Tag Archives: mind

Apr15

Looking On The Bright Side

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Looking On The Bright Side

Hi! While things are so uncertain and the best course of action is to just stay home to help combat the coronavirus, it’s easy to feel down in the dumps. There’s nowhere to go, there’s nothing to do, and cabin fever could definitely be kicking in. And what’s more? The internet is filled with people telling their newsfeed to just get over it, making it difficult to decipher how to feel at all.

Well, I’m here to tell you that it is absolutely okay to not know how to feel considering we’ve literally never experienced anything like this before. It’s also okay to be disappointed about all of the events or occasions that have been cancelled due to the current state. I know I am and I have found that once I acknowledged that I was upset and allowed to be, I felt a whole lot better.

I know it sounds tacky and a bit too simple but, sometimes, the only thing that can make you feel better is looking on the bright side. So tip your cap in acknowledgement to your upsets and remember the following:

There is safety in being at home:

When you’re bored out of your gourd at home, remember that you are safe and that is a blessing. And, I know you are all sick of hearing that it’s time to learn something new… But try learning something new! Noticing little improvements every day you practice a new skill will make for some excitement and you’ll come out of this situation being able to do something you haven’t before. All of this from the safety of your home? Score!

There are things to look forward to:

I work with people with special needs and a lot of my clients are having a hard time understanding why I can’t take them out in the community anymore. So, I told all of them to come up with a special activity that we can do together once things open up again. Whether that be a favorite restaurant or going to the flea market, I wanted each of them to have something to look forward to as the days at home progress.

All of you can do this too! Come up with a perfect day out. Whether you spend it alone, with friends and family, or with a significant other make sure it’s something that you can think about and be excited for. That’s the most important part.

There are options:

Although none of the social distancing methods are as good as the real thing of sitting down next to a friend and having a chat – there are still options. Have a virtual drink over video chat with your friends. Talk to your neighbors from your porch. Visit your friend’s village on Animal Crossing. Yes, they are not the best options but they are there and are worth taking advantage of if you’re missing social contact.

And remember:

Most importantly, don’t stress yourself out about feeling like there’s nothing to do because we’re all in the same boat. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself to another Netflix bingeathon or a take out meal because we should be indulging in little things that make us feel good right now. Just remember to look on the bright side and all will be well. 🙂

What do you do to improve your mood during this crazy time? How do you look on the bright side? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr13

Why We’re Becoming A Healthier Society

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Why We’re Becoming A Healthier Society

We may be in the middle of the coronavirus problem, but there’s much to be hopeful for. We’re the healthiest society that the world has ever seen, and by a long way. Indeed, there have been many great advances made in the past hundred years, to the point where many of the problems that plagued past generations are beginning to become a thing of the past. For instance, we’ve made a lot of progress when it comes to child mortality, which is the lowest it has ever been, and people are living longer (and better) too. So what’s driven these changes? We take a look at a few reasons why we’re becoming healthier below:

What’s Good For You:

Humans advance because we’re able to build on the knowledge of the generation that has come before us. If we all had to start from scratch, we’d be in much worse shape! Today, we know a lot of things we need to do in order to be at our best. If you can eat fresh fruit and vegetables, get your dose of minerals and vitamins, and work up a sweat, then you’ll be in a good position, health-wise. We can all be healthiest just by having the right things be a part of our lives.

What To Avoid:

And then there’s the matter of what to avoid. You’ve got to feel sorry for people who were subjected to the smoking adverts of the 1940s and ’50s; they had no idea just what a negative impact cigarettes would have on their health. Fortunately, now we do. Research has told us the things that we should avoid if we want to be our healthiest selves. For example, we know that we shouldn’t eat too much junk food, drink alcohol, or smoke cigarettes.

Medical Advances:

Of course, even if people did all of the things they were supposed to, there’s always a chance of falling ill. We’ve made great advances in this area, too, so that illness and conditions that were previously hard to treat have become much more manageable. There has been particular progress made in the fields of cancer treatment, diabetes management, heart issues, and other serious conditions. While these things still pose a threat to the general well being of society, there are many reasons why there’s cause to be optimistic.

