I wonder how many people work at home on Saturdays… Probably lots! It’s a great
day for me to get things done, because the phone isn’t ringing as much, and I don’t
have to drive my son to school and activities – and my soap operas aren’t on to
distract me!
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The Critics Choice Movie Awards hosted by Aisha Tyler will air live for the second year on the CW network January 16th. Additionally the BFCA and L.A.’s House Of Blues are teaming up to present a “Celebration Of Black Cinema” on January 7th .
Here’s the complete list of today’s nominees:
]]>BEST PICTURE
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Nebraska
Saving Mr. Banks
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall StreetBEST ACTOR
Christian Bale – American Hustle
Bruce Dern – Nebraska
Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford – All Is LostBEST ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock – Gravity
Judi Dench – Philomena
Brie Larson – Short Term 12
Meryl Streep – August: Osage County
Emma Thompson – Saving Mr. BanksBEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips
Daniel Bruhl – Rush
Bradley Cooper – American Hustle
Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave
James Gandolfini – Enough Said
Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers ClubBEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Scarlett Johansson – Her
Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts – August: Osage County
June Squibb – Nebraska
Oprah Winfrey – Lee Daniels’ The ButlerBEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Asa Butterfield – Ender’s Game
Adele Exarchopoulos – Blue Is the Warmest Color
Liam James – The Way Way Back
Sophie Nelisse – The Book Thief
Tye Sheridan – MudBEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
American Hustle
August: Osage County
Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Nebraska
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall StreetBEST DIRECTOR
Alfonso Cuaron – Gravity
Paul Greengrass – Captain Phillips
Spike Jonze – Her
Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave
David O. Russell – American Hustle
Martin Scorsese – The Wolf of Wall StreetBEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Eric Singer and David O. Russell – American Hustle
Woody Allen – Blue Jasmine
Spike Jonze – Her
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen – Inside Llewyn Davis
Bob Nelson – NebraskaBEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Tracy Letts – August: Osage County
Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke – Before Midnight
Billy Ray – Captain Phillips
Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope – Philomena
John Ridley – 12 Years a Slave
Terence Winter – The Wolf of Wall StreetBEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Emmanuel Lubezki – Gravity
Bruno Delbonnel – Inside Llewyn Davis
Phedon Papamichael – Nebraska
Roger Deakins – Prisoners
Sean Bobbitt – 12 Years a SlaveBEST ART DIRECTION
Andy Nicholson (Production Designer), Rosie Goodwin (Set Decorator) – Gravity
Catherine Martin (Production Designer), Beverley Dunn (Set Decorator) – The Great Gatsby
K.K. Barrett (Production Designer), Gene Serdena (Set Decorator) – Her
Dan Hennah (Production Designer), Ra Vincent (Set Decorator) – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Adam Stockhausen (Production Designer), Alice Baker (Set Decorator) – 12 Years a SlaveBEST EDITING
Alan Baumgarten, Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers – American Hustle
Christopher Rouse – Captain Phillips
Alfonso Cuar�n, Mark Sanger – Gravity
Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill – Rush
Joe Walker – 12 Years a Slave
Thelma Schoonmaker – The Wolf of Wall StreetBEST COSTUME DESIGN
Michael Wilkinson – American Hustle
Catherine Martin – The Great Gatsby
Bob Buck, Lesley Burkes-Harding, Ann Maskrey, Richard Taylor – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Daniel Orlandi – Saving Mr. Banks
Patricia Norris – 12 Years a SlaveBEST MAKEUP
American Hustle
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Rush
12 Years a SlaveBEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Gravity
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Iron Man 3
Pacific Rim
Star Trek into DarknessBEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Croods
Despicable Me 2
Frozen
Monsters University
The Wind RisesBEST ACTION MOVIE
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Iron Man 3
Lone Survivor
Rush
Star Trek into DarknessBEST ACTOR IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Henry Cavill – Man of Steel
Robert Downey Jr. – Iron Man 3
Brad Pitt – World War Z
