WHY MEAL TIMINGS are as important as the food you eat

 

If you have believed that the only two parameters to good health is a balanced diet and workout routine, think again. There is another important factor that often goes unnoticed. Yes, we are talking about meal timings. Our body requires discipline to be healthy, and the time interval at which you have your meal, are as important as the food you eat. Here are three reasons why meal timings are important:

·       IT REGULATES OUR BODY CYCLE- Right nutrients, good sleep cycle, and disciplined meal timings are all the forces that are in our control and we must make sure to maintain them. It’s through these habits that the body gets used to a cyclic rhythm. Thus, its very important to be disciplined with all your meals timings, in order to maintain that rhythm of the body.

·   BOOST METABOLISM- The time at which you eat your food also determines your metabolism. When we get up in the morning, our metabolism is at its highest. If you do not fuel your body at this time, your body at this time, your body will not be able to sustain the metabolic rate. As the day passes, your metabolism slows down. Thus, it is important to have your dinner latest by 8 pm for easy digestion.

·       HELPS IN DETOXIFICATION OF THE BODY- Your body receives a lot of things when you eat food. Detoxification is done by the liver and is important activity. Your meal timings can impact this activity. When you eat a meal at 10 pm, or later than that or close to your bedtime, it puts pressure on your body, as the liver does the detoxification process, when you sleep. Thus, in order to not disturb the detoxification process, you should eat your dinner on time.

IDEAL GAP BETWEEN THREE MEELS- Your body takes 3-4 hours to digest a meal properly. Thus, the gap between two meals should not be more than four hours. A gap longer than this can lead to acidity. You must eat snacks and fruits in between the meal. You should have at least two snacks between your breakfast, lunch and dinner.

THREE WAYS TO GET A NEW HOBBY

 

Hobbies are simply anything you do that’s for fun. You aren’t getting paid to do it. It’s something you like to do with your free time that helps you decompress and connect with other people.

·   ENJOY SOMETHING? TRANSFORM THAT INTO A HOBBY: even if you don’t have something that you can call a hobby, there’s definitely some activity that you enjoy. There are chances that this can be converted into a hobby! According to an expert even things like ‘eating’ and ‘watching sports’ could easily be turned into hobbies such as ‘taking classes’ or ‘joining softball team.’

·    GO BACK TO YOUR CHILDHOOD INTERESTS: Think about the hobbies you used to enjoy before. Did you spend hours finger-painting master-pieces to hang on the fridge? If so, you might want to explore taking an art class. Were you constantly getting dressed in costume and putting on shows for your friends? Then maybe you can check out a local acting troupe.

· TAKE AN ASSESSMENT: People tend to enjoy hobbies that appeal to their own unique strengths, interests, and personality characteristics. Start thinking on these lines.

WHY HOBBIES ARE IMPORTANT

Hobbies often provide a creative outlet that you might not get in your everyday life. They allow you to do something that’s just for you, that can help you forget your daily problems, unwind after a hard day and give you lot of pleasure. If you can find like-minded connect with them digitally. It is great way to meet new people and experience new adventures, whether that’s taking on a new hobby online or attending an e-knitting convention.

DEPRESSION

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

You must have heard the word ‘depression’ zillion times. But how much do you know about this issue? To understand depression, its symptoms and other aspects, here is a lowdown on the mental health problem that affects million across the world, including young children and teenagers. We all have experienced low phases when we have felt sad. But sadness goes away in couple of days. Depression is a form of an illness in which a person feels sad, disinterested and de-motivated longer than two weeks or more.

According to World Health Organization (WHO), depression is a kind of mood disorder which is characterized by ‘persistent sadness and a loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy, accompanied by inability to carry out daily tasks and activities, for at least two weeks.

HOW CAN I KNOW IF ANY OF MY FRIENDS ARE DEPRESSED?

