Tag Archives: caring for family

Easily Improve Muscle Strength by Spring

Easily Improve Muscle Strength by Spring

You really can easily Improve Muscle Strength by Spring.

Do you feel winter blahs? Spring is on its way! Here are three simple ways to easily improve muscle strength and mobility. Now is the time!

Can’t or won’t go to the gym or Y? That’s okay …

My excuses for not working out most likely sound like yours..

Excuse #1 – Time

I seriously don’t feel I can take time to go to a gym or even plop in a video for thirty minutes of muscle toning.

Excuse #2 – I am tired.

I wake up in the morning and jump right into the day’s work schedule. By nightfall, I am ready to hit the bed; muscle toning is the farthest thing from my mind. (Oh, but tomorrow …  Been there?)

Can you relate?

The following three simple steps have helped me improve mobility and gain muscle strength. A personal heads up here: you will most likely scan through this article and decide there is no way those little tips are going to make a significant difference in your health and well-being. I will tell you emphatically, “you will see a change and you will feel it.”

Step #1 Seize the moments available to you now.

When you are warming something in the microwave, for instance, are you leaning against the cabinet or slipping into a nearby chair while waiting? Consider using that time for a few stretches or arm lifts. Keep weights or a couple of cans of food handy so you can grab them and do a one or two minute workout. At the very least, do a few squats and bends.  For more ideas, click here.

Step #2 Develop an awareness of your body.

Have you formed a habit of slumping when you sit? Do you waddle from side to side when you walk, again from habit? Are you continually stepping over items that need picked up because you can’t or won’t stoop over to get them?

Take time to stop and observe your habits. Stand tall when you walk, you will actually feel more rested as your posture improves. Make it a habit to bend as much as you can to pick up items. Sit straight in a chair and breathe deeply. Even if this lasts only a few minutes, you will begin to build strength.

Step #3 Do not always take the easy, shorter way.

When shopping, do you seek parking close to the door?  Of course, you rationalize you need to save time. Let’s be honest, how much time does it take to walk a few extra parking spaces, or even half the parking lot? In the beginning you may be able to walk only one or two extra spaces. Then a few more; perhaps eventually across the parking lot. Wow!

The more time “saved” by denying a little extra walk, or a few stretches, the more rest is needed as we become weaker.  Whether living by yourself, caring for family, or a caregiver with full-time responsibilities, you know how important it is to keep your arms and legs strong so you can remain independent as much as possible.

What small changes can you make in your life today that will affect your future health and well-being? Of these three simple steps, I challenge you to choose one, just one, and focus on that for a week. As that change becomes routine, add another. Soon you’ll be moving mountains as you easily improve muscle strength each day.

Hugs,

Did you check out my new Kids’ Page? Free downloadable coloring page from Patches’ book!

 

Easy Workable Solutions for Time Management

Posted on by

Spring is in the AirSpring is in the air; time to play. Yet, for many, caring for family and home is a never-ending job with nothing left for self or friends. Let these easy, workable solutions for time management encourage you.

Has this happened to you recently?
A friend invited you to coffee on a beautiful spring day; you declined–no time for such frivolity. As you hang up, anger builds and you are ready for a private pity-party while the work continues to mount.

It happened to me, this very week; the results may surprise you.    
Instead of a pity-party, I chose to follow the instruction from St. Francis of Assisi: “Start by doing what is necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you’re doing the impossible.”

1. Make a plan and stick to it.
Armed with a pad, pen, and determination, I listed my tasks. First things that were absolutely necessary to get done today. Secondly, those things that could be done in steps—bite-sized chunks instead of the entire project at once. Lastly, I listed those things that someone else could do for me (if they would) or things that could be left undone.

2. Avoid a trip to the store if possible; adjust the recipe, use what you have already.
I was on a mission. In record time I made a casserole for dinner using items in the pantry and freezer instead of going to the store. While the casserole baked, I quickly chopped up a salad and washed what dishes I had used. Then I cleaned the kitchen and finished what was necessary in the bedroom and bathrooms and even swept the front porch.

3. Shake the habit of piddling with papers; put them away as you come to them.
I saw that I had time now to clear off the papers and “stuff” that had made a home on the dining table. Here is where I often get bogged down; I feel I must read every piece of paper on the table. Today my priority was to accomplish my goal and clear the table. Anything not needing immediate attention was put in a small box to sort later as I sat to rest or TV.

4. Choose only one or two books to leave out to read; put the rest away.
For me, time had come to keep a few and pass others on to be used. And, I only left out two or three to browse or read; others put neatly on a shelf and off the tables.

5. There is truth in the statement: A woman’s work is never done; you never catch up!
I discovered much of my concern was projects that I would not get done anyway; there will always be something left undone. On my third list dusting the blades on the ceiling fans, some mending, and washing the quilts could wait until a more opportune time. I could add mending to tomorrow’s list and make sure to include it in my schedule.

6 Take time to reward yourself for a day well spent.
Wow! It’s still early in the afternoon and I am through with today’s chores. Where is my telephone? I could go for coffee after all; or, I might reward myself with a short nap!
“To everything there is a season, and a time for everything under the sun … “Ecclesiastes

Hugs,

If you’ve read my book, please take time to comment at Amazon.com; I really appreciate your comments online. Click here for My Mother My Child at Amazon.com

Caregiver Alert: A Little Happy Goes a Long Way

Posted on by

a little happy goes a long way

Today, let us count some happy!

We are bombarded with heavy news: he said, she said, they did …! We need encouragement. I am gonna get outa this rut and find some happy. I promise, p-r-o-m-i-s-e, you will find some happy too!

Five reasons to be happy today.

#1 I’m happy because I can read. Seriously? Yes! Last week we had casserole with hot, hot peppers in the chopped tomatoes because I didn’t take time to read the label. We don’t do hot peppers!  What about those shoppers that brave the stores and cannot read labels?

#2 I’m happy because I can open my door and breathe in fresh, clean air. No raging war outside my door, no fires, no starving wee ones on the corners.

#3 I’m happy because I chose to care for Mother, hubby, family. Not everyone has someone to care for. God entrusts us with loved ones; then He enables us to care for them and love on them, even when the road gets rough at times.

#4. I am happy because I have a bed to crawl into, a chair to rest in, a refrigerator with good food and fresh water to drink. Many, many, many do not!

#5 I am happy because I have friends to write letters to and friends who share their burdens and joys with me. Friends like you, dear ones, who make my life happy by simply sharing in it.

And, I have a Friend, Jesus, I can talk to everyday. He shares my joys, my sorrows, and knows my deepest needs. I pray you know Him, too. He can make the heaviest day a happy one as we learn to leave our burdens with Him.

Have a great week.

Check out my articles in a new book from Springfield Writer’s Guild: Creative Collections. Short stories and poems are a great way to find a little happy when time is short and you need a pic-me-up.