Mark Wahlberg – Lone SurvivorBEST ACTRESS IN AN ACTION MOVIE
Sandra Bullock – Gravity
Jennifer Lawrence – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Evangeline Lilly – The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Gwyneth Paltrow – Iron Man 3BEST COMEDY
American Hustle
Enough Said
The Heat
This Is the End
The Way Way Back
The World’s EndBEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY
Christian Bale – American Hustle
Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street
James Gandolfini – Enough Said
Simon Pegg – The World’s End
Sam Rockwell – The Way Way BackBEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY
Amy Adams – American Hustle
Sandra Bullock – The Heat
Greta Gerwig – Frances Ha
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Enough Said
Melissa McCarthy – The HeatBEST SCI-FI/HORROR MOVIE
The Conjuring
Gravity
Star Trek into Darkness
World War ZBEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
Blue Is the Warmest Color
The Great Beauty
The Hunt
The Past
WadjdaBEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Act of Killing
Blackfish
Stories We Tell
Tim’s Vermeer
20 Feet from StardomBEST SONG
Atlas – Coldplay – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
Happy – Pharrell Williams – Despicable Me 2
Let It Go – Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez – Frozen
Ordinary Love – U2 – Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Please Mr. Kennedy – Justin Timberlake/Oscar Isaac/Adam Driver – Inside Llewyn Davis
Young and Beautiful – Lana Del Rey – The Great GatsbyBEST SCORE
Steven Price – Gravity
Arcade Fire – Her
Thomas Newman – Saving Mr. Banks
Hans Zimmer – 12 Years a Slave
Why Killing Buddha? (Excerpt from OmTimes article)
Laughter is the best medicine in hard times and Killing Buddha is first and foremost a comedy. And the title is politically correct! (It’s inspired from a quote from one of Buddhism’s most famous philosopher monks, Linji, the 9th century founder of Chán Buddhism.)
But the film also has a serious message and we have already attached three world superheroes of the New Age: Deepak Chopra, Barbara Marx Hubbard and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.
While distributing “What The Bleep Do We Know?! ” I was honored to be able to travel the world to speak about my experience making “Bleep”. The most common question was “how did a girl like me, one who had never uttered the words Quantum Physics- end up making such a film?”
Sometimes it takes the most unlikely of people in the most unusual circumstances to create something that touches the world like “Bleep” did. The story I told had a resonance with so many, which I decided to, write a film about it: “Killing Buddha”
Crowd funding is a great way to get involved in the making of a film. Anyone who participates in this campaign will not only get them some cool perk (a t-shirt, a dvd or even a part in the film!)
By participating in this project at any level you’re invited to join a special group – come along as we make the film via a special website just for you! Watch videos from the set, see behind the scenes footage, chat online with the cast and the film makers and so much more! Once you join in the funding you’re a part of the team!
Brief Synopsis:
Killing Buddha is loosely based on the life and experiences of Betsy Chasse and what happens when the least spiritual person on the planet gets hired to make a movie about spirituality.
Business flagging, dumped by her boyfriend, car repossessed and the bank eyeing her heavily mortgaged home, disenchanted ex-Hollywood film producer Sara Wells desperately wants change. Convinced by her agent to go to a yoga class, there she receives some simple advice: make a list of what you want and let the universe provide.
Confident in her list-making abilities, uncertain about the universe and nostalgic for her Hollywood days, Sara tops her Wish List with a request for a movie to produce—a meaningful film that will change her life. Within hours, Sara is offered the script for
Killing Buddha, a privately funded documentary about the modern Western spirituality movement.
Sara’s deepest insight into spirituality is that God is dog spelled backwards. But she is intrigued by the coincidence with her list and drawn by the possibility of learning the ultimate recipe for instant happiness and success.
Sara takes the project against the advice of her agent, setting out on a hilarious road trip with a bickering mismatched film crew of believers, cynics and seekers: Jason Stroud, born-again cameraman, Brin Halloway, bitterly disillusioned New Age consultant, Catholic editor and sound man Fabio Martinez, and wet-behind-the-ears African American PA, debutant and socialite, Michelle Kandell.
