Tag Archives: mind

Apr25

Simple Techniques For Improving Your Mindset

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Simple Techniques For Improving Your Mindset

Whether it’s trying to find success in your business, get a promotion at work, or improve your relationship, one of the most important aspects to changing anything in a positive way is by improving your mindset. But, this is not always as easy as it sounds because most people have been conditioned to have a negative mindset, so it’s something that will take daily work on a consistent basis and a lot of the same stuff over and over to finally change.

However, it’s completely worth it, and one of the best things you’ll ever do for yourself. In this post, we’re going to share with you some simple techniques for improving your mindset:

Journal:

When most people think of journaling, they think of teenage girls writing in their diary about their latest crush at school. But, true journaling is nothing like this at all, and can be one of the most effective ways to really create change in your life. The great thing about journaling, is that there isn’t just one way of doing it. So, if you’re thinking that you don’t know how to journal properly, then there really is no proper way – it’s simply about writing down the things you feel and even the things you’d like to believe about your life until you actually start to believe them. Journaling can be a very healing thing, so if you’re looking to improve your mindset, then this is something you should try.

Upgrade your circle:

It’s been said that you become the average of the five people who you spend the most time with, and if you look at most people, you’ll see that this is true. While this certainly doesn’t mean that you should go cutting family and friends out of your life, it just means that you should be careful of the company you keep, because their mindset will become yours and if you’re constantly around people who are complaining, who seem to be constant victims, and never move forward in life, then don’t be too surprised when the same things become true for you.

Feed your mind:

Improving your mindset takes work and it’s work that needs to be done consistently. It is important to make sure that you’re feeding your mind with positivity and things you want to be surrounded with instead of getting sucked into negativity and drama – especially on places like social media where you only see negative things. Follow people and read things that inspire and lift you up instead of making you feel like everything is rubbish all of the time.

Avoid the media:

The mainstream media today is one of the biggest sources of negativity in the world, so if you really want to improve your mindset, then this is something to be avoided. This doesn’t mean to bury your head in the sand and pretend like bad stuff doesn’t happen. But, instead of listening to everything bad that’s happening, look for the good that happens, because there’s plenty of it, it just doesn’t make for good headlines or news reports.

Improving your mindset will improve all aspects of your life, so get started on changing yours today!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr6

Detoxifying Your Lifestyle

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Detoxifying Your Lifestyle

They say we should treat our body like a temple, but many of us are very good at ignoring that advice. In fact, some of us behave more like our bodies are toxic dumping grounds and completely forget that the things we consume actually have a significant effect on our health and well being. Luckily, if we know what is good and bad for our body, we can make much more educated and healthy decisions. A topic you can read more about in the post below:

Liquids:

There are some things that are good to drink and some that aren’t so great for you. Of course, water is essential, as staying hydrated can not only help you be more mentally alert but can help your body function better all the way down to the molecular level! Be careful, though, because you can have too much of a good thing. In fact, if you go over your recommended daily water amount it can actually make you quite ill.

There are some drinks that you should try to stay away from, as well, or at least minimize your consumption of, due to their toxic nature. These include alcohol, sugary soft drinks, and even caffeinated beverages. You don’t have to give them up entirely if you don’t want to, but they all can have a dehydrating effect. Sugar and caffeine can also cause an increase in anxiety, while too much alcohol is not only bad for the liver but can seriously impair your judgment.

Products:

I know you’re expecting the next section to be all about things you should not eat because they are toxic, but before we get to that, we want to talk about the lesser known issue of products that we use that can have an adverse effect on our health. In particular, makeup, perfume, and cosmetics need mentioning here, because they are nearly always applied directly to the skin and so are easily absorbed by the body. What that means, is that if there is anything nasty in them, it will end up in you!

In fact, recently, there has been a move towards more natural and healthy products in the cosmetic and toiletries industry including non toxic perfume and paraben free toiletries. Using beauty products that are better for you has never been easier.

Food:

Finally, when it comes to food, there are plenty of things that can be toxic if you consume them. However, apart from the basic poisonous plants and berries, there are also other things that you need to watch out for. These include sugar which, while we love the taste is beginning to be thought of like a narcotic style substance that can cause many problems when ingested.

It’s also wise to be mindful of the containers you store your foods in, as some can leach out plastic molecules, which we then end up ingesting. This is something that can lead to a toxic buildup in our system and contribute to all sorts of health problems!

