HEALTH TIME

HAVE YOURSELF A GOOD MORNING

By: Therese Rènning Moser, Photo: Gettyimages

It’s dark outside, it’s dark inside and it’s cold everywhere but under the bed covers.
I’d rather just turn around in my bed and go back to sleep, but I’ve got two problems; the two alarm clocks standing beside my bed.

My alarm clocks are about four and two years old, wearing princess-patterned pajamas and crying for breakfast. So I put on a smile, put on my slippers and remind myself that I yesterday (being Sunday and sleep-in day) decided to try out these tips for a GOOD MORNING:

Music: Have a variation of three cd`s standing beside the player so that you don’t have to spend time searching for the right mood-music every morning. I prefer waking up to quiet easy listening with a bit of jazz maybe, but you choose your own favorite cd's.

Air: Open all windows for five minutes and let the fresh air awaken your house.

Light: For most people it's easier to wake up in the summer season because of the light outside so during the winter we need to search for other light sources to brighten our morning. Light candles at the breakfast table, draw the curtains aside to let in whatever light there is outside, walk to work if possible or if you are a “Hausfrau” try waking up half an hour before your husband leaves for work and take a walk around the block. This gets the “happy hormone” Endorphin going through your body and you get a bit of fresh air.

Breakfast: Breakfast = no, breakslow = yes! If all you have in the cupboards are stale bread and butter it’s going to be a breakfast so this needs a bit of preparation.
What do you and your family enjoy eating so early? Not many can stomach eggs and bacon at 07:00 in the morning, but what about yoghurt, cut up fresh fruit and berries, whole wheat toast, nuts (not for younger kids), Ovomaltine and do not forget the freshly brewed and longed after cup of coffee or tee.

WISHING YOU ALL A GOOD MORNING!

therese@mamizeit.com

ask dr. Marianne

Dear Dr. Marianne,
My 6-year old son has started to go on weekend visits to visit his grandparents’ by himself. These weekend visits are his first experiences away from home overnight. Before going he gets excited about the visit, but as it draws close he starts to worry about missing his toys and little sister and not having me to read him a bed-time story. Last weekend we had to go and pick him up early because he was so homesick.
What is homesickness, and what can we do to help him?
From A Worried Mother

READ DR. MARIANNES ANSWER

drmarianne@mamizeit.com