Think “Bridget Jones seeks enlightenment while shooting a documentary about God”� a brilliant way of hiding great teachings in a funny, personable movie with a great female protagonist.
You can learn more about the film and her campaign at
www.killingbuddhathemovie.com
Healthcare
Years ago, when my son was diagnosed with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), my life changed. I went from being a mother to also taking on the additional roles of advocate and mediator. In order to help my son get the help he needed and the services he was entitled to in school, I had to learn everything I could about the educational system, the healthcare system, and the law. It is a challenge to navigate all of this, and yet it is essential in order to work with teachers, administrators, doctors, and therapists as part of a team. I learned a lot, thanks in large part to an organization called CHADD, Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders. This is a national, non-profit organization with local, volunteer-run chapters. Our local chapter held monthly meetings, which allowed parents to keep up with the various issues and changes. Most importantly, the meetings provided a forum for parents to network with each other and share experiences and resources.
We got over all the hurdles, and managed to get through the system despite the complexities. My son is in college now, and he has the tools to advocate for himself. But there are new kids coming up, and new parents who are starting from scratch to figure all of this out. Luckily, CHADD is still on it, providing us with the ongoing information we need to help our kids.
Following is an e-mail I received from CHADD regarding the current Healthcare Reform Legislation. I am happy to share it with you, and hoping that it will encourage all of us to look at the many children and families who will benefit from healthcare reform. To those of us working so diligently to take care of our children, this is most welcome, and long overdue.
“House of Representatives Passes
Comprehensive Healthcare Reform Legislation
Many Provisions Will Benefit
Children and Adults with AD/HD and Related Disorders
On Saturday, November 7, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a comprehensive healthcare reform bill, the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962) by a vote of 220-215. It is expected that the full Senate will debate and vote on its version of the bill in the coming weeks, which will then be followed by the House and Senate having its leaders meet in a conference to reconcile differences and produce a final piece of legislation that can be sent to the President.
CHADD, through its membership in the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Campaign for Mental Health Reform, and the Mental Health Liaison Group has sent letters to members of Congress in support of the bill. CHADD’s views on and support for healthcare reform legislation can be viewed on the Healthcare Reform 2009 webpage and CHADD’s Leadership Blog. CHADD has no position on many of the provisions contained in the legislation. The three primary disability coalitions CHADD participates in, believe there are significant key provisions warranting support of the legislation.
A few key provisions in the final House bill that will benefit children and adults with AD/HD and related disorders include:
* Requiring most Americans to obtain health insurance, and mandating that most employers provide insurance to their employees, but also providing substantial federal subsidies to make coverage as affordable as possible;
* Providing coverage of critical services for people with disabilities in the new Health Insurance Exchange’s essential benefits package including behavioral health treatment, and mental health and substance abuse services in compliance with the Wellstone-Domenici parity law, rehabilitation and habilitation services, equipment and supplies for children under 21 years of age;
* Inclusion of “disability” as a category for purposes of health disparities;
* Inclusion of the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act, a new national long term services insurance program to help adults with severe functional impairments to remain independent, employed, and a part of their communities; and
* Not allowing individual or group health insurance policies to establish lifetime or annual limits on the dollar value of benefits and the elimination of discrimination based on health status or a pre-existing condition.
