Category Archives: Health

Is It Worth It? Let Me Work Out

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Is It Worth It? Let Me Work Out

Hello!! Despite not ever really “working out”, I am a fairly athletic person. In my youth, I figure skated for about ten years and had just gotten back into it a year and a half before the pandemic began. I also enjoy running and going for hikes. Throughout my life, I was never worried about the muscular lower half of my body from years on the ice. However, my upper body strength is a totally different story because I don’t have any lol.

This past month, I have been working at home quite a bit and had extra free time in between jobs. I don’t really know what inspired me to start a little at home work out routine but, I gave it a shot on one of my more low key days and have been completing my exercises every day since. In my apartment, I have been doing arm circles, walking my stairs, and doing twenty-five push ups – which I actually didn’t know I could do! Next, I plan on adding sit ups and increasing the amount to thirty.

Don’t get me wrong, I am very proud of my body and that, in itself, is a huge step for me because I had an eating disorder in the past. But, I’d like to tone up the upper half of my body for the first time in my life and I know that I am not going to achieve the results I want just sitting on the couch. Even though my work outs are small and basic, I feel really good after I do them and it’s a nice feeling to have because I haven’t been able to skate for the past year.

I’m not trying to get a six pack or super jacked arms but a bit more toning and definition and I feel confident that I will get there even with a slow and steady approach. In the past, I never bothered working out because I got all of the exercise that I need on the skating rink but there is no better time than the present to try something new. I feel proud of myself and it was awesome to hear Johnny say that he was too and I am looking forward to lots of hikes together this spring and summer. 🙂

How do you work out from home? How would you go about toning your upper half? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

3 Things To Remember When You Start Exercising Later In Life

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3 Things To Remember When You Start Exercising Later In Life

Not everyone likes to exercise and that’s okay. But even if you don’t like running or you are now at the point where you think you may have to do a little exercise, it could be hard to get into it if you’re a bit older. But whatever your stage of life, physical fitness can make you feel better and have a positive impact on a number of health conditions. But where do we begin?

The Importance of Starting Small:

One of the biggest temptations is to make up for lost time. So we think that we have to run 10k, but learning to run before you can walk, almost literally, can make you run the risk of a whole host of injuries. We can get injuries, not just because we are overreaching, but it is also due to poor form. Common podiatrist clients are the people who run too much. Starting to exercise is about making sure you get the form right before you do anything else. Whether you are lifting weights or running, you must focus on doing the move correctly. People are so impatient and want to get into the heavier, more difficult things, but the reality is that you need to slow down and start small.

Finding the Right Exercises for Your Lifestyle:

Another common misconception is that if we are to get fit, we need to hit the gym five or six days a week. This is not the case. When we think back to our ancestors, the hunter-gatherers, they only expelled energy when they needed to and we can learn from that. There are people who believe that you don’t need to exercise much in order to be healthy. And this is a very popular approach, especially for those who need to exercise quickly. This is why there are products like the X3 Bar that prove very popular because they provide the stimulus to grow muscle and cardiovascular health while doing it in a short space of time. But if you like the idea of running long distances, it’s entirely your prerogative. Whatever fits around your lifestyle will be enough to keep you fit.

Keeping At It:

This is the biggest thing we all need to overcome. When we find the right routines for our lives and perform them correctly, we have to stick to a schedule in order to achieve results. This is why many people give up at the gym at the end of January having just set up a membership only four weeks before! The best thing for you to do is to go to the calendar and mark the days where you can exercise and for how long. But in addition, you must remember that you will only make significant impacts on your life if you stick to a healthy diet. Exercising is the best way to begin, but if you want to make big changes, you’ll also need to change your eating habits.

It’s never too late to start exercising! Start small, keep it gradual, and make sure that you are doing your exercises correctly to prevent injuries.

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4 Benefits Of Greenery In And Around Your Home

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4 Benefits Of Greenery In And Around Your Home

It’s said that nature can be beneficial for our health and well being in a variety of ways. It not only adds beautiful color to your home but can lift your spirits as well as improve your air quality. Here are four benefits of greenery in and around your home:

Nature Makes You Happy:

As humans, there are core connections that we need. One is that we need human connection with others in order to feel content and fulfilled. Whether that’s being a social butterfly or simply connecting with others over the internet or with a small family unit. The other thing is that nature and being around nature can also help make us happier on the inside. There’s something about seeing a flower blooming or that stark green color on a leaf that can improve our mood for the better.

