Tag Archives: food for thought

Jan30

The Surprising Side Effects Of Stress To Your Body

Posted on by
Standard
The Surprising Side Effects Of Stress To Your Body

None of us are immune to stress. Problems with the boss. Issues within our families. Financial worries. These are just some of the factors that bring about the side-effects of stress. And when we say ‘side-effects,’ some of them will be of little surprise to you. Headaches, feelings of depression, and bodily aches and pains are some of the common symptoms of stress many of us experience.

However, there are other more surprising side-effects that stress causes to our bodies. You probably have experienced these before, and while you may not have attributed them to stress previously, you might after reading this article:

Skin Issues:

When stressed, your body produces more cortisol, and that can cause your skin to become oily and sensitive. As a result, you might notice a break out of acne, blisters, and eczema around your body. Psoriasis symptoms, Inspire have suggested, can also occur, and you might also have signs of vitiligo (white patches around your skin). While reducing your level of stress will alleviate these conditions, you should still see your doctor if they persist.

Tooth Pain:

Toothache is intolerable, and it is usually brought about by some of our worst bad habits, such as not brushing regularly and unhealthy eating. However, it can also be brought about by stress, as we are more prone to clenching and grinding our teeth in both our sleeping and waking hours. We might also experience jaw ache. The problem can be alleviated in the short-term with a mouth guard, but in the long-term, finding ways to cope with the stress we feel is crucial to prevent damage to our teeth. Not only will we stop clenching and grinding our teeth, but we might also be less prone to reaching out for those sugary items we use as comfort foods.

A Lower Immune System:

Stress produces the hormone corticosteroid, and that can suppress the effectiveness of your immune system. As a result, you will become more prone to colds and other viruses. So, if your boss has been wondering why you have been taking a lot of sick days recently, the fault may lie with him/her if they have been stressing you out at work. You can boost your immune system with stress-relievers, such as sleep, exercise, and healthy eating. You might also want to have a word with your boss about your workload if that has been a contributing factor.

Cold Hands & Feet:

Don’t turn up the heating just yet! Stress can cause you to experience cold hands and feet, no matter the warmth of your home. This is caused by the ‘fight or flight’ response that is activated by stress, which can bring about physiological changes to your body, such as the redirection of your blood flow. You can find out more here. So, if you have the heating on full, and are sitting with multiple pairs of gloves and socks on and still can’t get your hands and feet warm, then stress might be the reason for the problem. See your doctor for advice – there might be other reasons for cold hands and feet – but if you know you are stressed, look for ways to relax and calm your body too.

Stress manifests itself in many different ways. Have you ever experienced any of the above?

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan20

Why Working From Home Can Be Difficult

Posted on by
Standard
Why Working From Home Can Be Difficult

Did you know that there are 4.8 million self-employed people in the UK? Whether you run your own business from home or you’ve snagged a job that allows you to work remotely, there are many benefits that you can take advantage of. Being able to work from the comfort of your own home and around other commitments are usually the most popular reasons as to why people choose to do so. However, working from home isn’t as luxurious as you may think, and here are some things you should know if you’re looking to work from home rather than in an office:

You can fall out of schedule:

Having the freedom to work around other commitments such as children and your social life is an amazing bonus of being able to work from home. However, it’s easy to put tasks off while you’re having fun and this can quickly lead to falling behind on your schedule. Things happen – yourself or your kids get sick, your laptop stops working, or your internet is down and suddenly you are officially behind on all of your deadlines.

Communication isn’t as easy:

Another problem that many people face when working from home is communication with their peers or clients. Working from home means the face to face interaction pretty much goes out of the window, and this can make it much harder to secure clients or satisfy customers.

Luckily, we live in an age where communication is easier than it’s ever been, and now with a simple click of a button, you’re able to speak to someone from across the world. There are a plethora of different methods that you could use to effectively communicate with the world around you, and the same goes for your business. Working remotely no longer has to be something that secludes you off from the world, and here are 10 ways to get the most out of remote working to read so that you’re not missing out.

You’re never ‘away’ from your work station:

You could speak to pretty much anybody who works from home and they will tell you the same thing – you’re never truly away from your office! Even though you may have finished your workload for the day, you will still have lingering thoughts when you’re near or around your work station. Unlike working in a regular office or working environment, you can’t escape as easily as simply going home, because you’re already there!

