Tag Archives: anxiety

Reduce Your Stress With These Hobbies

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Reduce Your Stress With These Hobbies

Every person in the world experiences stress now and then. It’s important to know that it is a very normal part of life. That being said, extreme stress or prolonged periods of stress can result in several health problems. The best way for you to relieve this stress would be for you to try and do things you enjoy. If you want to find some stress relieving hobbies, why not try the following?

Walking:

Taking a walk outside can work wonders when it comes to your overall health. A quick walk can help to stop you from overthinking, is a healthy distraction from your thoughts, and a great form of exercise.

Listening to Music:

Listening to music or playing your favorite songs is an excellent way for you to put yourself in a good mood. One major plus here is that there are even some health benefits to listening to music for half an hour, every single day. It can lower your blood pressure and it can also calm anxiety. If you want to play an instrument, check out Sound and Music.

Yoga:

One activity that is great if you want to gain traction for melting stress would be yoga. Yoga is a fantastic way for you to build strength or tone up. Studies have shown time and time again that yoga can reduce your stress response and it can have a major impact on those who are experiencing stress and anxiety.

Reading:

If you want a cheap hobby that won’t break the bank, crack open a good book. Reading for just five minutes a day is enough to reduce stress, not to mention that it gives you the chance to escape to a fictional world. You can leave reality behind for as long as you want and wipe out tension with ease.

Gardening:

It’s time for you to get your gardening gloves out and start planting! As the warmer weather hits, you will soon find that it’s easier than ever for you to get outside and garden. Studies have shown that gardening can boost your mood and it can help to regulate the hormone known as cortisol. Not only is gardening a proven mood booster, but it can also give you the chance to focus all of your attention on a single activity. This helps to distract you from whatever it is you’re going through right now.

Hiking:

Nothing beats a scenic view! Walking in nature can help to put an end to your pattern of obsessing, in addition to exposing you to a wonderful view. Hiking is an ideal form of aerobic exercise. You would be surprised at how beneficial it can be and it can help you in more ways than one. Why not see if there are any scenic routes you could take around your local area?

Shake your stress away by enjoying yourself with any of the hobbies above as they are tried and true methods to relieving stress!

Featured Image By: Pexels

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Take The Compliment

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Take The Compliment

Hello! One thing that I have always struggled with is receiving compliments and I’m sure that I am not the only one who has similar sentiments. When I was at my lowest, I genuinely couldn’t understand why anyone would want to compliment me and all it did was make me paranoid and even more miserable. It’s hard accepting compliments when you don’t feel worthy of getting them in the first place! It’s also so easy to deflect a compliment and just turn it around to the other person, instead. IE: “You look great”. “No, you look great”.

For several years, I was never able to simply say “thank you” for a compliment and it took a lot of mental health work on my part to get to that point. After coming to terms with my own problems and gaining some self esteem, I realized that I have improved tenfold in my compliment accepting abilities. It actually didn’t really click until I saw these two pictures taken at Playhouse Square this past weekend:

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^^^ When snapping some pics before seeing Beetlejuice, someone told me they liked my outfit mid-pose and the second picture is of me being ecstatic about it!

As I was scrolling through photos of my night on the town, these two pictures really stuck out to me. As I sat and mused, I wondered what the second picture would have looked like if I was back to my depression days. Chances are, I wouldn’t have had a huge smile – rather, a look of confusion as if someone was trying to play a joke. Recognizing that and being able to see it so plainly in front of me made me feel proud of my own personal growths.

lifewithlilred played a big role in helping me muster up some confidence about myself in general and my appearance. Through OOTDs, I was able to develop my sense of style and writing about my issues in early posts assisted in sorting out my emotions and learning from them. And, while saying “thank you” for a compliment online isn’t the same as in real life, it was a great first start. Having people comment specifically on my page was a turning point and I was able to see the compliments for what they really were – something nice.