That’s why it’s good to have plants in all of your rooms, especially in places where you need that little bit of extra life, perhaps the bedroom where you’ll wake up feeling tired or sad from a dream you’ve had. Seeing something so colorful and alive can be uplifting.

It Keeps The Air Cleaner:

Whether you’re working with a bud trimming machine in your job or doing some casual gardening outside in your backyard, having greenery around you can impact the quality and cleanliness of the air. Plants and flowers help to purify the air, making it healthier for us humans to be able to breathe in and out. It’s important to incorporate a lot of greenery in your home and around it to help contribute to this science that’s proven to help with your health on the inside.

Helps Improve Mental Health:

Gardening is an amazing activity to take up if you struggle with your mental health. It will feel so good to get outside in the sunshine, breathe fresh air, and help something grow. Gardening is a true testament that if you nurture and care for something, you will achieve beautiful results – much like tending to your own mental health. A new hobby also helps fill excess free time and will provide a deep sense of accomplishment when your first flowers begin to bloom.

You’re More Productive:

Productivity or a lapse in productivity is something that most of us will tend to experience on a daily basis. Sometimes we’ll have good moments of productivity and others, slightly less to none at all. It’s always good to find ways of inspiring and motivating you whether it’s in your personal life or work life. Plants and flowers can help bring that productivity, sending good vibes to your brain to stimulate it. So if you’ve been feeling a lack of it recently, then be sure to invest in a few more plants for your home.

The benefits of greenery in and outside your home are proven to be helpful in creating a happy environment so use these tips for yourself this spring!

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Health & Safety Checklist For Your Home

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Health & Safety Checklist For Your Home

Your home should always feel like a safe haven but is it really? Poor air quality, pests, clutter, and damaged appliances can all be potentially hazardous to the health and safety of yourself and family. Today, we are going to talk about a few key areas that shouldn’t be ignored when you are doing a walk through of your home. Tending to any of the issues as needed below will help give you peace of mind and make your home an even better place to be:

Appliance Repair:

Ovens, washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers that are in need of repair can be dangerous if you continue on without getting them fixed. Not only could you get hurt but the problem will become even more expensive if you let it get worse. Research the best repair services in your area and give them a call ASAP. Some professionals, like Appliance Repair Vancouver, will even offer a one year after service warranty.

Don’t forget that it’s always a good idea to get your heating and air conditioning systems checked yearly to make sure that they are functioning properly. A malfunctioning air conditioning system has the potential to cause breathing problems if it doesn’t get fixed.

Clear The Clutter:

Cluttered floors, of course, can cause one to fall and hurt themselves. Meanwhile, a really cluttered home can collect dust and dirt which creates a perfect hiding spot for pests and bugs as well as make your air quality suffer. Clean and dust your home often, take the trash out immediately, and pay extra attention to spaces on the counters and floors where crumbs can gather. Remember to sanitize things that are touched often like doorknobs, light switches, and remotes. And, as always, any type of pest problem should be solved quickly to better protect everyone in the home.

Step Up Your Security:

When walking through your home, be sure to take a look at all of your windows and doors that lead inside. Windows that can easily be pried open or a front door with a gap in it should be one of your highest priorities to fix as they provide burglars with an open invitation into your place. It is also wise to have a security system installed, which are better to have and not need than need and not have. You might also want to get any locks replaced if someone else had access to your keys.

Improve Air Quality:

While keeping a clean house and tending to any air conditioning repairs that might be needed will help improve the air quality in your home, there is still more that can be done. You could purchase an air purifier or you could simply crack a few windows during nice days or care for some indoor potted plants for natural ways to keep the air in your house cleaner. Air quality monitoring systems can also be beneficial. This is especially true if you are doing a major construction project on your home. Your home is a safe haven and that starts with fresh, clean air.

