Lynds in Real Life

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Health

Family Matters – Oldest to Youngest

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No one likes to think about something terrible happening to their family, and often, that is why millions of us are unprepared. We all want to take care of our families, to provide for them in the long and short-term. With each new addition that joins your family, a lot of love follows them – but so do financial responsibilities. 

Those responsibilities aren’t just yours; they belong to everyone. However, it is essential that you do everything you can to make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible. 

Photo by Jake Thacker on Unsplash

Smallest

The beautiful thing about children is that you have a clean slate. You can start saving for them; you can start growing a nest egg. A simple savings account with a few dollars a month can help your children pay towards college, books, meals, travel, and more when they reach an age that they really need it. 

The most important thing and the one money can’t buy is, of course, time. We all have free time that we don’t always use to the best of our ability. Moreover, is there anything better than spending it on the smallest members of your family? Maybe they are your kids, and perhaps they aren’t – but spend the time, and you will feel those rewards for years to come. 

Middles

There are probably more family members in the 18-58 age bracket. Usually, this age group has the most modern pressures. The young end of that spectrum have exams, job stress, trying to afford a home, and sometimes they can feel like others are too busy being successful, or living their own lives to check-in. So take the time to say hi, grab a coffee, and just listen. 

It is nice to ask ‘Are you okay?’ it’s more helpful to ask ‘hey, do you need help with anything, what can I do?’. 

Emotional and mental support is a big deal, and all it takes is to make sure that you are there. Also, the kind offer of helping with week of grocery shopping, or even a monetary offer, usually won’t go amiss. 

Elders

The elder members of your family need just as much love and support as the younger ones – but it might need to be in a different form. The 58+ bracket sadly comes with more ailments and illnesses. If you can, start talking about their will, and if they don’t have one, it might be time to get one written up. Talk about what might happen if they can no longer care for themselves, and check out in home health care professionals so that they can stay in a place they are happy. 

It isn’t a surprise really, but the best way to take care of people is to be there for them, through the good and the bad.

•How do you and your family take care of each other? Please share below in the comments section!

Thank you for reading!

Fitness

Finding The Perfect Gym For You: 4 Helpful Tips

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While it is possible to work on your fitness at home, a gym membership undeniably has its advantages. A gym is a dedicated workout space, so your home can be reserved for relaxation; the equipment is more likely to be high-end. There’s a range of different classes available for when you feel you need to shake things up, and help will be on hand if you run into any difficulties.

However, it’s fair to say that the experience of visiting a gym can vary. Some gyms are excellent, offering a wealth of benefits to their members that more than justifies their fees. Others… aren’t so excellent, and in the worst cases, could actually harm your ability to meet your fitness goals.

If you’re on the lookout for a new gym, here are four tips that can help to make sure you find the perfect gym for your needs.

#1 – Time Your Visit Carefully

Touring a gym before joining is highly recommended. Make sure you plan your visit around the same time as you would usually be working out. Doing so allows you to get a rough idea of how busy the gym is, and allows you to assess the atmosphere and conditions based on what you are most likely to experience if you sign-up.

#2 – Check the Machines Thoroughly

During your visit to a gym you are considering, take the time to check the machines in detail. First and foremost, look at safety aspects; do the machines look modern and well-maintained, or are they in the kind of disrepair that suggests using them may result in needing to call a personal injury attorney in future? In addition, assess the cleanliness; good gyms tend to ensure that their equipment is thoroughly cleaned regularly, so any sign of accumulated dirt will make that gym a no-go.

#3 – Examine the Existing List of Classes and Ask How Popular They Are

If you are considering a gym because they offer a range of classes you are particularly excited to try, it’s important to ask a member of staff how popular each class actually is. Gyms often cancel classes that have relatively few attendees, so you’ll need to make sure that the class you want to try will actually be available. On the flip side, if the classes you are interested in are bordering on too popular, you may find yourself having to join a waiting list before each class – so it may be worth trying a different gym to see if they have better availability.

#4 – Read the Fine Print

It would be impossible to discuss finding a great gym without a discussion of the contract you will be asked to sign, especially given that gym membership contracts have a tendency for being difficult to break.

*Just ask my boyfriend: Planet Fitness will only allow him to cancel his membership by GOING TO THE GYM HE SIGNED UP AT, which mind you, is in California! We live in Nevada now. Ugh, it is so frustrating. Don’t fall into that trap.

Always ask for time to read through your contract in full before signing, paying particular attention to the clauses related to canceling the contract. Hopefully you won’t need to cancel anytime soon, but it’s always important to make sure you know exactly where you stand before you sign on the dotted line.

The four tips above should help you to find the best gym for your needs. Once you find one, come back here and share which gym you chose! I’d love to hear more about it.

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

In Our Right Mind: Getting Free From Addiction Using The Right Tools

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Suffering from any addiction is crippling in the mind and body. When we suffer a problem that we can’t appear to overcome, is it about mind over matter? Our mindset has a lot to do with overcoming any obstacle in life, but can we use this to break free from addiction? When we have numerous bad habits in life, from biting our nails to smoking cigarettes, it’s mostly about the power our brain has. So does this mean we’ve got to put our brain into gear to get over some sort of addiction? It appears so, right? How can we use our mindset, or acquire one to ensure that we put a stop to an addiction that is harming us?

Assessing Our Current Mindset

The big problem that we have in terms of addiction is that we stand in our own way. Maybe we don’t have the ability to admit that we’ve got a problem. As is the usual procedure, when we need help, it has to be us that instigates the fact that we need some sort of support. By assessing our current mindset, it could very well be done independently. When it comes to quitting something, we have to look at which mindset we currently have. Tolerance is one of those mindsets that are connected with addiction. It’s a physical and psychological process. But what happens is, when a behavior is repeated, you become less sensitive to something. You develop a physical or mental tolerance. And on the flip side, we experience withdrawal, either in physical or mental symptoms. And it’s these two things that can get in the way of truly addressing our addiction.

