Wellbeing

Coming soon: Dandelion Salve I’m on step one : collect and dry dandelions ! ( thanks Toby for helping mama) (Dandelion flowers have pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties, so this salve is good for all kinds of aches and pains. It is particularly good for sore and tired muscles and joints.-) It will be available in just over a week as the oils need to infuse ..... You can buy your jar at Bill’s in Keeseville or the Antique & Variety Mall in Plattsburgh. See more

Skin care oils all loaded up at the Furniture Decor store Plattsburgh

Hello, I was thinking about how when we approach different health professionals with symptoms of stress, we’re offered solutions that involve distraction or diversion from thinking about the stressful situation. For example: a chiropractor might tell you that your back has become misaligned and you need some minor adjustments. If you discuss sleep and stress with a psychiatrist, you might be prescribed a sleeping pill to help you sleep. If you tell your personal trainer... that your stressed, they might suggest to add time to your workouts. An accupuncturist might add an extra needle between your eyebrows in the Yin Tang region, and tell you to flush with a tall glass of water after treatment. A counselor may offer suggestions with mindfulness, using your creative outlet, spending time in nature, unplugging, journaling, selfcare, and eating healthy. A holistic person may offer aromatherapy and teas to calm the central nervous system. Since there’s so many options to help decrease stress, does that mean that some are right, some wrong... or one is better than the other ? Perhaps for some they have preferences to treatment, but the underlying concept is the same : distraction or diversion. Remember there are 6 realms to work in : psychological, spiritual, personal, physical, professional and emotional. If you need ideas in any of these realms, let me know What is a distraction or diversion tactic you will try this week ? ( and of course I’m thinking safety first ....to not rush out and be in public spaces unnecessarily). I’m personally going to try to drink more tea this week. I forget about it sometimes : outta sight, outta mind . Twila

Hello, Happy Friday ! I learned something and thought this was neat: baking decreases anxiety and promotes wellbeing. Wait, what? ...yup it does! The attention you give to a knife as it chops, chops, chops, can quiet that inner critic and soothe your soul. It can almost produce a meditataive state with a yummy reward afterward: food.... You can also add a dash of mindfulness which is awareness of the present moment....take for example a tangerine. Take a moment to see it’s color. What does it feel like to peel it? Did it squirt juice as you sectioned it? Do tangerines smell ? Pop a piece in your mouth, how would you describe the savory flavor? That’s using mindfulness....you are less likely to think about all your troubles ( and the world’s) while focusing and using all your senses. Baking also adds a bit of creativity. Go off the grid...what flavors do you gravitate towards, then how can you sprinkle them into your food? Do you like things rich, bold, savory, chipotle, tangy, zesty, or sweet? How do you get things to be those flavors ? Baking promotes joy. Eating in itself has an innate reward system. So cooking, which leads to eating, has a powerful, built-in reward system. Would you allow yourself to play with your food? ....or would it need to be perfect? Will you share your food ? Another obvious advantage and link to your wellbeing : nutrition. When you prepare it, you know what’s in it. This skills also uses your executive function part of the brain as you compromise, plan, measure and complete the task. My mom used to make these cookies that were rolled in nuts, had a cheery in top, and I’m pretty sure lots of butter. I might try to find that recipe...how about you? Twila See more

Hello, Did you know that scientific research tells us that green leafy plants help boost our mood? Being near indoor potted plants helps us to de-stress and restock our stores of mental processing power after we’ve depleted them. The presence of green leafy plants has also been linked to enhanced creative thinking. No matter what we’re up to in life, thinking more creatively is generally useful! Research suggests adding one or two in a room. But, careful, it also shows i...f you add too many, can actually make you feel more stressed. Here’s the funniest thing: And do the plants need to be real? Seeing artificial plants seems to have the same sorts of psychological benefits as seeing real ones as long as the artificial plants really, truly look real. Lol lol. I typically don’t have much success with plants *( mainly because my cats dig in them like a sandbox, .....well, or I don’t water them appropriately) lol. But, I’m a new me, just like you’re becoming a new you, and I am gonna try to add a couple of live plants to my life ? How about you? Twila See more

Restocked at Bill’s.... Keeseville