Diabetic Living Australia - July-August 2018

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SAY NO TO 20

MULTI-TASKING

EAT

CARBS

TAKE MINI BREAKS

INDULGE

IN DARK

CHOCOLATE

Retreat to a

Are you texting and chatting on the calm space

phone while reading this? Tackling

one thing at a time is more efficient,

says Chesley. The human brain isn't

designed to multi-task, and while you

may think you are successfully juggling

projects, you're actually switching from

one to the next. The back-and-forth

forces you to re-orient yourself to

a "new" task over and over.

14

TAME TECHNOLOGY

Incoming phone calls and emails

keep us in fight-or-flight mode.

Constant adrenaline hits with each

call or email wear people down over

time, says Noelle Chesley, assistant

sociology professor at the University

of Wisconsin. Her research reveals

that mobile phones are particularly

stressful for women, especially when

family-related calls interrupt work.

For non-emergencies, request a text.

Or trade days off with your spouse.

16

Go

green

Workers' productivity is increased

by 15 per cent through adding plants

to their desks or a nature screensaver,

concludes a study by Cardiff

University's School of Psychology.

Dips in serotonin between 3pm

and 5pm can lower energy and mood,

says Wurtman. But a snack – with an

appropriate amount of carbohydrates

to meet your individual requirements

• can boost your energy levels to get
  you through to dinner.

Set an alarm on your computer

to remind you to get up every

hour and move around, suggests

Dr Teitelbaum. Deliver messages

to co-workers in person rather than

via an email or phone call. Snack

on low-fat foods, such as popcorn,

pretzels, crackers, or a low-fat muesli

bar, for the quickest serotonin hit.

The sweet stuff has phenethylamine

in it, which improves mood and

attention span, says celeb nutritionist

Ashley Koff. Serve a dark chocolate

fondue or a dark hot chocolate for

dessert – but not too much, since 

you will also get the stimulants

theobromine and caffeine.

Decorate your bedroom with blues

and greens found in nature (like sky

blue or pine green) as your mind links

these colours with relaxation. Steer

clear of stimulating reds, oranges and

yellow-greens on bedroom walls or

linens, says Pantone's Eiseman. These

can make it difficult to fall asleep,

zapping the next day's energy.

Evening

health check