Looking At Our Fixed Mindset

If we have a fixed mindset, this provides a major obstacle to overcoming any addiction. It’s about being immovable on a subject. We may embody a fixed mindset in a very black and white way. For example, if we fall off the wagon, we consider ourselves to be a failure. We may feel our abilities right now determine that they cannot be moved. This is something that provides a major barrier to overcoming any form of problem in our minds, not just addiction. Once we start to establish that we have a fixed mindset and that these things can be moved, this is when we can start to make progress.

Establishing A Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is all about progression. In a simple way, it’s about positivity, but having a growth mindset allows you to progress forward. In a biochemical sense, it can help to create extra neural pathways. It’s all about this idea of habit. We’ve learned new habits throughout our life, but it’s about breaking the ones that don’t help us. Sometimes it’s by assimilation; we could go to a group therapy practice, or involve ourselves in a sober living community so we are influenced by others that are going through the same issues. Because we stand in our own way of success, when we see others undergoing the same problems, or are just far along in the recovery process as us, it’s humbling, but it’s also a perfect way to provide stimulation and motivation. A growth mindset is vital for recovery, and it’s something that can be harnessed. Counseling is one approach; especially with counselors who provide cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

Developing New Thoughts

Because we have specific thought patterns that we may think are fixed, this is what will lead to a more negative mindset. Issues like a self-fulfilling prophecy, negative opinions of oneself will begin to cloud our judgment. A growth mindset is not just about training yourself in terms of new thought processes; it’s about undertaking the right practices that will help you on the road to recovery. This could very well be about getting rid of certain pressures in life. It could be through social situations, or friends that are a bad influence on you. Once we start to liberate ourselves of our old thought patterns, we can begin new thoughts, and grow to become a completely different person.

Making It Work Together

Naturally, all of these things are fantastic in theory, but can be difficult in practice. The most important piece of information that we can all learn in life is that it takes as long as it takes. When we are learning a new skill, or overcoming a dependency on something, we’ve got to break free of the antiquated notion that we are “limited.” That there’s only so much we can accomplish. Time and time again, it’s been shown that the mind and body are more than able to overcome obstacles, either by highlighting the effect that neuroplasticity has on our brains, or the fact that our body is a machine, and was built for physically demanding situations. When it comes to making all of this work together, it is mind and body, but also spirit. Whether you are religious or not is beside the point; once we equip ourselves with the tools, it’s about making it all work together according to what we want.

Like they say in rehab facilities, “we provide the tools, but it’s down to you to make sense of them.” Nobody can hold our hand through a unique problem like addiction, because we are suffering from it in our own heads. We can ask for help and guidance, and we can be given the tools, but it’s down to us to make it all work. Learning as much information as possible about overcoming something, disregarding the irrelevant tools, and making the most of the relevant ones can be a lengthy practice; but it’s all about ensuring that you are going in the right direction.

Is It Mind Over Matter?

It’s such an antiquated expression, but it is mind over matter when we have the tools at our disposal. Getting “over” an addiction isn’t about taking a magic pill. Addiction is something that can stay with us long after the physical symptoms have gone. This means that we have to develop a sense of inner strength, but also equip ourselves with all the necessary information and tactics. In this respect, it is mind over matter.

•Have you struggled with an addiction? How were you able to overcome it?

•If you’re still struggling with addiction, what are some tools that would help you be successful in breaking that addiction?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Is It Time For A Full Body Detox?

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Our bodies are designed to naturally get rid of all the bad stuff. However, we can often end up shoving so much of this bad stuff into our bodies that they cannot cope with the demand. Undertaking a full body detox can help to flush out the backlog of toxins in our body, allowing us to feel fresh again. Here are just several ways in which you can go about giving yourself a full body detox.

Cut Out the Bad Stuff

In order to stop all the bad stuff from piling up, you need to temporarily stop putting this stuff into your body. Some of the biggest culprits include alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, refined sugar, and trans fats. Try going a week without consuming these ingredients or try significantly lowering your intake – while the cravings may make you feel worse at first, you’ll feel so much better a few days in when these unhealthy ingredients are no longer in your system.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

It’s when we’re asleep that our body does most of its natural detoxification. If you’re not getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night, you’re likely not letting your body complete this process. By upping your sleep for a week, you could help to rejuvenate your body. You’ll also recharge your energy reserves, making your brain feel much more alert and your body feel much more limber.

Drink More Water

Drinking lots of water will help to flush out all the toxins in your body. Focus on trying to drink 8 glasses of water per day. You can also try other drastic rehydration methods. To get all the toxins out of your bloodstream, you could consider IV hydration. Meanwhile, if you’re constipated and bloated, you could give colonic hydrotherapy a go.

Consume More Probiotics

Probiotics are your body’s source of healthy bacteria. These are needed to balance out the unhealthy bacteria in your gut. Too much unhealthy bacteria could be affecting your ability to digest food, your ability to absorb nutrients, and your ability to fight bugs and infections. Probiotics can be found in various foods such as yogurt, kefir, miso, and sauerkraut. They can also be taken as supplements.

Stay Active

Exercise is also important for detoxing your body. When we are active, our blood flows faster around the body, allowing antibodies and nutrients to get to the right places more quickly. Exercise helps us to get oxygen into our bodies faster and also helps to speed up our digestive system. All in all, it’s essential for a full body detox.

How do you detox your body? How often? Share below!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Surprising Causes of Headaches and How to Stop Them

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Did you know that it isn’t just stress and colds that can cause headaches? Sometimes little things, like cleaning your home or even sleeping in, can cause them too. If you want to help yourself then here are the top surprising causes of headaches.

Relaxing

Do you find that headaches strike you more on the weekend? Especially on a Saturday morning? If this is the case, then there is a very good reason. As you relax, the tension from the week subsides, and your stress hormones start to drop. This can cause a release of neurotransmitters, which sends out impulses to the blood vessels in the brain. When this happens, the vessels constrict and dilate. This can cause serious headaches, and it may cause you to suffer all weekend as a result. If you want to stop this, then try to avoid the temptation of sleeping in on the weekend. Instead, go for a yoga class or a walk.

