Motivation Monday: Go Outside

If you find yourself feeling stressed going out into nature could help in reducing it. A study found that when you spend time in nature, your mood improved. Researchers found that being outside led to a more calmed and destressed feeling. That's because being out in nature helps restore your mood and calms the mind. And additional benefits, it helps to restore your attention span and usually doesn't cost anything to be outside.

So to get this mood improving benefits, you don't have to spend hours hiking in the woods or going on long walks (unless that's what you love to do) but somethng as simple as a five minute walk, sitting outside or just being outside for a few minutes doing nothing except relaxing and enjoying nature will go a long way.

So if you find yourself dealing with a bit of stress and if possible, take a few minutes to go outside and enjoy nature. Also, don't forget the sunscreen.

Health and Fitness: Exercise when you can and don't feel guilty

My fitness goal is a daily 15-30 minute walk and to workout at least three times a week. Most weeks, I can do all of that. However, some weeks when I'm really busy, I may only get one or two days to walk for at least 10-15 minutes. And maybe squeeze in a workout for one or two days. Because some time, that's all I have time for.

I try my best to get in my daily walks because it's so relaxing. But the thing is, I exercise when I can and if can't get in my usual daily walks or weekly workouts. That's okay. I don't make myself feel guilty or feel bad for not being able to exercise. Some days, I'm too tired or busy and at the end of the day, I only have enough energy to relax on the sofa and watch TV.

My point is, I workout when I can and I don't feel guilty when I'm not able to. Feeling guilty is just unnecessary stress that I don't need.

Monday Motivation: De-Stress

It goes without saying that we live in a very stressful world filled with chaos and uncertainity. According to research, being so stressed out it can cause hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to go into overdrive the more stressed out we become. Stress isn't necessarily a bad thing however it can be if we're constantly stressed out. And all that excessive stress can lead to an increase in inflammation which could potentially turn into other health issues.

So the goal of the day is to de-stress and relax as often as we can. So, whether you prefer to meditate, exercise, journal, read a book, watch TV, be in nature, enjoying a hobby, etc. the point is to give yourself time to relax and de-stress.

Geek Find: 9-1-1 First-Aid Kit

I guess this could be considered the first official merchandise for the 9-1-1 TV series. It's a media tie-in limited edition First Aid-Kit by Preppi. It's available for a limited time and is $75.00. I know I can find a first-aid kit way cheaper than this but I wouldn't mind having this for the metal case. The first-aid stuff included is just an added bonus. Below you can see what's in the first-aid kit and the link to purchase it.

What do you think, is it worth it?

Monday Motivation: Daily Stretching

I recall reading that "stretching is one of the most important things that we can do for our bodies". Which is why it's an essential part of my daily routine. I try to stretch throughout the day for a few minutes especially if I've been sitting for a long time. I also like to stretch before I go to bed, it helps me to relax and unwind as I release any stress and tension from the day.

As good as stretching is, I try not to over do it. Because overstretching could lead to an injury and I certainly don't want that to happen. So a little daily stretching is good, just don't over do it.

Artwork: Yoga by Grace Canaan for Real Simple magazine

Vogue: In The Bag: Emma Watson

Happy Monday!

I was wondering if you carry a bag, what do you have in it? Well, in my purse which is usually small, I keep my everyday essential: wallet, lip balm, small hand lotion, phone, keys and a small make up bag (in case I need to touch my make up). As for my tote bag, I usually have: a book (or two), a magazine (or two), pens and a note book, planner and depending on the day any odds and ends I might need.

I mention all of this because I watched this Vogue magazine In The Bag video featuring Emma Watson and had to post it. Aside from the usual essentials, she does have some interesting items. Such as her tarot cards. And as a bookworm, she has books. No surprise there. I guess it's a universal truth that bookworms always carry books with them.

As a bookworm, I usually tend to have a book with me when I leave the house. Of course there are exceptions when I don't carry one such as getting a meal with family or friends or at an event. But usually I have a book with me. I totally forgot to mention how cute her outfit is: a beige and black check bow tie blouse paired with a black skirt. Anyway, here's what's in Emma Watson's bag.

Character Health & Fitness: Craig (9-1-1)

I think it's important to be as healthy as we can but I don't think anyone should feel pressure to do extreme things such as working out to the point they injure themselves trying to attain a certain look or weight. I feel like there is this pressure in our society to get "in shape" instead of being healthy. Which at times have some overexerting themselves in order to get "in shape".

Which brings me to my Character Health & Fitness post, in the 9-1-1 fifth season fifth episode Peer Pressure there was this guy Craig who was constantly seeing the commercials and ads for the workout mirror Narcissus. It's supposed to help you become the "more perfect you" and become "a Greek God". So of course he eventually bought one.

(Craig     9-1-1 season 5 episode 5: Peer Pressure)

Motivation Monday: I need to move more

I know awhile back, I wrote about being sedentary and wanting to get in more movement. It's important to move more everyday. However, I realized yet again that my physical activity has declined. I can attribute some to our society in general becoming more sedentary. I'll be honest, I know I sit a lot especially in front of the computer working, lounging on the sofa reading books and watching shows and movies, sitting with family or friends sharing meals, etc. And even with my daily 30 minute walks, that's still a lot of time (i.e. hours) not getting in a lot of movement.

