When we hear the word craving, we immediately think of foods—chocolate, ice cream, pizza, grande nachos with lots of sour cream and gooey cheese…. Sorry, now where were we? Cravings, yes! The truth is, they’re much more pervasive than that. We also crave shoes, purses, lipstick, wine, conversation, money, vacation, girlfriends, men, revenge (sometimes in that order), success, excitement, luxury, change, and, of course, attention. And that’s just for starters. The point is, cravings can rule our life without us fully realizing it. Here are some hints for gaining a bit more control…or giving in—in limited ways.
Food. Here’s a simple trick that really works: The next time you crave a certain food, drink a big glass of water. The body often misinterprets thirst as hunger. Even if it doesn’t completely quench the desire, your tummy will be fuller so you’ll eat less. This strategy also works when you’re tempted by seconds at dinner. Drink 8 ounces, wait 8 minutes, and the craving will vanish.
Money and stuff. Vow to go 1 day without spending any money. Pack lunch, walk to the store, turn off QVC…. It will be empowering. Then go for 2 consecutive days the following week. Now here’s the important part: After doing this a few times, ask yourself when you feel happiest—on your buy or no-buy days? You’ll see firsthand that there’s really no connection between the two.
Beauty splurges. Plan to swing by the department store counters for free samples—there’s always something there to try. Or stick to sample-size items at drugstores or discount stores—you’ll get the change you want without spending a lot of money. For things that are sanitary to share, make trades with friends. Tired of that nail polish color? Swap it for something from a girlfriend’s collection.
Men. Maybe your love life is littered with a trail of guys who initially seemed like David Beckhams but turned out to be Bernie Madoffs. Try two things: 1) Start a Man Diary, in which you list the characteristics of each guy and why (honestly now) the relationship soured, then 2) Look for similarities that you can avoid in the future. Awareness is the first step.
A housekeeper. If you’re craving one of these but your budget is cleaned out, work a swap. If one of your friends is a neat freak and genuinely enjoys cleaning, offer to do something she dreads (and that you don’t mind) in exchange. Do her grocery shopping, shuttle her kids to school/practice, cook a weekly dinner…. Or if you have a professional knack, be her financial advisor, redecorate her apartment, even service her car.
Escape. If week-long (and even long-weekend) vacations are tough to arrange and afford, then try this: Use your vacation time in half days. Instead of 2 weeks, you’ll now have 20 little escapes to sprinkle throughout the year. Most employers permit this, and even if you don’t work outside the home, the approach will help continually refresh you.
Enjoy.... Kim, for the Vocalpoint team!!!!!
Decadent (yet smart!) desserts
