What could be more fitting for a St. Patrick’s Day blog than focusing on the colour green? There are many things that can be tied to green, and it doesn’t just involve leprechauns or green beer either! For my 125th blog written for Belmont Health & Wealth, here it is: All things green!
Eat your greens! Healthy eating is so important for your overall health and wellness. After all, if you aren’t supplying the good “fuel” how do you expect your “engine” to function like it’s supposed to? Health Canada recommends eating at least 5 servings of vegetables a day, and with all the nutrient dense benefits of the leafy greens especially, making half your veggie intake each day greens is a good rule of thumb to follow. Just make sure you don’t get in a rut and stick to the same leafy greens each day; mix it up!
Save your greens! Putting money aside for a rainy day is a habit that too few get into but it’s so important to do. Even if it’s just 5.00 a pay, getting yourself in the habit of saving money makes it that much easier to up the savings when you are financially able to. Make a plan and stick with it. Whether it’s throwing loose change into a jar, setting up an automatic savings with your bank, or doing the 52 week challenge, it’s never too late to start a good habit!
Colour your greens! Studies have shown that staring at the colour green boosts your creativity! Researchers at the University of Munich asked a group of 65 participants to write down different uses for common objects around the house, such as a tin can. Before the test, each participant was shown a login screen that was either green or white. Consistently, those who stared at the green screen were 20% more creative in their responses. Other colours were tested against the colour green with the same results. So if you feel you’re in a funk, find something green to stare at.
Get in the greens! Have the stresses of the daily work grind got you feeling down and overwhelmed? Spend a day unplugging from everything (it’s ok… your phone will be fine at home) and get out into nature. Go for a run, hike along the coast, find a new trail to take a walk down (and if you want to make an adventure of it, look for some geocaches), or just find a body of water and sit beside it for a while. Getting back in touch with nature is one of the most sure-fire ways to help you find your balance again.
Fun with the greens!
- Green eye colour is often confused with hazel, but they are very distinctive and different. Only about 2% of people in the world have green eyes (sidebar: I’m one of them!).
- The colour green signifies nature, life, youth, safety and hope.
- Green is the second most favourite colour, with blue being the first.
- Before the 1950’s, Santa Claus’s suit was green, until Coca-Cola bought him out and changed his suit to red.
- Physiologically, green affects the nervous system, causing us to breathe slowly and deeply, helping the heart to relax by slowing the production of stress hormones.
- Brides in the middle ages wore green wedding dresses as a symbol of fertility.
- The emotion of envy is traditionally associated with the colour green.
- When born, green sea turtles are only 2 inches long. They grow to 5 feet in length and can weigh over 700 pounds, making them the largest of the hardshell sea turtles.
- Suicides dropped by 34% when London’s Blackfriar Bridge was painted green.
- Kermit the Frog doesn’t find it easy bein’ green!
Image by Jeon Sang-O from Pixabay
Source Url: http://gobelmont.ca/green/