Focus on the Mind:

We’ve also made progress because we know that the physical and mental aspects of our body aren’t separate; they’re intertwined. Whereas in the olden days, medicine focused totally on the physical well being of the patient, today we’re paying more attention to the mental side of things. We know more about talking therapies, prescriptions, and a number of other treatment paths that can get the best results for people with mental health issues. As Shape says, we are also finding out more about the advantages of supplements like CBD. We’re able to guide people who are suffering from depression and other mental health issues in the right direction.

Clean Standards:

Finally, perhaps the biggest reason why we’re becoming healthier is that we have cleaner standards. This has been the thing that has curbed coronavirus more than anything else. We take it for granted, but there were many periods in history where people didn’t wash their hands.

Despite things being scary right now, there are still many positive changes that have been made to healthcare to be proud of.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr3

Self-Isolation Recommendations

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Self-Isolation Recommendations

Hello! With self-isolation still going strong and cabin fever officially setting in, I thought I would post about my recommendations to keep your day running as normally as possible – especially if you are working from home or not working right now. I am so thankful that I can still work but it is pretty boring because it’s not like I can take my clients anywhere!

I definitely have been feeling antsy lately because I just want to DO something. But, these little tricks have helped me keep some ounce of sanity during this lock down:

Get ready in the morning:

Towards the beginning of the stay at home order, I pretty much gave up on my morning hair and makeup routine and that was a big mistake. Wearing comfy clothes and a fresh face all day gave me zero motivation and it almost felt like an excuse to have a “lazy” day. So now, even if I am just staying home or hanging at a client’s house for the day, I get myself ready – even if it’s not my full routine. I still feel put together, a lot better, and it adds a renewed pep to my step.

Follow a routine:

Things feel so chaotic right now and when you have ample free time to fill with nothing to do it can be quite overwhelming. Routines always make me feel more at ease and it keeps my day running smoothly without the awkward pause of figuring out what to do next. Plan out what you intend to do for the day every morning while you’re getting yourself ready and see your day improve.

Set up a place to work:

If you are working from home right now, set up a place to work that isn’t the couch! We all know how easy it is to set the laptop aside and turn the TV on and that shouldn’t be a constant mental battle while you’re doing your job. Clean off a cluttered desk or work at your kitchen table and try to follow your normal work schedule as closely as you can – lunch and coffee breaks too!

Cook your meals:

I have had takeout a few times in self-isolation but I have been doing my best to cook the meals that I eat at my apartment. It feels good to see and taste something that you made and that can be a real high point of the day – not to mention all of the money you’ll save! Get creative with new recipes or make old favorites. And, no matter how your meal turns out, at least you killed some time. 😉

Don’t be a night owl:

I notice that it’s been harder for me to go to bed at night because I have so much extra energy that I haven’t done anything with all day. I understand completely how difficult it is to not give into the night owl temptation but I promise it won’t be worth it when you go back to work with a totally thrown off schedule.

If you’re having difficulty falling asleep, try going for a walk or working out an hour or so before you go to bed. You could also take a bath or read a book – whatever will help you relax and keep to your normal bed time as much as possible.

Although self-isolation is difficult, it is the best thing right now to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Use the tips above and keep your day running as normally as you can!

How have you been adjusting to self-isolation? What do you do to keep yourself from getting cabin fever? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar11

Pampering Party: My Perfect Night Off

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Pampering Party: My Perfect Night Off

Hellooo! I lead a pretty busy life. Between running two businesses, my boyfriend, and going here, there, and everywhere for work it’s important to me to still make time to take care of myself. That’s why, without fail, I always look forward to my Tuesday nights. Of course, I don’t love not seeing my MAN but I never say no to an opportunity to soak in the tub!

