LiveWell Vermont

  Babies aren’t the only ones who need a routine... Try these tips for a better night's sleep! 1. Create a nighttime routine Doing the same things before bed can prime you for sleep. In addition to the things you already do, try taking a bath or shower.  Afterwards, turn off any devices, such as your smartphone or tablet. Screens give off blue light that can keep you from falling asleep. If you miss the time spent on your phone in the evening, try substituting an audio book, meditation, or a phone call. 2. Set Alarms Consistency is important! Waking up and heading to bed at the same time each day helps with your circadian rhythm, so you can fall asleep and wake up easily. Make sure you stay on schedule by setting an alarm for both the evening and morning. 3. Let in the Light Sunlight can wake you up!  This study found that exposure to light in the morning can help with sleep quality and quantity. 4. Get moving Exercising can give you an energy boost during the ...

When you think of a healthy lifestyle, you might focus on exercise and nutrition. Make sure you are considering other habits that help prevent disease as well. Check out these often-forgotten pillars to optimal health below. Source: Sleep.org, MHANational.org, CDC.gov, Heart.org, HHS.gov

Adapted from Kenji López-Alt's recipe, Roasted Pumpkin Soup With Brown Butter and Thyme. 1 medium kabocha squash, about 4 1/2 pounds total Olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper 1tsp thyme 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter 2 onions vegetable or chicken stock (low sodium if store bought) 2 bay leaves 1 tablespoons maple syrup 1 tablespoon lemon juice Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Split pumpkins in half with a heavy chef's knife or cleaver. Scoop out the seeds and discard or save for another use. Rub flesh with olive oil, salt, and place cut-side-down on a lightly oiled baking dish and place in oven. Roast until completely tender, flipping halfway through cooking, 1 to 1 1/2 hours total. Remove from oven and let rest until cool enough to handle. Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until softened but not browned, about 4 minutes. Add stock...

Have you ever had a goal that you were dedicated to, really wanted to achieve but somehow just couldn't manage to prioritize it with everything else going on in your life?  Habit stacking is a way to turn tasks on autopilot, so you don’t need to rely on will power or motivation.    For instance, let’s say you want a healthy body.  That is a very broad and vague goal.  So, you refine this to a smaller, more tangible goal: 10 minutes of strength training a day, 5 days a week.  We now have an idea for a habit that supports your goal of getting a healthier body and interests you.   10 minutes is an amount of time that you know you can find in your day, but now how to make it happen?  Stack it with something you KNOW you will do!  For instance, if you know you will shower every evening, try leaving a note for yourself by the shower to complete your 10 minute strength training routine.  You can leave your mat and weights visible in the bathroo...

  This recipe is adapted from Kerry Seretsky's recipe for Pumpernickel Grilled Cheddar with Apple and Thyme.  Pair with your favorite tomato or pumpkin soup! 8 slices hearty pumpernickel bread 3/4 pound excellent, very sharp cheddar cheese 1 Granny Smith apple, sliced very thinly 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard Salt and pepper Butter Preheat a griddle or skillet on medium heat. Grate the cheddar cheese, and arrange it on four slices of the bread. Cover with a thin layer of apple slices (you may not need the whole apple). On the other 4 slices of bread add mustard. Top the apple-and-cheese slices with the mustard-and-seasoning slices, to create the sandwiches. Melt a dab of butter on the griddle, and grill the cheese sandwiches, about 4 minutes per side, until the cheese is melted and the bread toasted and crisp. OR If you prefer not to toast sandwiches in a pan, you can get the cheese melty under the broiler. Place apple slices close to the bread for this method, and pop the 4 sl...

  Its October, and I can’t think of a better way to get my heart rate up than by racing through a corn maze! Check out the list below, and find a corn maze near you. Hathaway Farm, Rutland: 13 acres of serious corn maze and a series of clues – work out your mind and body to get through this one! Can also be done as a flashlight maze each Saturday night! Gaines Farm, Guilford: A 7 acre corn maze that is also available at dusk, as a Twilight Maze. Stay for the haunted hay ride after! Isham Family Farm, Williston This 108 acre family farm is full of fun, with wagon rides, pumpkin picking and a 2 acre corn maze. Percy Farm Corn Maze, Stowe: Each year a unique path is created. Not only is it designed to be fun for the whole friendly, but even leashed dogs are also welcome! Great Vermont Maze in Danville: Last but not least, this is the largest corn maze in New England! 24 acres, and usually about 2 hours to finish this huge corn maze. There is also a Scenic Maze, which usually tak...

  While many of us spend time and energy ensuring that we are kind and compassionate to others, we often forget the importance of being compassionate toward ourselves.   Never forget that the way we speak to ourselves impacts every moment of the day! Critical self-talk can increase depression and stress. Practicing self-compassion can help us become more motivated, confident and enjoy our lives more. One quick exercise for practicing self-compassion is simply to take time to check in with ourselves, and find out how we are doing.   Silly as this may seem, many of us live in such a flurry of activity that we don’t necessarily “just know” all the time how we are doing.   This self compassion exercise can be broken up into three phases: Phase 1: Identify one feeling in this moment. Phase 2: Identify a corresponding need. Phase 3: You can “fix” the need, or simply accept that the need is present.   There is no wrong answer here. Example: I am frustr...

  Flu vaccinations are currently available through SOV:  Register Today ! Let’s face it, our lives are busy. Some aspects of our health may fall by the wayside due to family and work commitments. We know it is important to work on daily lifestyle habits like sleep, nutrition, and exercise. It is equally important to stay on top of your preventive health. What are you doing to prevent disease? One thing you can do is schedule a routine checkup to make sure you’re properly vaccinated. Back-to-school season is a great time to make sure your vaccines are current. Vaccines are an important part of public health. They prevent the spread of contagious and deadly diseases. Smallpox killed 300-500 million people worldwide before the first vaccine was created. The smallpox vaccine worked so well that the World Health Assembly declared the world free of the disease on May 8, 1980. The U.S. had already eliminated the disease in 1972. Polio is another disease that caused thousand...