As I began testing my new skills in public, it began getting easier and easier to say “thank you” to the point where I didn’t even have to think about it anymore. I also loved how much more genuine it felt to give a person an actual compliment back instead of just replying with an Uno Reverse card lol.  It wasn’t until seeing the pictures above that I put some thought into it and saw what a major improvement has been made. 🙂

If you can relate to this post, my best advice is to Take The Compliment when you receive one. It might be really hard at first but just saying “thank you” is a small step in making some big changes!

What is something that you struggle with? Is it hard for you to accept compliments? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

5 Advantages Of Employee Uniforms

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5 Advantages Of Employee Uniforms

Employee uniforms are sometimes looked at with disdain. People don’t like the thought of them as it reminds them of going to school. However, there are some genuine advantages of employee uniforms that you don’t see if everyone wears their own clothes to work. If you run a business and are interested in doing whatever you can to improve it, perhaps you should consider investing in uniforms. If you do, you might see the following benefits:

Maintain a strong brand image:

It is much easier to maintain a solid brand image when your employees are in uniform. Everyone’s wearing the same clothes and they look professional. When everyone comes to work in plain clothes, it’s harder to maintain your image since we’re all individuals with our own sense of style. Even if you set a dress code, people can turn up in different outfits to reflect their unique fashion choices. It can create a workplace that looks a bit jumbled and doesn’t produce a consistent image. Work uniforms prevent this by making everyone wear something that accurately puts across the brand image you wish to showcase.

Advertise your company for free:

Employees can choose to get changed at work – or, they can wear their uniform on the commute. It’s a really clever idea to get things like hoodies or jackets for them to wear when it’s cold or wet. The benefit of this is that they broadcast your brand to everyone for free. Effectively, they’re walking advertisements for your business. Places like Mato & Hash let you create customized T-shirts and clothing that can be emblazoned with your brand logo. You could even print things on the back, such as contact details or your website. As you and your employees go on lunch breaks or commute to/from work, people will see your logo and contact details, and you just might gain some new leads.

Create a better workplace culture:

Uniforms make people feel like they’re part of a team. As a result, you can foster a better workplace culture where everyone feels a sense of togetherness. Think about it, where else will you see uniforms outside of the workplace? Primarily, it will be sports teams that wear them. So, if your employees are all wearing the same things, they genuinely feel like more of a unit. It’s a psychological thing; everyone feels part of a pack. It can also help people stay more connected to your company and buy into the company culture. When everyone turns up in their own clothes, there’s definitely more of a disassociation from the company and its culture.

Avoid confusion:

In certain workplace settings, you’ll encounter customers every day. They can walk through a store or come to your office for a meeting. Either way, employee uniforms help to avoid any confusion as to who works at your company. Customers and potential customers can quickly identify who your workers are. Consequently, it’s easier for someone to ask for help or identify where they need to go. Even in an office setting, seeing a room full of people in the same branded uniform removes any confusion from someone’s mind. They won’t have to awkwardly check that they’re in the right place; it’s clear that they are as they see your brand on everyone’s tops!

Prevent social anxiety:

This seems like a strange point, but there’s a lot of social anxiety surrounding what to wear to work. Employees can spend ages every morning figuring out what to wear. Do they wear the same thing twice and risk someone noticing and saying something? What if people make fun of their clothes? It sounds unlikely, but this can happen. Even if nobody actually says anything about someone’s attire, there’s always the element of anxiety in figuring out what to wear. By giving your employees uniforms, you make them all equals. They won’t have this sense of worry every morning as they know they can wear what everyone else is wearing.

Overall, you can see how employee uniforms are beneficial for businesses. As a bonus, you could save money for your workers too. Instead of spending cash on work clothes, they get uniforms for free. If people enjoy wearing the uniforms, you will see all of the benefits and no drawbacks.

Featured Image By: Pexels

The Coronavirus Pandemic & Mental Health

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The Coronavirus Pandemic & Mental Health

Mental health has always been a sensitive topic. It’s equally important to physical health, but many believe otherwise. Mental health problems include anxiety, depression, insomnia, and phobias of different kinds. Earlier, people ignored these problems, but now, we know better.

Due to strong efforts by many mental health experts, the world became aware of these conditions and saw their effect on children, teenagers, and adults alike. But the number of patients shot up drastically during the pandemic.

