tame overwhelm with guided meditation

When I have too much work and not enough time, I find myself going into a state of manic overdrive in order to get everything done. While I'm in it, it feel like this state of frenzy helps me get things accomplished, but in actuality it leads me to get distracted, burned out, make mistakes, or simply give up.

So this week I'm trying something new, and when I feel overwhelmed I am trying to take a moment to slow down. I'm on day two of this strategy, and I must admit its still a bit uncomfortable (how can I take 5 minutes to sit quietly and breathe with all these deadlines looming?), but I really think if I stick with it this strategy will save me time in the long run.

Since sitting still on my own volition seems impossible, I've been doing these guided meditations available from the Meditation Room. They range from 3-10 minutes in length, and there's even one specifically for taking a workplace break.

soothe hay fever with a sinus rinse

It is unfair that the magical blossoming of spring inevitably triggers such a horrific allergic response in those of us who deal with seasonal allergies. The lush of spring is right on the horizon...those shivery cold night are numbered. With bulbs blooming and trees budding, runny noses and itchy eyes are creeping in the corner.

If you are a sinus suffer, look into nasal saline irrigation, also known as neti. This type of sinus and nasal cleansing is a purification technique has been used in ayurvedic medicine and purification rituals for thousands of years, and more recently there have been studies that demonstrated its efficacy in reducing sinus discomfort.

I've been plagued by itchy throats and springtime sneezing as far back as I can remember, so I've tried most of the pharmaceuticals, a year or so of shots, and I've been eating local honey for five years. I was really impressed with how quickly and gently rinsing eased my sinus pressure, and after a few months of rinsing a few times a week I feel less irritated and congested.

The sensation is a bit startling at first, but once you get the swing of things it is really no weirder than flossing. To ease into it, try this great sinus rinse kit.

feel great in 08: vitamin b-complex

A late night of merriment and champagne can upset an earnest New Year's resolution before it even has a chance. While the traditions of boozing on New Year's Eve and turning a new leaf on New Year's Day may contradict each other, your resolutions can be easier to face with the help of vitamin B complex.

While there's not much evidence to support the theory that vitamin B deficiency contributes to hangovers, numerous anecdotal reports of b-complex easing the consequences of partying inspired me to try it out. The results proved so effective that I now keep a bottle of sublingual b complex in my purse when I go to parties to share with friends. Unless you're wearing a lampshade on your head at the night's end (in which case you'll have to just dump all resolutions and sleep it off), vitamin B complex can save the day.

Big hopes for a little bulb

Health beverages are abundant in Japan. Between the amino-acid infused water and vitamin c fiber drink, you'll find airplane bottles of ginger extract, garlic extract, and various extracts I could not identify by the picture on the bottle. While visiting my boyfriend who was living in Tokyo, I had the (unfortunate) opportunity to test the antibiotic properties of garlic.

I'm pretty sure I transported a bug from the US, because my man got terribly ill the day after I arrived. Having no luck finding echinacea, zinc, or any of my regular cold combatants, I selected garlic extract. The bottle looked almost identical to the one on the right, but the the drawing on the label depicted garlic instead of ginger. He drank one every few hours and was feeling much better within a day.

Today I crossed the boundary from calling my sneezing allergies to accepting I'm coming down with something, so I'm loading up on odorless garlic extract tablets. Hopefully it will help salvage my weekend.