CHADD continues to actively monitor developments in healthcare reform. Updated information on the legislation, CHADD’s 13 principles for healthcare reform, children’s mental health coalition’s five principles for healthcare reform and CHADD’s work with other partner coalitions can be viewed on CHADD’s website: http://www.chadd.org “
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After Thanksgiving and spending time with the family, we tend to look back with fondness and note just how crazy our clan really is. It’s okay to admit it, it’s true for everyone. I mean, there really is no “normal” anymore. Is there any family that hasn’t been affected by dysfunction? I don’t think so. We could sulk about it, but it’s better to just laugh. We’ve got in-laws and out-laws, steps and sibs, and the assorted characters and cousins who come by for whatever libations are being served. Go ahead and join them, just don’t overindulge. There is a serious side to this. A study from Columbia University came out today that says that almost one in five young American adults has a personality disorder that interferes with everyday life. Even more alarming is that the numbers were greater for those who abuse alcohol or drugs. But the biggest issue is that there is a widespread lack of treatment in the 19 to 25 year age group. Hopefully this study will raise awareness and get young people to seek help. It is important to have accessible mental health services along with other medical services on college campuses. And it is important that insurance carriers routinely cover mental health services. Imagine if 20-25% of the population had an untreated physical problem, like diabetes. And yet, various forms of mental illness are affecting families all over the place and we don’t have the resources or means to get help. So here we are, coming up on Christmas, when the whole crazy bunch will be gathered together again. What can we do? We can’t solve everyone’s problems, but if we suspect that there’s an issue, we can be informed and offer guidance. And just love them. And be aware. Let them talk, let them know that there’s a place for them where they are loved. That’s what family is all about.
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Yesterday I received a sad phone call. My husband’s mother lives in Australia, and the nurse in her community phoned us to let us know that she passed away. She was just 75 years old. I knew her just 6 years, and I loved her very much.
Judith was about 4 foot 6 or so, but larger than life. With her flaming red hair and her perfect enunciation, she was a grande dame! She sang opera, loved the arts, music, worked as a designer when she was young, and lived a very cultured life, even when her home was in rural Australia. She surrounded herself with beauty – she was an expert gardener, and her blooms grew large and proud all around her place, boasting of their color and strength for all the neighbors to envy. In her backyard she grew herbs and vegetables for her own salads. She was very environmentally conscious, and she composted, and steadfastly preserved water.
Even in the garden, Judith was always dressed and accessorized like a perfect lady. She loved her jewelry, and designed many of her own pieces. She particularly prized her emeralds, as green was her absolute favorite color. She wore them all the time. As her arthritis got worse, it was more a matter of convenience not to unlatch the clasps.
Judith was the one who kept track of the family tree. She knew the associations and distant relatives on every branch. She had an amazing memory, and she loved to share stories. She had traveled extensively, and had a keen vision for politics to go along with her big heart.
There was a lot of pain in Judith’s life. She lost her daughter, Angeline, when Angeline was still a teenager. She lost her husband, and cared for her mother until her death. She loved her family, and gave her blessings to her son, my husband, when he moved halfway across the world to marry me. Now my husband, and his sister, and the 6 grandchildren Judith left behind, and all of her dear friends, will remember Judith as the great lady that she was. I will miss her.
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Tuesday night – I’m at Brian’s Volleyball game and the place is packed. Our team is playing the cross town rivals, so everyone is here for the big showdown. First game is a tough one, but we pull it out and win by just 2 points. As the team switches sides of the court, the fans in the bleachers switch sides, too. I don’t know how this tradition started, but since everyone else is up and moving, I’m moving with them. Second game, they beat us – but it’s close, and very exciting. In high school varsity volleyball it’s the best of 5 games, so we’re tied now, and we know we’re in it for at least 2 more games. Everyone up, we switch sides again. Third game is a nail-biter, but they beat us again – now we’re the underdog. Stress sets in. Everyone up, we’re switching sides. I’m walking along the bleachers, I like to sit near the top so I can lean on the wall – I’m carrying a big jacket, rainy day today, my purse, and a gift bag for the coach who just had a baby. People are scooting by, finding their way through the crowd to the other side. My foot slips under the bench, on the way down I see stars, hear a crack, and I land splat on my butt. Fellow parents try to lift me up. “Are you