You will see that your friend:           

·       Looks very sad

·       He/she is not interested in watching TV or doing things which he enjoyed before

·       He/she will be at times found crying

·       The person might withdraw and may not be interested in socializing

·       At times, he/she may express death wishes

·       He/she may feel tired all the time despite little or no physical activity

IS DEPRESSION TREATABLE?

Yes, depression is treatable. If the affected person is brought to a mental health professional at the earliest, he/she will be treated with counseling or medication, if needed. Not all cases require medication- some can be managed with healthy changes in life style and regular counseling.

HOW CAN I HELP MY DEPRESSED FRIEND?

·       Be kind and supportive to your classmate/friend

·       Encourage him/her gently to take part in various extra-curricular activities in school

·       Help him/her to follow up with a doctor or counselor

·       Help him/her find solutions to his/her problems

·       Try to be non-judgmental and listen to the person to make him feel supported and cared for

·       Don’t alienate the person in parties, events, get-together

·       Get support from an elder who can be around your friend

Do #YOGA for your emotional well-being

The untimely death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who was fighting depression, coupled with the rising cases of anxiety during these lock down times, have triggered a conversation on mental health. Experts say yoga helps in reducing our body’s stress level. On this Yoga day, let us take a pledge to utilize this ancient Indian Science’s benefits to gain psychological and emotional well being.

YOGA IS GREAT FOR STUDENTS:

Start yoga early in your life; this discipline will have positive effects on your physical and mental health all your life. A study published in the “Journal of developmental and behavioral Pediatrics” stated that yoga classes have positive psychological effects for high school students. Since mental health disorders usually develop in teenage years, yoga may serve as a preventive method for the adolescent mind, it added.

YOGA IS A MOOD BOOSTER

Many studies have shown that yoga asans help in reducing the secretion of cortisol- the stress hormone – and this creates balance in our body and mind, and regulates our mood and behavior. “Students will benefit and improve their happiness levels, if they do yoga for 20-30 minutes daily.” Yoga also helps in releasing negativity that wards off mental health problems, like depression, anxiety, persistent sadness and anger issues.

DEEP BREATHING HELPS COPE WITH STRESS

Yoga has simple breathing exercise that can be easily mastered even by primary school students. In fact, in this competitive world, deep breathing yoga exercise can help in coping with stress. Improved breathing can also help in building endurance, increase academic and work performance, and keep lungs healthy, just what we need during this pandemic.

FOR MIND BODY CONNECTION

Yoga engages both the body and mind, unlike other physical exercises that keep you in good shape but may not work deeply on your mind. By doing yoga, our mind connects with our body, thereby impacting our psychological health, which in turn empower us emotionally too.

SKILLS STUDENTS NEED IN THE FUTURE WORKFORCE

“Adaptability and cognitive flexibility are important skills needed in t he future workforce so that you are able to adjust the way you work when obstacles arise or business needs shift unexpectedly”

·    Digital Literacy: There is no doubt that technology is an important part of society today. From business to personal communication, it is essential for people to have skills that help them navigate technology to be successful. Some of these skills come from regular use of technology but other skills need to be learnt during your school days so you are prepared for the future workplace.

·      Emotional Intelligence: There is often a stereotype that people who are successful must be cold and emotionless, focusing only on business. However, emotions help make people who they are. Rather than cutting off, it is important for you to be able to confront and control emotions so they are expressed appropriately in a work setting. Start practicing today.

·   Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurship requires innovation, a strong knowledge of the industry, and adaptability in business. These are skills for future jobs that are useful in any career path. In order to prepare ahead, it is necessary for you to understand entrepreneurship and the skills required.

·    Global Citizenship: Today’s society is a global society. Due to technological advancements, it is easy for companies to do business all over the world. As a result, the lines between nations and industries are blurred. In order to be successful in business, it is necessary for you to understand the role of globalization in society and approach your work from the perspective of global citizenship.

·    Curiosity: Today is and age of rapid advancement and technological innovation. Because of this, the strategies and tools used in offices are frequently changing. In order for you to adapt in the rapidly changing environment, you must have a sense of curiosity and a love for learning. Most careers require ongoing learning so that people can keep up with technology advances. If you don’t embrace curiosity, you’re likely to stay stuck.

