Lifestyle

How To Have Serious Conversations

March 27, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

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If you need to have a serious conversation with someone you love, you may be feeling at a bit of loss regarding where to start. This is especially the case if you and that person have more of a less-hearted and jovial relationship. However, there is no need to fret, as we have got some helpful tips for you. Read on to discover everything you need to know about how to have a serious conversation with someone you love.

Choose the right time to talk – The first thing you need to do is choose the right time to talk. While the topic may seem urgent, there is no point in discussing it if neither of you are in the right frame of mind. You need to make sure that you are both able to focus fully on the conversation and that there are no distractions. If your other half has had a difficult day at work, for example, save the conversation for the following day.
Do your research but don’t overstep the boundaries – It is important to do your research and come into the conversation prepared. Perhaps you have been thinking about having a vasectomy for quite some time now? If so, you may want to look into a vasectomy clinic in the local area and gather some information before discussing this with your other half. However, don’t go ahead and book the appointment before you have had the conversation. If you do this, it looks like you weren’t even going to consider the other person’s opinions and thoughts in any case.
Listen to your partner when they speak – A lot of people are guilty of simply listening because they are waiting for their turn to speak. They do not truly take in what the other person has to say. If you have to have a difficult yet fruitful conversation with someone, you need to make sure that you actually listen to them and understand their perspective.
Try to begin the conversation positively – You want to start the conversation on the right tone, and this is why it is important to be positive. This will help to create a more productive space.
Stay focused on the issue at hand – Last but not least, it can be very easy to lose focus and start talking about other niggly little issues once you get started. However, you don’t want things to go off track, nor do you want your partner to feel like they are under attack! This is why it is vital to make sure you stick with the one topic at hand.

As you can see, there are a number of different steps to take when it comes to having a serious conversation with a loved one. If you follow the advice that has been provided, you will be able to ensure you have an effective and successful conversation with the person in question. Good luck!

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

4 Reasons To Stay Single This Year

March 8, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

For most of your life you have been a hopeless romantic, waiting for your Prince Charming to sweep you off your feet and live happily ever after. The truth is, he never does make his grand arrival. Instead you go on dates that you wish you’d never agreed to. What if you adopted a different way of thinking this year Whether you’re reassessing your current relationship or trying to live alone for once, there are so many reasons to stay single this year. If you’re looking for a handful of reasons to make this change, consider the ideas below.

1. Freedom To Try New Activities

When you pursue a single life you are free to do whatever you like. Whether you want to do a skydive or climb Mount Everest, the world is your oyster. You could even try freechatlines.com as a singleton; there are so many activities you can do without having to consult your partner or worry about how they feel about it. Imagine going out in the evening with no obligation to tell your other half where you’re going and when you will be back. This is just one of the good reasons why you should stay single.

2. Freedom to Enhance Your Career

Although a partner may not necessarily hold you back from your career, they may not be as supportive as you’d like them to be. When you’re going solo in life you can use all of your energy on working towards your career goals. People in long term relationships often find themselves spread so thin that they lose sight of their own ambitions. You either need to find an amazing balance or you need to be single for a while.

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3. Freedom for Self Development

Experts say that it is very difficult to pursue self development when you’re in a relationship with somebody. You need to be a little bit selfish if you want to go on this sort of path. When you have no commitments to others you can make a real commitment to yourself and your personal development.

4. Freedom to Find Happiness

They say you need to find happiness by yourself before you can find happiness with anybody else. When you are truly happy you don’t rely on a partner to make you feel this way. So many people go into relationships without understanding what makes them truly happy. Their mood can deteriorate quickly when the other person doesn’t act in a way that pleases them. This is a very unhealthy cycle to get into when you’re in a relationship.

So many people associate being single with feeling lonely or sad. The truth is, being single is freeing, energizing and exciting. When you’re tied down in a relationship you often forget how much fun you can have by yourself. Learning to love yourself and be alone isn’t a bad thing, so why not embrace the single life this year? You might discover some amazing things about yourself that you never even knew!

