Wow, to say the very least, I was not expecting so much love from my last blog. So many people said so many nice things to me that my face may not go back to its pasty white for a while. Thank you all.
I really enjoyed the exercise, so I think I'll start each post with my three things from the day before, and if any of you just want to write your three in my comments, you are more than welcome. It was a lot of fun for me to read all of them.
1. In Yoga, we did these crazy 'support yourself on your arms and balance poses' and I totally got up for like a billionth of a second on one of them.
2. I've played half of a season on NHL 11 and my guy has already met the season's expectations (where I'm supposed to be at the end of the season).
3. I found a parking spot really quickly.
Okay, so on to actual blogging.
Yesterday, I stopped and talked to one of my buddies in the stairway at school. Yep, I was one of those jerks who stands at the bottom of a flight of stairs, making everyone have to walk in single file line to get anywhere. We asked the usual, how are you? questions. And, the answer that always comes to each of these meetings is, "I've been tired." To be honest, I've been tired for nearly a decade. A decade of exhaustion! What is the deal?
I did comment, after saying how tired I was, that it was the curse of our generation, but then he said it was the curse of the college student. But to be honest, I think it's the curse of the civilized world. I've been reading blogs, and noticing that EVERYONE is tired. And I'd like to get to the bottom of it.
My buddy brought up our eating habits. And I can't help but think this is a contributor. We eat frozen food, fast food, fatty food, and other foods that need adjectives to let us know that they are not, in fact, normal food. What happened to the fresh meats and vegetables? Now, I'm not saying that food hasn't come a long way, and I know that these adjectified foods are necessary, but why is making something from 'scratch' such a big deal. Why is "Homemade bread" such a treat?
I think we need to think about the root of the issue. Why do we need frozen food, fatty food, and FAST food? Because it's fast! I don't have time in my day to cook for an hour, then eat for an hour, then clean up for an hour. I'm no math wiz, but I know that that's three hours, which is 1/8th of a day. That's a lot of day! not to mention it happens three times. I've got school, and work, and a family, and a condo, and everything else that needs taking care of, not to mention a little time to relax and compose myself, and a few hours of sleep a night might be nice. I think the real problem here is that our lives are too complicated. Why do we have so much stuff to take care of? Why can't we simplify, become farmers again, and not worry so much about having new stuff all of the time?
I could go into these questions, but they're all things we know the answers to. And we all know that simplifying things would be nice, but we don't live in that world. We'd all need to move to Bhuton if we wanted to live that way again, and it costs tourists $250 a day just to visit. Who know how much to emigrate? Anyway, if any of you have any good, life simplifying tactics, I'd like to hear them. We're having a baby, and I have a sneaking suspicion that life is only going to get more complicated.
One good thing that happened to me today: work provided lunch for us (tax season lunches are weekly here) and it was ITALIAN and it was AMAZING. :) I now have my bread and pasta fix for the month I'm thinking.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I love this post - I too have thought about this topic. I was going so fast and so long in college (sometimes 2-3 hours of sleep after a day of maybe only 1 hour break between work and school and activities). Now - I get 5-7 a night and can barely hold my head up at work! I don't know why I can't live off of my old habits haha. Dang it oldness. I want to make a goal to have one week where I eat the recommended fruits and veggies and drink the recommended water and also exercise and then go to bed to get at least 8 hours of sleep. I would like to see how it feels. Not sure if it will happen - but I would love to do that and blog about it. Maybe we can come up with a week that works for everyone in the blog world and see what comes of it? lol
Cooking meals from scratch can seem daunting, but there are a lot of ways to make it easier. First off, slow cookers are great! Turn it on low and throw everything you need into it in the morning and then it is ready when you get home. Also, using leftovers for lunch the next day makes taking the time to cook the meal in the first place more worthwhile. Three hours seems a little longer than it really takes to make a meal. If you get simpler recipes you could probably do everything closer to 1 1/2 hours.
ReplyDeleteI have just started making homemade bread regularly and I love it! It takes awhile to make, but it freezes really well. So you can make 2-3 loaves at a time and then just pull the extras out of the freezer when you need them. Then you also know everything that is going into your bread.
Learning to cook from scratch took me awhile. We ate so much fast food, hamburger helper, etc. my first few years of marriage it's embarrassing. But it's one of those things that no matter where you are at you can always do just a little bit better every week to eat healthier.
-Brittany
Paulsifer. Good things?
ReplyDelete1.Glad I met you on the blogosphere.
2.Nothing bad happened today.:)
3. Family and loved ones are healthy.
and 4. I think, judging by the epidemic of tiredness and people being in a funk there may be interest in sharing my two cents on an upcoming post.