okay?” Embarrassed, I say “yes, I’m fine – my foot is stuck, though.” I wedge it out, gather my things, and sit near where I landed. Game #4 starts. My foot begins to throb. I take my shoe off and notice a big lump under my sock. My two feet do not match anymore. I’m starting to plan how I can gracefully exit and not interrupt the game. Recognizing that it is impossible to leave unnoticed I decide to stick it out. Our team wins in overtime – 28-30. As I stand to descend the stairs I realize that my foot cannot take my weight – the pain is too much. So I instead scoot down the seats of the bleachers to the bottom bench. Another mom asks what the heck I’m doing, then gasps when she sees my lumpy sock. She offers to carry me to the car. No, no – it’s not that bad, I protest. I’ve got to wait until the end of game 5, then my son can drive me home. Thankfully game 5 goes to just 15 points. Whoever wins this game wins the whole thing. The other team puts up a fight, but we come out on top. Yay, Lions! The helpful mom flags down Brian for me. I toss my right shoe into his gym bag and he helps me hop out to his car. We head home and I call my husband on the way – be ready, you’ve got to drive me to the ER! Greg brings me out a slice of cold pizza – the soy cheese version I prepared before I left for the game – and I wolf it down in the front seat. It’s still raining. At the hospital we spot a wheelchair. Greg drops me off and I sit and wait while he parks. He comes back and wheels me in. There are a lot of other people waiting, this ER serves a big radius, and I guess at this time of night none of us has any choice but to go there. While we’re waiting one of our Volleyball players comes in – he cut his chin falling on the floor of the gym and needs stitches. Hey, we won, it’s a battle scar! The TV drones on in the waiting room – I notice it’s well into the 9:00 hour – they finally call me for an x-ray. I’m still in the wheelchair and the guy pushes me through the big door. It’s awkward, and painful, getting onto the metal table. The technician is kind, and efficient. He tells me he’s not supposed to say, but yep, it’s broken. Called a “dancer’s fracture” it’s the most common break for women. The 5th metatarsal is the bone that goes from the pinky toe to the ankle, and mine is definitely broken. Back to the waiting room, I give Greg the news. We still have to sit and wait to see a doctor, who will look at the x-ray and tell me the same thing. Eventually I get through that door again, and sit on a gurney in the hall because all of the rooms are full. I’m feeling tired, this is way past my bedtime, and achey. The nice doctor takes a peek, and a poke, looks at the x-ray and confirms it. Time for a splint, and a nurse or assistant, some sweet young girl, fixes me up, brings me crutches and sends me on my way with a phone number to call the orthopaedist in the morning. Back in the car I realize I don’t have my cell phone. Where is it? In a puddle in the parking lot where we found the wheelchair – it must has slipped off of my lap. So much for that battery. The timing is not good for this little mishap. I’ve got a lot of family stuff going on, on top of the usual. But then, when would be a good time? I take this as a life lesson – God telling me to slow down, quit running around so much. And now I have no choice – it’s my right foot, so I can’t even drive. I have a new appreciation for the handicapped bars in bathrooms. I notice when people are kind enough to open a door for me and I’m grateful. I also notice the people who go out of their way to avoid me, maybe they’re afraid that I’ll hit them with a crutch. I’m using muscles I don’t usually use and I’m sore. The crutches hit right at about the bra strap so I have red marks under my arms. And I have bruises on my knees and tailbone where I hit the floor. I’ve never broken a bone before, so this is a new experience. It’s a learning experience, that’s for sure. I’ll live – and I’ll be better for it.
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I’m so glad that other people are speaking out about Tom Cruise and his insensitivity, and downright… well, stupidity! After Tom’s go-round with Matt Lauer, where Matt kept his dignity while Tom pretty much flew off the handle, Al Roker’s comment was that Tom is not a med student, and needs to stay out of other people’s business. And the APA, (The American Psychiatric Association) the ones who really needed to respond, finally spoke up. Got this quote from the People Magazine entertainment alert: “On behalf of the 36,000-physician-strong APA, the group’s president, Dr. Steven Sharfstein, said in a statement: “It is irresponsible for Mr. Cruise to use his movie publicity tour to promote his own ideological views and deter people with mental illness from getting the care they need.” The rebuke from the APA went on to challenge Cruise’s assertion that psychiatry lacks scientific merit. “Rigorous, published, peer-reviewed research clearly demonstrates that treatment (of mental illness) works,” the APA statement said. “It is unfortunate that in the face of this remarkable scientific and clinical progress that a small number of individuals and groups persist in questioning its legitimacy.” ” I am so appalled that I considered boycotting Tom’s new movie “The War of the Worlds.” But what the heck? I want to see the movie! And I’m certainly not going to let Tom Cruise influence me on this matter or any other.