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Pent up Anger

When you are angry, all the muscles that are in the back of your scalp and your neck really tense up. Of course, this will cause you to experience a constricting sensation around your head, known as a tension headache. If you want to try and stop this from happening, then try to breathe in deep and slowly. Also, focus on breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth. This will relax your back and your neck.

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Poor Posture

Poor posture can create a lot of tension in your upper back. This can cause you to experience a headache, and you may find that you get a throbbing pain in the back of your skull. If this is the case, then avoid sitting in one position for a long period of time. If you get pain behind the eyes, this could be because of an eye problem. If this sounds like you, then check out Biotrue ONEday for astigmatism. I have astigmatisms in BOTH eyes, so I know the pain and frustration associated with it.

Perfume

If you think that housework gives you a headache, there is a high chance that you could be right. Cleaners, fragranced air fresheners, and strong perfumes can all contain chemicals which are notorious for bringing on headaches. If you want to fix this, then try and avoid heavy perfumes, and also make sure that you keep your windows and doors open as much as possible. The same applies to your workplace as well. When someone is spraying perfume, open the window and always make sure that you turn on your air conditioner where possible.

Bad Weather

If you are prone to getting headaches, you may find that they are brought on by high humidity, increasing temperatures, and even grey skies. Pressure changes can trigger electrical and chemical changes in the brain and this can irritate your nerves. This can then lead you to developing headaches and other side effects. If you want to stop this, try and take some pain relief for when bad weather does strike. I get terrible migraines, and they’re almost always due to the barometric pressure (or a change in air pressure). High humidity causes mine, as well. When in Ohio, where it’s always over 50% humidity, I get severe migraines. Here in Las Vegas, the humidity is almost always under 10%, and I get fewer migraines!

Do you get headaches? How do you combat them? Comment below!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Fitness Health Uncategorized

Why Helping Yourself On Your Fitness Journey Isn’t A Bad Thing

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Like anything people can become passionate about, the fitness community can sometimes have those who take everything they do with utmost seriousness, and can become quite draconian when imparting advice. Of course, when this comes to matters of health and safety, or when it comes to actually promoting what works, this is completely fine. However, sometimes you may be intimidated, thinking that unless you are following ‘the perfect way,’ you’re not following a way at all.

Fitness is a metaphor for our life, in that if we want something, we have to stay committed and work for it. However, over time this can prevent you from making the progress you want despite putting work in. Fitness, like anything you do to better your life, should be enjoyable and something you look forward to when it’s at its best. If you hate every gym session, every healthy meal, and feel as though you simply have to suffer through it – you’re not going to last very long at all.

This is why, especially in the beginning, helping yourself out on your fitness journey isn’t a bad thing at all. After all, if you want to climb a mountain, it’s a good idea to bring climbing gear.

Consider:

A Shoulder To Lean On

A gym can be an intimidating place to be your first time there. You likely do not know what most of the equipment is outside of the obvious fixtures, and trying to navigate a busy gym during peak times can be a nightmare. This is why it can be important start with a gym induction, and to simply walk around the place to see what you can and can’t do. Asking questions such as what the weightlifting chalk policy can help illuminate what actions you should be taking.

Sometimes, it can be hard to simply get in a routine schedule. If you haven’t gone to the gym for some time, what makes your current need so different? Also, how might you ingratiate yourself into the fitness lifestyle well? We’d recommend that finding a shoulder to lean on could be a great idea. Perhaps you could look online at a forum dedicated to your local area, and try to find a gym buddy that way. Perhaps you might ask one of your friends to start this new lifestyle with you, if they have also suggested that they wish to become fitter.

When you have someone waiting on you as you’re waiting on them, both of you will find it much harder to let the other person down. This can help you both enjoy one another’s company and also gain a stronger and more dependable approach when helping each other overcome their lifts.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with doing this. In fact, it can be a much safer method of attending the gym. For example, having someone ‘spot you’ on the bench press can help you avoid being punished by gravity if placing too much weight on the bar. You can also both help each other with scheduling, your diets, observing the other’s form, and giving one another safety pointers. In fact, the more specialized an athlete becomes, the more they will have to rely on the opinions and help of other people. So as a novice, there’s absolutely zero shame in finding this for yourself, and the same goes for the use of excellent personal trainers.

Getting Active & Alert

While many of us love attending the gym, getting up at an early hour in the morning, walking to the gym in the pouring rain, and having to wake yourself up on the treadmill or by lifting weights can be enjoyable, yet a little rough to experience. Sometimes, we might wake up feeling full of energy and well rested. Other times, we might feel the complete opposite.

Does that mean we should cancel our gym session the moment we feel just a little tired? Of course not, that would be rather ridiculous. But it might also be that we need just a little help in getting active and alert each morning. For example, it might be that you decide to homebrew beautiful filter coffee to keep you alert and active each morning. You might also decide to use pre-workout to help you get in the zone. You might decide to run to the gym in order to wake up, or perhaps join a certain specialized class you must attend in order to get the blood moving. On top of that, ZMA supplements can help you feel more alert after a great night of rest.

Getting active and alert is the key to success with your fitness lifestyle. We would recommend you consider the powerful benefits of doing this. You never know just how much it could help.

Supplementation

Added supplementation can be a wonderful thing. From using Vitamin C and D supplements to help your immune system (preventing you from catching something such as a seasonal flu from gym equipment,) purchasing T5 fat burners to help you drop weight naturally, and also fulvic acid can help you gain minerals you might have lost out on before.

Protein supplements can help you repair your muscles after an intense gym session, and help you meet your daily macro requirement. On top of that, weight shakes can help you bulk up and put weight on, allowing you to exceed your daily need for certain calories if hoping to build muscle. BCAA’s can help your muscles repair even more appropriately, as they are literally providing the amino acids necessary to help you heal in the most fundamental manner possible.

If you have a fitness issue, either hard work, readjusting your schedule, sleeping, eating better, or supplementation can help it. But supplementation is often a dirty word, because of all the questionable products that can be sold, especially overseas. But enjoying the use of these, if properly vetted, can help you get to the next level of your fitness life. To that extent, this can be a net positive.

