7:00 P.M. >>> TAKE FIDO FOR A WALK. Research at the University of Michigan found that dog owners log more exercise than people who don’t have a canine companion. But don’t let the absence of a dog stop you. Go for a walk anyway, alone or with a companion.


7:30 P.M. >>> PURSUE YOUR PASSION. Whether it’s knitting, painting, or cooking, devote some time in the day to a beloved hobby. “When we take time for our interests, even 20 minutes worth, we fill ourselves up to have more to give to other commitments,” says Ann Dunnewold, PhD, a psychologist in Dallas, TX. “And the hobby may instill a sense of accomplishment, whether improving a golf score or showing a product, as in quilting, painting walls, scrapbooking, and similar hobbies.”


8:00 P.M. >>> STRETCH IN FRONT OF THE TV. Don’t just sit there—use the time to do gentle stretches. Flexibility is important for preventing stiffness and can also improve posture, mobility, and balance, Bushman says. Warm up with some arm swings and walking in place, then target each major muscle group.


9:00 P.M. >>> START RELAXING. Getting a good night’s rest requires setting the stage for sleep. “About one hour before bed, you should start a wind-down routine,” says Shelby Harris-Freeman, PsyD, director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, NY. “This can consist of whatever you want, but must include only things that are quiet, calm, relaxing, and ideally technology-free. By doing this all in dim lighting and refraining from work and activities that are high in mental activity, you’re quieting and calming your mind as well.”


9:45 P.M. >>> BRUSH AND FLOSS. If you haven’t already done so, devote some time to your pearly whites. Regular flossing and twice-a-day brushing protect your teeth, prevent gum disease, and can also shield your body from inflammation that can lead to other health problems such as heart disease and Alzheimer’s.


10:00 P.M. >>> LIGHTS OUT. Make sleep a priority, and do your best to get a full night’s rest—about seven to nine hours. It’ll be the perfect finish to a healthy day.


FINISH


FALL / WINTER 2011 pause


39


Skocko/Shutterstock.com


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