Prescription for de-stress and recovery

Feel like crap?  Body hurt?  Work related stress?

You should try this for five days.  This is what I do when I'm in your shoes.  It's ONLY 5 days...you can do this!

1.  Don't touch alcohol 

Drinking weakens your immune system and messes with your brain's communication pathways, affecting mood and behavior.  And hangovers just feel terrible---duh!  Try going cold turkey for one week.  I know that some of you drink socially all the time; just tell your friends and loved ones that you are on a five day fast and that you'll get back to your wild drunkenness soon.  You want to feel better, right?

2.  Don't smoke anything

Inhaling smoke irritates the respiratory tract.  Didn't you know?  And even though we all know someone who swears by the medicinal benefits of marijuana, it's still smoke and still irritates the respiratory tract.  Just give it up for 5 days.

3.  Go to sleep when the sun goes down

Tonight in Tulsa the sun will go down at 8:38 P.M.  Now this may seem like a ridiculously early time to hit the sack, but in fact, the natural world around you is going to sleep at this hour.  Join the plants and insects and begin your recovery sleep when it goes dark.

Be patient and stay in bed until you get to sleep.

4.  Determine when the sun will come up tomorrow, and set your alarm for 15 minutes later than that time

Some people require alarm clocks.  But if you go to bed when the sun goes down, you should also awaken naturally when the sun comes up.  Make sure there is a crack in your curtain so that the natural light will come into your room to awaken you.  The alarm clock will still be there to ensure that you are up in time if nature doesn't get the job done for you on day one.

5.  Exercise in the morning

Once awake, do the following routine three times at least: 10 push ups, 10 sit ups, 10 jump squats

6.  Say something positive to yourself

I know this is cheesy, but I believe that positive affirmations work.  These will get you started:

http://www.prolificliving.com/100-positive-affirmations/

7.  Eat high nutrition raw foods

Eat some green peppers!  They're nutritionally dense.  Here are some other ideas:

http://authoritynutrition.com/11-most-nutrient-dense-foods-on-the-planet/

8.  Don't overeat

Stay away from big meals that leave you feeling heavy.

That's it!  It's simple: just get your sleep cycle in sync with nature, eat what is good for you, move your body, and avoid putting things into your body that wear it out.  It works for me when I need to recharge.  Let me know if you try it and if it works for you!