Tend to the above ideas to keep yourself and loved ones safer and healthier in your home!

Tend To The Following To Breathe Better In Your Home

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Tend To The Following To Breathe Better In Your Home

If you’ve ever had to think about what areas in your home could be damaging to your health, your first thought might be the pantry or refrigerator – the places where we keep our sweet treats and unhealthy snacks. However, there are some arguably more unhealthy areas in our homes that are a bigger cause for concern. Neglect in the following four examples all has the potential to cause breathing problems to develop over time so it is important to know what they are and how you can minimize the problem:

The Insulation:

Typically, we won’t spot insulation problems since, thanks to our heaters, they don’t really impact the temperature of our homes too much. However, bad insulation can mean paying over the odds energy bills to make up for the fact that without heat, we’d be freezing cold. But high energy bills are the least of our worries. Using heating systems all of the time can mean overheating the interiors of our homes which can cause a whole host of issues due to dry air and can impact our hair, sinuses, and skin.

Our AC Systems:

We rely so much on our AC systems for heat and air to keep our temperatures regulated throughout the year. But did you know that they can actually be making us sick? Not cool. When they break, you’re going to want to call a 24 hour AC repair place to get you back on track as having a broken, malfunctioning, or dirty AC system can make you sick. You might suffer from breathing issues, bad skin, headaches, and fatigue frequently. If this is the case, you should get your AC system checked out before symptoms get worse. You can look into a professional team like those at Platinum Air Heating & Cooling or a similar business in your local area to assess and repair the situation. Once the experts fix the problem, you will certainly be breathing easier.

Air Pollution in the Home:

The air inside your home isn’t clean.

‘But I dust and clean every day!’ you might be saying, however, in spite of this, there are still tiny particles making the air dirty floating around even if you live far away from polluted cities. Cooking smoke, cleaning products, and indoor stuffiness can impact on the cleanliness of the home. Use certain indoor plants and air purifiers to help to eliminate the issue and to improve the quality of the air in the home.

Clutter:

Having excess clutter can be a nightmare for our mental health as we struggle with the ample extra time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Highly cluttered spaces not only gather dust but can also attract pests and bugs who will have plenty of places to hide. Both of these instances can be dangerous to your respiratory health.

There are many things that you could be doing to improve your quality of life in the home and the quality of the air seems like a perfect place to start, doesn’t it?

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Why Online Pharmacies Are Essential During The Pandemic

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Why Online Pharmacies Are Essential During The Pandemic

Unfortunately, 2020 was the year of the COVID-19 outbreak. The virus, also known as Coronavirus, which is highly contagious and causes a whole host of health problems, is spreading fast all around the world and needs to be contained as soon as possible. From respiratory problems to joint pain, no one wants to catch COVID-19. To avoid catching the virus, many individuals and families are staying at home and minimizing their time outside. Of course, this is great, however there are still occasions when someone may need to venture out and buy some essential items. One of those essential trips may be to the pharmacy. However, that trip can be avoided thanks to the rise of the online pharmacy. Here’s why:

Pharmacies are often filled with poorly people. There are people who need to pick up prescriptions for illnesses and those who need to seek medical advice from the pharmacist. Although these people may not look like they have COVID-19, they could be asymptomatic, meaning they’re carriers of the virus without even knowing it. Someone who is asymptomatic may head to a pharmacy to pick up some plasters for a cut and pick up five or six boxes of plasters looking for the ones they would prefer. Without realizing, they have potentially contaminated those plaster boxes with respiratory droplets which could then infect someone else. Heading to a site like www.pharmacyonline.com.au and ordering essentials online can completely eradicate the possibility of catching COVID-19 whilst waiting in line to collect a prescription or make a purchase.

Another reason you can use an online pharmacy like Greenhill Pharmacy is if you are actually feeling under the weather yourself. This also applies to any illness, not just the virus going around. If you’re feeling poorly or perhaps your household has come down with the flu or a bug, do not go to a pharmacy. As previously stated, the pharmacy is often filled with sick people and going into a pharmacy knowing you’re ill could make their conditions worse or introduce them to viruses their body hasn’t come into contact with before. Plus, if you’re feeling poorly, you’re probably feeling too weak to stand in line either, making the online service a more practical solution.

