Do You Need a Distraction?

March 25, 2020March 25, 2020 Lynette M Burrows

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to step back from 24 hour roller coaster of Corona Virus News. Not that I don’t understand the significance and the scale of this thing. But my brain and my emotions need a break. I need a distraction—Do you need a distraction too? Music? Learn? Read on. I’ve distractions a plenty. Up Beat Sing-Along Long time readers know I love music. It’s my go-to stress reliever. Here are four songs and lyrics that will lift your spirits. Belt it out. You’ll feel better. Que Sera Sera—Doris Day Uptown Funk—Bruno Mars Bob Marley – Don’t Worry, Be Happy Mary Poppins (1964) – “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” Ear Worms Your family won’t let you sing out loud? Sic these ear worms on them. You’ll all be singing. Witch Doctor – Ooh Eeh Ooh Ah Aah Ting Tang Walla Walla Bing—David Seville Call me Maybe—Carly Rae Jepsen Living La Vida Loca—Ricky Martin Shake It Off—Taylor Swift Banana Boat Song–Harry Bellefonte Parody For those of you who want to laugh at the Corona virus, here are four parodies that I thought you might enjoy. Do Not Go (“Let It Go” Corona Parody) Hands washing Hands — Neil Diamond Put […]

6 Ways to Find Your Calm in the Middle of the Storm

March 18, 2020March 18, 2020 Lynette M Burrows

It’s a topsy-turvy world we’re living in right now. Even an introvert like me, used to sitting alone at the computer all day, can get caught up in the craziness. It’s essential, now more than ever, that you find your calm in the middle of the storm. Ack! How do you do that when everyone around you is losing their minds? Smile First, smile. Fake it if you must. Look in the mirror and smile. Make faces. Be goofy. Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. —Thich Nhat Hanh There’s science behind this. And I’ve written a series of blog posts about stress and how you can manage it. The act of smiling activates those neurotransmitters that make you feel good. It relaxes your body, slows your heart, and lowers your blood pressure. Not only that, it makes you more attractive. And it’s contagious. Re-Evaluate You’ve got to change your life for your health and the health of everyone around you. So take this time and re-evaluate your priorities. Figure out what means the most to you. What brings you the most happiness and joy? Is it your […]

How to Reduce Your Stress with a Sniff

February 26, 2020February 26, 2020 Lynette M Burrows

When you are doing too much, your stress can cause your body to change in harmful ways. My post Recognize Your Stress Levels lists several ways your body changes. But did you know that stress affects your sense of smell? And did you know that certain scents can allow you to reduce your stress with a sniff? Your Sense of Smell In evolutionary terms, your sense of smell is the oldest of your senses. How does it work? Air comes through your nose and passes over a patch of specialized sensory cells found high inside the nose. These cells send messages to the brain when they detect molecules of a scent. Your brain identifies the odor. But your nose is only part of your sense of smell. There is a tiny channel that connects the roof of your mouth to your nose. Chewing food releases scents that travel through this channel. If congestion blocks this channel (like when you have a cold) food doesn’t taste the same. Another aid to your sense of smell is something called the common chemical sense. It’s made of thousands of nerve endings in the moist areas of your nose, mouth, and eyes. They detect irritating substances such as […]