It’s important to find a way of shutting yourself off from work when you’ve finished for the day. This could perhaps be by shutting the door to your office and locking it or, if you don’t have a room dedicated to an office, switching off your computer and packing your work materials away will help let it sink in that now is the time to relax.

You could be in danger:

The last thing you’d think about when working from home is that you could be in danger. After all, you’re in your safe haven! However, running a business from home will require you to list your business address for mailing purposes and this, obviously, means listing your home address for the world to see. Exposing yourself like this can be dangerous, especially if you find a disgruntled customer that wants to confront you face to face. A great way around this dilemma is by purchasing a virtual office address. Doing this means that your mail will be redirected to your home and you won’t have to worry about exposing your home address to the world. This is a very important step when it comes to working from home and should be one of the first things you do. Not only does it offer protection, but finding a Registered office Scotland (or your local area) provides peace of mind when you log into work every day.

As you can see, there are problems that come hand in hand with working at home, but when you weigh up the pros and cons, is it really worth it? Not everyone can handle feeling secluded and out of routine. But, if you get it right, it can be one of the most rewarding choices you make for your career.

Featured Image By: Bruce Mars from Pexels

Jan15

How Do You Take Care Of Childhood Or Unexpected Skin Damage?

Posted on by
Standard
How Do You Take Care Of Childhood Or Unexpected Skin Damage?

If you had any kind of serious skin condition growing up, it could continue to affect you in your adult life. For example, if you grew up with eczema that was quite bad, skin scarring is normal. You could have patches of skin that have darker or lighter pigment. You might also have little dents and dips in your skin, especially on the face since that’s where a lot of soft skin tissue is. Or you could have dry patches of skin that somehow never really seem to heal fully. They feel coarse and rugged as you graze your hands over them, despite not scratching or having a condition in that spot for a long time. So how can one repair skin damage of different kinds to get back to your normal color and healthy bounce? Find out below:

The thicker the better:

Stop using store-bought creams if you can. They often have acids and harmful chemicals in them to make them more broad in terms of use. It’s far better to speak to a doctor that can give you advice for every day emollients that come in ointment form. Emollients are purposefully designed to sink into the skin layers and retain moisture. That’s where the issue is in dry skin. Because it cannot retain moisture it cannot properly heal, so the pigment doesn’t change and the skin feels very coarse. Ointment is a lot thicker and sinks into the skin deeper than cream can. The trouble is, that it takes time for this to happen, so go easy on the amount you use and spread it around evenly.

An unexpected burn:

Our skin is incredible and the largest organ on the body. However, even though we can walk away from horrific accidents, our skin may not be aesthetically pleasing. The body doesn’t care about looks and it just wants to survive and heal as best as it can. If you have been unexpectedly involved in an accident of some kind be it in a car accident or a machinery accident at work, you should let NBA Law Firm handle your legal case. They have many different kinds of legal case experience. It’s not just your typical personal injury claims they deal with, but burn victims too. They recognize that burns can be both emotionally and physically traumatic and can get you compensation, which can then be used for surgery that can help your burned skin. But, for everyday maintenance, you should be using sensitive skin creams and doctor-prescribed topical steroid creams. These will prevent cracks from occurring in already damaged skin and protect you from the sun’s rays.

Skin damage can occur when we’re little and unless we take action to heal up by ourselves, our bodies may never make that final push. Speak to your dermatologist today and see what can be done to help your skin heal.

Jan14

Guide To Chinese Massage Therapy

Posted on by
Standard
Guide To Chinese Massage Therapy

There are many different types of massages available nowadays. However, one that has been popular for many years is Chinese massage therapy, also known as tui na. It is believed that this therapy originated in 2700 BC to balance the energies in our bodies. The theory states that the body is an imbalance of energies that can lead to stress, illness, and disease. Chinese massage therapy balances the energies to ensure a natural flow occurs and the body is relieved of stress. Today, Chinese massage is practiced regularly. This article reveals the benefits of this therapy in detail:

What are the benefits of Chinese massage therapy?