I don't want to continue that way. So, I'm going to start using some of the multitude of tips I've seen in order to motivate me to get in more movement. Below are a few simple things that I could do daily and weekly:

- Walk for five minutes every two hours.

- Actively doing my chores by putting in a good amount of effort while cleaning.

- For shows and episodes that I've already watched or rewatched, I'll get up and walk around or march in place during commercial breaks. Will also do this for shows that don't have commercials (streaming or DVD).

- Workout for 10-15 minutes while watching TV.

- Stretch more often.

- Using the stairs as often as possible.

- Do a few heel raises throughout the day.

- Stand or walk around when I'm on the phone.

- Do a set or two of standing push-ups against a door, wall or kitchen counter.

- Use weights and do a set of biceps curls and other exercises while watching TV.

- Put on music and dance.

- Do a set of stand-and-sit exercises throughout the week. To do the exercise, rise from a chair then lower as if to sit down then rise up again to complete one rep.

Monday Motivation: Feeling Distracted, Try Juggling

Happy Monday!

A tip that might help if you are distracted, try juggling. According to research, juggling can help boost brain development. And learning to juggle may accelerate the growth of neural connections that are related to focus, memory, vision, movement and coordination. It's been noted that benefits continue even if you don't juggle consistently or are even good at it. Aside from the health benefits, according to juggling enthusiast, it's a fun hobby. Maybe, I'll give juggling a try.

So if you find yourself feeling distracted or not being able to focus, juggling might be the answer for you. To get started find a set of juggling balls (they're available from beginners to advanced) and slowly start juggling. For additional help, there are video tutorials on YouTube you could use as well.

Wellness Wednesday: Eight Reasons to Exercise

Happy Wellness Wednesday!

I know on days when I feel tired the last thing I feel like doing is exercising. But that's exactly what I will do. Depending on how I feel, I will either do a light workout like going for a walk and stretching afterwards or do a little cardio and strength training or stretching exercises only.

What I like about exercising is that there is no one way to exercise, it's however you want it to be. Whether dancing, walking, surfing, skating, swimming, etc., whatever you're doing can be adapted to your skill level or mobility. There are a lot of good health benefits for exercising and below is a short list of reason for exercising.

A list of eight reasons to exercise:

- Can relieve stress and anxiety
- Keeps you healthy
- Can improve your sleep
- Can have a positive effect on your mental health
- Improves cardiovascular health
- Makes your body stronger
- It can help you reflect and center your thoughts
- Releases feel good endorphins

There are more reasons but these are the ones I thought of right now but the main thing is that exercising or movement is good for you. And it doesn't have to be anything too difficult or complex. And there is no one or perfect way to exercise, the only perfect exercise is whatever works for you.

Wellness Wednesday: Eat Berries for a Healthy Heart

Happy Wednesday!

According to research, cardiovascular disease which includes stroke, hypertension and heart attacks is one of the leading cause of death. Which means keeping our hearts healthy is very important. And one thing that may help is by eating more berries which are rich in antioxidants.

According to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, it reports that eating at least three servings of blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, etc. per week may result in fewer heart attacks. So when you're looking for a snack, choose berries for that heart health benefit.

Video: WGA Picket Line Warm Up! (And Cool Down)

I can't believe this is the 13th week of the Writers' Strike as well as the Actors' Strike which is its early days but both are still going strong. Unfortunately, the Studio executives still have not gone back to negotiating but both the writers and actors are not letting that stop them from continuing their fight for fair contracts.

And speaking of staying strong, there's a fitness video I've seen floating around this morning. It's a nearly six minute warm up video created by WGA member and fitness professional Sheila Callaghan. And according to the video description is "designed to get you limber and loose for the picket line". Although, I highly doubt there are any actors or TV/movie writers reading my little geeky lifestyle blog but if you are, here's a fitness video you could try before and after striking.

And for anyone who is not writer or actor, you could still give this warm up a try. As with any exercise, check with your doctor before trying.

Wellness Wednesday: Drink Water

One of the best things we can do to stay healthy is to drink water. But most of us don't drink enough. However, drinking water increases blood flow, improves our body's absorption of nutrients and helps rid toxins. And added bonus is that it keeps our skin looking good as well. Studies recommend we drink at least eight cups of water per day. And besides drinking water, another way to increase our intake is to eat food that contains water such as: apples, grapes, cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, lettuce and celery to name a few.

Being healthy doesn't have to be something overly complicated just a simple act of drinking water can help benefit our bodies and keep us hydrated. And a tip to encourage the reluctant to drink more is to use a colorful glass, mug or reusable water bottle. Maybe seeing your favorite color will help you associate it with drinking more water.

Monday Motivation: Is Keeping Track of Your Workouts a Good Motivator?

I remember reading something that said that a good way to help keep yourself motivated to workout or exercise is to post it online. It's a way to note your progress and keep yourself accountable. It's a good idea and you can also keep track with a calendar, planner, notebook, spreadsheet or workout sheets, if you don't want to post anything online. I think the simple act of writing it down really does help motivate you to exercise because it shows what you've already done.

