Category Archives: Health

Feb12

Turning Back The Clock On Those Creaky Joints

Posted on by
Standard
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 are likely to feel around your lower back and your 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 to 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.

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!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Jan20

How To Keep Your Home Healthy During Quarantine

Posted on by
Standard
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!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Dec15

Want To Live A Healthy Life? Start Simple

Posted on by
Standard
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!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Dec3

The Best & Easiest Ways To Go Green In 2021

Posted on by
Standard
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.

greenn1

Pixabay Image

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.

greenn2

Pixabay Image

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!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov19

Lil Red COVID-19 PSA

Posted on by
Standard
Lil Red COVID-19 PSA

Howdy!! Unfortunately, COVID-19 is still causing a lot of grief for everyone. Fortunately, there are many steps that you can take to better protect yourselves and your loved ones. Like some of the following:

Mask Up:

Whether you’re rocking a surgical mask or a homemade cloth one, it is so important to wear a mask if you are out in public. Yes, some people find them uncomfortable. But, you know what’s more uncomfortable? People getting sick and dying. Wearing a mask is a sign of respect to those around you, for yourself, and for your loved ones. It is the absolute least we can all do.

Social Distance:

If you are out in public, be sure to follow proper social distancing protocols by standing at least six feet apart from those around you. Many stores have handy markers on the ground to help keep everyone the appropriate space apart. Be aware of them, use them, and don’t be that person who is up in everyone’s space despite the PANDEMIC going on. Also, while in public, make sure you are using Purell or your preferred brand of hand sanitizer often.

Just Stay In:

As someone who works with very high risk people, I have been hunkered down since March to better protect myself and my clients. Would it be nice to continue to go here, there, and everywhere as if things were normal right now? Yes. But things aren’t normal right now and most outings like restaurants, bars, or large get togethers are completely unnecessary.

Order take out, have a wine night at home, or Zoom everybody in for a hang sesh in the evening. It has been so difficult for me to give things up that I love like ice skating weekly, seeing my friends, and in store shopping trips. However, I value everyone’s health and safety far more than all of my favorite activities combined.

If You’re Bored…

And, if you’re super bored, you are always welcome here on lifewithlilred as a guest blogger! Fill up some ample free time by emailing me at: sarah.mush6794@gmail.com and we can arrange for you to be my featured blogger of the day. The best part? lifewithlilred is about creating a family in the blogosphere and all of my previous guest bloggers will always have a home on my page when they want to have their work featured again. Stay in for an afternoon and become part of my ever growing blogging family! ❤

How do you stay safe in COVID times? What is something that you miss doing the most? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov9

4 Ways To Keep Your Workers Safe & Healthy

Posted on by
Standard
4 Ways To Keep Your Workers Safe & Healthy

Your employees are the backbone of your company. They keep it up and running and help you reach your goals. Therefore, it’s wise to implement ways to keep your workers safe and healthy.

The following advice will help you maintain a productive and satisfactory workplace so everyone is happy and stays well. It’s your responsibility as the business owner and boss to ensure your work environment keeps your employee’s safe and that they feel comfortable coming into the office each day. You’ll find that you will deal with fewer accidents or mishaps and that your workers won’t be out sick as much when you follow through with these suggestions:

Clean & Disinfect Often:

If you want to continue to operate and serve your clients during these trying times, then you must be prepared to maintain a clean and sanitary workspace. It’s a reality that many business owners like yourself have to deal with and manage daily. Keep your workers safe and healthy by cleaning and disinfecting the work environment, surfaces, and your building often. Consider hiring a professional restoration services team that specializes in deep cleaning to protect against the coronavirus and other illnesses.

Document & Communicate Policies & Procedures:

Another way to keep your workers safe and healthy is to document and communicate policies and procedures. Put it in writing, so there is less confusion among your workers. You must set expectations early on and have rules in place that help keep them protected and out of harm’s way. Circulate these documents and provide copies to your employees so they can review them and ask any questions they have. These guidelines will help you to maintain a safe and healthy working environment.

Encourage A Culture Of Work/Life Balance:

It’s also wise to encourage a culture of work-life balance at your office. Keep your workers safe and healthy by letting them know the importance of them taking care of themselves and that they have your full support in doing so. They’ll have more energy and get better sleep this way and, in turn, will be more productive and content at work. Ensure each person has an amount of work they can realistically handle and have others jump in and help whenever necessary. You might also want to obtain an employee discount to a local gym and implement half-day Fridays during the summertime to show that you’re committed to this initiative. 

Train Your Employees:

You can also prevent injuries and keep your workers safe and healthy by training them. Make sure that they know how to work special equipment or handle toxic chemicals if applicable in your work environment. You want to do all that’s in your power to ensure your employees can do their jobs correctly while at the same time remaining safe and protected. You’re also showing that you’re invested in your workers by making sure they are properly trained and that you’re committed to them performing well on the job.

