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Relax and Unwind
Dinner is finished, the dishes are done, and you're looking at a lovely three hours ahead of you before your body begins sending go-to-sleep signals. You could veg in front of the TV, as so many people do these days. Or you could pick one of the following to do and sneak a little health into your evening. We'll start off with pleasure-based ideas, and then shift into more practical ways to spend your evening time.1. Go for an after-dinner walk. What better time for a hand-in-hand stroll through the neighborhood? To make it interesting, play a game of learning two new things about your neighbors on each walk, either through observation or conversation. It could be that the Smiths painted their living room red (something you spot through the window), or that the Bernsteins got a new car (which he proudly shows you). Playing this kind of "scavenger hunt" on your walk will make it go quicker, keep it more interesting. The best bonus, however: the health-promoting effects of the walk.
2. Play a game with your partner or kids. Try a board game, or work on a puzzle, or get up a rousing game of cards. Not only will it keep the television off, but it will make those brain cells move around a lot more than another episode of Survivor. And the social bonding with your loved ones contributes mightily to emotional and physical health. Stumped for choices? Go back in time, from when you were a teenager -- games like backgammon, dominoes, checkers, hearts, or chess. Crossword puzzles are great fun, as are visual, number, and logic puzzles that you can get cheaply in books and magazines. Have a dartboard, pool table, or Ping-Pong table? Go wear them out.
3. Go up to your partner, put your arms around his/her waist, and begin kissing the back of his/her neck. Hopefully, this will lead to something more. In addition to the obvious benefits of sex, you'll also be raising your heart rate, sending immune-boosting endorphins to your brain, and extending your life. One study found that sexually active men lived longer than those who had less lovemaking. Sure, the study was in men, but it most likely applies to women too.
4. Play with your dog or cat for 15 minutes. Studies show significant stress reduction benefits from pets, particularly those that, like dogs and cats, can interact with you. Looking for ideas? Get an old sock and have your dog try to pull it out of your hand. Use a laser light to drive your cat slightly crazy (the laughing you'll do as you watch her try to "catch" the light will have its own health benefits). Teach your cat to "fetch" by tossing a crumpled piece of paper. Hide treats around the house and watch your dog go on his own treasure hunt. Don't have a pet? Get one!
5. Do something totally mindless for 30 minutes. It could be watching the junkiest show you can find on TV (and we'll leave that up to your own warped taste), holding a computer solitaire tournament with yourself, marinating in a steamy, scented bath, or just lying on the couch listening to a favorite piece of music and staring at the ceiling. The idea here is that your mind is disengaged, it is not focused on anything, it is allowed to run free in a kind of "active meditation."
6. Slowly sip a glass of really good wine. Now, the definition of "really good wine" is in the eyes of the beholder. If you're used to boxed Almadén, then a $15 bottle of merlot is just the ticket. If you're a moderate oenophile, you might reach for a $50 bottle of Bordeaux. The idea is that you savor this one glass. While you're identifying the fruits you taste and the elements in the bouquet, the wine will be providing significant heart-healthy antioxidants shown to reduce your risk of heart disease.
7. Get lost in a book. Or a magazine or newspaper. Rekindle your love of reading. It's so much more rewarding for you than watching television. And it's much healthier, because it keeps your brain highly active and engaged.
8. Savor a piece of dark gourmet chocolate. Ounce for ounce, chocolate contains more healthy antioxidants, which repair damage to cells and prevent cholesterol from oxidizing (making it stickier), than any of the other antioxidant champs, including tea, blueberries, and grape juice. Plus, it's well known for its ability to soothe a troubled mind. It only takes one piece to provide the perfect post-dinner sweetness we often crave without a lot of fat or calories. Keep the chocolate dark -- it has the most antioxidants -- and plain. You don't need the extra sugar and calories from caramel, nougat, and other goodies.
9. On a dark, clear night, go outside and lie down in your backyard (or on the roof of your apartment building) and stare at the stars. Feel the immensity of the world as you view the heavens. Think about any problems you've been wrestling with and put them into context with the trillions of stars that are up there, only a few of which you can see tonight. If you find you enjoy this, consider learning about the stars with a star atlas.
10. Take a walk when the moon is full. The magic and mysticism of a moonlit night will energize you and provide an unexpected burst of positive thinking.
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