Tuesday is my busiest day of my already busy week. I see three out of my four clients and am normally gone for anywhere between ten to twelve hours. So, trust and believe that as soon as I come tiredly stumbling into my apartment around eight in the evening that bath water is on within thirty seconds. And, the best part?! I got a new hot water tank in my apartment so no more lukewarm baths for me. 😀

This past week, I got to enjoy my first bath in a month of Sundays that didn’t turn into ice water five minutes later. It. Was. Magnificent. During my soak, I am able to shave, decompress, and get myself relaxed enough for sleep after a long day of going nonstop. And, then, I put on some lotion, dress in my comfiest pajamas, and tuck in with a good book or Netflix show before bed.

Although this is a pretty basic way to spend an evening, there is seriously nothing better to me. I love being able to do something nice for myself after doing for others all day and it just hits the spot every time. Working in an evening just for me is one of the best things that I can do for myself and I encourage all of you to try and do the same!

What is your perfect night off like? How do you pamper yourself? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar7

Taking Some “Me” Time

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Taking Some “Me” Time

Hello! As an owner of two businesses, it almost seems impossible to hunker down during a work day for some “me” time. Especially considering that when I don’t work, I don’t get paid. I can count on five fingers the amount of times I have cancelled with my clients that wasn’t due to my oral surgery mishap or the car accident that happened this past year. So, yeah, I’ve been feeling pretty burnt out!

This past week was a rough one for me. My stomach was nauseous, I was on my period, and I just felt so fatigued. Then, on Wednesday night, I had a lot of my tattoos touched up which wore me out even more. Come Thursday morning, I got up around six and felt so lightheaded and weak that I grabbed my phone, cancelled all of my clients and plans for the day, and went back to bed. I ended up waking up at 10:30! It was beautiful. :*)

By the time I woke up and was feeling much better, I was kicking myself in the ass for not going to work and debated on heading over to my afternoon client’s house. But, after realizing that I probably would have left shortly after arriving there, I decided to just stay home and relax.

During my day off, I was able to clean my apartment, work on hanging pictures for my accent wall, and watch at least five episodes of America’s Next Top Model before my boyfriend came home from work. It was great! In fact, it made me wonder why I don’t have days like that more often and then I remembered it’s because I wouldn’t get paid! Lol, whomp whomp.

I didn’t really realize just how exhausted I was until I had my me day and it taught me a lesson in listening to what my body needs and being more accommodating to that. Calling off of work definitely will not be a regular thing for me, but scheduling a random day off for myself every now and then is going to be on the agenda and I am already thanking myself for it in advance!

How do you take time for you? How do you relax after a long day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb14

11 Effective Solutions To Avoid Sleeping Problems

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11 Effective Solutions To Avoid Sleeping Problems

Have you experienced lying awake at night, wondering why you can’t sleep at all? There are a lot of reasons someone can’t sleep: stress, anxiety, or maybe too much caffeine. Sleep deprivation is common among university students and working young adults due to the stress they deal with every day.

Consistent sleeplessness for days or weeks can be considered as temporary insomnia. Temporary insomnia also occurs in between periods of normal sleep, difficulty falling asleep, or waking up at different periods at night, resulting in poor sleep quality.

There are helpful tools and machines you can buy to promote better sleep and improve your sleep quality. These machines help deal with common sleeping problems or sleep disturbances such as obstructive sleep apnea, sleep-disordered breathing, and snoring. While it is indeed common for younger people to experience insomnia, it can easily be avoided by taking precautions before going to sleep. Here are the steps you can take for a better quality of sleep:

Create an Inviting Aura in Your Bedroom:

Don’t bring stress in your bedroom—remove the clutter and the mess from your sanctuary. Check your mattress as well. Your mattress may be the source of discomfort and may lead to musculoskeletal problems. Set aside sleeping accessories in an organized manner to avoid a messy bedroom.

Avoid Using Your Phone on Your Bed:

Activities like watching TV, scrolling on social media sites, or eating can keep your brain awake. If you want to lull your brain to sleep, stick to pleasure books to avoid binge reading. Stow your collection of books of other genres and stock your bedside table with light-reading books for night reading.

