Slow and steady it's not a race! By Jahaziel Rueda

​"SLOW DOWN, EVERYONE, YOU'RE MOVING TOO FAST"
-JACK JOHNSON-

Who doesn’t feel as if there aren’t enough hours in the day? We rush through the day, running here and there, and end up not only physically exhausted but also mentally. Somehow our days are constantly full of duties and obligations, this busyness has begun to build up and has now become our lives. We spend our time doing things that in a way, we are forced to engage in, things that deep down inside we don't want to do, yet feel like we should. We’ve come to believe that somehow being part of this rat race, will make us reach some sort of peace of mind or contentment. 

Truth is, life on Earth is brief we are essentially expendable, and our time is too precious to be used as if life were a sprint. If we want our lives to be in a healthy state of balance. We need to lessen our load and increase our down time. This means planning less in a day, prioritizing those things that makes our life enjoyable and take the time to listen to our bodies and its essentials.

We need to learn how to disconnect from that fear that at times makes us believe that if we can't get something done, bad things will happen. At times stress will build up because we will feel unaccomplished and unsuccessful. Unfortunately these things will build up and ultimately decrease our quality of life and your true performance with your projects at hand. This stress will also debilitate other physical aspects of our lives. The nervous system will responds by releasing a flood of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, which will rouse the body for an emergency action. This also known as the flight or fight response. This natural protective mechanism is not a healthy way to approach most situations in our life’s, since we are no longer living in the jungle with tigers.  However, when properly activated this mechanism will actually help us regain focus, increase energy and awareness under emergency situations. It is the response that may possibly save our life at times. But what happens when we encounter stress overload? Well our body has a hard time trying to interpret daily a stressor versus life threatening situation, so when we constantly experience high levels of stress without taking some time to evaluate the situation. It leads us to an array of physical and emotional problems such as:

• Sleep Depravation or sleep apnea
• Weight Issues
• Digestive Issues
• Depression
• Rapid Raise in Blood Pressure
• Many other

I know this may be easier said than done, but it’s not impossible to do. The following are some tips that can help you slow down and alleviate that overwhelming feeling in your life.

1. Disconnect - Most Americans spend 11+ hours a day on electronic media, so disconnecting may not be such a bad idea. It may be hard at first, but it must be done. Even if you just do it for an hour a day.  I have been doing this myself for a while now and trust me it feels amazing, just turn off your phone, television, or computer, GIVE IT A FREAKING BREAK! Meditation may also help you! 
2. Exercise - Find an activity that you love and enjoy, have fun with it. Not only is exercise good for your health, exercise will also strengthen your discipline that will translate into building strong commitments to others and diminishing your overall stress levels. 
3. Write Things Down - Write at least 3 things that need to get done, take your time and asses each one and focus on the one that needs the most attention.
4. Breath - Taking deep breaths can help you lower your blood pressure, and send more oxygen to relax that stress alarm.
5. Find Time For You - At least twice a week go for a walk, go fishing, go out with friends, whatever it is, prioritize some time FOR YOU! 

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Remember it takes discipline to break some deep rooted habits, so start slow, it’s not a sprint it’s more like a marathon.  I hope that by reading this information and following this tips you may find some self-control in your life!


I'll leave you with this fun Kale recipe that I promised you and don't forget "the best workout starts in the kitchen"

Spicy Kale Chips

​Ingredients:

• 2 bunches kale
• 2 heaping tablespoon almond butter (or any savory nut butter)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (or substitute curry powder, we make them both ways)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Wash the kale and dry thoroughly with paper towels. Pull the leaves off the center ribs in large pieces, and pile on a baking sheet. Discard the ribs.
2. ​In a small bowl mix the nut butter, oil, spices, and salt. Pour over the kale. Use your hands to massage the kale leaves until each one is evenly coated with the spice mixture. You don't want any of the leaves to be drenched in the mixture, so take your time doing this. The more evenly the kale leaves are coated, the better they will bake.​
3. ​ Lay the kale leaves out flat on 3-4 full sized baking sheets. Do not overlap. Bake for 10-11 minutes until crisp, but still green. Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before moving. If some kale chips are still a little flimsy or damp, remove the crisp chips and place the damp chips back in the oven for a few more minutes. Store in an air-tight container.