girl) should see. Suffragette grittily depicts the courageous lives led by women pioneers who fought groundbreaking battles for women’s rights worldwide.
Foods To Help You Get & Stay Healthy
•Kefir
Nope, kefir isn’t the same as yogurt—it’s even better. This healthy food contains more than 20 different types of friendly bacteria that will make your gut as happy as your taste buds.
••Beans
Science meets the playground—research has finally proven that beans do indeed promote good cardiovascular health. Seems healthy isn’t always sexy.
•••Onions
Did we already say that healthy isn’t always sexy? Well, onion-breath is well worth the sacrifice; this potent little vegetable is an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and natural blood thinner. Healthy wins again.
••••Watercress
Don’t you wish you could read one health article for women that didn’t mention menopausal bloating? Well, you’re simply out of luck… unless you add watercress to your diet. It works!
•••••Chocolate
Enough with the vegetables already! Let’s get to the good stuff… Research has shown that chocolate helps lower cholesterol, thereby improving cardiovascular health. Dig in! In moderation.
Ways To Be A Better Mom
•Hear
No matter what your child’s age, learn to search for hidden messages in their words. Many times, what a child lacks in eloquence, he or she makes up for in simple honesty. Seek out the truth, and learn to hear instead of just listen.
••Talk
Initiate conversations with your children on topics that are important to today’s younger generation. For instance, if your child is being bullied or knows another child who is being bullied, an impromptu conversation while watching television or riding to the grocery store could lead to a discovery that might change a life.
•••See
Mom’s need X-ray vision. Look beyond the surface and carefully interpret the actions of your children. Sudden changes in attitude or bouts of unusual behavior could be an indicator that something is wrong at school or in your child’s private life. A mother’s love has keen eyes.
••••Know
Know your children. By carefully watching their body language and facial expressions when they are young, you have a distinct advantage as they age, allowing you, many times, to easily discern when they are being honest or if they are suffering emotionally.
•••••Parent
Some parents try to be a “friend” to their children, but parenting must always come first. As an adult, you are your child’s role model, and you are the one making and enforcing the rules. Parent-love makes tough, fair decisions that cannot be hindered by the emotional need to be your child’s friend.
Important Health Screenings
•Heart Disease
As part of your annual physical exam, include blood tests for high cholesterol and triglyceride levels that could indicate a buildup of plaque in your coronary arteries. Also, have your blood pressure checked a minimum of once per year, because untreated hypertension also contributes to coronary artery disease.
••Diabetes
High blood pressure could also signal a rise in blood sugar levels. If your blood pressure is 135/80 or higher, ask your doctor for a blood glucose screening test. Also check for diabetes if you have increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained fatigue or blurred vision.
•••Bone Health
Women of any age are more prone to osteoporosis than men and should ask their health care provider when it is time to have their first bone density test. Menopausal and post-menopausal women should be tested every two years.
••••Cancer
Women should be checked on a regular basis for breast, uterine, ovarian, colorectal and skin cancer. Ask your physician how often testing should be performed based on your family medical history and your individual lifestyle.
•••••Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Sexually active women of any age should be tested yearly for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis, genital herpes, human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV. Testing is especially important for women with multiple sex partners.
Beauty Tips
•Retinoids
You can read about retinoids all day, but if you don’t try them you’ll never know just how fantastic they can make your skin look. Over-the-counter products are fine, but prescription-strength creams offer major help for acne, wrinkles and skin diseases, such as psoriasis.
••Prime
Makeup primer not only fills in small wrinkles to provide a smooth base for your foundation, it also helps soak up natural oils that soak through makeup alone… and what could possibly be worse than being “shiny?”
•••Hair Today
Learn to love what nature gave you. Instead of constantly battling whatever type of hair you might have, give in and go with the flow. Curly, straight or anywhere in between, find the products and cuts that enhance your hair’s natural beauty.
••••Cold Feet
If you waited until the last second to do your toenails, don’t fret about drying time. Just quickly submerse your toes in a small bowl of ice water. Instantly dried nails every time.
•••••Moisturize
Women working indoors in Florida need to make sure they use enough moisturizer on their skin. Air-conditioning systems take the moisture out of office air and dry skin quickly. Also avoid too-hot showers, which also dry out your skin.
Sources: jstor.org, apa.org