Associate Your Bed with Sleep and Drowsiness:

By reconditioning your brain that your bed is only for sleeping and nothing else, you will be able to get used to falling asleep easily. Do everything you need to do outside the bedroom to avoid remembering things that you need to work on. If you can’t fall asleep after 20 minutes of lying down, get up from your bed, and move to the next room until you feel sleepy.

sleep1

Rise and shine!

Implement a Strict Wake and Sleep Cycle:

While it’s common for most young adults to party till 4:00 a.m. during Friday nights, it may affect your sleeping pattern and even the quality of your sleep. By training yourself to sleep and wake up at the same time daily, your body will be able to set its clock properly.

You will feel sleepy at the same time and wake up at the same time as well. Try to avoid staying in bed after waking up; you may fall asleep again and completely ruin your wake and sleep cycle.

Avoid Napping in the Afternoon:

Napping became a habit for most people, especially among students with long breaks between classes. While it does make you feel good, it may actually hurt the schedule you’ve built for your body. Quick napping can also make you fall asleep harder, and extra sleep during weekends can keep you awake for a while.

Try to Avoid Caffeine in the Afternoon and Evening:

Caffeine can be found in coffee and drinks like sodas, tea, and cocoa drinks. Staying hydrated and reducing sugary intake will help you stay awake during work and it’s healthier too!

Consider a Supplement:

If you keep an eye on your diet and health already but find there are still problems with your sleep you may want to consider a supplement. With this in mind, there are supplements that can help you to feel better and sleep deeper. There are supplements like magnesium that have been shown to have a positive impact but there’s also a lot of information out there on CBD oil. You can find more information on https://www.health.com/mind-body/best-cbd-oil to get you started. However, the most important thing to remember with supplements is that they are there to supplement your life rather than to completely solve a problem. Having a supplement in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle is the best combination.

Limit or Avoid Alcohol Intake:

When you drink alcohol before going to bed, it may help you fall asleep easily, but it actually disrupts REM. When the REM is disrupted, you may experience daytime drowsiness and poor concentration.

“Alcohol may seem to be helping you to sleep, as it helps induce sleep, but overall it is more disruptive to sleep, particularly in the second half of the night,” according to researcher Irshaad Ebrahim, a medical director at the London Sleep Centre.

Go for a Quick Exercise during the Day, Not before You Sleep:

Exercise by default is beneficial in many ways: it helps you lose weight, gives you a better mood, and makes you stronger. Exercising also helps improve sleep quality and increases the duration of sleep.

Going for a quick run or lift will help you relieve anxiety and stress, which also contributes to insomnia. Yoga is also effective in promoting sleepiness and calmness after a stressful day.

sleep2

Unsplash Image

Eat Healthier and Lighter Meals at Night:

If you tend to snack at midnight, change your dinners to extra lean meat, chicken, or fish dishes instead. Eating spicy food before bedtime is also a no-go: it can cause heartburn and abdominal discomfort at late-night hours.

Do Relaxing Hobbies and Activities before Going to Sleep:

Avoid thinking of anything related to work or school; opt for hobbies like knitting and listening to music. This will help you relax properly.

With today’s stressful news and occurrences around the globe, it’s almost expected for most people to experience insomnia every now and then. With good habits and self-control, however, you will enjoy proper sleep and create a healthy sleeping pattern for yourself.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Feb12

Why It’s Important To Live In The Moment

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Why It’s Important To Live In The Moment

Sometimes people spend all of their time thinking and working toward their future that they miss having a life. Life is short, and you never know how long you have left – not to be grim, but this is true. You also only get one chance at life, and before you know it, you could find yourself looking at assisted living facilities and wondering where all the time went.

Planning and goal setting is important, and you should never forget that. However, the present moment is the only moment you have control over right now, so it is the only one that matters. It doesn’t matter how much you plan; things don’t always turn out how you thought they would, things happen – some good and some bad and they can really put a spanner in those carefully thought out plans you’ve made. You can decide whether you enjoy this moment right now or you don’t, you can choose what you do with the now, how you act, and this and only this can shape what happens next.