You know me. If there's any knowledge I can share that might help others I'll do it :)
5. You'd make my day if you drop by. There's a new post. I seem to recall that someone said I get what I ask for. ;)
You already know this. But fruits and veggies will help. There's no nutritional value in fast "junk" food and yeah you'll be burning the candle at both ends with a baby. You need the energy that healthy stuff can give you. Let me know I've got some time-saving tips if you want them. My family and I don't eat fast food. EVER. It works.
Food choices play a huge role, I agree.
ReplyDeleteMy tip is this: get up earlier in the morning. It has made a big difference in my life regarding stress and becoming healthier.
Everyone eats WAY TOO MUCH SALT. And while a little salt is needed, too much salt has a BIG affect on the body, none of it good. There is too much salt in processed foods.
ReplyDeleteAs you know My hubby and I have a vegie garden, but a lot of people don't have the time or room for one of those. But what we also do it not waste anything. If we have a chicken dinner one night, Hubby will keep the leftovers and make a stock, or a soup. We try to use everything. It's much healthier and you also save a lot of money doing so.
I remember I also used to make my own baby food. Just puree it and freeze it in ice cube trays and take out what you need each time and heat it up. That way you know exactly whay Bubby is eating. No salts and preservatives.
As for the sleep. It can be as simple as looking at your mattress. Could it be time for a new one. Or the position of your bed. Are you warm enough? Or is there enough fresh air flow? I used to listen to soothing music and breethe deep before I went to sleep. You need to de-stimulate your brain..lol!
As for my tiredness? Well, Hubby found a "Rude Book" at the bookfest yesterday. 'nuff said :)
Paul.... sorry sweetie you missed the cut off time for the he said she said post but I am thinking that I am going to do a spin off from that, not sure what it will be, but it will feature several of you who wanted to be included but didn't get your names in on time... will let you know when i figure it out because I want to show case you guys... and i will showcase you in..
ReplyDeleteI think my life is pretty simple. I don't have accounts, I don't worry about flashy possessions or even matching crockery, I have never eaten at Mc Donalds. The problem with modern life is that i depends on people creating surplus. You can't get paid a tenner for a tenner's worth of work - you get paid a tenner for twenty's worth of work - or else why would someone even bother to employ you? I don't think there's any way out of that one. I've seen subsistance living and it's hard work and there's no-one to catch you if you fall.
ReplyDeleteMy wife and I are finally getting it together. We do groceries at least twice a week and only buy fresh veggies and meat.
ReplyDeleteWe rarely even make pasta now.
We've found that trying to be too fancy doesn't work. We've been keeping it simple, and honestly, my intestines have been thanking me with nice effective pooping.
I have no advice for the babies since i have no the babies.
Also, I want to become a farmer too and live off the land. Sounds AWESOME.
@Shelby
ReplyDeleteThat sounds baller. I can still run off of not much sleep, but I do feel it catching up to me. Maybe we should try the fruits, veggies, etc. for a week and see what happens...
@Brit
The real issue is planning. I can't remember to get the stuff in the pot in the morning to be ready by dinner time. And an hour was a little extreme, it doesn't take THAT long, it just feels that way.
@AC
That'd be a great post, I think. I stop by regularly, and I like what you've posted so far. I'll have to see if you've posted anythning knew since I last looked once I get done commenting to everyone.
@dbs
I really am trying that, but there really isn't anyone that needs me to wake up before ten. I keep meaning to put my phone across the room so that I have to get up to turn the alarm off, I just haven't done it yet.
@Sprite
I agree, we do eat a LOT of salt. I'll be the one caring for our baby most of the time, so I may try making my own food. You'll have to give some advice that way. Our bed is great, and in a great spot, so I don't think it's that. The more I think, the more I believe it's me eating junk...
@AG
No worries. I do think you have some pretty awesome match ups though. I'm interested in the upcoming posts, and it'll be a nice way for me to sample some other bloggers' work.
@MM
That's so cool that you don't have any accounts and that you've never eaten at Miccy D's. How would it be? And it's true, employers require much more work than they pay, and you can't reall blame them. That's capitalism...
@Kev
That's so cool you guys do that. We really are trying to get to that point, it's just coming slower than I might like. And I too long for effective pooping. :)
I'd be happy to. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm on it. For now, here's a Superfood: BLUEBERRIES!!! I'll give more info on it, but seriously good for your neurons. Everyday! That's an order!:)
ReplyDeleteNothing new. February is a busy month. I'll try to put something up for Monday:Humor.
@Sprite
ReplyDeleteThank you.
@AC
I'll give it a shot. Blueberries here I come.