Natalie the Nutritionist in Tempe AZ

There are so many ways to “tune-out”. There are so many reasons why we need some down-time each day. Our modern world offers everything from mild distractions (like when the 51 is backed up and too slow, let’s tune out by turning on the radio) -to outright vices.

Is there any rhyme or reason to the ways & techniques you choose to spend your down time?

I know I’ve found myself at the end of a day thinking, “Where did all my time go?”

Are there any reasons to reconsider the way we do our rest & relaxation?

There are pro’s and con’s for any activity. Some people might choose meditation as a way to refresh their spirits. Others prefer watching their favorite show on television. But no matter what you do, make sure you have made a conscious choice. Only when you are happy with your reasons for doing something will you be at peace with yourself. Only then will your spirits truly feel refreshed.

The videos I’ve included at the top of this page are some that I hope you will enjoy. They are intended for you to watch and feel like your brain was enriched instead of zapped.

Here are some more reasons why it is in our best interest to be conscious of what we do for rest & relaxation:

• After so many hours with the t.v., we can become desensitized to the commercial messages, thereby adopting the beliefs of the ad agency (without even knowing it) as our own.
• If you are not conscious of what you are doing, you might be cheating yourself out of the optimum level of enjoyment associated with the activity. Have you seen the movie “Click”? It gives a great example of how this can happen.
• Some methods of relaxation, especially our vices, can actually invite more stress into our lives. For example, some people just munch on snack foods when they are bored or “relaxing” after work or school. A body bogged down with processed foods cannot handle stressors as well as a healthy body.
• We should spend our downtime more healthily otherwise we may inadvertently influence family and friends to take up our unhealthy habits. On the other hand, if you’d like to start eating less junk food or waste less time in front of a screen, the best way to change is to find friends or a support person who can influence you in a better direction of your choosing!

Since people so multi-faceted, I’m sure we can all share examples of our fun hobbies as well as our big time wasters!

I’ll go first: I love cooking and if I can add an extra half hour to my cooking time, just for the fun of it, I can get pretty excited about whipping up a new creation or invent a new recipe. But, the times that I find myself feeling like I have just wasted a half-hour (or more) are the times that I play word games either online or on my phone. What’s worse is when I zone out in front of Solitaire for games on end!

Use the comment section on this page to chime in & let us know if we have something in common. Whatever you do, be non-judgmental & share openly  so that others can too!