Preloading

Small Changes, Big Results

Have a walnut. Speak your mind. Plan ahead. Tiny but powerful life tweaks that will make you happier, healthier, and—yes!—better.
Mental tip: Time major decisions.
Photo: Murat Giray Kaya/iStockphoto
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Time Major Decisions
During the week before ovulation, both estrogen and testosterone increase in order to help prepare the egg," says Rebecca Booth, MD, author of The Venus Week: Discover the Powerful Secret of Your Cycle...at Any Age. "Estrogen is going to make you more creative and emotional, while testosterone will raise your assertiveness and your self-confidence." So the week and a half after your period is the ideal time to work on projects that require insight and out-of-the-box thinking, or to tackle something you need courage for, like asking for a promotion. However, she cautions against making relationship decisions during this time. "The estrogen will make you sappy, and the testosterone can make you rash," says Booth. "So if you feel like doing something big and sweeping, give yourself a few days to think it over."
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From the November 2008 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
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