Here are some more reasons why it’s important to live in the moment:

It Can Reduce Stress:

Thinking too much about the future, planning too much, and also dwelling on the past can cause you stress, which can be detrimental to your mental, physical, and emotional health.

You Won’t Be Disappointed:

Plans often don’t always work out the way you want or expect them to. When this happens, you can end up feeling upset and disappointed. Failing is a part of life and attempting to plan for everything is not only impossible but also not healthy for you. If you love planning, then that’s okay, but just don’t lose sight of the present moment and be prepared for things not to go the way you expected.

Living in the moment will make you happier:

While only you can know if this is true or not, all you need to do is to practice living in the moment and see how it makes you feel. Again, if you need to plan, then plan but just don’t lose sight of what is currently happening.

You’ll Worry Less:

When you’re not focused on what needs to get done and how it’ll get done, you’ll find you have a lot less to worry about. Trust that you can take care of anything you need to and don’t worry about the little things.

You’ll Have More Energy:

Once you let go of regrets and worries, your mind will be free to think about other things – or nothing at all. You’ll have more mental energy to focus on what’s important now.

You’ll Be More Focused:

Along with that newfound energy will come focus. The past and the future won’t be distracting you, and you’ll be able to focus on what’s right in front of you.

Practice the tips above and watch your mental and spiritual well being improve before your eyes!

Featured Image By: Pavel Jurča from Pixabay

Feb7

Why A Balanced Diet Is The Best Method For Health And Happiness

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Why A Balanced Diet Is The Best Method For Health And Happiness

We live in an age where people are following so many different diets to try and get the perfect figure or feel happier. But the big problem with this is that they are all, to an extent, fad diets. We live in a world where there’s so much fantastic food that the old expression “everything in moderation” is a far better option for everyone. But why should we avoid going for fad diets? And what can we do to make sure that we follow the rules of a balanced diet? Read on to find out!

There’s So Much Great Food Out There:

From a tres leches cake to Neapolitan ice cream, Aberdeen Angus burgers, and everything in between, there’s so much great food out there it can feel like hell depriving ourselves of these treats. Sometimes you’ve got to take inspiration from European cultures like the French. They know there’s so much fantastic food out there that they allow a little indulgence. When people opt for such a strict diet they’re doing it to make themselves feel better, but they seldom do. But if you can just follow the rule of eating healthily 80% of the time and allowing the rest for the things you really fancy, you can still eat all of that delicious food without feeling guilty.

Sometimes a more balanced diet can be as simple as exploring new recipes with an emphasis on what you need to be including more of. For example, if your diet lacks protein you could try out these ground beef recipes or search for dishes with plenty of beans or lentils if you are a vegetarian. Need more veggies? There are so many fabulous ways to dress up a salad to your liking! Trying out new recipes is not only an exciting way to switch things up but will provide yourself with more of what your body needs.

A Diet Implies That It’s Temporary:

We’ve got to get rid of the word “diet” and think about it as a lifestyle change. When we go on a diet for a specific goal like losing weight, as soon as we end up hitting our goal it’s likely we will put it back on. You’ve got to think about the overall benefits of a lifestyle change. For example, eating the right foods can help your skin, make you feel healthier, and even sleep better. But when we go on a diet of such extremes we are pushing our psychological limits. We might even be calorie counting in our sleep! It’s far better to make a gradual swap to a new way of eating.

The Jury Is Still Out On Many Fad Diets:

Because there are many fad diets that purport to be the key to youth, a lot of these diets don’t have the evidence. The one true barometer when you change your eating patterns is to listen to how you feel. So many people go to such extremes to lose weight that they can feel the shock. A crash diet is something that people do before bikini season, but does going through all that psychological hardship make you feel happier? The one true test of eating well is a little bit of what you fancy combined with foods that you know make you feel good.