Treating your body as a temple includes being mindful of what you’re putting in it, so use the tips above to detoxify your lifestyle today!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar22

Taking Care Of Number 1 (4 Tactics For Looking After Your Own Health)

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Taking Care Of Number 1 (4 Tactics For Looking After Your Own Health)

While looking after others is an enviable quality, our own health needs to take priority. If you don’t put on your own oxygen mask first, you can’t help anyone else. Of course, it can be tough to put ourselves first especially if we aren’t used to it, but to help you we have put together the guide below:

Watch your diet:

They say that we are what we eat, and that is for the most part true. Two meals can be identical in energy but be very different when it comes to all of the other things they contain including the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that we need to stay healthy in the long term. It is well worth investing some time in learning about how to feed your body correctly. With so many diets being lorded as the right way to eat, this can be somewhat confusing. So, a holistic approach to food with a high nutritional content like the one discussed at https://www.mindbodygreen.com/ may be the best choice, if health, well being, and longevity are your ultimate goals.

health

Yum!

Rest time is not a luxury:

We often judge how successful our days are by how busy we have been and what we have achieved. However, it is also important to bear in mind that rest is just as essential as working, exercising, and spending time with our families.

Sadly, in modern life, we can see rest as something to do when we have no better options, and it is often solely relegated to sleep. However, both the body and the mind need rest regularly to thrive, and that is why we need to schedule in regular downtime, as well as build up a good sleep schedule if we want to be as healthy as possible.

Get treatment when you need it:

Next, when taking care of our own health, it is vital that we seek out treatment when it is necessary. In fact, most, if not all conditions will get worse the longer they are left, and many can transform from being an issue that causes a minor discomfort to a chronic and even life-threatening condition.

The cost of seeking treatment is what often puts people off or leads them to wait for as long as possible until they find help. If the problem you are suffering with is a result of an accident, using a professional team like https://thehadleylawfirm.com/ to claim for compensation can help you pay your medical bills. This will make getting the right treatment and looking after your health much easier.

Mind and body make a whole:

Lastly, remember that health isn’t just about how your physical body is doing, it’s also about your emotional and psychological well being. What this means, is you need to take just as good care of your emotions as you do your body. In fact, when it comes to taking care of number 1, caring for psychological health is crucial.

Taking care of yourself in the way that your body needs will reflect positively in all aspects of your life so make sure you look out for number one today!

 

Mar18

Lil Red’s Book Club: The Silent Patient Edition

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Lil Red’s Book Club: The Silent Patient Edition

Helloooo! I just recently finished a book called The Silent Patient and, although I figured out the major twist before the grand reveal, I really enjoyed it! A thriller through and through, this book explores the effects of childhood trauma in an adult and what it means to be psychologically “killed”. Part detective story, part diary, and one hundred percent awesome, The Silent Patient was definitely worth the read.

silent

Alex Michaelides’ psychiatric facility thriller revolves around Theo, a psychotherapist, and Alicia, a patient who hasn’t uttered one word since killing her husband via multiple gunshots to the face. Theo transfers to the failing facility that Alicia is at with the intention of “rescuing” her. To do this, Theo begins to visit her estranged family and former business partners to gather a better understanding of who the mute Alicia really is.

In doing so, Theo learns of a troubled childhood and past that closely resembles his own family trauma in his youth. Then, things get especially interesting when Alicia bestows her diary onto Theo and we find out that in the days leading up to the murder she committed, she was being followed. Which begs the question if she really committed the murder at all.

Filled with multiple twists, turns, and Red Herrings, The Silent Patient was a fast read, because it was impossible to stop! I finished the three hundred twenty-five page book in two days and only wish that it could have been longer. If you are like me, then you enjoy trying to figure out the major plot twist before it happens. I revel in solving the mystery before it is revealed and my advice to those who will read it is to go with your gut instinct as soon as you start because, chances are, you are right!

I give this book a ten out of ten, no questions asked. It was one of the most unique thrillers that I’ve read in a good long while. The mental health aspect of it was fascinating and there was not one single character that I didn’t enjoy reading about. Give it a try, because you will not be disappointed. 😀

What is your favorite thriller? Do you like to try and solve the grand reveal while reading or watching a movie? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar14

Making Your Life That Little Bit Better

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Making Your Life That Little Bit Better

There’s always room for improvement in life. So, if you’ve decided that you want to be that little bit happier each time you wake up in the morning, now is a better time to start than ever! Leading a better quality life is more fulfilling and will leave you feeling more content. You will be able to enjoy your life to the utmost and minor problems won’t seem all that bad. So, what can you do to improve your quality of life? Here are a few ideas to get the ball rolling:

Wave Goodbye to Unhealthy Habits:

We tend to get entangled with unhealthy habits, as we find engaging with them enjoyable or pleasurable in the first place. We get some sort of immediate benefit from unhealthy substances and continue to engage with them as a result. But over time, they can prove significantly detrimental to our overall health and well being. The good news, is that there are ways to kick unhealthy habits. You can:

  • Quit smoking with nicotine replacement products.
  • Combat excessive alcohol consumption with men’s sober living.
  • Tackle obesity with a balanced diet and exercise regime.