Arianna Huffington is my hero. Really. And I’m not just saying this because I am one of her bloggers. Arianna’s new book “Thrive” is fabulous. She makes some great points from which we can all learn.
As an author myself, having written 7 lifestyle books to date, and as the spokesperson for the Better Sleep Council, I just want to open up a conversation about one particular subject: the nap pod. Arianna says that she has several of them in her offices for her employees. Google also has them, too.
These nap pods have been getting a lot of press lately. They are said to be the next, new, big thing. Some companies even have whole rooms filled with them. Employees are allowed, even encouraged, to take breaks throughout their workdays to utilize these pods and take a nap. How much does each one cost? Anywhere from $12,000 to $25,000� EACH! But unless employees are working swing shifts, or more than 8-hour days, I don’t think that nap pods, or nap rooms, are such a good idea.
What’s so bad about this, you might think? What’s wrong with a nap at work in the middle of the day?
Whether you are napping at your desk, in the back seat of your car, or in a luxury “nap pod” this is time you could be using more productively. Sleeping around, that is not in your bed, is just bad on so many levels – so let me just break all this it down for you – and I have a feeling that you will agree with me.
Why are people feeling like they need a nap at work? Because they are not getting either the quality of sleep, or the quantity of sleep, that they need at night. Simple science. When you get the sleep you need at night – you don’t NEED a nap during the day.
If you take a nap during the day, you are more likely to stay up later at night. So, you end up NOT getting that nighttime sleep you need, yet again. You feel a little groggy after your nap, have a coffee to perk up, and miss more sleep at night. And you can follow the dots to see what happens – this ends up becoming a habit, and gradually, eventually, your whole schedule is going to be out of whack. It’s not hard to imagine thinking: “oh, I can stay up a half an hour later and make it up at naptime at work.” Sleep doesn’t work that way, and neither should you.
Let’s look at the cost involved. It has been said that a lack of sleep costs businesses $63 BILLION dollars a year. These nap pods aren’t helping, they’re actually making matters worse by creating more of a loss of sleep at NIGHT, when it really matters. Plus, depending on how many employees a company has, and how many nap-pods a company decide to provide – you can do the math as to how much work time companies lose from each employee so they can take their nap – that’s all going to add up to lots of dollars.
Instead – isn’t it better, doesn’t it make more sense, to sleep at night, and be active during the day? Are we asking ourselves this very question – “How well do you sleep at night?”
Doesn’t it sound better to sleep at home, in your own bed, on your own comfy mattress, than napping in some “pod?” We are not robots! You can’t literally plug us in when our batteries are running low. We are human beings, and we are wired to sleep at night, when it is dark, and to be active during the day when the sun is out. That is the way nature intended it to be! And I have information – Ancient Wisdom, thousands of years old – that proves it!
Interestingly, most of what we know about sleep we’ve learned in the past 25 years. Relatively – this is “new” wisdom! And most sleep disorders have developed in recent history as well. During pre-electric times adults slept 9-10 hours a night, and kept their sleep schedules in line with both the seasons and the sun. But now experts say that one of the biggest distractions to sleep is our 24/7 access to the internet.
And now, many people both start and end their day in bed with their smart phone. Before their feet hit the floor they are checking their emails and social media pages. How many times have you checked your computer or smartphone today?
We’ve gotten ourselves into bad habits – and the first step is recognizing this! So let’s take a step back, let’s recognize some ancient wisdom, from the 5,000 year old Science of Life that is called “AYURVEDA.”
Ayurveda is the original form of medicine. Out of Ayurveda came Greek medicine, which then led to our current form of medicine known as allopathic medicine. And although Ayurveda has been continually practiced in India and Asia for all these thousands of years, it has recently become more known and practiced here in the west because of the popularity of yoga and meditation. Ayurveda is a sister-science with these two popular practices.