·    Cognitive Flexibility: Even when people have detailed plans to handle situations and events, things can change and adaptations need to be made. Adaptability and cognitive flexibility are important skills needed in the future workforce so that you are able to adjust the way you work when obstacles arise or business needs shift unexpectedly.

A WATER WARRIOR – AABID SURTI

Every Sunday, 84-year-old Aabid Surti, an award winning Indian author, goes door-to-door to correct leaky taps in the Mumbai suburbs of Mira Road, his neighborhood. He goes around asking if there are any leaks that can be fitted. “We are offering free plumbing service, Is there any leakage in your bathroom, toilet, or kitchen,” asks Surti. The activity takes him a couple of hours, but it could save liters of water, something India is short of. The octogenarian is much better known for many of his other vocations. He wears many hats- authors, painter, cartoonist, and a screen-play writer. The additional feather is that of an environmentalist. With the launch of latest book ‘Sufi’, Surti has penned over 80 books till date along with seven plays. He was given the President’s Award for his book named ‘Teesri Aankh’ in 1993.

He is Mumbai city’s ‘Water Warrior’ and introduced a water conservation model in 2007 through his ‘One-man’ NGO, Drop Dead Foundation. ‘Whenever I see a tap dripping, my heart beats. I just get disturbed,” he says. And this choice came after he saw his mother’s struggles during his humble beginnings. “I was brought up at the pavement, and I have seen my mother standing in the queue for long hours to get just a bucket full of water. I have seen people fighting over water,” Surti says. His crusade to save water started when he read somewhere that in one second if one drop falls then in one month, thousand liters of water goes down the drain. Between 2007 and 2008, he visited 1,666 houses at Mira Road to fix over 500 leaky faucets and saved 4.14 million liters of water. “We have conserved 20 million liters in ten years,” he said. He is now inspiring more young crusaders like him, and his model is now a part of school books.

ARE YOU WASTING WATER?

Here is how you can avoid wasting water by incorporating these simple changes:

1)     You probably don’t think twice about giving your dusty terrace or porch a quick rinse with a hose, but it is a wasteful way to keep your home tidy. Considering that a garden hose can emit between 6 and 24 gallons of water per minute, you are much better off sweeping your outdoor living areas with a broom.

2)     According to the Royal Horticultural Society, the best time to water most outdoor plants is in the early morning or evening. This is because watering in the afternoon can lead to water loss through evaporation, since it is generally the warmest part of the day. That is not good for your plants or your budget.

3)     If you have been looking for an excuse to indulge in a new shower head, here is one- when you install a high-efficiency faucet aerator or shower head, you can save almost 3,500 gallons of water per year. That adds up to major savings and is better for the environment.

4)     Fixing a leaky faucet is no one’s idea of an exciting afternoon, but letting leaky fixtures drip can cost you serious cash and waste water. According to the US Environmental Protection agency, a leaking faucet can waste up to 3,000 gallons per year.

5)     Even highly-efficient modern washing machines typically use 8 to 12 gallons of water per cycle, according to laundry machine maker Samsung. Although it is not good practice to stuff your washing machine to the max, running this water hungry appliance with just a few items of clothing inside is a serious waste of resources and money.

FIVE WAYS TO BE HAPPY RIGHT NOW

#LOCKDOWN_special
#stayHOMEstaySAFE

1. KEEP A GRATITUDE JOURNAL: Buy a new notebook and write a list of what you’re grateful for, or what you’re looking forward to each week. Writing down these positive thoughts will lead to increased positivism.

2. MEDITATE: Daily meditate helps to generate happiness from the inside out. Sit on the floor or sofa, wherever you are comfortable, and close your eyes. Make no effort to control the breath; just breathe naturally. Focus on how the abdomen moves with each inhalation and exhalation. Do this for 10 minutes.

3. EXERCISE: moving our bodies releases endorphins, which is one of the happiness chemicals. Try and exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes every day.