How did the pandemic effect mental health?

People lost their loved ones to Covid, which worsened mental health across the globe. Every day felt worse than the last and it felt impossible to visit our friends and family. Everybody was scared for their lives, and fear is not good for mental health.

Companies laid off people, which increased unemployment and caused worry. Lock downs shut down schools, children were forced to stay home, work from home became a norm, and people had to live in isolation, leading to many mental health problems.

The whole situation created immense pressure in the minds of adults and children. It’s hard to recover from the tragedy of this scale. The environment of uncertainty and danger created hopelessness that’s hard to manage. All of these problems trigger mental issues such as anxiety and depression.

Are young adults depressed?

Surveys have shown that young people are more prone to mental issues due to the pandemic. According to a study of healthcare students at the University of Jordan, it is found that students are suffering from high anxiety, which can also hinder their learning abilities.

Young adults have reported a lack of sleep and a rise in negative thoughts. They crave losing masks and attending events like they were supposed to at this age. The constant fear is always there. What if this never ends? The financial risks are also to note. Colleges might be closed, making it hard for students to study and get good grades to qualify for better courses or jobs. They lack the skills taught inside colleges to make them excel in their respective fields.

Many studies point towards a global mental health crisis due to the pandemic. Young adults are prone to mental health problems like stress and anxiety. Loneliness during the pandemic has made young adults susceptible to depression.

What to do now?

Now that things are looking up, we all must work hard to get our mental health on track. Find people who face similar issues as you and talk to them. Create groups where you and your peers can share their struggles during the pandemic and afterward. Form pacts to put in efforts towards the betterment of your mental health.

These include eating healthy and exercising regularly. You can even hire a trainer who has done an offline or online PT course so that he or she is equipped with the knowledge to help you work out. Having a personal trainer allows you to learn how to get the best out of each workout session. They also suggest diets and healthy habits curb negative thoughts and promote better sleep.

Mental health issues need treatment and professional care. Schools and colleges can hire therapists to take care of students and listen to their struggles. They can also conduct group sessions with professionals to solve problems on a larger scale.

There is also nothing wrong with using medications when necessary. Severe levels of depression need selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or selective serotonin or norepinephrine inhibitors. Tetracyclic antidepressants are also recommended for depression along with bupropion. Organizations, schools, and colleges can have clinical psychologists prescribe medications.

It has always been important to take care of your mental health but even more so when living in these scary times. Be good to yourself and brighter days are ahead soon!

Stress Relievers To Help You Unwind

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Stress Relievers To Help You Unwind

Stress is a part of life and even though you cannot always control your circumstances, you can easily control how you respond to a situation. If you want to find out more, then simply take a look below:

Meditate:

Meditation will offer you a lot of short-term stress relief. You may even find that it helps you to develop your own mantra as well. you can repeat this in your mind as you take slow and deep breaths. You might also want to take a few minutes to practice mindfulness too. This will help you to be in the present moment. All you have to do is pay attention to what you see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. If you can make yourself focused on what is happening right now, then you won’t be as likely to focus on things that have already happened.

Muscle Relaxation:

Progressive muscle relaxation often involves trying to relax all of the muscles in your body. You need to do this group by group and take some deep breaths too. It is a good idea to start with your head and work your way down to your toes. If you can practice, then you will be able to learn how to recognize tightness in your muscles and you can also help yourself to relax more easily.

Take a Walk:

Exercise is a great stress reliever and it can work in a matter of minutes. Taking a walk gives you the chance to change your scenery and it also helps to put you in a better frame of mind. This will give you all of the benefits that you get with exercise too!

Give Someone a Hug:

Physical touch can help you to relieve your stress more than you realize. When you hug someone, you will release oxytocin, and this is known as the “cuddle hormone”. This is associated with happiness, and it can also go a long way when it comes to relieving stress too. Another great thing about this hormone is that it helps to reduce your blood pressure. It’s a win/win. 😀

Aromatherapy:

Aromatherapy offers a lot of major benefits when it comes to stress relief. It helps you to feel more relaxed and it also helps you to feel like you are in the current moment more as well. Research is showing time and time again that scents can alter your brain wave activity and they can also boost the amount of feel-good hormones in the body. Light your favorite scented candle to see what we mean!