If you have small children, especially infants, an online pharmacy like University Compounding Pharmacy in New Hampshire can be a lifesaver at times. Imagine, it’s late in the evening and you suddenly realize you have run out of formula. That’s not ideal! With an online pharmacy you can order your formula from the comfort of your own home without having to worry about waking a baby and taking them to the store. Not to mention, pharmacies are not open 24 hours a day, so you’d often have to wait until the pharmacy opens anyway. Ordering online and opting for next day delivery is a great way to keep on top of baby supplies without having to leave the house. Plus, babies are vulnerable when it comes to viruses and bugs so ordering online is a great way to keep them out of harm’s way.

Finally, even if you do venture out of the house to buy essentials, it’s not guaranteed that the pharmacy or store you visit will have everything you need. Whereas, if you were to browse an online pharmacy, you would be able to buy anything you need from the comfort of your bed or couch. From vitamins and minerals to make up and perfumes, you can purchase a whole range of products. Some of which haven’t been restocked in stores as shipping and distribution has been disrupted due to the virus. You could even discover new products online too as a physical pharmacy can only sell so many product ranges. For example, learning about Houck Pharmacy and their wellness products could introduce you to supplements that vary from supporting gut health to increasing your intake of fish oil and omegas. Caring for yourself has never been easier with the help of an excellent pharmacy.

It’s important to stay safe during this pandemic and shopping for essentials online rather than heading to a store is certainly one way to look after yourself and others.

Turning Back The Clock On Those Creaky Joints

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Turning Back The Clock On Those Creaky Joints

It happens to all of us, but when you feel it for the first time, it’s only natural that you might be a little worried. Your joints might be starting to complain at you a little more regularly and you might be worried that this is an irreversible sign of aging. However, while joint paint does tend to naturally come with age, it doesn’t mean that it’s inevitable or unstoppable. In fact, here are a few ways you might be able to stop it:

Consider your weight:

It’s not a topic you might like to think about that often but the simple truth of the matter is that the more overweight you are, the more pressure is going to be put on areas like your back and your knees. Not only are they going to be uncomfortable more often, but you’re more likely to develop musculoskeletal injuries from simply moving around. Weight is not the end-all and be-all of your health, but if you are overweight, it can be damaging to your health in the long term. There are plenty of healthy weight management strategies, try choosing those that are easy to incorporate in the long term rather than fad diets or short-term tactics like cleanses.

Get yourself a little relief:

A lot of the pain that you feel around your lower back and joints is likely to be caused by pressure as a result of inflammation. There are ways to help combat this inflammation, such as by managing your weight, but a little physical assistance can also do a lot of good. For instance, after exercising, it’s important to stretch and use foam rollers to make sure you ease the tension out of your body after tensing it for so long. If you’re having joint aches, then direct approaches such as visiting a chiropractor for knee pain can help, as well. There are plenty of proven techniques for applying a little pressure to get the pain out of your body.

It’s understandable why people would want to try the most noninvasive options first to relieve their joint pain. It is very possible to find a treatment that is beneficial without going under the knife. This could include Softwave Therapy which uses unfocused shockwaves to trigger your body’s natural healing process and reduce inflammation. Always discuss with your doctor before starting any treatment. If this is something they are recommending, simply enter a search for “Softwave Therapy Wheat Ridge” (or your local area). With your research and the help of your doctor, you will be able to find a practitioner to help ease some of that pain.

Check with your doctor:

Joint pain can be a natural part of aging or it can be a result of working too hard, being stressed, or not getting enough time to rest. However, it can also be a symptom of a chronic condition that you’re not dealing with. The most common of these is arthritis. Arthritis pain almost always presents primarily as joint pain, as it is a condition that is related to long-term inflammation. Getting a diagnosis can help you get access to additional treatments you need, such as medication and even surgery if the pain is that bad. The symptoms of such conditions tend to worsen over time, so it’s important to find it and start combating it early.

You can’t prevent all of the signs of aging from coming at one point or another. You can, however, make sure you’re doing your best to keep your body young, healthy, and free from pain as possible. Hopefully, the tips above can help with that!