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

Why Reassessing Your Relationship From Time To Time Is Important

March 2, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

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Like anything in life, managing a relationship well is a matter of observation and maintenance. We must put time and effort into it, and not neglect it. Kindling a fire or watering a plant may be used as important metaphors for this process, although of course, the reality is a little more complex.

This is why it’s important to reassess your relationship from time to time. Of course, ‘reassessing’ suggests considering if it has any value, and sometimes, that may imply that a problem has caused you to think in that direction. But that’s simply not true. Relationships evolve, for better and worse, and often both at the same time in different ways. This is why it’s important to not only view it as one ‘given,’ but as a continual reality we must keep in mind and consider.

But how can you reassess in the healthiest manner? And what might this reveal to you in the long run? It’s worth asking these questions so we can implement the best possible solution, or to keep things working as well as they are. Let’s get started, and consider this in advance:

Are You Still A Team?

Are you and your partner still a team, or have you split into singular entities? A good relationship means sometimes being able to put their needs above your own, and to ask if you can sometimes switch this without fear of criticism or retribution. If you feel that someone is not in your corner, but actually opposed to it, there’s a good chance that finding ‘couples rehab near me’ is an essential search you should make.

How Is Your Communication?

Can you communicate? Or does it always devolve into conflict? This may signify the platform from which the both of you are beginning to speak. Speaking to and at each other are completely different efforts with vastly different results. Sometimes assessing just how you listen to one another and if conversations are contributive or point-scoring will grant you further insight. From there, you can either work on improving your communication through valid mediation services, decide further argumentative discourse is unhelpful, or celebrate those long and consideration conversations you have.

Do You Keep The Spark Alive?

How is the spark kept alive? Even something as simple as cooking dinner for your partner can be an act of love. Heading to see the movies, or watching one at home can help you spend more time together. Do you make the effort to do things together, or do you have your separate friend groups and only live together through a form of necessity? How might you improve this? A relationship is not predicated on whether you have a ravenous attraction to one another or if you share a Prince Charming and Cinderella-esque story, but if you can be great friends and include one another in that which you love and appreciate about life.

With this advice, I hope you can easily and reliably reassess your relationship from time to time. It may just be the positive stimulus you are looking for!

•How do you reassess your relationship when you need to?

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

The Obstacles: Learning The Concept Of Loving Again

February 26, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

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Learning to love again is all about getting over the obstacles within yourself, which is something that we all can struggle with. When you are on approach to a happier you need to think about the overall challenges that come with learning to love again. Ultimately when we have our hearts broken, or we are looking to start all over again, either because it’s later in life or we feel we are ready to begin again, we’ve got to remember that learning to love again isn’t something that happens overnight. Some people don’t want to give love for whatever reason. And there are numerous reasons and ideas that can help you to consolidate yourself with the concept of learning to love again.

You Can Still Protect Yourself

Some people feel that they put up a barrier between themselves in the world because there’s just a lot of concerns about relationships, especially in a physical sense. Whether it’s the alarming statistic that there were 504 new cases of HIV in Missouri a few years ago or that there is so much social media catfishing, we can feel that temptation to be overprotective of ourselves. This is natural but we have to remember that we can still protect ourselves.

When we fall in love with someone again, we have to remember that we aren’t completely giving ourselves over, it’s about finding someone that’s a perfect fit for ourselves. Some people think that when they fall in love, they have to give themselves over completely. But this is not the case. You have to remember that when you fall for someone, you can still protect yourself, and you can pull back if necessary. But you have to remember that if you are tearing away because you are sparing yourself pain rather than finding someone perfect for you then this is where you have to start addressing concerns within yourself.

Everybody Has Love To Give

Some people are so reticent to open themselves up that they can go their entire life without loving someone ever. We have to remember that as human beings, being loving is part of our nature. Sometimes we’re not born into loving families, and sometimes we are, but if we’ve had our heart broken once, this can be the very simple reason we put up our barriers between the world and us. But you have to remember that making the choice not to love someone is exhausting. You’ve got to continually protect yourself, and over time, this can become a very exhausting practice. It becomes part of your psychological makeup, and you then find that it becomes who you are and when not loving someone is natural, this means you are, to an extent, depriving yourself of something wonderful.

