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As a busy professional, you may take your health for granted. People often do that because they think, 'I'm fine. Nothing will happen to me.' You need to recognize that your health is that aspect of your life that allows you to create and maintain margins, in other areas.

The concept of margins is one that Richard Swenson discusses in many of his books and is defined as "the space that once existed between ourselves and our limits. It's something held in reserve for contingencies or unanticipated situations."

Think about creating health margins by completing one (or all) of the following:

1. Get a complete physical.

   How will you where you stand health-wise if you don't take this step. Call to make the appointment today. If you don't know have a good doctor, then ask one of your friends or colleagues for a recommendation, but don't delay on making your appointment. Consider what you are risking by waiting.

2. Once a year, make all the important check-up appointments that your doctor has recommended.

   You know what yearly check-ups I mean, don't you? There are some that both men and women need--and then there are the special ones for each gender. No one looks forward to these exams, but they might save your life.

3. Don't forget your dentist.

   When you are scheduling your various checkups, include your dentist as one of your must-do medical appointments. It's amazing what health margins can be eliminated if your dental health is in decline. Haven't you ever looked at those pictures at your dentist's office? YIKES! You don't want to have your teeth and gums deteriorate--along with the rest of your health, so go ahead and see your dentist and hygienist.

4. Toss old (or unknown) medicines and vitamins.

   Take a good look through your medicine cabinet. What items are past their expiration dates? Throw out everything that has expired. What do you have in your cabinet that you don't recognize? That means you probably don't have that ailment anymore and should pitch the medicine, herbs, or supplements. Why keep something you don't need.

5. Make a list of everything you DO take (including supplements).

   Go ahead and put this list on your computer so you can print a copy to take to each of your health providers. It makes sense to carry it with you in your planner or PDA. I will always access my list when I donate blood, for example, and it helps speed the process along.

6. Obtain (and wear) a medical alert bracelet, if needed.

   If you're allergic to anything, be sure you wear a medical alert bracelet whenever you go out to exercise, work, or play. No one plans to need this...but you (and those helping you) might.

7. Monitor any symptoms that you have.

   Do you notice patterns? Just keep a log in your planner. Certainly many people with headaches have been able to notice the patterns that lead to their headaches--and then alter the pattern.

8. Take a multi-vitamin.

   It can't hurt. My brother always says that those of us who take multi-vitamins are the people who are probably also eating well enough to get everything we need. I take one anyway.

9. Get enough sleep.

   Drowsy driving is hazardous to your health.

10. Look into alternative medicine.

    Therapeutic massage, acupuncture, chiropractic, and others are considered mainstream, albeit alternative, medicine and may even be covered by your insurance. Even if they aren't, consider them anyway.

The main idea with this list is to recognize that when your health isn't there, ALL of the other areas of your life are affected

Consequently, the need to create margins for your health is paramount.

Margins are "the difference between calm and crazed." To receive weekly tips about margins, just go to http://pumpernickelpublishing.com where you can sign up to receive one tip per week in one or more of the following series:

**Tips: Creating Margins in Your Personal Life

**Tips: Creating Margins in Your Professional Life

**Tips: Creating Time, Energy, & Life Margins: Tips for Teachers

Tip: If you are interested in more than one, it's better to sign up for one at a time...or at least only sign up for one today and then a different one tomorrow. That way, you really will only get one tip on a given day and you'll have a chance to implement that before you get the next one.

Find other helpful ideas check out

**From the Desk of Meggin McIntosh (http://FromtheDeskofMegginMcIntosh.com)

(c) 2008 by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D., "The Productivity Professor"(tm)

Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc., Meggin McIntosh changes what people know, feel, dream, and do via seminars, workshops, writing, coaching, & consulting. Visit her site: http://meggin.com

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