Thursday January 29, 2026 | The Idea Space | 100 Mindful Prompts: For Self-Care and Stress Relief

Small subconscious actions compound to make you the person you are.  How could your life change if you become mindful of these actions?  I took a mindful shower this morning and tried to relax as the warm water went down my muscle pain body.  Does anxiety cause full-body muscle pain from head to toe?  I eat a mindful breakfast, Lunch or dinner.  I eat slowly and savor every bite while everyone else around me eats way too fast.  This is why everyone else is overweight.  I was eating so slowly for years and still this weight gain happened.  (laughs) Why?   They don't have signal to their brains that tells them to "stop your full!"  But they are thinking, It just taste so good and they don't want to waste food at a restaurant.  Men can lose weight 10X faster than women can.  That is just not fair!  

Not sure what this means but I like this quote.  "Take great pleasure in simple actions".  

Let's see?  I meditate to keep my immune system and nervous system calm.  I exercise moderately.  I eat semi-healthy.  I have one cheat day on Saturday.  

The night before my lab work, I had an anxiety attack and a peri/menopausal hot flash at the same time.  I had to turn on the a/c when it was 30 degrees outside.  

Thursday January 29, 2026 | Night-Before-Labs for a good blood fasting blood sugar reading | Let's remember this for next time

 

🌙 Night‑Before‑Labs Checklist for Stable Fasting Blood Sugar

✔️ Dinner (2–4 hours before bed)

• Choose a steady, fiber‑rich meal:

  • Oatmeal with chia or flax

  • Beans + vegetables

  • Lentil soup

  • Whole‑grain toast with nut butter

  • Greek yogurt with berries

• Avoid heavy, greasy, or sugary meals.

• Don’t skip dinner — it can trigger overnight glucose spikes.

✔️ Hydration

• Drink water normally throughout the evening.

• Avoid alcohol — it can raise fasting glucose and disrupt sleep.

✔️ Nervous System Calm‑Down

• Warm shower or bath

• Gentle stretching

• Slow breathing

• Weighted blanket

• Quiet, predictable wind‑down routine

• Avoid stressful conversations or overstimulation

✔️ Sleep Prep

• Aim for a consistent bedtime.

• Keep lights low and screens minimal.

• If sleep isn’t perfect, stay calm — nervous system stability matters more than hours slept.

🌅 Morning‑Of Checklist

✔️ Before Leaving

• Drink a small amount of water if allowed.

• Move slowly — no rushing, no fast walking.

• Avoid exercise before labs.

• Bathroom habits do not affect blood sugar:

  • Peeing does not change glucose

  • Pooping does not change glucose

✔️ At the Clinic

• Sit quietly for 5–10 minutes before the draw.

• Relax your shoulders and jaw.

• Breathe slowly to keep cortisol low.

⭐ What Actually Affects Your Fasting Number

• Stress or anxiety

• Poor sleep

• Rushing or physical exertion

• Pain or muscle tension

• Dehydration

• Skipping dinner

Bathroom habits do not affect glucose.