1. Study worth noting…
There was a study done in 1966 where 20-year old college students were confined to 3 weeks of bedrest (called the Dallas Bed Rest and Training Study). Researchers were testing the effects of this inactivity on cardiac function and physical fitness. As expected, their physical fitness declined significantly (by an average of 26%). They did a follow-up study 40 years later and found that their cardiac and fitness decline over those four decades was comparable to the decline they saw in the 3 weeks. Why did it catch my attention? Americans have become VERY sedentary. Many sit for breakfast, sit in the car to work, sit at a desk, sit at lunch, sit back at work, sit in the car to get home, sit to eat dinner, then sit and watch TV. In the U.S., over 25% of adults are considered “sedentary.” Humans MUST move their bodies daily. Exercise is a required nutrient. Just 3 weeks of being sedentary can be as harmful and damaging to the body as 40 years of aging. GET MOVING!!!
2. Poster that caught my attention…
I saw a poster in a public restroom recently about germs, as reminder of the importance of washing your hands. The headline on the poster… “GERMS are all around you.” Washing your hands is super important, especially after being in the bathroom… BUT… being overly fearful of “germs” can be extremely harmful. There is such a thing as too clean. Our obsession over trying to avoid and eliminate all “germs” has affected our microbiome and overall immune functions. My take on this??? Bacteria, viruses, and pathogens are getting stronger and stronger, and you simply CANNOT avoid being exposed to them. So… rather than being afraid, frantically trying to avoid germs, and stressing over it… build your health! The stronger, fitter, and healthier you are, the less vulnerable you are to being adversely affected by germs. Read a blog I posted last January about germs called Be a Strong Squirrel, by clicking here. Let posters like the one below remind you to wash your hands… but don’t let it terrify you into becoming a germaphobe.
3. Holiday reminder…
Spencer Johnson wrote a short book called The Present: The Secret to Enjoying Your Work and Life, Now! The gist is that “of all the gifts you might receive, you will find this present is the most valuable of all.” It is “a simple yet profound story about finding happiness and success by focusing on the present moment.” This holiday season, and into the new year, one thing I will be working on is being MORE PRESENT. The holidays are a time to remember those who are no longer with us, to enjoy memories of the past, and to get excited about our future. As we gather with those that we love this holiday season, I will be focusing on listening more intently, being grateful for what is going on, and being fully present in the moments. The past is important… the future is exciting… but we lose the power of now if we don’t take time to slow down and just be. I hope you and your family have an AMAZING holiday season!