With these tips, you’re certain to help yourself on your fitness journey!

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health

The Relationship Between Work & Health

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You have heard plenty in the past about the work/life balance – but what about the work/health balance? While it is not necessarily clear cut to say that working more means having less health, there is something of a link there which is worth looking into if you want to try and make the most of your life. Your health is obviously the most important thing to you in the world, and as long as you are living in a way which pays respect to that, you should find that you are moving in the right direction. But there are many ways in which your work can get in the way of that, and it is a good idea to try and look into what you can do to stop that from happening too much. In this post, we will look at some of the ways in which your work and your health are related, and what you can do to make sure you find the right balance.

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Choosing A Job

Let’s be honest: most of the time, people choose jobs based on circumstance and chance rather than a top-down kind of objective approach. That is the nature of working in the world today, and that is the reality for most people. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t choose to try and put a little more effort into finding a job that you will hopefully love, and one which is not going to cause you too much strain or trouble with your health. If you are thinking of switching jobs or getting a job, you will want to keep your health at the forefront of your mind. As long as you do that, you should find that you are much more likely to get hold of a job that will be fairly good for you, or at least not do you too much harm. Again, this is not always possible to do, but insofar as it is, you should make sure that you are happy to make the right choice and always put your health first ahead of any job.

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Working Safely

An important way to make sure that your work is not going to negatively affect your health is by focusing on what you need to do to work safely. The more that you are able to work in safety, the more likely it is that you will keep your health where it needs to be, and that’s obviously what we all need and want. There are many things to consider here to make sure that you are working as safely as necessary. For a start, there are likely to be a number of health and safety rules which you need to adhere to in your workplace, so make sure that you are aware of these and that you appreciate what they mean and really entail. You should also make sure that you approach your work with common sense and don’t do anything unsafe on purpose, and that you don’t do anything physical which you know you probably can’t do. Remember that your employer has their side to keep up here too, and if they don’t then you should seriously consider contacting a personal injury lawyer to get their legal assistance. As long as you do that, and you work safely, you can at least be sure that your work won’t cause you any actual injuries, which is a hugely important thing to be aware of on the whole.

Taking Regular Breaks

One of the ways in which work can affect your health is if you work too much, an affliction which many people find that they adhere to from time to time. If you do work too much, then it will only mean that you are going to cause your body and mind to experience much more stress, and that will inhibit the function of your immune system to the point where you are considerably more likely to develop an illness at some point in the future. This is clearly no good for you at all, and absolutely not worth the extra working hours. Instead, you should aim to take regular breaks wherever you can, so that you can be sure you are going to keep that stress as low as necessary, and not allow it to become too much. There will be a legal requirement for break time which you should follow, and hopefully your employer will let you take a little more too, so make sure that you are happy to do that if you want to really look after yourself. Taking breaks is essential for your health.

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Eating Well

Many people fail to eat properly when they are at work. This might be because they are rushed off their feet and they don’t find it easy to get hold of good food, or it might be that the stress of the day means that they crave fast food. Whatever the underlying reason, you need to try and make sure that you don’t go too far down that hole. Instead, try to make a point of eating as well as you possibly can when you are on lunch break and other breaks. You can do this by preparing a healthy meal at home which you bring in, or simply by making sure that you make a point of making better decisions when you buy your lunch. The healthier you eat during the working day, the better off your health will be on the whole – and you will also find that it makes it much easier to carry on working without getting too overwhelmed or stressed too. Food is one of the most important parts of this whole process, and you should make sure that you treat it as such. Your diet is the central pinnacle of your health, especially when you are already stressed from work.

Understanding the relationship between work and health and taking the steps above will help you to lead a much healthier and happier life!

•How do you balance your work and health life?

This post was a collaboration.

Thank you for reading!

Health Nutrition Reviews

Food Intolerance Testing with York Test Labs Pt 2: Results

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A couple weeks ago, I shared about Part One of my food intolerance testing with York Test Labs. Quick summary: I was given the opportunity to take an at-home food and drink intolerance test. I sent two little cotton swabs of blood to be tested for over 200 common intolerances. Note: this blood test checks for intolerances (some are possible intolerances), not allergies.

Disclosure: Lipton Publicity provided a sample, and the opinion I express is 100% my own.

I’m back to share my results with you! Via email, I received these results:

The top red ones (in the first photo) with the black dots are what my blood reacted to. The only one I’m sad and surprised by is the cocoa bean! I’ll definitely have to get more info on the specifics of that. If I can’t have chocolate ever, what kind of life would that be?! 😉

I’m not surprised by the milk and eggs (including yolk). I’m bummed about beef, because I love a good cheeseburger. With the eggs, it’s funny: exactly 5 years ago, I started eating food that only felt good in my body, even though some of the foods I couldn’t eat were considered healthy. Here’s the post:

That post was specifically talking about eggs! Eggs have always made me feel bloated, despite never feeling full. It felt good reading these results and knowing it wasn’t all in my head.

The yellow food/drinks with the black dots are things my blood sort of reacted to. Those are possible intolerances, but not a “for sure.” Everything else, I didn’t have a reaction to! Pretty awesome.

Had I taken this test a year ago, I’d be so sad about the intolerances to wine. But, luckily, I no longer drink, so it’s not a big deal to me.

•••

After receiving the results, you’re given a phone number to call and schedule TWO 30-minute nutritional therapy sessions! You’ll talk with a professional to better understand your results and ask any questions. You’ll also receive a food diary and guidebook.

I feel extremely satisfied with the testing process with York Test Labs, and the results I received. I highly recommend checking out their website to learn more, & to purchase your own kit! There’s nothing more important than your health.

PS: There’s currently a SALE happening! Use code MAY20 to receive 20% off!

Thank you for reading!

Keep in touch on Instagram 🙂

Health

Simple Tips For Improving Your Posture

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A surprisingly large amount of people have bad posture. The correct and healthy posture change comes from many people working at desks all day, looking down at mobile phones a lot, and slouching in general. 