  • Treatment of soft tissue injuries – From sciatica and lower back pain to a frozen shoulder; Chinese massage therapy helps with a wealth of different soft tissue injuries. You can combine this with physical therapy for a complete approach. The masseuse will use techniques to help eradicate pain and ease any stiffness you may be experiencing.
  • Increased energy – Do you get those moments where you feel completely drained? Energy is something we all wish we had more of. Chinese massage therapy can provide you with more energy as it realigns the flow of Qi in the body. You will leave the spa feeling revitalized.
  • Decrease stress levels – When you couple decreased stress levels with the former part regarding increased energy; it is not hard to see why everyone should have regular Chinese massages. This treatment can do wonders for your psychological well being. It is extremely relaxing and will relieve you of any tension or stress you are experiencing. Practitioners of this treatment believe that the imbalanced energies in the body and the blockages of the flow of Qi disrupt an individual’s mental state. This is why Chinese massages are advised for those who suffer from depression or anxiety.
  • Helps with circulatory problems – In addition to the points that have already been mentioned, Chinese massage therapy is ideal for those suffering from problems with their circulation. The masseuse will focus on various pressure points and use an array of hand techniques to stimulate your circulatory systems. This is something that is beneficial for all.
  • Physical and mental well being – On a final note, it is vital to recognize that Chinese massage therapy focuses on the physical and mental health of an individual. This is undoubtedly the main benefit of all. Most treatments tend to focus on one or the other. There is no way you won’t feel the benefits of this type of massage.

When you take all of these points into account, it is not hard to see why Chinese massage therapy has been extremely popular for many years now. If you have never experienced this treatment before, do make sure you give it a try!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan4

Diving Into Business Or Taking A Measured Approach: The Pros & Cons

Posted on by
Standard
Diving Into Business Or Taking A Measured Approach: The Pros & Cons

When you don’t have much experience in the field of business, there are a couple of different routes which can be taken to get yourself started. Some people will like to dive straight in, choosing to learn everything they need as they go, and dealing with problems in the moment. Others, though, will prefer to take a far more measured approach. To give you an idea of the key differences between these business-building options, this post will be exploring some of the key benefits of each of them:

Diving In:

Going right into something that you don’t understand will always come with some risks. Issues could come up which you are completely unprepared for and you could take the wrong approach entirely when it comes to making decisions. In return for this, you will have the chance to get started very quickly. You will benefit from the satisfaction of doing something entirely by yourself, while also getting the chance to improve yourself in other areas in the process. It will always take someone with very strong dedication to their business to succeed at something like this. If you’re looking to start a company, passion is the very first thing you need and those who dive right in definitely aren’t lacking in that department.

If you think the best option for you is to dive right in, do so with a plan and additional help in mind. A strong business plan with alternative solutions for problems will be your guide so make sure it is fool proof before making a big decision. Additionally, having extra help through a partner or two can go a long way. One person could be managing marketing. Another partner could be handling the shipment of products and researching options like freight to Germany (or your shipment destination). This can take a lot off of your plate so you can focus your attention to other areas.

Taking It Slow:

Taking a slower approach to this can take a couple of different forms, with some people preferring to go to school and others wanting to learn on the job. An online MBA can teach you practically everything you could need to get into running your own company. You will benefit from advice and support, and will be able to get a clear idea of where your talents lie. This will cost money, though, making it hard for some people to use and forcing them to look for other avenues. By getting a job as a business owners assistant for a while, you will gain similar skills, but will earn instead of having to spend.

Which Is For You?

In most cases, taking the slow road is usually the best option when you’re starting a business. This is something which you will want to support you in later life, and this makes it crucial that it is handled correctly. Of course, though, if you feel confident in yourself, it could be worth taking a risk on the more direct approach. Whichever you choose, the hard part of running your company is yet to come, and this means that work will be becoming a large part of your life.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to figure out how you’re going to start your business. There are ways to combine these options further, working to get the best out of both of them. In reality, though, this won’t take too long to be in the past, making it worth getting started on your route as soon as possible. As more people start their own companies, more resources spring up which are designed to help entrepreneurs just like you.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Dec21

Stress, Coping Mechanisms, & You

Posted on by
Standard
Stress, Coping Mechanisms, & You

Stress has been described as one of the principal threats to human health in the 21st century – and it’s easy to see why. While stress is often described as a psychological issue, it can also cause a myriad of physical health problems, and can even be a significant risk factor for certain serious health conditions.