Everything in moderation is the key. And when you eat the things that your body wants it rewards you with extra energy and less need for sleep. If you can follow the 80/20 rule where you eat healthily 80% of the time and leave 20% for treats, you’re not depriving yourself mentally and will still reap the benefits.

Featured Image By: Pexels – CC0 Licence

Jan22

How We Can Improve The Health Of Society

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How We Can Improve The Health Of Society

There’s no clear route towards creating a better society; indeed, some of the things that we think push us forward actually lead to more problems than they solve. But there is one field that undoubtedly serves to make us better: the improvement of healthcare. As a society, we have a duty to take a look at the health issues that cause the most damage to the population and take steps to move beyond them. While there are many areas of health that deserve attention, it’s best to start with the ones that are among the leading causes of death, which include heart disease, strokes, and diabetes.

It falls to public health officials to identify the threats that lead to serious medical issues and to educate the public about what they can do to protect themselves. As well as underlying health conditions, there must also be a spotlight on social factors that can impact a person’s health and quality of life, including alcohol and drug abuse, and accidents on the roads.

So how do you go about helping to eradicate these problems? It involves looking at the data, and making a note of any sharp increases in the numbers of people suffering from certain conditions and then looking at the lifestyle changes that might have contributed to this increase.

If you are interested in this topic, then you can look at becoming a public health official yourself. To learn more about the challenges and responsibilities of this position, take a look at the infographic below:


Infographic design by University of Nevada-Reno University of Nevada-Reno

Dec10

5 Ways To Overcome Your Fear Of Blood Tests

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5 Ways To Overcome Your Fear Of Blood Tests

Does the thought of having your blood taken make you feel sick? Would you put off a visit to the emergency room if you thought you may need a blood test? Well, you’re not alone, as millions of people suffer from a fear of needles (trypanophobia) or blood (hemophobia). Here are five things you can try to overcome your fear:

Separate your phobias:

When thinking about taking a blood test are you afraid of seeing your own blood, the needle used to draw it, or a combination of the two? Being able to identify what it is you fear can help you to create an action plan to overcome it. For example, if you fear the sight of blood, then you could ask the nurse to erect a screen between you whilst you have your blood taken. Or, if you fear the needle itself, then your phlebotomist may be able to use a smaller needle or draw blood from a part of your body where you feel less fearful.

Educate yourself:

Many people have found themselves able to overcome or at least lessen their phobia by facing them head-on and learning more about them. This enables them to confront their fears rationally and scientifically rather than letting their brains blow them out of proportion. Do some research on phlebotomy (the scientific name for drawing blood) and even consider getting some phlebotomy training to help you understand what is going on when you have your blood taken. By doing this, you will also be exposing yourself to images and descriptions of your phobia which can help to desensitize you to their exposure.

Communicate your fears:

Don’t suffer through your phobia in silence, instead, communicate it to your phlebotomist so that you can work through it together. Because the fear of blood tests is a common occurrence, the chances are that your phlebotomist has some tricks up their sleeve to help make the process less stressful. Tell your phlebotomist of your fear in advance of your session so that they can allow a little more time for your visit and not rush you.

Distract yourself:

Believe it or not, our brains struggle to process too many things at once which makes distraction one of the best ways to get through a blood test that you are fearful of. Try bringing a friend or relative into the room and have them start an engrossing conversation with you. You may also want to try tapping or touching another part of your body whilst the blood test is conducted to distract you from the sensation of your blood being drawn.

Seek phobia counseling:

If your phobia is very severe, then you may wish to seek phobia counseling to help you deal with the anxiety that your phobia will make you feel. During phobia counseling, your counselor may choose to offer you cognitive behavioral therapy, group counseling sessions, self-care treatments, or a combination of all three. These sessions aren’t designed to cure your phobia but can help you to approach and manage it in a rational way.

We all have thing that we fear and, if blood and needles are some of yours, use the tips above during your next visit to the doctor.

Featured Image By: Pexels