Do you remember the excitement of opening a new box of Crayola crayons as a child? For me, there was something just so wonderful about a new box of sharp crayons and that wonderful smell. Just smelling crayons today transports me back to my childhood! I’m sure you have noticed that adult coloring has become all the rage lately. Why? There are actually a lot of reasons coloring is good for you and why you may consciously or subconsciously find it so rewarding. Read on to learn more!

The holidays can be a stressful time, but a large part of it may be self-inflicted. By changing how you set yourself up during the holidays, you can change your experience. You may feel that you need to reach for more eggnog or wine to deal with your depressed or sad feelings during the holidays. 

This is actually the worst thing you can do if you are feeling this way. When you drink alcohol, you are trying to treat depression with a depressant! Eating too much and drinking may seem like they make you feel better, but it usually results in feelings of guilt. Plus, you usually have a hangover to deal with that makes you feel even worse! Try to deal with your holiday emotions by using something healthier than alcohol. You can always see a therapist if it is something bigger than you can handle alone!

​Come back each day for more tips on how to survive the holidays!

Did you realize that a good attitude can affect your health in tangible ways? This Bible verse is fairly well known, and science backs it. Depression and a lack of energy often go hand in hand. Depression is something that you need to see a professional about, but if you are just having a down day, try changing your mindset and see how it affects your energy!

Some versions of the Bible put it this way:
A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 
Proverbs 17:22

Reserach has now found that depression is also linked with low bone mass and osteoporosis! Get help if you deal with depression. If you are just feeling a little down, try to focus on positive things!

Hippocrates said, “Let food be your medicine, and medicine be your food.”  Most of us have a certain “comfort food” we crave when we feel out of sorts, but some foods have a more lasting emotional impact than others.  These foods can help keep you calm and happy by nourishing your brain and improving your mood.  

Do you look around your house and see clutter? Is there mail sitting on the counter? Is your closet overflowing? Do you have stacks of magazines sitting around? Does all this make you feel energized and healthy, or does it make you feel tired and overwhelmed? If your feel tired and overwhelmed or just dragged down by it all, there are steps you can take to rid yourself of it.

​Clutter can cause physical hazards. It can be a tripping hazard. It can impede your life and make it hard to get out the door in the morning. The clutter can gather dust, dander, and pollen and cause asthma and allergies.

Clutter can also cause you to become depressed, especially if you are letting memory clutter keep you living in the past. It can even cause you to gain weight. A correlation between weight and the amount of clutter a person hangs on to has been discovered. Many people, once they decide to let go of their things, also end up letting go of their extra weight.

​Light plays a big part in alertness and energy. Bright light wakes up your brain, especially blue light. Sunlight contains UV light and blue light. Light helps regulate our wake/sleep cycles. Just fifteen minutes in the sun can help you feel less sluggish. Leave your blinds open or step outside to absorb some light!

Blue light can help keep you awake, so find a light bulb in the healthy spectrum and put it in your desk lamp if possible. You can also use red light to keep you awake, but be aware that it can cause more of an edgy alertness. Blue light causes more of a calm alertness. For example, red light is more like drinking coffee, while blue light is like drinking a cup of green tea. Blue/turquoise light, which is from 465 nm to 495 nm, is the healthiest form of blue light.

Bright light is a great way to wake up in the morning. A study found that people who were exposed to bright light were more alert and had more activity in the parts of their brain that dealt with cognitive processing. Getting outside for a walk in the morning is a great way to combine more than one energy boosting tip!

A bonus to getting early sunlight is that it helps you sleep at night!
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Other health benefits to getting outside in the sunshine include enhancing your mood and memory, and increasing your vitamin D levels, which can help fight depression.