Welcome to the DW Healing Arts Be Well series of wellness tips for January 2016. Each day I will highlight a card from my Balance Resource Cards decks. The wellness resources will help you bring balance to your body, mind and spirit if used on a regular basis. Take a moment right now, and practice today's wellness tip as you read this. Grab your journal, turn off your phone, find a quiet place without interruptions and set a timer for 20 or 30 minutes. This is time you are investing in yourself. You are worth it. Give yourself permission to balance your life. May you Be Well! Love, Deanna |
It is important to take a break from your regular routine every hour to increase productivity and restore your posture. Meditation and breathing are just a few ways you can take a break. Some other ideas for a quick break include taking a walk, doing stretches, changing positions at your work station, taking a 10 minute power nap, planning a vacation or using the many ideas from your other Balance Resource Cards.
Grab your journal, turn off your phone, find a quiet place without interruptions and set a timer for 20 or 30 minutes. This is time you are investing in yourself. You are worth it.
Take a moment right now to make a list of all the areas in your body, mind and spirit that feel out of balance. What would you like to be different in 2016? What themes emerge as you look over this list? If you could choose one word for 2016 to guide your overall choices, what would that word be? Keep adding to this list over the next week. On Day 1 of the Be Well Series, we will be setting some intentions and goals for the coming year. May you Be Well!
![]() A number of people received my Balance Resource Cards as gifts. Others purchased them for their personal use, but in most cases, the cards sit unopened on a shelf. People are just too busy for self care. One friend recently had a wake-up call, when she received news that there was abnormal tissue in her breast. She decided to make some major lifestyle changes to prevent the tissue from progressing into cancer. She started using the Balance Resource Cards at home and work. And she is seeing some very positive results.
Many people I know are choosing healthy, organic and locally grown foods this year. February is always a challenge, because the fresh foods have to be shipped from a distance. I also know that workers are often underpaid, which adds to the dilemma of which foods to purchase. This time of year, I shift my priorities slightly, so that I can eat fresh and organic produce and fruit. My grocery bills are quite a bit higher will all the produce I buy. I view it as an investment in my health. ![]() Another investment in health is my time. It takes time to prepare healthy food. I invest in fresh food preparation, because it is healthier for me than fast food. I consider it part of my spiritual practice of wellness. I'm becoming good friends with my crock pot and the freezer. This saves time when I make extra food to put in the freezer. It also takes time to plan out my weekly menu and shopping list. It takes time to label the foods I prepare, but the labels help me use food in a timely manner. ![]() I often have a word to focus on for the year. I'm not sure when I first started choosing a word. Sometimes the word chooses me, like last year. I gradually lived into the word "Balance" in 2014, as I worked on creating the Balance Resource Cards. The word balance appeared everywhere, even in my dreams. It became my focus in all aspects of my life. The image of the letters balancing on the capital A appeared in my dreams. My supporting words were Mind, Body and Spirit. I was thrilled when my niece made a logo for me. I felt balanced in 2014. Synchronicity happens when you find a theme word. You become aware of different meanings of that word and how they each apply to your life. Songs with the word capture your attention in new ways. You see the word in writing appear all over the place. It comes to mind throughout the day. Each time you see your word, it reminds you of the reason you need it in your life. You begin to live into your word. It is your goal, your theme and your mantra. That is why words have power. Here are a few things I discovered this week:
Now that I'm feeling better, I can ease back into some of my regular routines. When I'm ready. What do you do for self care when you are sick? Give yourself permission to take care of yourself first! We are entering the season of gift-giving. How often do you give yourself a gift? I usually buy things I want or need, but don't think of them as a gift for myself. When I do buy something for myself as a gift, it is usually a special item like a silk scarf or something beautiful for my home. I consider it a gift for my birthday or as a reward for an accomplishment in my life. It feels decadent. I treasure it a bit more than the regular or impulse purchases I make. Thinking of a purchase as a gift shifts my focus and I pay attention to it in a different way.
I designed the Balance Resource Cards as a gift. A gift to myself and a gift for my family, friends and clients. Hopefully you will purchase a set for yourself and discover they are a gift of health and wellness that you can give yourself. These cards are full of tips and resources that can help all of us become healthier. They are my favorite wellness and self care tips that I've collected over the years. Think of them as my top 60+ tips for healthy living. I have been using these resource cards regularly to become healthier and balanced in my own life. I'm giving myself the gift of health because I deserve it. What are your favorite activities to balance your mind, body and spirit on a regular basis? Do you have a daily or weekly exercise routine? What is your favorite meditation or prayer practice? Do you like the same routine each day or do you like a little variety during the week? Are you a regular member at the health club or local yoga class? Are you disciplined enough to do your own exercise routine at home? How much time do you spend doing these activities each week?
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DW Healing Arts
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