Having the correct posture will mean that some of the muscles and joints in your body won’t function as they are designed to. The weakened areas are more susceptible to injury, and it can limit your range of movement too. 

Photo by Corinne Kutz on Unsplash

Slouching, in particular, can mean that you aren’t taking big enough breaths, meaning there isn’t oxygen flowing around your body. This lack of oxygen leads to fatigue, poor circulation, and decreased energy levels. 

There are several ways to be more mindful of your posture, and some of them only take a moment. 

If you notice regular backache, tight shoulders, and a stiff neck due to your posture, then a trip to a chiropractic care center should be top of the list. 

The rest of the tips are things that you can do yourself. 

Fastest fix

Notice how you are sitting right now. Are you slumped a little bit, with your shoulders hunched over? Do you have proper lumbar support? 

The key to a fast posture fix is looking at how you are holding your shoulder blades. Your shoulder blades should be drawn back and pulled down slightly. This stops you from having rounded hunch shoulders and allows for better alignment. 

The correct sitting position would be to have your ears in line with your shoulders. This position prevents strain in your neck. 

Long term 

If you spend a significant amount of time sitting, invest in a chair with lumbar support, or purchase a small lumbar support pillow. 

Keeping your legs uncrossed and both on the floor or on a footrest to keep your knees at hips at the same height. Your knee can also be slightly below hip height for optimal comfort. 

Moving often is essential too. Even if you have a desk-based job, it is essential that you set timers to make sure you are moving at least once an hour for a few minutes. 

Read more about how damaging a desk job can be: Your Desk Job Is Killing You.

Moving around makes sure that the blood flow is good and that all of your joints and muscles are lubricated. 

During your time away from your desk, make sure that you stretch your arms, legs, neck, and back. This will prevent them from feeling too stiff and becoming painful. 

If you have tensions in the body, this will also restrict movements, which can see you returning to a slouching posture. 

Walking

If you often walk with your head tipped down looking at your feet, it’s time to break that habit. Walking tall, with your shoulders and the top of your head pointing skywards is the key to keeping your break straight as you walk around. 

Next time you head out for a walk, or you are standing then look at how you hold your body. 

Simply noticing when you are slouching or hunched over can help you correct your posture with ease. 

Thank you for reading!

Health

The Surprising Health Benefits of Fishing

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When you think of being fit and healthy you might visualize an intense workout at the gym or a long sweaty run. But health benefits come in a variety of different ways, and fishing can also be included in this category. So if you enjoy this activity then it could prove even more beneficial than you thought. 

Gets You Out and About

The good thing about fishing is that despite a cold, dreary morning if you enjoy being outdoors despite it being chilly it will still encourage you to get out and about, which is certainly important. As long as you are dressed suitably for the different weather conditions with performance fishing shirts then you won’t be too concerned if it is a little cold, as you will be dressed appropriately. Also you can look smart and stylish if you want, as well as feeling comfortable. 

Encourages Social Meet Ups

This is particularly important, especially if you live alone to be able to retain social contact with other people. It provides you with the opportunity to maintain friendships or meet new people when you are able to meet on a regular basis. This is most definitely important psychologically to prevent feelings of isolation and loneliness. 

Aids Concentration

As it is an activity whereby you are focused on the task ahead, fishing can improve your concentration as you are spending your time thinking about what you are doing and what you might catch in the water. So essentially it will boost your memory and concentration levels which is most definitely a positive thing. 

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You Will Reap The Rewards of the Sun 

In the winter you are not exposed to much sunlight as the days draws in, so doing an outdoor activity where you can get some much needed vitamin D is a positive. You want to try and absorb as much as you can in the morning before the sun gets too hot. This is not too much of a problem in fall or winter when the sun is not sweltering hot the rest of the day. But in the colder weather you can stay as long as you like. 

Promotes Good Physical Activity 

You might not have considered it to be very active as a sport but it still requires physical ability. You are continually moving your arms about and lifting things which requires your muscles to keep moving. This will in turn get your heart muscles working, which pumps enough blood around your body. So in a sense you are still doing a bit of a workout. 

Allows You to Breathe In Fresh Air

Breathing in fresh air is very important, especially if you live in a city centre, where pollution is rife. You need to be able to breath in good quality fresh air to keep your lungs in good condition. Fishing is the perfect escape to do this in a quiet, rural, scenic location in an outdoor setting. 

Alleviates Stress 

There are going to be moments in your life where you get extremely stressed, so finding a calming, relaxing solution to this is essential. If you are someone that just wants to switch off from your everyday stresses then fishing can be an ideal resolution. You can just sit back in quiet solitude, if you prefer to be alone, and just focus on the task ahead, taking in your calming environment as you cast aside all your stresses and worries. 

Overall there are many more qualities to fishing than you thought which are positive to both your physical and mental wellbeing. The most important thing is to be doing an activity that you thoroughly enjoy as this will deter you from feeling lethargic, lonely and stressed. So grab that fishing rod and go explore!

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Lifestyle

Practical Ways to Save Money

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If you try so hard to save money only to find that you never really get anywhere, it can be pretty frustrating to say the least. 

Somehow, no matter what you do, things always crop up to render your efforts null and void, and saving money seems so hard that you hardly know why you bother at all – sound familiar? It’s a common story, but it is a story you can change by employing these very practical ways to save money into your life…

Use the debt snowball method

If you’re in debt, those repayments are likely o be one of your biggest expenses, which means you need to get rid of that debt asap. A great way to do this is by using the debt snowball method whereby you plow any spare cash into eliminating your smallest debt. Once you’ve done that, you move on to the net smallest and so on. Once you’re on a roll, you’ll find it easier, see great results that spur you on, and ultimately get rid of that debt pretty fast.

Don’t buy anything new

Apart from food, medication and maybe underwear, do you really need to buy anything new? From used cars at edmunds to vintage clothing at the local thrift store, you can find everything you need preloved and save a great deal of money doing so. Just be warned: hunting out those pre-loved bargains can become addictive.

