KEEPING ON TRACK Animal days We all have days when things just don't seem to go right. It can help to think of such days in an amusing way, rather than getting upset about them. One way of doing this is to think about them as 'Animal Days'. Each species of animal has its own individual characteristics, which includes their responses to food and their responses to activity. Various kinds of animal are listed below, each with its own typical approach to food and exercise. Now, while these approaches are entirely suitable for the animals in question, they aren't so appropriate for people! So have a look at the following lists and see if any of these sound like you on a bad day! You might also like to add your own animal types to the list. Next time you have a small lapse in your programme, just think of it as an 'animal day' - perhaps a 'goldfish day' or a 'butterfly day' - and plan to do things differently tomorrow. ANIMAL DAYS - food Goldfish Goldfish are active and much of their life is taken up with a search for food. Goldfish seem to be greedy and eat all the time. Are you ever like a goldfish? Snakes Snakes use little energy and are very good at making the most of their food supplies. Snakes eat very infrequently; sometimes apparently too little to sustain them. Are you ever like a smake? Cats Cats are extremely selective about their food; it has to be just the right kind, just the right temperature and offered at just the right time. Cats can be fussy or faddy about their food. Are you ever like a cat? Dogs Dogs are somewhat undiscriminating about their food; if it will go in their mouth they’re likely to eat it, even if it seems revolting to us and the kind of thing which really shouldn't be going into their stomach. Are you ever like a dog? Pandas Pandas have a very limited diet; they almost solely eat bamboo. Are you ever like a panda? Birds Birds need to create enormous amounts of energy to cope with flying and looking after broods of youngsters; they eat tiny amounts at a time and are constantly 'picking'. Are you ever like a bird? Squirrels Squirrels have to put food by in the good weather so they can get through colder spells; they hoard food 'just in case' times are hard. Are you ever like a squirrel? ANIMAL DAYS - exercise Snails Snails move very slowly; it takes them ages to get anywhere. Are you ever like a snail? Bluebottles Bluebottles buzz around a lot, often going around in circles and not really getting anywhere. Are you ever like a bluebottle? Elephants Elephants are heavy animals and have to put a lot of effort into moving. Are you ever like an elephant? Butterflies Butterflies flit from one thing to another; never settling on anything for very long. Are you ever like a butterfly? Hamsters Hamsters go round and round on treadmills; thinking they’re going somewhere but actually not seeing beyond the wheel in front of them. Are you ever like a hamster? Rabbits Rabbits are on the hop all the time - always on the go. Are you ever like a rabbit? I hope that thinking about things in this lighthearted way will help you get over blaming yourself when you have brief lapses; the important thing is to recognise them as short-term incidents and get them into perspective.