Ayurveda teaches us the nature of everything on the planet. And it teaches us how to live in harmony with nature. When we apply the principles of Ayurveda to our lives we can be our healthiest and happiest. The universe supports us. It’s like going with the flow. Everything is easier. We’re in the groove. We’re in sync.
Ayurveda tells us that just like there are seasons in the year, there are times during the day when the energy around us supports us in our efforts.
Let’s start at the beginning of the day:
6:00 am – 10:00 am – KAPHA time
When the sun rises, it is a signal to start our day, wake up, meditate, exercise, shower, and eat. Kapha time is gentle, slow and heavy, it allows us time to gear up for the day, to prepare for the day ahead.
10:00 am – 2:00 pm – PITTA time
During this time, our productivity is high and our intellect is strong. This is the time of day when we get our best, and our most, work done. It is also time when our digestion is the strongest during the day, so it is a good idea to have lunch, and have that be the largest meal of the day.
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm – VATA time
During these hours, our creativity is in full bloom. This is a great time to brainstorm, to problem solve, and to think up those big ideas that move us forward. Be a visionary, make plans, allow your creativity to have full expression.
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm – KAPHA time
By 6:00 pm, ideally, we will have completed our work day. This is time to have our second meditation, and then have dinner. Try to finish your meal by 7 pm. After dinner it’s a good idea to take a walk to aid digestion, and then relax. Read, visit with friends, listen to music. It’s even fine to use the computer or watch TV, with the caveat that all technology should be off by 9 pm, or one hour prior to bedtime. Use that last hour for a pre-bedtime ritual – maybe a warm bath, getting in your pajamas, reading a book.
If you don’t get to bed by 10 pm, if you’re on the computer or involved in a TV show and tempted to stay up later – you’ll get that “second wind” and it will be more difficult to fall asleep. There is a definite shift in energy at 10 pm.
10:00 pm – 2:00 am – PITTA time
By 10:00 pm be in bed, lights out and ready for sleep. The room should be dark, cool, quiet, and comfortable. Make sure your mattress is in good shape. Too often we splurge on things like big screen TVs and skimp on necessities like a mattress. But a mattress is an investment in our health and wellness. You can’t put a price on that. If you’re getting back aches, or you’ve had your mattress for more than 5-7 years, chances are it’s time for a new one.
During the hours of 10 pm and 2 am this is the time our bodies are getting the rest that they need to restore. We don’t need to do anything but snooze. Nature is at work, active in healing the body. We can rest easy knowing this.
2:00 am – 6:00 am – VATA time
These four hours are when we have our most vivid dreams. This is our mind at work, our subconscious and unconscious working out problems that we might not have been able to solve during our waking hours in the day. We definitely want to be asleep during this time to get these benefits.
And then at 6:00 am we wake up, and begin our day again, fresh and new!
This is the Ayurvedic lifestyle, and THIS is how we need to live our lives. When we do this we have tons of energy, we feel good, look good, are productive, healthy, we have better relationships, and all that comes along with it!
This is 5,000 year old SCIENCE. And some of you will say it’s just common sense. And it is! But when will be learn it? We’ve gotten so far away from it with all of our 24/7 technology – and we think we’re doing ourselves a favor with these nap pods but we’re very likely making matters worse.
So, I say – yes, continue with the meditation room and the yoga room for employees. There is definitely a place for these in the workforce. But I’d re-think the whole nap pod thing. I want to encourage people to live in harmony with nature, to get that glorious, restorative, necessary sleep at night, when it is dark – and to be active and productive during the daylight hours. This helps to keep us in balance, to be our happiest and healthiest.
I know this isn’t possible for everyone. Some people work night shifts, or double shifts. And for them the nap pod may be just the thing to help “re-charge” their batteries. But for the rest of us, let’s do the best we can, using the ancient wisdom that has been keeping the planet on course all these thousands of years. Live an ayurvedic lifestyle and experience true balance and bliss.
For more information about getting a good night’s sleep visit BetterSleep.org
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