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How To Keep Your Home Healthy During Quarantine

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How To Keep Your Home Healthy During Quarantine

Right now, you are probably growing used to spending pretty much all of your time at home. Rather than being a place that you spend your evenings and weekends; your home is now your gym, workplace, and everything else besides. During the quarantine, you may have spent time perfecting your work from home set up, trying to keep yourself entertained, and the majority of it trying to stay in touch with friends and family via Zoom.

One thing that you may not have considered is whether your home environment is beneficial for your health. As everyone is spending far more time at home, it is more crucial than ever to make sure that your home helps your health rather than damages it. Here is how you can ensure that your home is as healthy as possible so that you can quarantine in the knowledge that your home is the best place to be right now:

Deal with Damp:

Dampness is a common problem in many homes and can cause health problems if it is left untreated. Mold and mildew are things that no one wants to see in their house, especially when you are spending all your time there. Ensuring that your home has adequate ventilation can help reduce damp, but if mold and mildew have already developed, you will need to remove them effectively. Using a bleach solution or proprietary mold remover should help clean off the mold and kill the mold spores. Remember that you will need to take care when using these treatments.

Clear the Air:

There is nothing more important than the air that you breathe, but it is easy to forget that you can play a part in improving the air quality in your home. Breathing in low-quality air can lead to a range of health problems and cause some potentially serious issues. Asthma and allergies can flare up when air quality is compromised, and your HVAC system could be causing these issues.

If your HVAC system is not maintained by a reputable air duct cleaning specialist such as DUCTZ, it can cause a range of problems. Over time, dust and dirt collect in your air ducts and if they are not cleaned regularly, then they will be spread throughout your home every time you use your heating and cooling system and pollute the quality of the air that you breathe. For this reason, scheduling regular HVAC maintenance is essential to ensure that your system is working correctly and that your air ducts are kept clean. A quick search for ‘HVAC contractor in Frederick, MD‘ or wherever it is you are located will put you in touch with the right professionals to guarantee good air quality in your home throughout the year.

Try a Deep Clean:

Deep cleaning your home is an excellent way to freshen it up and remove any potential health hazards. Deep cleaning removes the dust that can cause allergies and aggravate eczema-prone skin. Having a thorough deep clean of your house will also help to eliminate any harmful bacteria that could be lurking on your surfaces. Tend to what you can clean safely and leave the rest to the professionals should there be high places you can’t reach or your home is in need of a professional air duct cleaning. A freshly-cleaned, healthy home will make staying in it a far more pleasing experience.

Make your home even safer to be at during the pandemic by following the tips above!

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Want To Live A Healthy Life? Start Simple

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Want To Live A Healthy Life? Start Simple

Have you decided that now is a good time to start living a healthier life? Good for you! At some point, most people make a choice like this about their life, but few end up sticking to it as it isn’t a particularly easy thing to do. In this article, we’re going to be looking at some of the things that you can do to live a healthy life that are super simple. The goal here is that when you start out simple, you are more likely to stick with the new life that you have chosen. Keep reading if you would like to find out more:

Exercise where you can:

The first thing that we’re going to suggest is that you exercise where you can. There’s a number of different types of exercise, so don’t think that this means you have to go to the gym. Not everyone is a fan of working out in front of others, and not everyone is a fan of working out with gym equipment. Don’t forget that swimming is an excellent form of exercise because it makes you use all the parts of your body. Walking is also good if you want to start small. Don’t feel pressured to start by doing those intense workouts that you see online. You might never get the urge to complete these and that’s absolutely fine because most of them are for very specific fitness goals. If you just want to stay healthy, then swimming or walking a couple of times per week is going to be just fine. Couple this with good eating habits and you’re good to go!

Learn about wellness:

The next thing that we’re going to mention is that you should learn as much about wellness as you can. You need to know what your body needs, how to cook the things that your body wants, and what else you can do to live the healthiest life possible. If you look at a site such as Kristen Blake Wellness, you will find a whole host of information on this topic. The better educated you are, the higher the chance is that you are going to stick with the decision that you have made. Keep in mind that it isn’t always going to be easy, even when you’re starting small, especially if you’re used to a particular lifestyle. But, that doesn’t mean that it won’t be worth it, because we promise that it will.