Are You Depriving Others?

Everybody deserves to be loved, and when there are people that hurt in the past, choosing to hold up a barrier between us and the world means that we can be depriving others of love that we can give them. It becomes a part of who you are when you start to consciously avoid any sense of affection. But when you begin to look at the people in your sphere like your friends and family, if you don’t give them the affection that they need from you it can result in a strained relationship. If you have a friendship with someone who you might not have so much affection for, but they are in your life, you have to remember that these people deserve to be loved just as you do. Sometimes it’s those little things that everybody can benefit from, like a small gift. It doesn’t take much to do a simple act of love for someone. Keep it simple and show people that you do care about them.

Is Withholding Love Depriving You Of Happiness?

Because we are making such an active effort not to show others our affection for them when we don’t share anything, it goes back to the love that we have for ourselves. You may think that if you don’t care about others as much, this gives you more opportunity to look after yourself and love yourself more. But you have to remember that when you are protecting yourself, it’s not necessarily selfish, but it could be about low self-worth. If you are withholding love to others it may be important to go back to the drawing board and to teach yourself to love yourself. Self-esteem is one of those crucial things that there’s a difference between protecting yourself and loving yourself.

Learning To Be Who You Are

If we are reticent to love others, it can be about that barrier between us in the world, but it’s also about protecting ourselves. After a while, we start to lose track of who we are because we’ve put barrier after barrier up. And when we’ve gone through a lot of pain or suffering, we need to stand back and really think about who we are. We could perceive being loving as exposing our vulnerability, but if you learn to open yourself up, this means that you are being more honest with yourself, and in turn, it helps you to become who you are. It’s an incredibly difficult thing to recognize, but when we are more open and especially with those that we trust, we learn to be more connective. But then when you start to limit your love for others, you can struggle to be you. Learning to be who you are isn’t an overnight fix, and it’s something that can happen a long way from now, but what if we start to open ourselves up and stop being a shell? This can make us realize of what we’ve been depriving ourselves.

Loving Is Never A Bad Thing

It’s better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. And when we learn to open ourselves up to someone, we are opening up to ourselves. Learning to love someone is never a bad thing because it helps us to understand another person’s thoughts and feelings, but it also gives us the opportunity to lay our hearts on the line. And yes, it means that you are running the risk of having it broken, but when you love someone, it’s not about the worries that could occur because they may never happen. Besides, when you look back on relationships, even the ones that failed, they are a series of moments that congregate in your mind. And a lot of these moments you look back on with fondness, regardless of the outcome. Sometimes we can miss these moments or miss the person, but we have to remember that loving is living.

Choose Life And Choose Love

Some people can definitely feel that it’s an overused concept, especially now in the modern age, where the very act of a relationship can seem non-existent for some people. But love isn’t necessarily about a relationship in the traditional sense; it’s about finding someone that you connect with. We can sometimes forget that there are important people in our life that will make us feel that life is worth living. We don’t have to be husbands or wives or partners in the traditional sense. But there’s still a lot of pressure that society puts on us to have a proper relationship in order to feel the merits of happiness. In reality, it’s essential to look at what you want and decide if a relationship is worth it. Loving someone isn’t about the traditional relationship; it’s about finding those people in your life that make everything worthwhile. Learning to love again isn’t about finding the right person; it’s about bringing the barriers down and realizing that you can experience love in so many different ways.

Some people feel put off by the idea of having a partner, and it’s unsurprising because of the various social and relationship problems out there. However, this means that in order to feel any sense of fulfillment, maybe it’s about finding the right social group? Learning to love again is not just about the people that suit you, but it’s about making sure that you are open and receptive to finding happiness in other ways. It’s not about the typical constructs. Of course, if the time comes that you feel you need to get into a relationship, then you will know. It’s about trusting yourself and remembering that when we open ourselves up to love in so many different ways that we’ve got to be comfortable with who we are. It’s such a terrible cliche, but we’ve got to learn to love ourselves before we do anything else!