The reality of stress:

Realistically, the chances of anyone reading the above paragraph and being surprised to learn that stress is a health concern, are slim. Huge awareness campaigns have sought to outline the risks of stress to the general populace, but have had little effect. For most people, stress is something that they know they should avoid, but are mostly unable to actively solve – modern life is tough, and stress seems to a be a natural byproduct of this simple reality.

It would be silly for this post to continue along a vein of “you must fix your stress, it’s a serious problem”. It’s also somewhat unhelpful to suggest that stress can just be fixed as simply as flicking a switch; that a few self-care treats will be enough to overcome a serious, often systemic problem. Instead, we’re going to focus on another aspect of stress that tends to be overlooked: coping mechanisms.

What are coping mechanisms?

Coping mechanisms are behaviors, actions, and thoughts that people turn to when they experience stress. For the most part, these coping mechanisms are a good thing; we turn to them as they help us to feel a sense of release and go about our usual day.

However, not all coping mechanisms are equal – and some are downright dangerous. For example, some people smoke, drink, or burn the candle at both ends to relieve stress. While these behaviors may help to alleviate their anxiety, they have significant downsides that eventually results in a zero-sum game – or worse.

What constitutes a good stress coping mechanism?

Essentially, anything that helps to relieve the burden of stress without causing other lifestyle or health issues. So, you may find it beneficial to rant about the problems you’re experiencing, or you might find it more cathartic to cry on someone’s shoulder. Some people turn to exercise to help manage stress; others find a night in curled up on the sofa is more suitable. It depends on what you personally find beneficial; there’s no cure-all that fits everyone.

What if you only find “bad” coping mechanisms helpful for alleviating stress?

It would be wrong to suggest you should immediately desist, even from “bad” coping mechanisms – we all need ways to get through the day. However, you may want to consider substitutions. So if you tend to smoke when you’re stressed, you could switch to vaping, purchasing the best cheap premium e juice as a treat; if you tend to shop, then you could restrict yourself to low-cost, bargain stores; if you tend to opt for alcohol, then dilute the strength and try to stick within recommended limits. With a few tweaks, you should be able to achieve the same stress-reducing benefits, but without such a significant impact on your health as the truly bad options.

Final thoughts:

It’s important to note that if your issues with stress are chronic, and you are turning to any coping mechanisms – both good and bad – more often than not, it may well be worth discussing the issue with your doctor. Coping mechanisms are there to get you through particularly rough days, but any long-running stress issues can usually benefit from medical intervention.

Featured Image By: Pixabay (CC0 Licence)

Nov29

Boosting Your Career Through Life Long Learning

Posted on by
Standard
Boosting Your Career Through Life Long Learning

After finishing school or university, the thought of picking up a book and learning something else can be the furthest thing from your mind. It’s understandable – you’ve done what you need to do to make it in the working world, so why continue learning? But, life long learning can offer a lot of benefits, and could be essential if you want to reach the top of your career. Need some further convincing? Here’s how life long learning can benefit your career:

Turns informal training formal:

Many careers begin by learning on the job, which can be a great way to gain skills and practical experience. However, the job market continues to be competitive, and even if you have years and years of experience – some employers will want to see some formal qualifications. Explore the different ways that you can validate your skills – an Experienced Worker Practical Assessment is extremely valuable in the construction industry, while a formal qualification in a language can look great on a CV. Getting that validation of your skills can be a major achievement and will help you a lot when it comes to trying for new opportunities.

Keeps your mind and skills sharp:

You might know everything there is to know about your profession now, but you can never predict when changes might happen. Take marketing professionals, for example. Fifteen years ago they barely did anything online and now everyone is finding themselves needing to know about Facebook and digital marketing in order to do their job. Regular training will help keep your mind and skills sharp to help you stay relevant in your field. Keep an eye on upcoming training courses and make sure you continue to learn as you progress in your career.

Just as changes in the way you do your work can’t be predicted, emergency situations at work can also happen when you least expect it. Having first aid and CPR training is a wonderful skill to have both in and outside the workplace and can be lifesaving. Talk to your employer because they might even comp the class after you find a location when entering a search for “first aid courses near me“. Never underestimate the value of being prepared for any situation that might occur. Yourself, coworkers, and complete strangers will be so thankful you did.

