*Note: I wrote this last Tuesday after my 2nd day of sick leave from work. The WordPress App wasn’t working and wouldn’t upload my writing. Trying this again today.

Ok, I’m kinda copying an article I just read called “9 Healthy Habits That Don’t Involve Exercising”. The reason it interested me and caused me to write a blog entry, is that right now I’m sick. I have a sinus infection and an ear infection. I’ve not felt well since Halloween, but it didn’t all kick in full blast until 4 days ago when my fever shot up. I have zero energy and my left ear hurts all the time. I’ve missed 2 days of work. I’m laid out at home. And I have a powwow to dance at in 17 days. I’m trying not to stress…but my knee hurts and I’m having back and hip issues as well. It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done any type of workout. I’ve been on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster as well which hasn’t helped my eating habits either. So here I am. Sick, laid out, but yet still motivated to do something…yet lacking the necessary energy to exercise while waiting for my Augmentin to do its job.

Hence, my interest in the article. I read it and wanted to make my own list of things I know work for me to improve my health that don’t involve exercises. A few are the same as the article, specifically #2 and #7.

1. Establish a Morning Routine

My morning routine consists of waking up with 30 minutes to enjoy my coffee and to read my daily meditations before getting the girls up and getting myself ready for work. The house is quiet and it helps me start my day by being intentional with my time. If you know me and are close to me, you know I like to share readings or meditations that I find meaningful. I haven’t been doing this for a few weeks, and I am looking forward to getting back to it. I always feel good each day that I make time to do this.

2. Drink Water

Every morning for the last 20+ years, I have woken up and taken my thyroid meds with 2 full glasses of water, totaling 24 ounces. Every single morning without fail. I was doing this long before I read that drinking 16 oz of water every morning was one of the healthiest habits to have. When I am being mindful of drinking water, I will fill up a big cup of water in the morning at the office and then a second one in the afternoon. This is another habit I’ve let slide that I can get back to and notice the benefits fairly quickly.

3. Be Silly

As my sister likes to say, “Shelley is a straight-up fool.” 😂 I love being silly, and I really, really like teasing people. I love to laugh and hearing other people laugh. Sharing goofy memes, sending text messages to my family and my close friends, cracking on my sister, blowing up my husband and my kids’ phones….these are some of my favorite things to do. It breaks the monotony of my day and helps wake me up at times. Also it helps keep things light, and being in the mental health field….lightness of mind and heart and being is a blessing. Sometimes it’s what I need to get through the day.

4. Drink Coffee

Drink coffee. Every day. Without fail. The world is a better place, and I with it, when I have coffee.

I would like to add that along with drinking coffee, do NOT listen to anyone that tries to tell you that coffee is bad for you. It’s not. Several studies have shown the health benefits of black coffee. But just don’t listen to the coffee nay-sayers. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.

5. Give Frequent Hugs

I think I read somewhere that when you hug someone for a certain number of seconds, it boosts the serotonin in your brain. Meaning your mood improves. You get the warm fuzzies. I’m a hugger. So I give and receive daily hugs from my family and my big puppies.

6. Get a Dog In Your Life

Rescuing my big puppy Mickey in 2016, and then Sissy in 2017 from two local shelters was one of the best things I’ve done in my life. They are the sweetest life forms ever….there is nothing like coming into the house and receiving the welcome a big puppy gives you. I can sit next to Mickey or Sissy and pet them and just feel any stress I have melt away. The Center for Disease Control published a list of physical health benefits that having a dog provides as well, and that’s not counting walking them. They just make me feel happy.

7. Read For Pleasure 

I love to read. I was a big bookworm growing up. So I enjoy any time I make to read. I love Louise Erdrich, Stephen King, and a multitude of authors and books. I even helped start a book club over the summer which was amazing. I got to do 2 of my favorite things…read and spend time with my friends visiting and drinking coffee every two weeks.

8. Cook At Home

I grew up with my mom always cooking. So that was the norm. I like to cook healthy and I have my favorite comfort food recipes. I figure anything I cook at home is going to be healthier than going out or eating takeout. Plus when I cook at home, Joe B often helps me prep food so we get to spend that time together. Or one of the girls helps me. And I love the whole cooking process. It’s a type of mindfulness because I need to be present when I’m chopping veggies and working with high heat. I like to say that cooking is one of my “love languages”. It’s one way I show my family that I love them beyond measure.

8. Be Gentle and Accepting Of Myself

This has been a tough habit to develop. To just allow myself to be, and to feel. To hold space for myself and allow myself acknowledge whatever I’m feeling…to sit in that for a bit and accept it, whatever the emotion is. And then being able to process it and let it go. I spent too many years trying to ignore how I felt so I could get stuff done, so I could keeping going and doing. And holding on to resentment for not feeling good and for feeling out of sorts. But that doesn’t work for me anymore. I don’t know that it ever did. I like this way much better. Acknowledging how I am feeling physically and emotionally gives a level of respect to the energy I give to my life and all in it.

You know, I probably could have come up with more than 9 things. But I like this list. It’s a good reminder of what I can do right now while I’m recuperating.