4. WRITE: write down your stream of consciousness first thing in the morning or last thing at night. 

5. SHARE-SPEND TIME WITH PARENTS-GRANDPARENTS: This is the best time to share your views and experience which you never had shared with your parents and grandparents and spend quality time with your family members by keeping your gadgets aside. Definitely you will learn a lot of things from your elder’s experience which you can’t get from the textbooks.   

HEARD OF WRITING THERAPY?

A study found that those who spent at least 20 minutes once a week for three weeks writing a story about how a chronic illness affected them, experienced less pain.

Writing therapy works by releasing an entire range of pent-up emotions, negativity and toxins and helps build a new front in life. A lot of people who undergo trauma or stressful events are advised to maintain a journal to write about their triggers and events that have affected them.

HOW TO GO ABOUT IT

• ·       Aim at writing for about 20 minutes every day.
• ·       If there is anything stressing you out, make sure to mention it. Benchmarks and achievements should be written too. Journal writing can also be practiced at a time when you are facing conflict. It can calm you down and release pent-up angst.
• ·       Do not worry about the formation or grammar rules. The trick is to write down the words which you actually feel.
• ·       You can write on a private or public platform, depending on how comfortable you are sharing your feelings. A good approach is to start by maintaining a journal that only you can read.
• ·       Once you start writing, make it a regular habit to follow. You can also get reminders for the same.

Writing is also a good and easy exercise for your brain. It does wonders for memory retention and also improves working memory capacity, which enhances your cognitive functioning in both the short-run and long-run. While people say that writing feels easier than expressing, writing therapy also has a load of health benefits. Maintain a journal for immense positive effects- it’s helpful, creative and completely therapeutic. Those who have practiced it also say that writing relieves pressure and feels rewarding at the end of the day.

ENJOY YOUR EXAMS!

A friend and I were discussing his hopes and plans for his career. This had been sparked off by the fact that he was about to begin his final school exams. As we said goodbye I added, “Enjoy your exams.” He looked at me in disbelief, and commented “Enjoy them? How can you enjoy exams?” His question prompted me to share an experience I had when I was taking my final school exams.

While praying to understand that divine Mind was present and that as Mind’s idea, or reflection, I couldn’t be separated from infinite intelligence, I had an inspired thought. I could make a regular practice before every exam to pause and firmly declare that I wasn’t the one who had to think what to write. I simply needed to listen to what divine Mind was telling me and let that unfold.

Divine Mind is my Mind, the only Mind there is.

So just before I began each exam, I calmly and strongly affirmed that divine Mind is my Mind, The only Mind there is. I silently declared that as divine Mind’s expression, I would know all that I needed to know. Of course I studied for the exams, but the prayer I’ve been describing helped me to understand the questions, to recall what I’d studied, and also to feel unafraid by time limits. I was honestly enjoying the exams.

Once When I was talking with my Professor Jack Leo in Singapore school about my career, we naturally got into a discussion of examinations. The professor told me he’d asked a university student who his examiner was. The young man named several individuals. The professor responded: “And where does God come in?”

He then answered his own question by explaining, “God is the only examiner. God examines man and finds His own reflection.” Stress or anxiety about exams or anything else is removed by such assurances. Only God examines us, and God always sees His perfect likeness in us. Isn’t that also the way for us to know ourselves?

The more I’ve thought about that, the more helpful I’ve found it to be.

God, the only Mind there is, knows us as His reflection.

It’s great to realize that God, the only Mind there is, knows us as His reflection. Therefore nothing originates in us. We’re not personal thinkers and doers. As God’s ideas, we exit to reproduce accurately the activity of divine Mind.

 This, however in no way eliminates the need to be diligent and conscientious in studying. Our honest work along these lines is another way for us to express wisdom, intelligence, and understanding. Thinking of our efforts in this way is especially helpful if something unusual comes up in connection with an exam.

Since all things are possible to God and therefore to God’s reflection, he, too, had enjoyed his exams and their results!