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Make a shopping list

And stick to it. The average family of four spends in excess of $928 each month on groceries. This is something you can easily cut down on by making a list containing only the ingredients of the meals you plan to make. When you do this, you don’t throw in those tasty-looking Oreos or end up buying 10 different meat sauces that you will never eat, and over the course of a year, the savings can be pretty huge.

Save the change

Whenever you buy something for say $3.59, instead of keeping the change in your wallet or bank account, why not put it into a savings or investment account instead? There are numerous apps that will round up the change on your purchases and invest them for you, and although it doesn’t seem like saving the difference between $3.59 and $5 when you buy a coffee would make much difference, think about how many coffees you have each year and you can easily see how this could help you save a lot and that’s just coffee – think about all the other small purchase you make, which you could save the change from, too!

Get rid of subscriptions

From Netflix to Amazon Prime, most of us have a lot of online subscriptions, many of which we barely, if ever, use. Every month, audit your subs and if you haven’t used one in a while, cancel it and start putting the equivalent monthly cost into your savings.

These methods might not help you to get rich quick, but they’ll certainly speed up your savings success!

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Health

Why Skiing Is Great For Your Health

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Have you ever wondered about the health benefits of skiing? Many people are nervous about getting out on the snow and learning this new skill. However, winter sports remain increasingly popular across the US, and enjoy getting out and about when the instinct is to stay home and warm and out of the snow.

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If you want to know the benefits of skiing, this post looks at how learning to ski can improve your health.

Strengthens Joints and Bones

With each turn and navigate down the mountainside, your knees and joints work hard to handle the tension. This strengthens your knees and stretches your joints and muscles. The weight-bearing on your legs strengthens your bones, preventing osteoporosis and other knee and joint issues.

Plus, you can benefit significantly from the added flexibility skiing affords your body as you use a wide variety of muscles when skiing. As well as supporting joints and bones, you can maintain flexibility too.

Strengthens Your Core

Skiing is challenging without good balance and a strong core. The deep core muscles (abdominal and pelvic floor muscles) are essential stabilizers and get a great workout when skiing. Skiing has many health benefits, including deep core stabilization, which supports your complete system, including breathing, posture, and digestion. Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles benefits your entire body.

Take this up to another level by including yoga or pilates to your pre and post-ski routine to help you support your core and strengthen your body both on and off the slopes.

Improves Heart

Skiing works your heart hard. Skiing is an aerobic sport that increases heart rate and cardiovascular endurance. Capillaries can deliver more oxygen to muscle cells when your heart is stronger. With this in mind, there is no denying that skiing is an excellent method to keep your heart healthy and your body fit. Try walking up the hill instead of taking the ski lift (you’ll feel it the next day!).

Plus carrying all of your ski equipment such as skis, clothing, gloves, ski boot bag and more will help you boost the workout too.

Helps Maintain Weight

How many calories do you burn skiing? Skiing burns 223 calories in 30 minutes for an 11 stone person, according to Harvard Medical School. It’s surprising how many calories you burn skiing for several hours per day for a week! So keep your energy up by eating excellent chalet meals during your ski break! Make sure to supplement this by eating meals that are delicious and meet the nutritional needs of skiers and snowboarders. 

Improved Mental Health

Being on the slopes has been shown to have positive psychological effects on those who participate. As a result of spending the entire day outside and basking in the Vitamin D from the sun, your body’s production of “feel good” chemicals, such as endorphins and adrenaline, is increased. This is especially true while participating in an activity such as skiing. Skiing outside has been shown to improve mood and provide a stronger sense of well-being and enjoyment.

Do you ski?

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Health

Speeding Up Your Recovery After Surgery

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Having surgery of any kind can have a huge impact on both your physical and mental health, so it’s vital that you can find proactive ways to bounce back to your old self in a timely manner to avoid experiencing these negative symptoms for any longer than you need to. Fortunately there are several simple steps that you can follow to ensure your recovery is as fast as possible, and there’s no time like the present to get started! So, simply read on to find out more. 

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Find A Trusted Physician

One of the most important features that can impact dramatically on your recovery is the physician that you choose to aid you in your journey to wellness. Opting for the wrong doctor who has little knowledge of your condition or how to help you to achieve your health goals will mean that you have no chance of a successful recovery, and it could even cause further problems that could have otherwise been avoided. It’s vital that you know what to do if you suspect malpractice during your surgery or subsequent aftercare, as you deserve to receive the best quality treatment. In order to find a reliable physician, check online to uncover reviews that have been left by previous patients to locate the highest rated health center in your local area. 

Give Yourself Time 

Attempting to go back to work within a couple of weeks of your surgery could seriously damage your chances of achieving a swift recovery, as you need to give yourself time to heal in a relaxing environment without an excess of physical and mental stress. Running around after your children or scrubbing the kitchen floor should be out of the question no matter what kind of surgery you have undergone, as strenuous activity is never advised and you must follow the advice of your healthcare professional. Don’t rush back to your previous lifestyle – take your recovery one step at a time and remember to be patient with yourself. 

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

Causing yourself distress and discomfort by struggling through a task simply because you’re afraid to ask for help is one of the worst mistakes that you can make when attempting to speed up your recovery after surgery. You must never feel guilty for asking your friends, family or medical staff for assistance when you are in such a predicament, as it’s highly likely that they will be more than happy to help! Whether you need a friend to run down to the grocery store to grab you a few things or even just need someone to talk to, someone out there is probably willing to put an end to your troubles. 

Speeding up your recovery has never been so simple when you can take the time to make the most of some of the brilliant tips and tricks that have been carefully explained above. It’s always a nerve-wracking experience to undergo surgery of any kind, but focusing on the future will help you to battle through your discomfort to get back to your old self in no time at all. 

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Lifestyle

Preparing Your Teen for Life

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There comes a time in every parent’s life when they have to think about their children leaving home. Once the teenage years arrive, it can be a quick transition from child to teen to young adult. Many parents will agree it feels like the blink of an eye.

