This Final Report is unlikely to make the top 10 list like Rick Mercer’s book has done but it’s an important step for my personal accountability. 
Recently, at an educational inservice, the speaker was listing the top health crisis issues for Canadians right now. Interestingly enough # 1 is no longer obesity.
- Sleep
- Stress
- Obesity
I have addressed my sleep issues with a combination of non prescription medication and sleep hygiene. I still have some bad nights but not like 2 years ago. I’m averaging 6 to 7 hours per night which for me seems amazing.
Stress is a regular factor in life and I firmly believe that it’s how you handle stress that bears examining. You can’t escape stress so learning to let go of what you can and dealing with that which you have any control over seems to work for me. And talking it out; with my man, with friends, with family. Whatever it takes to put it into perspective. Each of us handles it differently but that’s what has worked for me.
I have worked diligently for the past 8 months and am down a significant amount of weight . I physically feel so much better but I’m frustrated as my end goal is still 12 pounds away and I am not sure I’m going to get there. Life is short; desserts and beer are so good and; yes life can be short. I think the biggest take aways have been much better portion control and attention to the food guide along with a serious nix on most sugar.
I’ve kept up with the minor items that have long term impact; flossing, hugging, mindfulness and exercise. Well kind of for the last one; it’s now more on again but for a while for various injury reasons it was off again. What I’m getting a big fat zero for is stretching. Lots of people never stretch but my body functions better if I do. So why don’t I? Isn’t that a good question. I always blame it on time so let’s see how that changes once I no longer work full time.
Which concludes this year’s “self-care” check up and it’s a great segue into the word for 2019.
CHANGE
Rather self explanatory with the change in employment (12 shifts with 6 on call) and the change in age bracket (big 60 coming up in 16 days). Change indeed.
Bernie
Equipoise Life 
…OH – and I read your blog, but not Mercer’s book!
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LOL!
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Here’s a health idea for you (to try to help you feel better about those desserts and good beer): In Sardinia, people live longer than most anywhere else in the world. The top 2 reasons that is so (not weight, exercise, etc..): close relationships and social integration. Social integration is about how many people you interact with during a day – the cleaning staff, the mailman, clerks at stores, less-close friends. See TED talk ‘The Secret to Living Longer may be your Social Life’ on ted.com .. Happy New Year to you and yours – wishing you good measures of contentment and joy.
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I think the talk sounds interesting and it falls under the category “connections” that Younger Next Year talks about. Social isolation isn’t good for us but finding the right balance of how much is right will take a while in my next 5 years of casual employment.
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