Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Powerful Aging Tip #7

Good Healthcare – absolutely a must have

OK, I know it can be difficult to find a health care provider that actually listens to you and is a partner in your health rather than a demi-god from on high who dictates to you. But they are out there, and it’s critical to find one (or even better, more than one) so you can take responsibility for your own wellbeing. If you feel you aren’t being heard, find someone else.

If your medications are making you sicker than you were before you started taking them, and your doctor won’t listen, find one who will. Get second, and even third opinions until you are satisfied the course of action being proposed is in your best interest.

Read up on whatever health challenge you are experiencing so you’ll be knowledgeable about how to take care of it in the best way possible.

Here are some resources for finding alternative health care providers:

http://www.medfinds.com/

http://www.talkinternational.com/directories/health-services-directory.html

My personal favorite is Dr. Damon Miller, M.D., N.D., located in Palo Alto, CA.

Powerful Aging Tip #6

Sex – otherwise known as intimacy

According to Dr.’s Oz and Roizen in You: Staying Young, “having monogamous, regular sex has been proven to extend your life.” Yes, sometimes (actually in many instances) women lose their libido as they pass menopause, if they have a hysterectomy, or have their ovaries removed. There are natural solutions out there. I highly recommend finding a sympathetic, knowledgeable health care practitioner who specializes in this area and get healed! One of the joys of aging is having the ability to give and receive love through intimacy with a beloved partner. It brings you touch, love and emotional connection.

In Younger Next Year for Women by Crowley and Lodge they state “Sexuality, which is the limbic component of touch and emotional connection, is more important than physical sex, and if you can’t have sex for some reason, snuggling works almost as well.”

Recommended Reading:

The Hormone of Desire: The Truth About Testosterone, Sexuality, and Menopause, by Susan Rako, M.D.

Ecstatic Lovemaking: An Intimate Guide to Soulful Sex, by Victoria Lee, Hugh Prather, and Gayle Prather

Powerful Aging Tip #5

Stress – some is necessary; too much is harmful.

One of the first things I recommend is de-stressing. There’s just so much going on in our lives, it’s become easier and easier to feel overwhelmed, burnt out and SERIOUS. Sometimes it’s stress related to health issues; sometimes to relationships; sometimes finances, you get the point.

Here are some tips to de-stress:
  • Immediately focus on the present by feeling the physical sensations in your body. Become aware of your breathing and slow it down. Six breaths in, a slight pause and 4 breaths out works well for me.
  • Notice the way your body feels, hear what you hear, see what you’re seeing. If it’s pain you’re dealing with, focus on the parts of your body that feel good rather than the painful area. Being present to what is stops the mind’s negative chatter.
  • Stop worrying. Say to your self “ I don’t need to worry now, I can worry all I want in 5 minutes”. When the 5 minutes is up, give yourself another 5. The worry cycle is usually broken after the first 5 minutes!
  • If your mind decides to focus on the problem situation anyway, see the situation resolved in the best possible way. To engage all your senses, first see what you’ll see when it is resolved, then hear what you’ll hear, and then feel how you will feel when the problem is solved.
For example, if it’s related to weight loss see yourself in a mirror looking like you want to look, hear what others will be telling you about how great you look, and feel the emotions you’ll have when you look and feel lighter!

All these steps will create a space between the “problem” and how you think about it. You’ll get new insights about how to handle it, and discover new, more effective strategies to create what you want in your life.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Powerful Aging Tip #4

Sleep: the fundamental way we rejuvenate ourselves.

Sleep is a lifesaver, especially as we age. It is during sleep that the body repairs itself and the mind resolves issues left over from the day’s activities.

So, how much sleep is enough? We’ve been told 7 to 8 hours a night is necessary, but one size doesn’t fit all. How do you know if you are getting the right amount for you?

There are several ways:
  1. Do you feel rested and refreshed when you get out of bed in the morning?
  2. Are you able to stay awake later in the day while reading a book or watching TV?
  3. Do you feel sleepy when driving during the day?
If you answered "no" to any of these questions, here are some suggestions to help you get the sleep you need.
  • Establish a routine sleep schedule.
  • Avoid using the bed for activities other than sleep or intimacy.
  • Avoid substances that disturb sleep, such as caffeine and alcohol.
  • Take a 20-minute power nap during the day. Do it no later than 3 p.m. While this seems counter-intuitive, it really helps rejuvenate you for the rest of the day and helps you stay awake in the evening. I use a wonderful software program on my iPod called Pzziz, accessed here bit.ly/JnFBH It uses NLP and hypnosis to put me in a restorative sleep and wakes me up in 20 minutes rested and ready to take on the world again.
  • Develop pre-sleep rituals that help you relax, such as a warm bath, a light snack or a few minutes of reading.
  • Bedtime is a time to relax, not replay the stresses of the day. Leave worries behind.
  • Keep your bedroom dark, quiet and a little cool.
  • If you can't fall asleep, leave the bedroom and do a quiet activity. Go back to bed only when you're tired.
For the best sleep, no TV or computer right before going to bed. Try reading a book until your eyes feel heavy, your comprehension drops and you start to nod off.

If your mind races, take a deep breath through your nose to a count of 6, hold briefly and exhale through your mouth for a count of 4. Repeat until you fall asleep.