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At this time in their lives, it is the perfect opportunity to give them some practical life skills they can take with them as they begin to make their way in the world. But what are the best skills to teach your child when they fly the nest?

Laundry

Lessons include sorting colors and reading labels. Explain why some clothes require special care. Be sure to teach them how to use the washer and the dryer! Which button performs what and when? Mention the advantages of air drying and the distinctions among detergents and stain removers. This is a wonderful moment to encourage finishing tasks. One load from filthy to folded and put away is better than many loads of washed and dried laundry being left around.

Shaving

Both girls and boys need to know how to shave correctly and care for their skin when they decide to do this. Facial shaving for boys can be complicated, mainly if you discuss growing mustaches or beards and the proper care. 

Teach your teen how to shave and care for the skin on their face and neck, along with other body parts they might want to shave. And include alternatives to shaving and hair removal for face, underarms, legs, and genital regions. It can save them a lot of pain and discomfort in the future.

Shopping

Invite your kids to go grocery shopping with you. Discuss choosing the best fruits and vegetables and why the grocery store’s outer aisles are ideal. Show your teen how to make a shopping list with what you currently own. Discuss meal planning and nutrition factors to deepen the learning. Teens love to talk about food and what’s good for their bodies. Use this innate curiosity to communicate.

Money Management

The more money talks your teen hears, the more financial authority they get. Saving money for a school trip or college is a great way to learn about money management. Money conversation is a learned skill for many of us, so remember it before teaching it to your teen.

Time Management

This skill could significantly improve your teen’s life. It helps them control their destiny. Talk about your teen’s schedule. Consider developing a strategy for what to do if time runs out. This saves you later and gives them practice before they need to rely on time management for employment and make their way in the world.

Job Hunting

Finding work is difficult for those with experience, but it can be impossible for teenagers. Take it one step at a time, starting with job-hunting tools. A preteen or teen may build a solid CV at any age. Remember not to compare your teen to others you know. Show them how to play to their strengths and what skills are transferable from day-to-day life to the world of employment, including punctuality, attention to detail, ability to think on their feet, and act independently and confidently.

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Fitness Health

3 Ways To Turn Your Commute Into Daily Exercise

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The biggest reason that people give for not exercising is that they don’t have time. Sometimes, it’s just an excuse and if they really wanted to, they could find the time. However, some people that have a busy work and family life really don’t have any time to exercise. If you find yourself in that situation, you need to double up on your time and find ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. One of the best ways to do that is to turn your commute into an opportunity to exercise. 

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Your commute is dead time in the day anyway, but it’s easy to make it more active so you’re getting more out of it. These are some of the best ways to turn your commute into an opportunity for exercise. 

Running and Walking

This is probably the most obvious answer. The best way to turn your commute into an opportunity for exercise is to run or walk while you’re commuting. You can wear your headphones and listen to music or an audiobook or podcast while you do it, but there’s something special about having that time where your mind can just wander. You’ll get some great exercise every single day and you’ll arrive at work feeling refreshed. 

If you live close to work, walking is a great option and it’s better exercise than people realize. Running is an option sometimes, but if you live too far away, you might have to look into other options. If you are going to run, you will need facilities for showering and changing at work, so it all depends on your workplace. 

Cycling

If you live close to work, cycling is another great option for turning your commute into an exercise opportunity. It’s one of the best ways to get in a lot of exercise each day and you can cover a much longer distance. You won’t get as sweaty as you will when you run either, so it’s better if there are no facilities at work. If you are concerned about the distance, you should look for some electric bikes for sale and use one of those instead. You still get good exercise but you have a bit of extra assistance if your commute is longer or there are a few big hills you need to tackle. 

Scooters

You might think that scooters are just a kid’s toy, but they’re actually quite a popular option for commuters, especially in big cities, and they’re great exercise. They’re easy to use and they’re very maneuverable, so you can ride on the pavements in busy areas. They are also much more compact and easy to store than a bicycle, making them a good choice for smaller workplaces. You could use an electric scooter too if you need a bit of help on your commute. However, this won’t give you much exercise because the scooter does most of the work for you. 

If you use these simple methods to incorporate exercise into your commute, you can stay healthy even if you are short on time. 

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Health

7 Changes to Make If You Want to Be Healthier

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If you’ve finally decided that it’s time to make some changes to your diet in order to make it healthier, congratulations! Committing to healthy changes is always the first hurdle that you have to clear if you want to improve your health moving forward. 

The next challenge is deciding how and where those changes need to be made. It’s not always clear to you which changes would be most beneficial to you and your overall health, both now and in the future. That’s what we’re going to take a look at today, so read on!

Skip Sugar-Filled Drinks

One of the first things you should think about is not what you’re eating but what you’re drinking. If you want to make a healthy change, you definitely need to remove sugar-filled drinks from your diet. As tempting as they might be, they overload you with sugar and/or sweeteners. And that’s not great for your body at all. Try to stick to water when it comes to what you choose to drink most of all during the day.

Eat Fruit Rather Than Drinking It

If you’re concerned that you’re not receiving the full health benefits that you’re looking for from your fruit, it might be because you’re approaching it wrong. If you blend and drink the fruit, you won’t be getting the full benefit that it has to offer. If you eat the fruit rather than drinking it, you’ll get more fiber and it’ll generally be better for you. Juicing machines can be particularly misleading in terms of the benefits they bring.

Eat More Fish and Less Red Meat

If you want to make a healthy swap that’ll serve you well today as well for years still to come, you should think about eating more fish. And the thing that you should ditch when you start to eat more fish is red meat. Red meat can be bad for you if you consume too much of it. You’ll get the right vitamins and omega-3 from the fish, and you won’t have to deal with the drawbacks that come with eating too much red meat. It’s a swap you should at least consider.

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Switch to Lower Fat Milk

If you’re someone who drinks a lot of milk, one of the healthiest changes you can make is buying a lower fat milk option instead. Rather than going for the full fat solution, you simply need to choose the skimmed or semi-skimmed solution. It’s all too easy to drink your calories, as we’ve already discussed. That’s why you should do everything possible to keep your high fat milk consumption low.