Create some Art:

Coloring is a fantastic stress reliever and research has shown consistently that it can offer you a meditative effect. Those who color using complex patterns often report way less stress during the day. Not to mention how much fun it is!

Balanced Diet:

A bad diet can make you far more reactive to stress. Emotional eating with high fat and high sugar food can give you a sense of relief but it can lead to you experiencing even more stress in the future. Refined carbohydrates such as cookies or potato chips can cause your blood sugar to spike. When this happens, you will then experience a sugar crash, and this can make you way more likely to experience stress and anxiety.

Make Time for Leisure:

It doesn’t matter whether you enjoy making your own quilts or whether you love to play basketball because this is the key to helping you unwind. If you love watching sports, why not try and play one? You can also lookup the best NBA odds if you live for live games.

Positive Self-Talk:

The way that you talk to yourself does matter. That little voice at the back of your head has a far bigger impact than you realize, and you may even find that it causes you more stress. Talk to yourself in a realistic way and focus on being compassionate too. Positive self-talk will help you to develop a much healthier outlook on your life and to manage your emotions better.

The past year and change has been grueling, to say the least. Use the tips above for a mentally stronger and healthier you in the new year!

Featured Image By: Pexels

 

How To Give Your Dog The Healthiest Life

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How To Give Your Dog The Healthiest Life

Our dogs are our family members. They are just as important as anyone else and they need to be taken care of accordingly. There are so many different opinions when it comes to taking care of your pooch, but there are a few universal bits of advice that every dog lover and owner needs to take to heart. Here are four doggy care must-do’s for your pup:

What Are You Feeding Your Dog?

Many commercials will tell us that what we feed our dogs is important. Many foods on the market are made of not-so-healthy materials with “spray on flavoring.” You wouldn’t want to eat that yourself, so why would you give it to your dog? Go to your local pet store or pet supply store and find organic dog foods that list healthy ingredients in their recipes. You can get several great and affordable products that will keep your dog’s immune and digestive system on track and healthy, which will give them a good and long life.

Is Your Dog Anxious?

Many dogs suffer from anxiety. Dog anxiety is very common and there are symptoms to look out for when interacting with your dog. Dog anxiety can be treated by doing something as simple as making sure there is always a quiet place for your dog. You can do something more out of the ordinary like doggy spas or meditations. Whatever works for you and your dog is best, but having an effective solution will help you get your dog feeling better.

Is Your Dog Getting Enough Playtime?

Everyone is busy. That goes without saying, but taking a few moments out of the day to walk and play with your dog is a huge benefit to their life. Interactions allow your dog to feel comfortable around people and will help them socially. Playtime is also the most optimal time for you and your pooch to bond and create friendship and loyalty that will last your dog’s entire life. This is also a great opportunity to train your dog to do tricks, behave, and be calm and affectionate around other people. Your dog will be so happy that you do this for them.

Are You Going to the Dog Park?

A lot of people are weary of the dog park and for good reasons. Your dog could get into a fight or get injured playing. But the benefits of the dog park far outweigh the negatives. This is a great opportunity for your dog to get all the exercise they need to remain strong and within a healthy weight range. The biggest thing the dog park does is allow your dogs to be around other dogs. That’s great for helping them adjust socially and for teaching them how to be respectful of other dogs. When your dog has this experience, they are less likely to go after other dogs when you are on your walks, and they will be more gentle with their furry friends.

Give your four leggeds the best life with the tips above!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

3 Tips For Managing Social Anxiety

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3 Tips For Managing Social Anxiety

Social anxiety is an increasingly prevalent problem for many people around the world. If you find yourself feeling anxious when meeting new people, spending time in large groups, or even one-on-one, you definitely are not alone. Since the coronavirus pandemic swept the world last year, social interaction became even more digital than it was before. For young people, especially, this has only extrapolated any social anxiety they experienced before the pandemic.