Whether we are finding love in a relationship sense, or we are looking to strengthen connections with people in our lives, learning to love again is about bringing those barriers down. It’s never an easy thing to do because it requires taking a long look in the mirror. And when our heart has been broken, this can mean that we are jumping through various psychological hoops. But the practice of learning to open yourself up is worth it entirely.

Thank you for reading!

Health Lifestyle

Top Tips For A Happier 2020

February 19, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Sitting down and making those painstakingly difficult New Year’s Resolution Lists, that last a matter of days, sometimes only hours…is not something we relish. It’s good to make lists; we can’t deny that list-making and being proactive and organized is the key to a healthy mind and less stress. However, when it comes to making changes, it can be a little trickier to muster up the strength. Here are some tips of how to make a positive change in the New Year, because I do believe that we all endeavor to make at least the first few months of any New Year, a positive, life-changing, goal-making, dream-creating one. Mostly. Right?

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Get Out More

Another way to get out and about would be to take an hour off on the weekend with a friend or family member, and go swimming or play your favorite sport. You’ll be amazed how good sports are as a bonding session with your friends and family (hello sand volleyball)!

Getting out doesn’t necessarily mean going out socializing every night, burning the candles at both ends, and spending an exorbitant amount of money that you don’t have, just to say ‘you’ve been out.’ While socializing is a very important part of keeping a healthy mind and attitude towards life, there are ways of doing it without breaking the bank after Christmas. Inviting some friends round, having/cooking dinner together, and catching up… it can be difficult to find energy for that if you work 9-5.

If you work from home, try taking a long walk in your area before you sit down to work; it gets the blood going, gives you a little bit of energy, and releases endorphins: and then you’re engaged in your body and mind, ready for the day! If you are struggling with anxiety, it could be good to look for a therapist and they can assist you with getting out and about.

Planning Ahead

Keeping a planner is essential anyway, especially for someone who has a million errands to run week by week and is trying to juggle a social life, possibly a relationship, and maybe even children all in one. However, planning ahead is one sure way to make you feel more positive in the moment. If you plan a nice evening meal a few weeks in advance, maybe even a break to the city or even just a shopping trip; you always have little things in the pipeline to look forward to, which I find has always kept a healthy happy mind. The feeling of excitement is my absolute favorite! Being spontaneous is also incredible but for people who find their lives to be mundane, especially after the comedown of the Christmas period, then making sure you get things down on your calendar in advance can be a little trick to keep you feeling higher and not lower. We all have those moments of panic, freak out, mental breakdown, and feeling as if life is taking a nosedive. It’s not. You can always elevate yourself somehow, and remember of course, you are never alone!

Be Thoughtful

Doing a little good deed can make you feel on top of the world. This does not have to include money, and sometimes, it may not even need much time, but being thoughtful to others, and spreading a little bit of joy, and a touch of sparkle into someone’s life can be fulfilling. Little things, such as leaving sweet, kind post-its on your colleagues’ desks, or sending someone a text whom you haven’t spoken to in a while, or even an e-card through email, just to make someone smile when they open it, are all simple, yet impactful gestures. You could smile at strangers (I always do- is it a Midwest thing?), give a bit of spare change to a homeless person, even a few quarters or dollars, look for some bargains in the charity shops and support a good cause (NOT Goodwill), or even just compliment a stranger. Everyone loves a good compliment! Striving to be content is vital, and it all comes from within yourself.

•How do you take care of your mental and emotional health? What do you want to improve in 2020?

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle Travel

Where The Weather Is Always Warm

February 10, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

While the autumn and winter have a particular type of charm, the crunchy leaves, the low sun, and bundling up in your most beloved winter sweaters and blankets, there is something wonderful about the sunshine.

Photo by Fezbot2000 on Unsplash

Even if you choose to travel during the off-season, you can still enjoy a huge fix of the fun in the sun. Obviously, a small amount of research is going to be needed before you jet off on your next adventure. However, there are a number of places that experience warm weather all year round. So it is time to grab your sunglasses, pack your bag, and head off!