Leads to new opportunities:

Training and development is an important part of your career, and they’re often linked. If you’re interested in improving your career development, then undertaking some training courses can show that you’re passionate, committed, and interested in building your experience. Most employers have workplace training programs, so discuss it with your manager or HR department to find out what’s available to you.

Could help you switch careers:

Even if you love what you do right now, there’s no guarantee that you’ll still love it in five or ten years’ time. Having some additional strings to your bow isn’t a bad thing – your other skills and talents could be used to run a great side hustle or even help you move within departments at work. Taking on additional learning can help you find out where your interests really lie to help you do more of what you love – on a formal or informal basis. Make sure you’ve considered your options carefully before deciding on a career switch to ensure that you’re ready to take the leap.

If you are considering a career change through furthering your education, it’s a good idea to take things one step at a time. Perhaps you’re fascinated by the justice system and criminal behavior – choosing to study Criminology could open doors to rewarding careers in law enforcement, victim support, policy development, or research. Starting with just a class or two allows you to explore this engaging field while ensuring the change is feasible financially and personally fulfilling. Going back to school and starting from scratch is a major decision, so plan carefully to achieve both your short and long term goals.

Learning throughout your career is a great way to stay interested in what you do and stops things from becoming stale. Whether you choose to learn a new skill, a new language, or something else altogether, find ways to embrace learning throughout your working life and enjoy all of the benefits it brings.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Nov28

Fulfilling Career Ideas For The Adventurous

Posted on by
Standard
Fulfilling Career Ideas For The Adventurous

Working at a desk from 9-5 each day is the ideal for some. And, for others, they might be looking for something with more adventure. They do not just want to spend all day in the same place, doing the same work, and looking forward to a two-week vacation where they can let their hair down. They want their life to be like one long vacation and there are some jobs that can achieve that sense of freedom:

Deep Sea Diving:

Exploring the depths of the oceans is not the ideal career for everyone. Physically and mentally you need to be in great condition and be a first-class swimmer. You need to be able to stay calm when faced with sudden danger, too. There are various opportunities for deep-sea divers to work, but you do need the right certification for the job you want to do. Because it is so specialized there are usually jobs available in many industries, including film making, scientific research, forensic and law work, archaeology, and recreational dives.

Pilot:

Regardless of whether they are flying a private jet or working for one of the airlines, pilots get to see the world without having to pay for their travel. In fact, they get paid to fly all over the globe. As with many of the more adventurous jobs, training is needed. This usually starts with the private pilot certificate, then it depends on what type of flying you want to do to decide where to progress from there. Whichever direction you go in, you will be going places. Who knows? Maybe you will even be flying a jet for Jettly or a plane for a major airline!

fulfil

Pixabay Image

Adventure Guide:

Do you want to experience the thrill of an adventure every day? This job may be the one for you. As you introduce other people to activities such as kayaking, zip lining, snorkeling, scuba diving, rock climbing, water rafting, or maybe skydiving, you can enjoy the adventure with them. No two trips will ever be the same because people are different, and that will keep variety in the job.

You do have to be trained to do all of the activities and have certification that you know how to keep your charges safe. You will also have to be trained in first aid and how to handle emergency situations.

Marine Biologist:

   
This is the study of life in the oceans. Pollution and climate change are affecting the seas and as this happens marine life is also changing. A marine biologist studies these changes and works to find solutions to the problems. You could be working out at sea or researching samples in a laboratory. You could also be involved in building marine reserves or mapping the movement of different species. The variety of jobs for a marine biologist is huge.

There is no end to the jobs that involve some sort of adventure. You could be a mountain climber, a wild land firefighter, a park ranger, a crab fisherman in Alaska, or maybe a wildlife photographer. They will all provide a rush that adrenaline junkies need while at the same time earning you a living.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov26

Why Do We Struggle With Our Careers So Much?

Posted on by
Standard
Why Do We Struggle With Our Careers So Much?