This morning I went for a 40 minute walk, I've been trying to go for at least a 30 minute walk daily so that even if I don't get in any other workout, I at least went for a relaxing and energizing walk. I keep track by just writing it in my planner. I try to make sure I walk but I don't always get a chance to but when I do, it feels good and I like to make note of it.

Do you think keeping track of your workout is a good motivator or not?

Fandom Friday: Random Fandom Thoughts #34: Shadow and Bone, Superhero Documentary and Buck and Eddie

Happy Friday! I was wondering what some of your fandom thoughts were, I know I haven't posted a Fandom Friday in a while. And here are some of my thoughts:

- I love a good fantasy series and I've been hearing so many good things about the Shadow and Bone TV series on Netflix. It's based on two book series written by Leigh Bardugo: Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows. I had planned to read the books first but keep hearing how good it is, I might have to watch it before reading the books.

For Heart Health, Eat (or Drink) Beets!

Happy Wednesday or should I say Wellness Wednesday!

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women and is responsible for one in three deaths each year according to the American Heart Association. For comparison, one in 26 women die of breast cancer. For some good news, according to a Kansas State University study, red roots such as beets could help keep our hearts healthy. So, researchers have found that eating two to three medium size beets or drinking 16 oz. of beet juice may increase blood flow to our muscles. Which according to their research can lower high blood pressure and improve mobility in someone with heart failure. And according to research, even if you don't have any heart issues, adding beets to your diet may help prevent future issues.

This is good news but since I don't like eating beets, maybe I'll try drinking the juice instead. So before you play your favorite games, read your book or watch shows or movies, make a snack of sliced beets (or you can find different recipes to try) or pour yourself a glass of beet juice. And enjoy all the heart healthy benefits while enjoying your favorite form of fandom.

Monday Motivation: Use Scent to Stay Focused

Is one of your goals this year to be more focused? A way that could help is with the use of scents. Studies have shown that citrus scents can help with focus and concentration. And some ways to incorporate or use citrus scents are:

- Spray on a citrus fragrance or body spray. Something light-weight and airy you can spray when you need a little bit of focus.

- Light a citrus scented candle. Need a little focus while you're at home, light a candle and let the citrus scent keep you focused. Just don't forget to blow out the candle when you're finished.

- Peel and eat an orange for a mid-day snack. The brief hint of orange scent from the snack will help invigorate and regain focus.

- Spray a citrus air freshner. It will refresh the air and the scent will help you stay focused.

- Make your own citrus air freshner. Save all the peels from your oranges, lemons and grapefruits. And when you get a good amount of them, boil them in water and turn the heat down to a simmer. The smell will freshen up the air.

Don't forget to keep an eye on the pot and don't forget to turn off the stove when you're finished. You can store the remaining liquid (that's cooled down) in a jar and place it in the refrigerator. You can reuse it later by simply pouring it back into a pot and reheat it. Or you can make more by saving more peels and repeating the process.

Monday Motivation: Don't put off taking care of yourself

I get it, we're all tired, stressed out and working hard but you can't forget to take care of yourself.

I’ve seen a lot of posts where people are talking about how tired and over worked they are and they tend to leave taking care of themselves or self-care off of their lists. We have got to stop doing that. Taking care of ourselves should be a priority not something we can easily push to the back burner or something we have to "earn".

Leaving self-care as something you "earn" or as a special “treat” is not the best method of taking care of yourself. As I said before, I get it, our lives are busy, so self-care get pushed aside but it should never be something we have to "earn". We don’t have to "earn" care. It's something we deserve no matter how busy our lives are.

Some of the self-care things I do are: my beauty maintenance, getting enough sleep, taking my vitamins, eating as healthy as I can, exercise or stretching my body and drinking water. I also love to relax by drinking a cup of hot tea in the morning and sometimes in the evening. I also like to meditate it gives me a sense of calmness throughout my day.

Whether it’s a five minute walk or a hydrating face mask, it's important to make sure you're taking care of yourself.

Evan Buckley and the Relaxing Benefits of Coloring

In Monday night's 9-1-1 episode What's Your Fantasy?, Evan "Buck" Buckley was babysitting his adorable niece Jee-Yun Buckley-Han and one of the first activities they were doing was coloring. However, it didn't go so well with her being so active and energetic and running all over his apartment (it's a really funny scene) until she tired herself out and was sleeping upstairs in his bedroom.

(9-1-1 season 6 episode 8: What's Your Fantasy?)

Monday Motivation: Daily Walks to Deal with Stress

Happy Monday, I hope everyone had a good weekend.

My motivation for today is dealing with stress. Lately, I've been dealing with a lot of it and I've been trying to figure out what to do about it. A solution I came up with is to go walking. I've been going for a few small walks throughout the day and it's been good in helping to clear my mind and to relax. That little bit of movement adds up and it has really increased my daily physical activity because sad to say there are days when I'm sitting for far too long. I can't speak for anyone else but so far walking has been very helpful in deal with my stress.