India

On the west coast of India lies Goa. This was previously a Portuguese colony on the trade routes. It actually does experience rainy weather out there in monsoon season, but the chances are you wouldn’t be going there anyway. The monsoon season lasts from the end of May to around the beginning of October. However, the weather is still warm. So actually if you don’t mind a little warm rain and then Goa will be the perfect place for you. Keep in mind, it really is best to travel outside of monsoon season if you want tours and sunshine.

Costa Rica

Central valley in Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful destinations for adventurers looking for a gorgeous escape any time of the year. It is one of the most stable places in the world, as the country does not have an army. Nature is very respected and something that is preserved. You’ll find the people are super relaxed too; this might be because of the absolutely stunning surroundings and always having a healthy dose of vitamin D. You can head to the mountains, the beaches, the valleys, all the rainforest and still enjoy the most luxurious sunshine.

Thailand

Thailand also experiences a rainy season, albeit the weather is still always warm. This means you can choose any time of the year and soak up some natural wonders in the sunshine. You could head to the east and go to the Gulf of Thailand, or perhaps you’d prefer the west of the mainland in the Andaman Islands. It doesn’t matter which direction you choose; there is a considerable mix of unspoiled locations. This is ideal for using up all of that memory on your camera. Thailand is blessed with fantastic weather and wonderful people that will make you feel like you have found a paradise.

USA

One of the sunniest places on Earth is Arizona. It is dry and hot almost all year, and the city of Yuma is known for having at least 11 hours of sunshine every single day of the year. It isn’t the biggest place; in fact, it is known as a small desert city, but there are some fascinating museums that you can visit, and not to mention some of the hiking trails are phenomenal too. The city of Sedona, Arizona is one of the most gorgeous cities in the US. It’s totally worth checking out!

While you’re in the USA, you might as well head to Santa Barbara. Its beautiful coastal city has warm to hot weather year-round. You will, however, need to consider the 30% humidity, which can make it feel much warmer than it really is. It almost never rains in Santa Barbara, so if you are very dedicated to the sun, this is probably somewhere you want to visit. Even during the winter, you’re not going to really need much warm clothing, so you can travel very lightly any time of the year.

Brazil

São Paulo is known for some of the most beautiful weather all year round. Of course, this means it is actually very popular, it might be Brazil’s most temperate city, too. The consistent temperature means you’ll know exactly what to pack from the start to the end of your vacation. If you want to really experience the sunshine, then Rio de Janeiro has a lot more sunshine and really cranks up the heat.

Spain

Spain is not one of the best-kept secrets when it comes to great places to visit, but Malaga actually might be. Malaga experiences incredibly warm winters and very hot summers. So if you’re looking for a vacation to a great city that has a lot of places to eat, super fun outdoor activities, and so many beaches, then you’ll find that all in Malaga.

Mediterranean

While there are many islands in the Mediterranean, and most of them really deserve a visit, Cyprus is actually home to one of the most exceptional coastal destinations. It stays warm all year round. However, it should be noted that the inland can experience snow in the mountains during winter. You can still have long, luxurious days on the beach at the same time as the snow lands inland. The peak season lasts from June to September, which is one of the most excellent times to visit if you are purely interested in getting the most amount of rays. Spring and autumn do hold their charm, too, though!

Africa

On the north coast of Africa, you’ll find Morocco. Not only is the cuisine some of the best in the world, but it’s just a short flight away from Spain. Which means potentially you could do a two-for-one trip. Morocco has beautiful temperate weather, just like most of the Mediterranean coastal cities. However, because it faces the Atlantic Ocean on the west, you will find that it can be slightly cooler and have more breezy weather. So it can be incredibly refreshing to have a warm balmy sun and a slightly more cool breeze.

When you are looking for your super sunny holidays, remember that you will need to take extra sun protection, sunglasses, a hat, and really light clothing. So if you are ready for your next adventure, why not choose one from the list above? You are almost 100% guaranteed warm, welcoming sunny weather no matter what time of year you go.