These are just a few examples derived from common bad habits that people have. But, whatever your unhealthy habit may be, it’s time to wave goodbye to it!

Assume the Best in Others:

Many of us spend time ruminating on others’ wrongdoings and negative experiences that we have had with other people in the past. Betrayal, deception, and other harsh acts can make us skeptical of others and their intentions. This, in a way, can help us. We are less likely to be caught off guard or hurt. But, at the same time, we can find ourselves cutting off potentially positive relationships because we assume the worst in someone who has given us no reason to doubt them. So, start assuming the best of others. It will open you up to better and more rewarding relationships and provide you with a more positive mindset.

Pick Up a New Hobby:

So many of us waste hours on end scrolling through social media feeds and yearning for the fun filled lifestyles that others seem to be leading. But, this is counterproductive. Instead, why not get out there and actively engage with something that you genuinely enjoy? You could put your spare time to much better use. Pick up a hobby. Choose something that appeals to you. Common hobbies include:

Not only can having a hobby provide you with something stimulating and rewarding to do, but it can expand your social circles, putting you in touch with others who have similar interests to you.

These steps may seem relatively basic. But, it’s definitely worth putting a reminder out there. Following the above advice could help you to live your life to the utmost and wake up with a smile on your face!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb21

Feeling Off? 4 Simple Steps To Getting Back On Track

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Feeling Off? 4 Simple Steps To Getting Back On Track

It happens to most of us, doesn’t it? Whether it’s due to stress at work, home, or something of our own accord that has skidded down a slippery slope, we have all had a wobble with our overall well being at one time or another. And, if you have been lucky to have not hit a sticky patch in your life so far, you’ve probably been close to someone who has to some degree.

It’s not the greatest feeling in the world, as we know, and it’s not the easiest place to escape from. Even if you’re at a stage where you’re struggling to overcome the obstacle in your life, and others are telling you that it’s much simpler than you think, it’s understandable that you still can’t quite crack the code. Something so very annoying and confusing can be unlocked, however, but things like this take time, and the solution won’t arrive straight away. Here are a few simple things to think about when trying to improve your overall health:

Make A Plan:

It doesn’t have to be the most complex of plans. It can be a simple as a weekly routine that could keep you organized so that you know what to do at certain times. For example, if you’re looking to clear up your eating habits, you can jot down a certain rigid time that you’ll eat every day. Keeping a scheduled routine can help you to worry less and also feel as though you’re heading on the right track to achieving your goal.

Getting Back On Track And Staying There:

We’ve talked about the idea of realization and preparation, and now it’s time to act on what you’ve been preparing for. Taking that concrete step into the world of a new diet, mindset, or into a stage of recovery may seem scary, but it’s more comfortable than you think. It could merely be a change in calories or as big a move as biting the bullet and getting help from drug and alcohol rehab centers. This step could take you into your new life and, when looking back, you might see it as the pivotal moment when things began to improve.

Nutrition:

Food! Getting the correct food into the body won’t just help you physically reach the stage you want, it’ll help you out mentally. Having knowledge of nutrition in your life can save you. It doesn’t have to be a strict routine of every health food known to man – you can have a cheat day once a week to keep moral nice and high!

fourr1

 That salad looks so good!

Getting Enough Exercise:

Exercise is often played up as the ultimate killer of mental health problems – while that’s not entirely true, it’s still a significant factor in tackling some of the issues and creating overall happiness. It’s, of course, also very beneficial to your body and, if you want to keep that ticker going for as long as you can, getting the blood pumping from even the most moderate of walks around the block can help.

The post New Year’s Resolution funk or a current rough patch can make us feel tired and just downright blah. Use the tips above to help get yourself back on track!

