Time to cut back, destress

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Oct 12, 2008 | by Cameron Sullivan

Economically speaking, you may feel like you're swimming with a snorkel that is 2,000 feet too short.

Enough about that. No more panicking. While reading about panic in a physiology textbook I borrowed from Janet Kaehms, who teaches anatomy at Dublin High, I learned that the sudden onset of stress can increase adrenaline production.

Adrenaline is useful if you need to outrun a bear in the woods who has not eaten in a week. The hormone infuses the brain and muscles with glucose to prepare the body for emergencies. Unfortunately, adrenaline also slows "nonessential" functions such as digestion.

Why forgo healthy digestion in favor of panicking about something most of us cannot control?

Instead, relax, breathe and consider making some of the following changes to your attitude and lifestyle:

-- Ignore things you cannot change. Disregard 401(k) statements: When they arrive in the mail, file these away without opening them. Better yet, shred them for bird-cage liner.

-- Soft-pedal it: Saving a gallon of gas per week ($186 a year) may sound difficult, but by walking or cycling 15 to 20 miles per week instead of driving, you will notice the savings.

Mary Michaelides of Pleasanton tries to combine her errand- running into single trips to save gasoline and time.

Her husband, John, admits, "I've slowed down my driving," explaining that he never drives more than 60 mph on the freeway.

Soft-pedaling is especially useful when you play Gas Station Roulette. Last week, I kept my gas tank on empty for three days. Annoyed about spending $62.85 to fill it, we cycled and walked to school and on errands while monitoring gas prices.

When a nearby station lowered its price per gallon from $3.59 to $3.57 on Tuesday, I resisted the urge to fill the tank, despite the warning light on the dashboard.

"I can get another 15 miles out of the gas I have left," I thought. "I'll wait for prices to drop lower."

By Thursday, the price was down to $3.55 a gallon. Never mind that I nearly had to push my ugly minivan to the pump; I still saved 73 cents on a full tank ($38 annually).

-- Eat leftovers: Cook bigger meals; leftovers save time and money. When I was growing up, leftovers once or twice a week were a way of life. Often the food tastes better on the second go-around anyway.

-- Entertain locally: Take the family out for free civic happenings, area holiday parades and cultural events such as the Filipino-American History Day on Sunday at the Pleasanton Library, coordinated by my dear friend Grace Navalta.

These are good times to focus on new forms of family quality time. Last year my daughters and I started what we thought would be an annual tradition of attending "The Nutcracker Ballet" in San Francisco.

This year, we will watch the girls' friends perform "The Nutcracker Ballet" at Livermore's beautiful Bankhead Theatre with Tiffany's Dance Co. We will get dolled up in last year's finery and maybe even host a modest tea party at home instead of eating out.

-- Get a dog: Worried about renewing that expensive health club membership? Add four legs to the family. There are plenty of pooches ready for adoption at the Tri-Valley SPCA and the Valley Humane Society.

With two, 45-minute brisk dog walks per day you'll burn at least 3,100 calories per week. That's 1,000 calories more than three gym visits. Plus, the gym doesn't snuggle with you when you're watching the DVDs you checked out for free from the library.

-- Scale back: While adjusting my attitude about finances, I decided that instead of moaning about not getting to replace all my Tupperware during a kitchen remodel that will not happen any time soon, I will attend the public showing of the award-winning video, "Tupperware: Building an Empire, Bowl by Bowl" at the Dublin Library on Oct. 23.

The library can borrow my Tupperware supply as an antique exhibit.

Next week, I'll write about how to forage for good deals close to home to help support the local economy and save big bucks. Please send me any local shopping tips you want to share.

In the meantime, stay calm and stave off adrenaline production. Unless, of course, you're about to become food for that hungry bear.

Cameron Sullivan welcomes ideas from readers. Reach her at www.cameronsullivan.net.