This post was a collaboration.

Lifestyle

The American Dream: What Nobody Tells You About Moving To The West Coast

February 7, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

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The ‘American Dream’ isn’t only for non-US citizens. Whether you live in the North, East, or South, the idea of moving out west seems very appealing. There is incredible nature mixed with year-round sunshine. Plus, Vegas nightlife is perfect for anyone who needs to let off steam!

Of course, the west coast is good, but it isn’t flawless. Before moving out here, it’s essential to understand the things that no one mentions to improve your lifestyle. Once you do that, the west will be the paradise you’ve heard about from others.

Here’s what nobody tells you about moving to the west:

It Won’t Solve All Your Problems

In many ways, moving to the west coast can make issues worse, depending on what they are and their intensity. Sober living isn’t a walk in the park because the parties are constant. It’s as if you don’t want to miss out on a good time, and there are lots of them the closer you live to Nevada and California. Usually, it’s better to exercise caution. If you’ve been out here before and sampled the high-roller lifestyle, it’s good to remember that it was a vacation, and it’s not sustainable long-term. There are centers out here for a reason!

You’ll Need A Car

This is particularly pertinent if you’re an east coaster. In New York, the subway takes you from place to place without a glitch. And if the trains fail, there are regular buses. The same isn’t true of the west coast, where public transport is sporadic and unreliable, and the cities are massive. Therefore, a car is essential if you want to get around quickly and easily. Sometimes, even walking to the store for milk and bread isn’t possible without a ride. If you don’t have one already, you will need to speak to a dealer. At least it will save you money on a moving truck!

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Speaking Spanish Helps

Immigration from Mexico and the rest of Latin America is pretty big in the west. Whether you live in Cali or Arizona, there’s a good chance you’ll come across Spanish-speakers. Some of them might not speak English, either, which can leave you in a tricky spot. It’s not necessary to be fluent, although it doesn’t hurt. But getting a grasp of basic phrases will come in handy for communication purposes, helping you to feel less awkward and make new friends. The west coast is as multilingual as it gets in the US.

Your Friends Will Want To Visit

Once they hear you’ve relocated, the first thing they’ll say is, “we’ll come and visit you sometime!” Based on that, you might want to consider the size of property on the market. A small house will suffice for now, but it won’t be comfortable if your friends visit regularly. It’s not as if a spare bedroom will be a waste, as long as you can afford the extra costs.

Now that you know some of the truths about the west coast, are you ready to move? Just an FYI, despite all this, I moved from the east to west coast and have no regrets! Both LA and Las Vegas have been great homes for me.

Thank you for reading!

This post was a collab.

Lifestyle

Quick-Fix Home Interior Tips To Lift Your Mood

February 4, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

(Pixabay License)

Many of us live busy and stressful lives, and that is why our homes should be conducive to feelings of peace and relaxation. We can then sit back, unwind, and enjoy our homes, without any further feelings of stress or anxiety to pervade our mood.

With the above in mind then, consider improving your home where it counts. With a few quick fixes here and there, your mood will be lifted alongside the uplift you have given your home.

Here are some ideas that we think you will find useful!

1: Add a few house plants

According to scientific studies, house plants can lower our blood pressure and reduce our stress levels. This is partly because of the sensory benefits they can provide – we are thinking of those beautiful colors and lovely scents that house plants can offer us – and partly because of the way they can eliminate harmful toxins and freshen up our living spaces. So, the next time you’re out shopping, pick up those house plants that are guaranteed to lift your mood at home.

2: Add mood-enhancing colors to your home

Bright yellows, oranges, and blue-greens are just some of the color choices you should consider when painting walls or adding new items to your home. These are the colors that should lift your mood, as they are known to evoke calming and happy feelings. So, the next time you are thinking about painting the rooms in your home, choose those colors that will instantly lift your mood when you step through the door. And be it a new rug, tapestry, piece of wall art, or any other type of home decor, choose something containing those colors that will uplift you every time your eyes rest upon them.