Implement the tips above and keep those in your company safe during the coronavirus pandemic!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov9

Ill Fitting Face Mask? Try This Quick Tip!

Posted on by
Standard
Ill Fitting Face Mask? Try This Quick Tip!

Hello! It is so important to wear a face mask right now to help with the spread of COVID-19. It is also so important that your face mask fits well and that there are no gaps anywhere that leave parts of your face exposed. I love my cloth masks, myself, because I find that they fit much better than the surgical masks, which are very loose on me.

My mom is a very petite lady and has the cutest little face. But that means that some cloth masks can be really big on her. This past week, she told me her secret for improving the fit of her masks and it is so simple and smart that I just had to share it with all of you:

E904F490-838A-42CA-B4C4-7F542A237264BCCCE1A0-E737-4DC9-A29A-254CF8664A01

If the top half of your cloth mask slides past your nose and can open up to expose the inside, then all you need is a bag of coffee grounds for the solution. Actually, all you need is the silver safety seal on a bag of coffee grounds to help keep it fresh.

Once your seal has been acquired, all you need to do is slide it up to the top crease of your mask through the opening. This will then act as a clamp so that you can tighten the top half, much like the tops of the blue surgical masks.

This quick fix has improved my mom’s mask game tenfold and all it takes is a bag of coffee. So, grab your favorite blend, keep caffeinated, use this tip, and pass it along to anyone who might find it helpful! 🙂

What are some of your fixes for an ill fitting mask? Where do you find the cutest face masks? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov1

Creating A More Healthy Home

Posted on by
Standard
Creating A More Healthy Home

You want your home to be a healthy and safe space for your family to live in and there are plenty of things you can do to make sure your home is more health conscious. Whether it’s being more environmentally aware or making better choices with your food, here are some tips to make a healthier home:

Shop Healthy:

Grocery shopping for healthy food is a great way to start the improvement process. Try to create a list beforehand and have your meal options ready so that you can shop for all the necessary bits and pieces you’ll need to make it. It’s worth trying to find healthy alternatives to anything unhealthy that you buy as you certainly may find that there’s more available now than ever before. With an increased focus on different dietary requirements, you are likely to find a lot more suitable options out there that are going to taste good whilst also being very healthy.

Keep Up With Home Maintenance:

Home maintenance is important to keep up with as they can often affect your household’s health if you don’t look after it. For example, ensuring your heating and air conditioning units are working properly and that any necessary filters have been cleaned in order to keep the air nice and clean. It’s worth getting a company like River City Heating and Air who can help with any home maintenance or fixes that need doing. You should also be looking at other machines in your home like the washing machine and dishwasher, for example, to check that they’re being deep cleaned on a regular basis. Failure to do so might result in damage to the machines but also problems with your health in what clings to clothing or what’s found in the filters of your dishwasher.

Sometimes, however, problems will occur in your home that can’t be avoided with regular maintenance. It is a good idea to compile a list of professionals that you can call when a situation arises. This can include emergency electrical services, emergency plumbers, locksmiths, a garage door repair company, roof repair professionals, and tree removal specialists. Time is of the essence when a home emergency takes place and knowing who to call can only help you and save money when avoiding further damage.

Go Green & Save Money:

Going green can be helpful in creating a healthier home that’s not only beneficial for you but can also help you to protect the environment too. Look at the ways in which you can go green and how you might be able to save money at the same time. One example is to consider solar energy and installing solar panels onto the property in order to generate its own electricity. If you decide to go green with solar, we suggest maximizing the system efficiency by hooking up the panels to a battery storage. That way you can store the excess power and use it when your panels are not producing electricity.

Solar panels are amazing for the environment and can prove to be a huge money saver in the long run. This is an especially good option if your home gets a lot of natural sunlight. If you are interested in learning more, simply enter a search for “solar panels houston” (or your local area). A consultation with a team of professionals can answer your questions and provide you with the next steps to take.

Speaking of electricity, you could also consider a change in your commute with an electric vehicle. This is not only good for the environment but good for your wallet too. You can even use the help of Residential electricians in your area to install an EV charging station for you so you never have to worry about tracking one down. Finally, you could start recycling more and embracing a paperless and plastic-free home. Both of these are easy to do, and it just requires a bit of extra work and effort on your part.

Free Your Space Of Clutter:

If your home is full of clutter, it’s a good idea to try and find ways of freeing up your excess items where possible. Look at what you have in your areas now and to do a declutter every so often. You may be best to do it at the start and end of each season, seeing as we can end up bringing in a lot of stuff into our homes over time. Be active when it comes to staying on top of clutter, and you’ll have a much more enjoyable at home experience because of it.