Sleep more often:

The final thing that we’re going to look at is how much you are sleeping. We know that a lot of people have trouble with sleep, but it’s vital to your body being in the best condition. You need to get around seven hours of sleep every single night if you want to be as healthy as possible. There are a number of things that you can try if you’re having issues sleeping, so just find some of them and give them a go!

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now have a better idea as to some of the ways that you can start living a healthy life. If you start simple, you’re going to have an easier time making the bigger changes when the time comes!

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The Best & Easiest Ways To Go Green In 2021

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The Best & Easiest Ways To Go Green In 2021

The challenges faced in 2020 have given us all a new sense of perspective. As such, living a more eco-friendly lifestyle is likely to be one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions in 2021. Even if it’s not your main target for the year, you will probably want to implement change. The first step to success is to build a winning strategy.

Going green should be convenient and deliver noticeable benefits. Otherwise, you will struggle to find the motivation needed to maintain the improvements. Focus on the following ideas, and you can’t go wrong:

Become a green homeowner:

Given that you will spend more time at home than any other location, it makes sense to start the process here. Renewal by Andersen window replacement services can combat the threat of wasted heat energy. When added to the fact that this will boost the property value, you cannot ignore the benefits.

Further improvements can be made by adding efficient appliances to reduce water waste as well as learning to switch items off. Adding Smart tech to control various aspects of the property will allow you to stay on top of the situation in the immediate and long-term future. Better still, the positive moves should boost your financial health in the long run. Perfect.

Become a green beautician:

Unlocking a better appearance is a goal shared by millions. While plenty of lifestyle changes can be implemented to boost your look, we all need a little help to achieve the best results. My guide to eco-friendly beauty will put you on the path to success. It’s great for your health, looks, and environment.

Eco-friendly products and habits will spark improvements on a daily basis. Meanwhile, your choice of salon or spa for professional care can take the rewards to another level. Alongside beauty, you should also consider fashion choices. Backing brands that manufacture goods in a sustainable way will give you an extra source of smiles. The indirect impact on your carbon footprint is huge.

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Become a green socialite:

In addition to personal upgrades, your desire to lead a greener lifestyle can actively influence your friends and family. It is undoubtedly the best way to maximize the impact of your efforts, as well as the sense of satisfaction. Transparent discussions with those people will create a stronger message.

However, the key is to lead by example. This is something you can think about when planning your next vacation. Meanwhile, simply creating less waste in daily leisure activities can work wonders. With a little creativity, you can repurpose old clothes into unique fashion pieces. Living an eco-friendly lifestyle needn’t cause an impact on your sense of style and general aura. In fact, it could make you look better than ever.

Green living and healthy living are very closely linked. Southern Living’s easy Crock Pot recipes offer a great starting point. The stats show that food waste is one of the worst sources of environmental damage. Cooking and freezing extra portions reduces the threats while also saving valuable time.

Nutrition is one aspect, but you must also consider physical exercise. Running and cycling are among the best cardio aspects while free weights are ideal. Sure, you may still use machinery from time to time, but the use of electricity is unnecessary energy consumption. Travel to the gym or fitness club could increase your carbon footprint. Healthy lifestyles are great, but conscious decisions bring even better rewards.

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Become a green driver:

We make hundreds of decisions that impact our output each day. But some are more significant than others. Driving is the biggest cause of emissions by most. Switching to electric vehicles or hybrid cars will quickly reduce the damage you cause. If you drive a lot, it’s the single greatest upgrade you’ll make.

The right choice of vehicle is the biggest step towards greener driving by far. Still, you can support the process further by embracing new habits behind the wheel. Combining multiple journeys into one, organizing a car pool, and improving your usage of the brakes are all key steps.

If you genuinely have the motivation to lead a greener lifestyle, 2021 is the perfect time to make it happen. Now that you know how, there’s no excuse to ignore the process any longer. Ease yourself into the process throughout December, and you’ll never look back!

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