 Featured Image By: Unsplash

Feb18

Feeling Old

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Feeling Old

Okay, stop rolling your eyes at the title because you know I’m twenty-four. Lol, but seriously, I have been feeling So. Freaking. Old. lately! I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’ve been working nonstop since I recovered from surgery or something deeper, but I have been feeling really aged and so not a twenty-something. And, the fact that the big 2-5 is quickly approaching in June isn’t helping, either!

I feel like I have this mindset of work, work, work and I have come to realize that the cool parts of my twenties have been passing me by. The travel, the spontaneity, the sense of adventure. Granted, the road to where I am present day hasn’t been an easy one. But, I feel like all of that time spent on the bullshit and now in the whirlwind of my crazy schedule has let a lot of living be left behind in the dust.

With a grocery list of mental health problems plaguing my adolescence, teenage years, early twenties, and even now when I have things “under control” to major family crises, getting to twenty-four year old me was a never ending struggle. And, I want to celebrate that accomplishment. But, damn, how does one pack up everything and take a week long road trip like all of the memes on Facebook suggest?!

I would love to have a feeling of excitement when I wake up. But, the routine of working my ass off Monday through Friday and recouping from it on the weekends is the definition of monotonous. Of course, I do have things that I look forward to, but they have felt few and far between. And, this is what has left me feeling run down, so blah, and just… old.

Oy, sorry for being such a Debbie Downer today, but I really needed to talk this one out so thanks for listening! Has anyone ever gone through anything similar to this post? How do you pepper in some excitement to your life? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb1

Don’t Let Your Disability Define Your Life

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Don’t Let Your Disability Define Your Life

Disability is something that has been defining people for years and years. There’s, sadly, still so much bullying and hate that we just can’t stand to think of. Because those with disabilities deserve support the most. Not support to live their lives, but support to help them believe they can live their lives on their own, without carrying around that label of having a disability. If carrying around a label is something you feel like you’ve been doing all your life, it’s time to rip it clean off. There are so many things you can do with your life, and so many things your mind can think if you don’t let your disability define you. Some of which, we want to talk about today. It’s the perfect time to think about how the rest of this year is going to be totally different. Have a read on to find out more:

The Mindset Of Other People:

This is a really important one that we wanted to start with, because we think that more often than not it’s the mindset of other people rather than yourself that’s holding you back. And, thankfully, we will say that there is now such a better understanding of the different disabilities out there, how they can affect the life of that person, and how they deserve to be treated. At the end of the day, even though our body’s or minds might be a little different, we still crave those basic human needs of love, affection, and normality. What we’re trying to say here is, if you ever come across someone who you know is being a bit awkward and standoffish because of your disability, simply try and educate them. Don’t be afraid to talk about your condition and express that you’re no different to anyone else in the things that you want out of life. If this doesn’t work, just walk away. You really don’t need negative people like that in your life, and you should gravitate as much as you can towards the people who are positive to you.

The Things You Think Will Hold You Back:

Finances are something that is talked about a lot in life and, disability or not, everyone goes through a struggle at some point. If you ever feel like you are in a rut with money, don’t be afraid to look at loans for people on disability with bad credit. It’s a quick way of getting that pick me up that you need, without having to worry about being rejected. We will promote safe lending and encourage you to always make sure that you’re only borrowing what you can, so that you don’t find yourself in more financial trouble further down the line.

The Life You Need To Think About Living:

The life you need to think about living is a free one. It’s a life where you’re out with your friends or family, making the best experiences for you to look back on when you get older. Don’t be that person who is always staying in on the weekend, because before you know it a whole life is passing you by. Going out for food or drinks, swimming, walking, going to the cinema… there is a world of things out there for you to do, you just need to have the motivation to go and do it. You might feel limited in what you can do compared to your other friends, but if they’re true friends they’ll be the ones encouraging you to do it. Surround yourself with the right people who are going to enrich your life. If you feel like you don’t have the right people in your life, it might be time to join a new crowd. Participate in clubs, do things you don’t usually do, and you’ll soon start to feel your mood lifting completely.

We know the world is changing so quickly and so is the views of disability, but let’s change how you view your world and its surroundings, too!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Jan30

Max Your Health & Happiness By Minimizing These 3 Things

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Max Your Health & Happiness By Minimizing These 3 Things

Balance is something that we all struggle to achieve in life. However, one way to produce more harmony is to get rid of or, at least, minimize the things that are doing us harm. A topic you can find out all about in the post below:

Social media:

I’m not saying social media is evil or anything, it’s just that it’s not always good for us, either. In fact, studies have shown that spending too much time on social media can aggravate anxiety and depression. After all, it’s easy to get caught up in gossip, drama, and comparing our lives to everyone else’s, as well!