3: Brighten up your home

A dark and gloomy room isn’t conducive to happy moods, so find ways to brighten up your home. So, you might replace thick-set curtains with their lightweight fabric alternatives to ensure the sunlight isn’t blocked. You could add more reflective surfaces to certain rooms in your home, as you will then benefit from the light that will bounce around your living spaces. And you could try these simple home decor tips to further brighten up your home and your mood.

4: Streamline your living space

Studies have found that people living within cluttered spaces produce greater amounts of the stress hormone cortisol. So, rather than feel happier at home, people can feel anxious, depressed, and dissatisfied with the places they live in. These feelings are hardly likely to evoke a happier mindset, so thinking about your home, if you are surrounded by clutter, consider having a tidy up. By removing those items that create feelings of unhappiness within you, and by creating a space that is more aesthetically pleasing, your mood will be lifted rather than deflated when you’re trying to relax at home. Check out these de-cluttering tips for some useful suggestions.

So, if your mood is low at home, and you’re struggling to relax, consider our suggestions. With a few additions and alterations here and there, you should soon start to feel an uplift in your mood!

Thank you for reading!

Lifestyle

3 Ways to Get More Meaningful Things Done, on a Regular Basis

January 16, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

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Have you ever found yourself feeling as though you were sort of drifting from day to day, doing the same (mostly uninteresting and repetitive) stuff, while never actually getting meaningful things done?

Everyone has some kind of dream of the person they would like to be, and the things they would like to achieve in life – and those aspirations usually don’t stop at “I’d like to turn up to work each day so I get paid,” or “I’d like to watch more TV.”

Here are a few tips that might help you to free up the energy, motivation, and insight to get more meaningful things done, on a regular basis!

Take the time to keep a journal, and plan out your days (and to-dos) on paper

Journalling is a great practice for all sorts of different reasons – not least of all the fact that it provides the perfect opportunity for inspecting, understanding, and contemplating the course of your life one day at a time, without necessarily getting lost in vague introspection.

What’s more, writing has all sorts of benefits in and of itself. You can read about some of these at Schule Alpin. However, it’s well known, for example, that writing can be an excellent cathartic experience and a way of coming to terms with difficult events, while also releasing trapped emotional energy.

Beyond simply journalling; planning your days out and recording your to-do lists on paper is also an excellent way of filtering through your various obligations and thoughts, and finding time for those things that are most important and meaningful.

Make sure that you get enough sleep, and follow a diet that makes you feel energetic and alive

It’s just infinitely more difficult to put in hard work, find inspiration, and get meaningful things done, if you are chronically exhausted, feeling bad, and are struggling just to get your basic everyday obligations handled.

Make sure that you get enough sleep, and follow a diet that makes you feel energetic. This may seem like straightforward advice, but it’s also advice that a shocking number of people don’t take.

Sleep deprivation is endemic, and processed snacks make up a major proportion of almost everyone’s diet. But, when you actually get enough rest and eat a balanced diet containing unprocessed plant foods and lean protein, you are bound to experience a whole new lease on life.

Find opportunities for silence each day

Often, it’s difficult to even get a sense of just what a “meaningful” path in life would be, due to the fact that we are so often distracted and disconnected from our own internal compasses.

In order to get a better sense of perspective on your life as a whole, and to figure out the best way to pursue meaningful actions on a regular basis, one of the best things you can do is to find opportunities for silence, each day.

This kind of silence, as noted by the famous Norwegian explorer Erling Kagge, isn’t just about the absence of “sound.” It’s got more to do with reducing distraction, and allowing your thoughts to calm and settle. It’s about being able to see the forest, instead of being distracted by the trees.

I hope this helps you find where to start on your path to a more meaningful life!

This post was a collaboration.

Lifestyle

4 Simple and Straightforward Ways to Do Some Good in the World

January 15, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Pixabay CC0 License

It’s a natural human urge to want to do something good and meaningful while we are on this planet, and in recent times there seems to have been an explosion in movements dedicated to social responsibility, change, and activism, in a number of different forms.