Our careers are something that we have to carry through life and, they do, financially. But, think about how much financial freedom we actually gain through our career. For a lot of us, it isn’t that much. We still have to do the constant calculations to make sure that we stay within budget, and don’t go getting ourselves into any money trouble. But, trust us, money is just the start of the issue with our careers. Work is a necessity, but something that we don’t always want to do. There are many factors to this, some of which we’re going to explore today:

You Don’t Do What You Want To Do:

If you’re not doing what you want to do with your career, then how are you ever going to get to the point where going to work isn’t a complete chore? Even if it means taking a bit of a pay cut, we definitely recommend chasing your dreams in terms of your career. One way of doing this would be to contact an employment agency. It’s not always easy finding the job you want because there are too many conditions to it. You might have had to have a certain amount of experience or qualifications. But going through an employment agency can actually reduce all of the needs that a company has. You’ll generally find that they’re just desperate to get someone to fill a role, and all training will be given on the job. You’ll often find that they have more jobs that will suit you, and they’ll help you through the hiring process. It might be temporary work at first, but the majority of them always lead to a permanent career.

The Awkwardness Of “Work Friends”:

Work friends can be an awkward thing, no doubt. Do you only talk to them from nine to five? Do you get happy hour drinks with them? How about sending them a holiday card? The lines can feel blurred. But, we would definitely recommend befriending a person or two. Just having that one person that you can chat and pass the time with is so important if you feel like your day is dragging at a painfully slow rate.

There’s 0 Motivation:

We know that feeling all too well. Your alarm clock goes off in the morning, and all you can think about doing is pulling the covers over your face and never coming out. But, if that motivation doesn’t spike as soon as you get out of bed and get ready, then we’ve got a problem. If you’ve got 0 motivation, you need to think about option number one. You’re never going to be able to find motivation for a career that you’re not even interested in. Or, you could just go on a money chase. If you climb the ladder to the top of your career, you’ll often find things are much more interesting.

Life Is Holding You Back:

Life definitely does hold us back, we won’t deny that. Think of all of the things you want to do, but think you can’t because of your career. One of the biggest for a lot of people is travel. They want a life filled with travel, but how can they leave their job? Well, you could always save a few thousand to get you going, and then work in all of the countries that you visit. A self employed lifestyle can be a very fulfilling one.

No matter what the reasoning may be, careers can be difficult. But, with the tips above and some time, your nine to five will change for the better!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov23

How To Pull Yourself Out Of A Slump & Get Motivated

Posted on by
Standard
How To Pull Yourself Out Of A Slump & Get Motivated

Getting motivated can be hard work, especially if something big has happened to demotivate you. This could include losing your job, not achieving a goal, or even just life in general. You have to remember that only you can get yourself out of the slump that you are in right now and, by putting the effort in, you can be sure to give yourself the boost you need:

Have One Goal:

If you are in a slump, then there is a high chance that this is because you have far too much going on in your life right now. You are probably trying too hard, and you may be trying to accomplish too many things at once. If you want to try and get around this, then you need to choose one single goal. You also need to focus on it completely and give it everything you have. This will help you to achieve it much more efficiently and it will also help you with your motivation, especially once you complete the task at hand.

slump

Pexels Image

Find Inspiration:

Inspiration is quite possibly the best way for you to get motivated. Look at what you want to achieve, and then look at the people who have actually done it. You will soon see that they went through stages where they were demotivated, as well, but it didn’t stop them from going out there and making their dreams come true.

Get Excited:

If you want to get out of a slump, then you need to get yourself excited about a goal. Talk to other people about what you want to achieve and visualize what it would be like to be successful. When you do this, you can then get that additional drive and push yourself harder.

Get Some Support:

It is incredibly difficult to accomplish something on your own. If you want to run a marathon, for example, then you need to have your friends and family around you. You may want to join a running club and even go onto forums to find out what other people do in order to get motivated. If you have been in an accident that stops you from achieving what you want, then look for legal support, such as an injury lawyer. The support you get will largely depend on your own situation but, either way, you should never try and get by without it.

Commit:

If you have something that you want to achieve, then don’t be afraid to go public with your idea. When you do this, you give yourself more motivation than ever and you can also prove to those around you that you can do whatever you put your mind to. This can be a really big self-confidence booster too, so this is an important factor for you to take into consideration when planning your goals.

A slump around the holidays can be the worst, so use the tips above and get yourself back on track!

Featured Image By: Pexels