Dealing with social anxiety is very challenging, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life. Life is too short to live with anxiety symptoms. Here are three tips for managing social anxiety:

Confide in a close friend and stick with them:

If you are going to an event where you are likely to experience anxiety symptoms, it’s time to buddy up. Make sure to take a close friend with you who knows about the way you feel in social situations. This will improve the situation in many ways, simply because you can confide in them if you begin to feel anxious.

With your buddy by your side, you can take small breaks by stepping outside and talking through how you feel. You can even leave the event with your friend taking care of you, to ensure you get home safely if things get too much. Everything is achievable if you work as a team – so make sure to confide in a close friend about the way you feel. Anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of and you deserve to feel supported in difficult times.

Seek therapy for your anxiety:

If your anxiety is overwhelming and is stopping you from doing regular things such as going to work, running errands, or seeing friends and family, you should seek help. Therapy or counseling are fantastic tools that can equip you with skills of anxiety awareness, inform you of your triggers, and help you to eventually overcome the symptoms you experience. A licensed therapist can talk with you about where your anxiety might stem from and what to do if you become anxious in a social situation.

If you are looking for anxiety therapy, you should speak to your doctor or go online to find therapists in your area.

Use natural remedies to calm your mood:

Finally, there are natural ways to calm your mood, without resorting to prescription medications. Prescription medications are absolutely fine if your doctor has recommended them, but some people want to go down a more natural route. Natural remedies such as CBN hemp oil can help you sleep better, providing natural and safe sedative effects that will alleviate anxiety. You can self-administer these natural remedies safely, but you should always read the directions and make sure you are taking the right amount for your weight and age.

If you are struggling with symptoms of social anxiety, the most important thing you can do is take immediate steps to change this. Nobody should have to live with anxiety, and by using the techniques detailed in this blog, you can help turn the tide on your symptoms.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Easing Anxiety & Taking Back Control Of Your Mind

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Easing Anxiety & Taking Back Control Of Your Mind

The past year has been incredibly stressful for most people throughout the world. The demands of everyday life can take their toll at the best of times, but a global pandemic can be enough to push people over the edge. It can feel near enough impossible to avoid the crippling sense of anxiety that can take over.

The times when we feel the most anxiety is when we feel as though things are out of our control – and the past 15 months have felt a lot like that. One of the only ways to overcome anxiety is to do what we can to make sure we can focus on the things we can control to make our lives a little easier. Here are some of them:

Stop Putting Things Off:

Some things that we have to deal with in life are unavoidable. Bills need paying, as does the rent, and toothaches can only go so long before booking an appointment with family-friendly dentists when the pain can impact on getting things done. People are often guilty of putting things off out of fear. The dentist is a good example. Not for having an appointment with the physician themselves, but for the fear of the pain that may occur during the appointment.

However, most know that once the appointment is done, treatment takes place so that they can live a relatively pain-free existence. Continuously putting things off will not only make anxiety worse, but it may also be detrimental to health. Untreated dental pain can cause some pretty severe health implications in addition to potential tooth loss so the answer is to stop putting things off that feel scary or uncomfortable. In many situations, the issue will only get worse as time goes on.

Stop Being Angry and Not Doing Anything About it:

Social media and the news is a great tool for making people feel irrationally angry. They can also make people feel hopeless, too. While feeling angry about a situation is not a bad thing, if not followed up by action then there’s little point to it at all.

If a worldwide issue is making somebody feel angry, then there are always things that they could be done in an attempt to make things seem a little better. Know that bigger issues can be helped by a few people making little changes. Climate change is one of them. Start by making small steps to reuse items and to recycle the things that can be and know that it is part of your contribution. Decrease water usage, eat less meat, and walk when possible are also always good choices.

Social media can make people feel resentment, inadequacy, and all kinds of FOMO. The same rule applies – unfollow the folks who contribute to feelings of not being enough. Time on Facebook should be entertaining, not another thing that upsets you.

The most important thing to focus on during continuing feelings of uncertainty is to be thankful for the things that bring comfort, joy, and peace. There is so much in this world that is beyond anybody’s control, so it is important to focus on the things that can be in order to create a better life.