With that in mind, it’s well worth minimizing the time that you spend on social media, even if you don’t cut it out completely. Happily, many phones now come with screen time controls that can be set to remind you to let go of your virtual life for a bit and live your real one, instead. Something that can help to make you both psychologically healthier and happier.

Over-trying:

Yes, it is possible to try too hard at things. So hard, in fact, that you put your mind and physical body under undue stress which can have a devastating effect on your health and happiness. To that end, it is a good idea to both know your own physical and mental limits as well as prioritize what is most important in your life and spend a more significant amount of effort on that. As humans, we can do anything, but not everything all at once!

Similarly, if you do find that you have caused yourself harm from pushing too hard either mentally or physically, it’s worth investing some time in rest, recuperation, and rehabilitation. For physical ailments, this may include accessing professional rehab services at your local clinic. While for mental overexertion a vacation or change of scenery may be in order, as well as coming up with strategies for minimizing stress that will ensure that you can cope better going forward. Yes, it may be hard to reduce or even minimize your effort in certain areas of life, but it could make all of the difference to your overall well being.

Worrying:

Now, worrying can be hard to cut out, especially if you tend to be an anxious person by nature. However, there is a way that you can prevent it from having such as hold on you and affecting your life. It’s all about getting to understand our thought and realizing that just because we think something, it doesn’t mean it’s true. Yes, this can be something that is tough to grasp at first because many of us tend to take the thoughts our brain generates at face value.

However, with activity such as meditation and CBT, we can gain some distance from our thoughts and learn to pick the ones that we choose to believe and act on. Something that can not only minimize the power of worry in our lives but also help us move towards a more healthy and happy way of living.

Maximizing the good and minimizing the things that cause us undue stress is the name of the game when it comes to increasing your well being!

Jan30

Using Keystone Habits To Build A Healthier Daily Routine

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Using Keystone Habits To Build A Healthier Daily Routine

We all have habits that we carry out every day. Some habits are healthy, such as going to bed early and drinking a lot of water. Other habits are not so healthy, e.g. smoking and snoozing the morning alarm ten times. The healthier habits we have, the better our day usually goes. Overall, this can add up to a much more productive, satisfying life. Those with healthy habits tend to achieve more, enjoy life more, and feel their best. Wouldn’t you like to be one of those people?

In this post, we’re going to focus on keystone habits. What’s a keystone habit? A keystone habit is a habit that can impact how you act the rest of the time. They are the habits that can spark chain reactions. If you’re still confused as to what this is exactly, we’re going to go through a few great keystone habits to pick up:

Making Your Bed In The Morning:

Making your bed in the morning takes mere seconds, but it’s a habit that can spark more productivity and a sense of achievement for the rest of the day. People who make their bed without fail get that sense of having completed something great before really getting the day started, and this can have a fantastic impact on mental attitudes.

Drinking A Pint Of Water Before Anything Else:

Drinking a pint of water rehydrates the body after a long sleep, flushes out toxins, and keeps us energized. Doing this before you have your daily coffee will get you off to a great start, and you’ll likely drink more water throughout the day as a result.

Exercising Earlier On In The Day:

This isn’t an essential keystone habit – some people prefer to exercise later on, and that’s fine. However, many people report feeling absolutely unstoppable after a morning workout and, of course, this can directly impact how much a person gets done during the rest of the day.

Journaling:

Journaling can free the mind from wandering and annoying thoughts. It can help you to spot patterns and come up with solutions. It can even help you to reduce your stress levels and increase your productivity! Journaling is a great way to cope with difficult times, too, so if you know you’re going to be heading somewhere like the radiation oncology department, journaling beforehand can help you to deal with your feelings and get into a more positive mindset.

Meditation:

Meditation is said to reduce stress and depression as well as improve sleep and creativity. Even just 5 minutes per day is better than nothing at all.

A Morning Routine That You Enjoy:

Getting up and starting the day with a total morning routine that you enjoy could give you a headstart on the day. For instance:

  • Brush your teeth and wash your face
  • Make your bed
  • Drink a pint of water
  • Read a chapter of a book with a coffee or tea
  • Work out
  • Eat a healthy breakfast
  • Shower and get ready for the day

Doing all of the above in succession will literally make you feel unstoppable and you’re far more likely to have a better day because of it! How will you use keystone habits to build a better daily routine?

Featured Image By: Pexels