Saturday, July 07, 2007

End Sleep Deprivation in your Super Busy Life

Super Busy Parents too often sacrifice sleep due to their busy lifestyle. Over time, this can result in sleep disorders. According to the Institute of Medicine, up to 75% of people with certain sleep disorders go undiagnosed. Many more are misdiagnosed. Fact is, seven out of every ten American women say they frequently experience a sleep problem.

I've read that women are more likely than men to experience sleep problems. Why??

Women tend to be the nurturers of their family and have more family responsibilities. Plus biological factors like menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause contribute to the gap between men and women who experience sleep disorders.

Many symptoms may be signs of more serious sleep disorders. If you suspect you may be suffering from a sleep disorder, it is important to seek help from your doctor or a trained specialist. Watch for dizziness, headaches, lethargy, forgetfulness, and other key symptoms.

Dr. Carol Ash, DO, Medical Director of the Sleep for Life center in Hillsborough, NJ is frequently a guest expert on local and national media speaking about good sleep habits. Her sleep tips for someone with a behavioral type of disorder include:
  • Maintain a regular bedtime and wake-up time, even on the weekends.
  • Establish a restful bedtime routine, like soaking in a hot tub, listening to soothing music or reading a book.
  • If you wake up in the middle of the night, don't watch the clock or toss and turn--try sitting and reading in another room. When you begin to feel sleepy, go back to bed.
  • If you have racing thoughts at night, write them down and reflect on them in the morning.
  • Avoid eating and exercising up to three hours before bedtime. Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol close to bedtime.

These tips may not be easy to implement in your super busy life. But, if you are committed to making changes and getting more restful sleep, you need to take action and start making changes now!

Pleasant dreams!!

Yours truly,

Coach Natalie Gahrmann

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Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Annual Employee Satisfaction Results Released

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) released it’s annual survey listing the Top 5 “Very Important” Aspects of Job Satisfaction.

The results....

The Top Five aspects of Job Satisfaction according to the SHRM annual survey were:
-compensation/pay
-benefits
-job security
-flexibility to balance work/life issues
-communication between employees and senior management

How closely do these results mirror your concerns and your place of business??

Best regards,

Coach Natalie Gahrmann
natalie@nrgcoaching.com

Monday, July 02, 2007

Meal Planning for Super Busy Parents

Improving your eating habits needn't take more time from your super busy schedule. Fact is, most of you are eating anyway (I hope!). So, why not make healthier choices about what you eat, when you eat, and how much you eat.

In a follow-up article I found related to the exclusive interview President Bush had with Hannah Storm on CBS last week, our President commented about how young he feels because he commits to rigorous exercise. Bush says that people who claim they're too busy to exercise regularly really just haven't chosen exercise as one of their priorities. He said, "I don't buy that. I think you set priorities in life, and if exercise is one of your priorities, then you do it."

Bush points out that a fitness culture "starts with families" and said "I exercise a lot because it's good for my mind and it's good for my soul."

Plan your meals in advance so that you make smart choices for yourself and your family. Prepare fresh fruits and vegetables, when possible, but when a quick trip to the produce aisle is just too much in your already too busy schedule, have frozen varieties on hand for a quick delicious and nutritious meal. Avoid the trap of fast food for convenience and save it for just the special treats. But, when it's the last remaining option (which sometimes happens in super busy lives!!), choose the healthiest options on the menu and avoid extra sauces and condiments that tend to add hollow calories.

Here's to healthy eating!

Best regards,

Coach Natalie Gahrmann

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