Celebrate Mini Holidays in Early January, From Enjoying a Plate of Spaghetti to Catching Up on Sleep
From Festival of Sleep Day to National Spaghetti Day, here are mini holidays to celebrate
As the holiday season wraps up, it may seem like the fun is over. But January can still be memorable thanks to “mini holidays” throughout the month. They can make an otherwise mundane month much more exciting!
From enjoying a hearty bowl of pasta to catching up on sleep, there are a number of occasions that will surely boost your mood. Check out these ideas to celebrate and beat the winter blues!
January 1–7: New Year’s Resolutions Week
Whether your resolution is to lose a few pounds, travel to a new country or master a skill, you can help set yourself up for success by focusing on the reward instead of the time it will take to earn it. That’s the word from researchers in Nature Communications. When subjects were offered $40 in seven days or $60 in 30 days, their choices depended on how the information was presented. If the waiting period was mentioned first, people tended to make more impulsive decisions, but if they were offered the cash first, they were willing to wait for their reward. The researchers say focusing on long-term benefits boosts discipline, making it easier to reach goals.
Friday, January 3: Festival of Sleep Day
Treat yourself to a restful nap today. Not only will it leave you feeling refreshed but those extra Zzzs can help protect your heart. When researchers reporting in JAMA Network Open reviewed data on the sleep habits of 15,306 people, they found that those who consistently slept well reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of their genetic risk for developing it. Why? Quality sleep minimizes inflammation and lowers blood pressure and stress—all keys for a healthy heart.
Saturday, January 4: National Spaghetti Day
The secret to whipping up restaurant-quality spaghetti at home? Stir ricotta cheese into the cooked and sauce-covered pasta, says Amanda Colello, head chef at Paisano’s Italian Restaurant at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. “It thickens your sauce and coats the noodle better.”
For pasta in a flash: Prepare your noodles ahead of time to enjoy later. How restaurants do it: “Boil it, shock it in ice water, then toss it in some olive oil and you can store it in your refrigerator,” says Colello. When ready to eat, add a splash of water to the bowl, cover in plastic wrap and heat in the microwave.
January 1–31: National Train Your Dog Month
Start the year with a well-behaved pup! If you’re one of the millions of dog owners who train their dog themselves, try offering up food rewards—it makes all the difference. When researchers in the journal Animals gave dogs progressively tougher tasks to complete to receive a reward, the pups gave up earlier when offered their preferred toy instead of their favorite treat. And don’t forget to give him plenty of hugs too: Other studies have shown that some dogs even prefer human attention to food.
Help a Hero
Donate gift cards!
If you have gift cards for stores like Lowe’s, The Home Depot or Walmart, send them to Building Homes for Heroes! This nonprofit organization will use them to purchase supplies to help injured veterans and their families. Mail cards to: Building Homes for Heroes, Inc., 4584 Austin Blvd., Island Park, NY 11558.
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