Try Going Vegan

If you want to make a drastically healthy change to your diet, you might want to consider taking the vegan route. It might be something you want to do on a permanent basis, or you might want to make it something that you do for a couple of days of the week; possibly more, possibly less. It’s up to you to decide. Whether you’re going vegan or not, you should learn how to make vegan mashed potatoes. They taste great, and the same is true of many vegan dishes!

Snack on Nuts

It’s often very difficult to find healthy snacks that hold up in terms of offering you the flavors you’re probably looking for. Potato chips, chocolate and whatever other snacks you love always tend to win out. These are the snacks that are most unhelpful when it comes to your health. Nuts, on the other hand, offer a great source of protein and they’re also a lot healthier than the other options we’ve already mentioned here.

Add an Extra Side of Veggies to Every Evening Meal

Finally, you should make sure that if you’re going to add something extra to your meal that it’s veggies of some kind. Simply adding more vegetables to your dinner, no matter what that dinner is, is going to help you ensure you keep your health on track. It’s a small way to ensure you do the fundamentals correctly and show your body the respect it deserves by never skipping your greens.

As you can see, there are lots of ways to make healthy eating changes to your diet. Be sure to try out at least some of the ideas discussed above if you want to make sure that your diet and eating habits move in a more positive direction. Each of the options discussed above will offer you something important!

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Fitness

4 Ways To Optimize Your Fitness To Get The Most Out Of Each Workout

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Spending a lot of time working out can be a great way to make yourself healthy. Many people dedicate substantial portions of their lives to this sort of work, putting loads of effort into exercising each day. Of course, though, no matter what you do to keep fit, it will always be worth taking steps to optimize your workouts to get the most out of them. To help you out with this, this article will be exploring some of the best ways to improve your workouts without having to put more effort into them.

Your Diet

Maintaining a good diet is notoriously difficult, with many people finding it extremely hard to keep up with eating healthily. Of course, this will be easier when you are also working out, as you will feel more motivated to ensure that you have a good diet. It’s important to make sure that you are eating the right food before and after going to the gym. High-energy meals will be great before your workouts, but you will need something to help you recover afterward.

Sleep & Rest

Sleep is crucial to your fitness goals, though many people don’t realize this. Your body needs to spend a certain amount of time sleeping each night to ensure that it can recover properly from your workouts. Your sleep is also tied heavily to your metabolism, and this means that proper sleep can help you to lose weight. There are loads of guides and resources available around the web that can help you to get better sleep.

Additional Equipment

Most gyms come loaded with different types of equipment. This gives you the chance to try a range of different exercises, while also giving you an opportunity to find something you really like. Of course, though, you can supplement your regular exercises with additional equipment that will make it even better for your body. Weights are a good example of this, with wrist and ankle weights providing a heavier workout. Likewise, tools like an electric belly fat burning belt can also provide more from your workouts.

Your Approach

It can be all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that getting fit involves working as hard as humanly possible. In reality, though, you can often work smart rather than working hard, and your fitness goals can be easier to achieve than you expect. Working too hard can be bad for those with defined goals, as you are likely to spend more time recovering than you will if you take it a little bit easier. Light exercise each day is always better than heavy exercise once each week.

As you can see, making sure that you get the most out of each workout is a challenge that can be hard to balance. There are a lot of tools and resources available to help you with this, but you should also work to be creative and try new things. Your body is different to everyone else’s, and this means that you need to find options that work for you.

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Health

3 Benefits of Good Relaxation

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Relaxation is one of the most crucial matters in our lives, and is something we can ensure we do more of. The right amount of relaxing is what keeps us fit, both physically and mentally, and ensures that we are better prepared to cope with whatever life throws at us. There are many reasons to schedule time for genuine relaxation, and they all contribute to a more enjoyable, productive life. Continue reading to find out why relaxation is so important in everyone’s life!

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A Clearer Mind

When we have a lot going on in our lives, it can seem overwhelming and stressful. Appropriate relaxation helps prevent our thoughts from being muddled and our views from becoming restricted and distorted. When we relax, our minds become clear of confusion, and any distractions that were troubling us may be put aside. This indicates that your mind has gotten clearer and you can focus more effectively. When this happens, it’s easier to make reasonable, rational decisions that will help us rather than hurt us. It also becomes easier to do day-to-day tasks such as deciding to use a quick and easy pineapple teriyaki chicken recipe for dinner or remembering to take the trash out. 

Using meditation and mindfulness methods will help your brain relax enough to become more focused on the problems at hand. You will be able to put your issues into perspective, and you will be able to prioritize anything you need to consider.

Good For Your Heart

When you are anxious, your heart is put in jeopardy. Stress causes your blood pressure to rise, placing strain on your heart and possibly leading to heart disease and heart attacks. As a consequence, relaxing as much as possible while also reducing your stress levels may help to maintain your heart and keep you healthy for a longer period of time.

Other problems may arise from being too stressed for a long period of time. When you are stressed, your body releases hormones to assist in the ‘fight or flight’ response. This is a positive sign since it indicates you’re ready to protect yourself. When you are under a lot of stress, those hormones flood your system and never go away. This puts pressure on your heart, forcing it to work harder than normal, perhaps causing damage.

Better Mental Health

It may seem that not relaxing and always doing something, doing everything to keep oneself occupied and therefore never really resting is what we are all supposed to do – it has almost become a competition to see who is the busiest and has the most chaotic life – but it is terrible for our health. Although we will always have things to do and responsibilities to meet, attempting to achieve too much merely to keep up with some vision of what life should be like would only hurt us.

It won’t only harm us physically, as previously said, but it will also hurt us psychologically. Being too stressed and failing to take time to relax (even 10 minutes may be enough to reset and re-energize each day) can lead to depression and anxiety. These mental health problems can be catastrophic, leading us to miss work, miss family events, and more. 

Although relaxing alone won’t fully restore us to health if we are very sick (only a doctor’s assistance will do that), it might prevent the issue from worsening.

Thank you for reading!