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Mental Health And Who Is There To Support You

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Mental Health And Who Is There To Support You

It is understandable to see how one’s mental health can be effected during the COVID-19 pandemic as everyone’s lives have changed so drastically in one short year. Jobs, finances, and socializing has all been turned upside down and that’s enough to stress anyone out. We all hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and normality will return soon, but in the meantime, if you are finding yourself struggling with stress, anxiety, or depression that you reach out and get the support you need.

Here are some useful suggestions on who you could turn to:

Mental Health Charities:

Mental health charities are wonderful as they have a stash of resources, trained staff, and professionals available to help. They can guide you and assist if counseling is needed, help you assess the best options available in your location, in addition to offering their services twenty-four hours a day. It is worth noting with charities, that there is a vast range of services offered and that some charities may have a more in-depth knowledge relating to specific age groups than others.

Your Family Doctor:

Approaching your personal doctor or physician is also a good port of call if you have any mental health concerns. They will be able to offer excellent guidance on additional support that can be provided and help arrange this for you. Whilst in some cases, they may even be able to prescribe medication to help support your recovery. As you will already have some relationship with this medical professional you may find this an easier first step than approaching someone new.

Employer:

Most employers have some kind of support system in place to help their employees. This will range from office workers that have occupational health benefits or private insurance included to actors and actresses that have an intimacy set coordinator in place to support their mental well being. Although you may find it tough approaching your boss to discuss these matters, know that they are there to help and support you.

Family And Friends:

Sometimes it can be easier to speak to someone you know and trust. Who is better than those that love you the most? Reaching out to a family member or close friend can make seeking help easier for some people. They already have an understanding of your situation, circumstances, and struggles. They are able to offer a friendly ear and, in some cases, can take some of the burdens you are feeling and offer or apply practical solutions to lift your mental load. Schedule a Zoom call with your best friend the next time you are feeling down, it will do a world of good.

It is important to talk about our feelings in such stressful times, not bottle them up! This will only make the pandemic feel more overwhelming. Schedule a call with a professional or a friend you trust to help ease mental health struggles and just know that you are not alone in feeling that way, at all.

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Keeping Your Life Running Smoothly Mid Pandemic

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Keeping Your Life Running Smoothly Mid Pandemic

2020 has been a true testament to events happening that feel completely out of your control, which can make life seem so overwhelming. But, it’s good to remember that there are plenty of things that are one hundred percent up to you despite all of the craziness that happened in 2020 and still continues. If you are feeling a bit lost right now, anchor yourself with doing the following to get you back on track and keep you there:

Get things done:

Time does not stand still and nor can you. It’s important to take care of problems as they arise instead of brushing them off. Get any appliance repairs that need done fixed immediately, get your oil in your car changed, have your computer looked at if it runs slowly when you are working from home. Holding off on essential fixes will just give you even more stress in the future.

Create a daily to do list:

So much free time and a lack of a set schedule is enough to make a lot of people feel anxious. If this sounds like you, then map out your day with a to do list. Having an idea of what you’re going to do each day can be a lot less stressful than making it up as you go along. Be sure to pencil in some time each day for self improvement through exercise or a hobby. There is also nothing wrong with scheduling in TV time once all of your tasks are complete, either!

Talk it out:

Is there someone in your life who you feel immediately comforted by when you speak? Sometimes, all you need is to hear the caring voice of a friend or family member to get yourself centered. Have a weekly phone call with that person and catch up as well as confide about anything that’s bothering you. Your mood will be improved by the time you hang up and you won’t feel as hung up about previous stressors.

Add variety:

Every day might be feeling exactly like the last and it can feel like you’re never going to get out of the cycle of work, Netflix, repeat. So, it’s up to you to add variety into your life. Try your hand at cooking something brand new for dinner with ingredients you have never tried, watch a film in a foreign language, explore a different hiking trail, or read a book outside of your favorite genre. It might not seem like much but changing up small things can make a really big difference.

Keep yourself going in the right direction with the advice above because smooth and steady wins the race… Or however that saying goes!