Friday Feature: Remarkably Simple Habits

Ah, a day off. A day in the middle of the week all to myself means skipping the schedule and meandering through the day, right?

Not if I'm smart.

When I read Peter Economy's article, "5 Remarkably Simple Daily Habits that will Change Your Life," I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was doing (almost) all of them. True, my vacation day schedule looks quite a bit different from my work day schedule, but each begins with the same routine -- and with a list. From there, some meandering definitely takes place, but sticking to some semblance of structure -- albeit a loose one -- really does make the day more productive and more relaxing.

Although I have to work on what I'm staying hydrated with (more water, less caffeine) and I will never be a "wake up early" kind of girl, according to this article, I'm on the right track to changing my life.

Or at least keeping things running smoothly.

Friday Feature: Climate Change and Health

When I think of climate change, I think of dramatic weather events. Really hot summers and really cold winters. Snow storms in March that follow weeks of spring-like weather.

I never really stopped to consider the impact of all of this on health.

Not surprisingly, doctors have. A group of doctors has come together, in fact, to form a consortium that helps educate people about the potential effects of climate change on health -- physical and mental, immediate and long term, local and global.

As with anything else, some populations are more at-risk than others. The young. The old. The vulnerable.

In general, I'm a good news kind of person. I much prefer the happy stuff to the scary stuff, but, when it comes to risk, I want to know what the factors are, because that's the best way to avoid them and stay healthy.

I can't change climate change by myself, but I can stay informed. And, as a parent and educator, not to mention a citizen, I think it's my job to do just that.

And I'm really glad there are medical professionals out there who care enough to make it easier for me to do my job.