Transform Your Garden:

Transforming your garden is one area of the home that often gets overlooked. However, you could do many things in your garden and that includes growing your own food. Improve your garden in different ways and make it a more livable space for you and your household. Whether it’s entertaining guests around a fire pit or pruning the garden with your children, the garden can be a great place to keep yourselves healthy.

Creating a healthy home is important, so use these tips to begin a positive change today!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct13

Steps To Take Towards A Healthier Pregnancy

Posted on by
Standard
Steps To Take Towards A Healthier Pregnancy

For a lot of women, simply getting the good news that you’re pregnant can be work enough. However, it’s about to get a lot tougher after that due to the range of health issues that, even if they’re not serious, can plague a pregnancy and make it much tougher to get through. Aside from following all of the advice from your doctor, let’s discuss some tips that can help you achieve a healthier pregnancy.

Before we begin, it’s so important to confirm your pregnancy as soon as possible if you have any suspicions or tell tale signs. This can be done with an at home test or doing Blood Tests Glasgow (or your local area). The sooner you have an answer, the sooner you can begin taking the steps to ensure a healthy pregnancy.

Folic acid and Vitamin D are key:

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is important when you’re pregnant, but there are a few vitamins and nutrients that are worth giving a little more focus. In particular, vitamin D is crucial for developing healthy bones and muscles, while folic acid can help decrease the risk of a wide range of birth defects. As such, talk to your doctor about taking folic acid supplements. These are often prescribed to expecting mothers and are usually taken up until the end of the first trimester when you should be out of the woods.

Keep moving:

Pain is a greater risk when you’re pregnant. You’re gaining weight, a lot of it on your belly, which can change the way that your body handles the pressure caused by gravity pushing down on that weight. This can lead to very achy joints and back pain. For that reason, it’s a great idea to make sure that you remain as active as you safely can through all stages of the pregnancy. There are pregnancy exercise classes that you can do in person or online, whichever is safest at the moment. Otherwise, even daily stretches and walks can make a big difference.

Tackle your pain head on:

By being more active and addressing posture issues, you can make sure that your added belly weight isn’t stressing your body out as much as it otherwise would. However, chronic pain is a regular part of many women’s pregnancies and one that should be addressed with care. As such, look for professionals like a chiropractor that offers specific treatments for pregnant women that take into account your additional health concerns. There are also maternity massages that ensure your baby bump is kept safe while offering you some much-needed relief.

Don’t ignore your mental health:

We naturally complain more when we’re pregnant. We’re in more physical discomfort, we might be anxious about the upcoming birth, we’re planning for a huge life change. However, if you’re having real trouble with your mental health, then it is worth taking the time to reach out to a counselor. Nowadays, it’s much easier to find trained professionals online who can help you deal with a wide range of anxieties and insecurities. Don’t feel like you would be too much of a burden talking to friends and family, either. Everyone wants to make sure you get through this in tip-top shape.

Your doctor’s advice is always paramount when it comes to deciding how you deal with a pregnancy. However, the tips above can be a good supplement to that and are worth keeping in mind!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Sep28

Hold My Beer

Posted on by
Standard
Hold My Beer

Hello! Being self employed is super rewarding and there is nothing better than being your own boss. However, I do have one complaint: Taking time off sucks! When I am sick or going on vacation, I don’t get paid time off so I often end up running myself ragged until all of it catches up with me. Like last week, for example.

I’d like for all of us to take a minute to laugh at what I told Johnny when I returned home from work last Monday. I believe it went a little something like this: “I’m really not trying to take time off until Thanksgiving”. Then, the world said “hold my beer” and I ended up having to take the rest of the week off from being sick.

When I woke up on Tuesday, it was like a switch flipped on and “Sick Mode” commenced. Oh my, was I miserable. I had a hell of a sinus infection and all of the drainage going into my stomach made me nauseous to the point of throwing up. I was so tired constantly even though some nights I slept for close to twelve hours. Needless to say, there was no way I was going into work.

It honestly took falling sick and feeling so yucky for me to realize that I need to be far more generous with my time off – even if I’m not getting paid for it. My health should always come first, especially in COVID times and I can’t take care of my clients or myself properly when I am so worn out and going for months on end without a week day or two off.

Being the CEO to two thriving businesses has its perks. I love making my own schedule, being one hundred percent in control of everything, and only having myself to answer to. But, being the boss also means knowing when an employee needs a break and I plan on being much more accommodating to that from here on out.

I’ll tell you what, being sick and all alone in my apartment while Johnny is at work is for the birds. And not having my parents take care of me like back in the day when I was under the weather is for the birds too. So, here’s to less days off from being sick and more days off for pure fun and relaxation. Let’s get it!

How do you keep sane while self employed? How did you spend your last day off? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah