In this episode of Living Upp’s Conversations with Smart People, I talk with Shar Jones of Beyond Hope Radio about using self-care to navigate addiction. Shar, whose beautiful daughter is struggling with substance abuse, talks about her personal journey as a mother, doing her best to balance self-care with being a supportive caregiver. “To say that […]
In a culture that rewards us for putting the needs of others before our own, it’s easy to fall into a pattern of self-neglect. Habits like not getting enough sleep, skipping meals, and grabbing unhealthy meals on the go can have a negative impact on our health when they become part of our normal routine. Our […]
Since 2000, I’ve worked as a registered dietitian nutritionist, providing nutrition counseling and consulting services in a variety of healthcare settings — hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, physician offices, independent living facilities, home health, adult day care centers, corporate wellness programs, and private practice. Now, for the first time, I’m learning what it’s like […]
Before you can develop a meaningful self-care practice, you must first have a thorough understanding of what you need to feel your best and give your best. And that’s not as easy as it sounds. Knowing what recharges and re-energizes you can help you determine where to allocate your time and energy — but the truth is, many of us […]
The idea for an 8-dimensional self-care model came to me in the middle of the night. It was one of those vivid ideas that pops into your head when you least expect it – the kind that come when you’re in the shower and have nothing to write on. As I stumbled out of bed into the […]
Being wired up to an EKG in the Emergency Room wasn’t exactly my idea of a good start to the holiday weekend, especially after the last couple of weeks I’ve had. But knowing when and how to seek professional medical treatment is a critical component of a comprehensive self-care practice. Life is hard sometimes. For all of […]
Self-care is the most powerful preventive health tool we have. Yet, ironically, it’s a tool that few of us use – at least not consistently. Instead, we’ve become passive dependents on a broken, overpriced health care system that is far from accessible (unless, of course, you’re a wealthy member of Congress). And that’s precisely why […]
Today I had to enlist my self-care survival plan. After a black bear destroyed our chicken coop in the middle of the night, leaving just one lone-surviving hen — Willie, who I had to place with a new family today — I am now left with zero chickens. And let me just tell you that today has been […]
Curious to know what’s lurking in your pantry? Probably some BPA. Bisphenol A (BPA) has been used for decades to make plastics and resins, and it’s commonly used in the manufacturing process of canned goods to prevent bacterial contamination and metal corrosion. Just scratch your fingernail or a fork against the inside surface of most empty canned […]
Before I dive too far into this post, I want to point out that plucking up random mushrooms from your backyard and eating them is a really dumb idea. There are a growing number of known health benefits associated with our fungal friends, but there are plenty of reasons to exercise caution, the most obvious of which […]