Healthy Habits: Enjoying hobbies, limiting caffeine help Dr. Karen Lawson stay balanced

January 2, 2019 Dr. Karen Lawson, Fitness, Healthy Habits, Nutrition and Wellness

Taking care of your health is a priority and nobody knows that more than physicians and healthcare providers.

It can sometimes be difficult to find ways to stay healthy, so we’ve asked members of our Baylor College of Medicine community to share what they do in their daily lives to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Karen Lawson, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor, shares some of her healthy habits with us.

Q: What health decisions start your day?
A: Remain positive. Keep things in perspective.

Q: What is your go-to healthy breakfast?
A: I have a glass of water first. Then granola cereal with fruit and two percent milk. I drink just one cup of coffee, because I love cream and sugar in it and that just adds on more calories!

Q: What is your favorite type of exercise?
A: Taking my dog on a 20-minute walk.

Q: What keeps you motivated during your workout?
A: Walking the dog is a good way to keep going because they love to keep going!

Q: What is your favorite healthful snack?
A: A sliced Gala apple.

Q: Do you take vitamins and if so, which ones?
A: A daily multi-vitamin and Vitamin D.

Q: What do you include in your child’s lunch?
A: Carrot sticks, apple slices, peanut butter, a bottle of water, and a Clif Bar.

Q: What is your nighttime skin regimen?
A: I wash my face with Neutrogena soap and put on a rich lotion like Jergens.

Q: What hobbies do you have to help you relax?
A: Making photo albums for my family and others or going on a walk.

Q: Do you use a pedometer or Fitbit and what is your daily step goal?
A: I use a Fitbit and strive for 10,000 steps. I plan to increase that to 12,000 in the new year!

Q: What is your favorite health tip that you live by?
A: Everything in moderation.