Indulgence no longer has to feel guilty. Go ahead, treat yourself!
By Laura Vanderkam
Come Friday, you're ready to relax and recharge -- but too many of us sabotage our weekends by cramming in a month of chores or going zombie in front of the TV. Either way, the weekend is a bust. If you want to feel truly refreshed by Monday morning, take to heart the findings of a study showing that in addition to eating, relaxing, and sex, women enjoy themselves most when they're socializing, engaging in spiritual activities, and exercising. To make the most of your weekend, be sure to pencil in one activity from each category, and let the rules work for you.
RULE 1: Use Your Social Network
Even if you cherish "just for me" time, organize at least one weekend endeavor where you can bring along a friend.
"Feeling connected and loved are among the biggest predictors of happiness," says Cassie Mogilner, PhD, an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School who specializes in happiness research. Another bonus to socializing? It encourages us to spend our time and money on experiences, which research shows make us happier than material objects. "When something is sitting on your shelf, you get used to it very fast," says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, the author of The How of Happiness. So plan a Saturday-night outing to a play you've read about, or sign up for a cooking class with a pal. You'll enjoy the advantages for weeks or months to come.
Quiz: Are your friendships healthy?
RULE 2: Feed Your Soul
The more frequently that people attend religious services, the more content they are, according to a 2008 study in the Journal of Economic Psychology. Faith and prayer, regardless of religion, satisfy a basic need to feel part of something bigger than ourselves--and it turns out that volunteering can have a similar effect. "People derive a lot of pleasure from helping others," continues Dr. Lyubomirsky. If prayer and volunteering aren't for you, try meditation or a restorative yoga class instead. New research shows that spiritual practices, such as regular mindfulness exercises, can actually change brain structure in a way that promotes a sense of well-being. So as a part of your weekend, set aside some time for prayer or meditation, or volunteer to spend an hour or two at your local animal shelter. It'll lift your spirit--literally.
RULE 3: Break A Sweat
"Exercise sparks the release of feel-good endorphins, but it also satisfies something more profound: the human need to perform and excel. Exercise helps you feel like the captain of your own ship," explains Dr. Lyubomirsky. Although any fitness activity you enjoy is good, you'll enhance its benefits even more by taking it outdoors. A recent review of 11 studies that was published in Environmental Science & Technology found that people who exercised outside felt more energetic and were more inclined to keep at it. This is good news, because the rewards of physical activity are cumulative: The more you exercise, the clearer your mind. So as you arrange your weekend, schedule a trail walk, a bicycle ride, or a Sunday-night dance class with your partner. You'll close your weekend energized and ready to tackle the week.
Head outside with these 14 fat-fighting walks
RULE 4: Compress Your Chores
To avoid having your to-do list take over, carve out 2-to 3-hour blocks for errands. "It allows you to say, 'There's a time for chores, and it's not that time,' " says Cassie Mogilner, PhD. Also consider whether there are things you can outsource--or ignore. Can you get your groceries delivered? And does the living room really need to be vacuumed once a week?
RULE 5: Unplug
After a week of making decisions, channel surfing can seem like just what the doctor ordered, but TV is less enjoyable than we think. Sociologists at the University of Maryland found that unhappy people watch 30% more TV than very happy people. Limit your Web surfing, too, since it comes with the added peril of checking work e-mail, which may invite stress into your time off.
Can't miss your shows? Try our Couch Potato Workout
RULE 6: Rethink Sunday Night
A new study says we remember unpleasant experiences as significantly worse if we expect them to recur, which may explain why so many of us ruin Sunday evening by dreading the week ahead. Instead, plan one of the above activities for Sunday night: You'll fall asleep with a fond new memory, not a crash of nerves.
Prevention.com
It's better to look back on life and say: "I can't believe I did that." than to look back and say: "I wish I did that."
Good Afternoon and Happy Saturday Healthy Ones!
I have been trying to post a new topic all day.... sigh... finally got it figured out.
Hope all of you are doing well!
Debi, so sorry about your DH and the accident with the saw. (((Hugs))) Hope it heals up really well and that he has the patience to wait on the healing. Thank God it wasn't any worse. That was cute that you cannot be a nurse. Thank God for nurses and Dr.s that can take the heat about these things. :)
Off to read the other posts and catch up some more. Hugs to all!
Hi Muril glad you figured it out. I am sure I wouldn't Thanks for the info.
Not much going on here. The man that cleaned the flower beds came back today and worked on the bushes.
Hope you all have a good weekend.
Hugs
I don't know if I'm doing this right or not yet - - - I just tried to answer the post - and it didin't work ?
Anyway - this is a "test drive" LOL
Debi
O.K. - Yea, it worked.
The last one was all 'fancy' - and colorful - - so guess it was just too much. ha
dh is doing pretty good. He's actually being a very good patient. He just has a hard time sitting still, so that's the test.
That was such an awful cut - - -
You are right MURIL - it could have been so much worse. Very thankful that he still has an arm !!!!!!!!!!!
It was a scary thing.
Dusta - thanks for the hugs LOL I needed them for sure.
Muril - thanks for starting us up again - - - these are good ideas !
ds's dog is not wanting to stay in the pen - - - and he is gone (moving into his new home) so needless to say - - -- I've got my hands full. LOL
I better go check on hubby -
waving and hugs to all - - - debi
Test run with this post...
Having a pretty busy day at work, makes the day fly by! Lunch time now, had some tuna, mayo onion and pickle on crackers :)
Hi Natasha - just saw where you were giving me a hug last night too.
Thanks a bunch.
It's going to be o.k. - was just a scary moment there for a bit.
