M.A.D. Get Back To Nature

There's something very energising about getting back to nature.  The feel of the warm sunshine on your face, the wind in your hair - even the rain can be revitalising.

Image by . SantiMB . via FlickrWe spend so much time shielded from it in our cars and air-conditioned offices, walking along streets and pavements full of cars and people, surrounded by brick, concrete and metal that it's easy to lose track of the changing seasons.

Here in the UK the hedgerows are full of berries, the fields full of mushrooms and the colours are changing from Summer to Autumn.

Many of us could benefit from getting out into the fresh air and closer to nature more often.  Not only does the fresh air do us good but it has a calming effect if you're feeling stressed.  It can also have an uplifting effect on your mood.  It's hard to feel depressed when you're surrounded by beautiful scenery and wildlife.

- Take in the scenery on your way home.
- Get out to a local park in your lunch break.
- Go for a walk or cycle when you get home.
- Get out into the countryside at the weekend.

Even if you don’t think you have the time, make the time. It’s worth it for the physical and mental boost you’ll get.

Take up gardening it's a great way of getting outside on a regular basis and a perfect way to watch the changing seasons and keep things in perspective.

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• Eat your greens: September is foraging month and there's a way for city-dwellers to enjoy edible flora (independent.co.uk)

Work Hard Play Hard - Live Longer

Do you prefer to work hard, play hard and not worry about the consequences or do you look after yourself so you can live life to the full for as long as it lasts?

While healthy eating and fitness doesn't guarantee a long life, many people are living longer and enjoying a disease free old age.

Giving up short-term health and fitness and long-term plans may mean you enjoy drinking and eating what you want without worrying about the long-term effect this might have on your body as you get older - diabetes, heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure.

These days - retirement certainly isn't the time to wind down, put your feet up and wait for the inevitable. More and more people are enjoying their retirement and the freedom it brings.

Children are grown up and have families of their own. They're not tied to a job and they have the freedom to travel, can spend time with their grandchildren, family and friends.

So do you think looking after your health is a waste of time or a good long-term investment in your future?

What's That You're Eating?

Living in today's fast paced world we grab snacks, eat on the go and throw ready meals in the microwave in order to save time.

No wonder obesity is rising. 'Fast food' and processed food is often full of fat and sugar - just what we should be avoiding.

Be aware of what you're putting your body. Something that's low in sugar is likely to be high in artificial sweeteners. Food low in fat will have fat replacements, to replace the bulk and texture as well as flavourings.

Ready meals can be full of chemicals to maintain the flavour and act as preservatives and have been treated to extend their shelf life.

Don't believe the labels that claim 'healthy', 'good for you', 'low fat', 'low sugar' - sometimes it's nothing more than marketing. If it's low fat doesn't mean it's not high in sugar. Labelling something as 'natural' or healthy and providing a suitably enticing image doesn't necessarily make it so.

Check the label - if the list of ingredients is longer than the average supermarket shopping receipt or contains things you don't recognise, avoid it.

Parents should be even more aware of what you're giving your children. It may be easy, convenient or colourful but is it really good for them?

Fresh is best and variety is the spice of life ... or a good diet.

Be food aware and label savvy.

Go With The Flow

I'm just back from my tai chi session this week. Much of the practice is about going with the flow and not putting up resistance.

It's good to remember this in our day to day lives. When we resist or go against the flow - like walking the wrong way in a crowd of people going in the opposite direction, or swimming against the tide - things become hard, we constantly have to watch where we're going, adjust and get stressed - it's like trying to push water uphill ... a waste of time and energy.

When you encounter resistance in your life - relax and go with the flow. Much less like hard work. Ride the current - don't swim against it.

Daylight And Autumn Leaves

Apparently this Monday is one of the gloomiest in the year because here in the UK we switched to daylight saving time this weekend. We get an extra hour in the morning but the evenings are darker earlier.

However, the number of daylight hours is the same - it's just shifted. So, why would it really make a difference. I have to admit, I don't like getting up in the morning when it's dark but then you do get a chance to see the sunrise or to experience the quiet of a morning as the dawn breaks and the sky brightens, before everyone else gets going.

Even in the dark evenings, there's something cosy about glimpses of light through windows. Make the most of the daylight hours to get out during your lunch break or to enjoy a walk at the weekend.

Notice the changes all around us as we switch from one season to the next. We miss these when we're enclosed in a car or shut away in the office day after day. At this time of year the summer migrants have left and the winter visitors are starting to arrive. Enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the Autumn. It's less than two months until the winter solstice, when the days will be getting longer again.

Pay attention to your own internal seasonal cycle - there's no reason to feel gloomy - adjust to the shorter days and the change in temperature.

Do what you need to do to nurture yourself.

Put Yourself Out

Sometimes we feel too safe, comfortable and cosy in our comfort zone or go along in our usual day-to-day routine without venturing out into the 'wider world'

Often when we do something a little differently - something unexpected happens.  After all - if you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always got - as the saying goes.  So - if you do something different, you might get something different!

Also think about those times when you're not sure if you've got the energy or motivation to get out there and do something - either in your personal or business life.  Make the effort and you might be surprised at the opportunities that pop up and the chain reaction that can occur from one apparently random contact or connection.

Do something a little different, try something new, go somewhere you wouldn't normally go. Put yourself out  there and see what happens.

10 Minutes At A Time

We often say we don't have time and there's always plenty that we don't get round to.  Even when we have a task to do, we often get distracted and end up wasting time.

So how would you like to do something different?  Set an alarm or timer for just 10 minutes.  Stay focused, you know the clock is ticking, so there's no time to waste and you'll be less inclined to waste time.

In just 10 minutes a day you could:

• Create your action list.
• Plan your day.
  
• Tidy a room.
• Do the laundry.
  
• Clear things away.
• Do some filing.
  
• Tidy the garden.
• Start a report.
• Skim read a magazine.
• Enjoy a cup of coffee.
• Do some paperwork.
  
• Go for a brisk walk.
• Meditate.
• Make a phone call.
• ...
  

The first two will make your whole day more productive, so definitely worth spending time on them if you don't already.  See how much you can do in 10 minutes.  You might not finish the task in 10 minutes but you'll be 10 minutes closer.

Set a goal you'd like to achieve and allocate just 10 minutes a day to it.  See what a difference you can make. You could even have more than one goal - two or three sets of 10 minutes throughout the day.

Let me know how you get on.