To cut a long story short, everyone wants to make a difference, and everyone wants to leave things somehow “better” as a result of having been alive.

Among other things, though, the desire to do some good in the world and make things better can often cause a lot of internal confusion, turmoil, and can also be misdirected down fruitless or even harmful avenues. When all is said and done, the more complex and lofty your plans are, the likelier they are to get derailed or go wrong, somewhere along the line.

“Simple and straightforward” is often the best and most reliable way to do things. So, here are a few simple and straightforward (though not necessarily “easy”) ways to do some good in the world, without having to come up with a master plan to make everything right, and without having to join any organizations or movements.

Train to be useful to others, professionally

Certain jobs just naturally mean that you will be of service to others, as par for the course. Often, those jobs require quite a lot of specialised education and training, but the pay-off is that you get to go to work every day with a sense of meaning, in the knowledge that you are going to do something to make someone’s life at least somewhat better, on a more or less routine basis.

The key, here, is to do your research and to look into the sort of jobs that might appeal most to you. Then, commit yourself to training for a career that is based, essentially, on helping others in a direct and tangible way.

Qualifying as a doctor is, perhaps, the most obvious example of this kind of job, but there are all sorts of other health and public-service-related career paths that will tick the right boxes. Choosing a public-health concentration at USC, for example, can certainly put you in the kind of environment you want to be in, for something like this.

Focus on having integrity and being consistent with your values, at all times

Hypocrisy and dishonesty regularly ruin people’s lives, and sow seeds of destruction that can be hard to uproot and compensate for. Relationships, families, companies, and entire communities, are frequently ruined because of influential individuals who have compromised on their core values, and have engaged in deceit and treachery.

Before trying to plan for how you can have a dramatic and sweeping positive effect on the world at large, it’s essential to understand the power you have to make the world better or worse, on a microcosmic scale, via each interaction you have in your everyday life.

The more you are able to behave with integrity and be consistent with your values at all times, the more trustworthy you will become. The more the people around you will be able to lean on you and take comfort from you. And the more fulfilled you will be in your life as a result.

It’s all but impossible to really be a force for good unless you’re able to act with consistency, and to be a representative of the values that you want others to adhere to.

Try to do one good deed every day

Carrying on from the last point; just as it’s important to avoid any violations of your own ethical standards, it’s also important to look for small-scale ways that you can inject a bit of good and positivity into the world around you, and the lives of those near to you, during the course of your everyday life.

You may not, functionally, be able to do something to help every individual in the world who is in a bad situation. But you can definitely do at least one thing every day to make someone’s life a bit better, or a bit happier, that they would otherwise have been.

This is the same idea as the Scouts of yesteryear being told to “do a good deed every day.” It’s a timeless idea, because it really works, and what’s more, the “good deed” doesn’t have to be anything massive or dramatic in order to have meaning.

Think about the last time someone in customer service was exceptionally friendly and helpful, when it would have been well within their power to be distant and bureaucratic, instead. Or, think about how much you appreciate the small gestures of affection from the people close to you.

All of these small, positive actions have a ripple effect and can spread greater positivity. It’s also the case that when you get into the habit of looking for ways to be helpful and of service, you will begin to find more, and bigger opportunities to do this on a regular basis.

Take care of yourself and hold yourself to a high standard – the good you do in the world will be magnified, and you will set a positive example for others

There are a lot of people out there who suffer from all sorts of negative circumstances in life, including the internal torment that comes with conditions such as depression. It’s entirely possible that you, the reader of this article, are in that situation yourself.

Often in life, the people who are harshest and least forgiving to us are ourselves – and frequently, we will abuse ourselves when we would never dream of behaving that way to a friend.

One of the best things you can do, in order to have a positive impact on the world around you, is to begin by taking care of yourself and holding yourself to a high standard. If you take care of yourself properly, and address your own problems with compassion and diligence, you will become a more positive, and energized person.

More than that, though, you will also magnify your ability to do good in the world, and you will set a positive example to others, who likewise may be struggling in the same way you are.