I just got everyone fed - - humans and animals - - everyone seems to be cozy and happy for the time being. :)
Waving to all !
will check back when I can......debi
Hi Healthy Ones!
(((Debi))), glad your DH is doing well. I know it was so awful for you(well all of you) to go through this. :( I wish we were there with you to chat and to help with everything. Take care of you too. You are such a good person- I know your family and the animals love you and appreciate you. (((hugs)))
Dusta, should you ever start a new post- try, try again. LOL I finally realized that I needed to preview it before I posted it- tried 4 times before I figured that out(takes me a while to learn,lol)..and by then I changed the topic to a shorter one... I will use the original another time. The de-stress one is appropriate though with all that is going on with us(especially sweet Debi)- this weekend.
Hi Natasha! You did great with your first test run. :) Wierd isn't it? I wonder if we can reply to each of us individually below our pasts instead of going to the bottom. I am not ambitious enough to play around with that this morning. :)
Happy Sunday to everyone! I still need to get my coffee- shower and such and get ready for church. Today is Macie's dedication day so we are going to R&C's church and then I will have to grab a quick bite and head to the AL for our singing. Steppin' out- is steppping out today. :)
Sunday Hugs to Everyone!!!!
I got to hurry up. My computer is about to do maintenance. Debi, very sorry about DH accident. Very hard to have to wait around on something to heal.
Muril, enjoy the baby dedication (like you wouldn't).
Can't think of much to say. Going to either have honey mustard pork chops and orange broccoli and a spinach salad for dinner or a sirloin steak grilled and a squash recipe that is from WW. Going to try to make a pot of chili from one of my mom's old recipes. I sort of have information about it from Star that it is exactly like hers except she leaves out the Bell peppers and uses two packs of chili. So that gives me a clue that it will be good.
Faith is not demanding what we want; it is trusting God's goodness in spite of life's tragedies. Dave Branon
Im not sure that I really like this new style. We will see.
Gonna keep it short this morning.
Having some breakfast, and its my last day of training (thank gosh, its been a long 3 weeks). Will be back to my normal working days, reading when Im bored :)
Leftover chinese for breakfast.
Tried a new face wash this morning that I love. Its from Garnier.
Good morning.
Natasha I read on facebook, Jolene and another woman were talking about TOH changeing and they said one of the reasons was trolls sending PM to people they didn't really know. Seems they can be mean so the only way you can send a pm is if you are friends. I haven't noticed are the smiley faces still here? I clicked on report abuse by accident and they were there.
Chilly here again this morning but it is sunny so guess it will get warm today.
Debi hope your dh is better today. How is ds likeing his new house? One of my brothers that is no longer married built a house a few years ago and it is totally male looking. A woman would not like it. But he has had 2 marriages that ended and I don't think he will remarry. I know he likes to go out, but told me he had lived alone too long be able to remarry. Maybe 14 years.
Sherry how are you feeling?
hugs
Hello everyone!
Using dh's laptop right now, so this is sooooo slow!! Just wanted to check in and see how everyone is doing and to check out the new TOH.....lol
((hugs)) to everone!!
Hi Jill hope you get yours back soon, miss you.
Hello All:
Well, we're in NM and heading back west. It will be good to sleep in my own bed soon:) It's been a very good and productive trip, but i'm dog tired!!
I hate to be the total computer dolt about things, but I don't really notice much difference about the new forum here. I did have to go and join again, but that was pretty easy. I do like the fact that you can just write a reply and then scroll up to see what others have posted. It makes it a lot easier to reply.
Debi: Wow that's horrible about your hubby. And how very scary for you. I hope he heals fast and isn't too much of a baby about things. I don't mean that in a bad way, but sometimes men can really be difficult when they are sick or injured.
Muril: Thanks for your e-mail about the BD list. I had to wiat a few days to see it because the site was being updated here, but I did get your e-mail. I send you a e-mail from my primary addy, so you should have it now. Let me now if you didn't get it.
Hi to everyone else. Sorry this is so short, but we have a long drive today, so gotta head up and move out!!
Candy
Candy Harrington
EatingWellontheroad.com
Good Morning Ladies!
Debi, hope your hubby is doing better :) Glad your son is enjoying his new place.
Jill, look forward to having your back regularly when the computer gets fixed!
Sherry, hope youre feeling all better! Take a swim for me :)
Muril, do you have Macie today? Enjoy her!
Dusta, how are you and Mel doing?
Candy, lol at not noticing the difference. Its VERY different, but oh well. I dont really like it. Glad youre almost home!
Kris, how are you doing? Summer is almost here!
Rebecca, when do you guys go on vacation again? Will miss you like crazy!
Im sorry if I forgot someone... trying to run through everyones names in my head! LOL I havent caught up in a while!
Today is my Friday, and also the first day in 3 weeks Ill be working alone WOOO HOOOO! Will be happy to sit back and read a book LOL!
This morning Im chatting with you ladies, having some breakfast, and writing down all the addresses that I plan to input into my GPS when it gets here for Hawaii.
I dunno if I mentioned, I ordered a GPS with my birthday money, and I cannot wait till it gets here. Ordered through costco. Its regularly a 229.00 Garmin Nuvi 1450 with lifetime map updates... and I got it from costco on sale for 169 including shipping! The lifetime maps is what makes it so awesome. Its a 5inch screen too, which is great. So when it gets here, gonna input addresses we want for Hawaii so we dont need to rent one there.
Breakfast - Chicken Salad on crackers, coffee
Lunch - Cinnamon Toast (2 pieces) banana
Dinner - Lil Smokies, Red Beans and Rice (from a mix)