health

5 Signs You’re Close To Burning Out

September 9, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Human beings can only take so much stress and physical exertion. If you’re constantly pushing your body and mind to the limits, you’ll eventually burn out.

Nobody wants to reach this ‘burn-out’ stage – you’ll either get to a point where you don’t want to get up in the morning or you’ll have a nervous breakdown. You could even push yourself to the point of physical illness or self-harm if you’re not careful.

Below are five signs that you may be getting close to burning out (and what you can do to prevent this).

You feel physically and emotionally exhausted

Physical and emotional exhaustion are a clear sign that you’ve been pushing yourself too hard. This is likely from denying yourself free time, and possibly even sacrificing sleep to juggle responsibilities.

You constantly feel restless – even after accomplishing a task

People on the brink of burn-out often feel as if they have an ever-growing queue of tasks to complete. As a result, when one task is accomplished, you may not feel any sense of gratitude, because there are still so many tasks left to take on.

You no longer see the value of certain responsibilities

Certain responsibilities may have lost the value that they once held. In most cases, people stop caring about their job. The idea of meeting targets and impressing customers may all seem meaningless. Similarly, you may start to see no value in doing tasks such as housework or exercise.

You feel like the quality of everything you do is slipping

You may feel that you’re constantly making mistakes or cutting corners to get things done. While you may just about be staying on top of things, there could be a sense that nothing is being done as well as you’d like.

Any free time you get is spent recovering

Instead of doing anything productive with your free time, you could find that any free time you get is spent recovering – you may not want to do anything more than nap or watch the TV. Even this recovery time may not be enough, causing exhaustion to continue building up.

How to prevent burnout

Think that you may be on the brink of a burn-out? If you act now, you may be able to prevent things getting any worse. Here are just a few ways to prevent burn-out.

Allow others to take some of the strain

Consider the responsibilities that you are juggling and whether there is any way of getting support. If parenthood is getting on top of you, consider asking someone to babysit regularly to take some of the strain off. If caring for aging loved ones is taking up a lot of your energy, you could consider looking into hospice care. At work meanwhile, there may be tasks that you can delegate to colleagues or get help with.

Set clear boundaries

Try to keep clear boundaries between work and family life. Make sure that you’re finishing work at a certain time so that you can spend enough time with your family. Similarly, make sure that family life isn’t interfering with your work performance.

Avoid being a perfectionist

Perfectionists are often more prone to burn-out because they invest huge amounts of time ensuring that all the details are attended to. Not all these details may be necessary – it could be time to prioritize what is important.

Eliminate unhealthy sources of stress

Your stress could be due to an overly demanding employer or a toxic partner that expects too much of you. It could be time to quit your job or leave your partner to help eliminate the burden.

•Are you feeling burned out? What do you do to try to remedy that?

Thank you for reading!

Health Nutrition

The Most Important Dietary Requirements We All Have

September 9, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Anyone keen to improve the diet they are eating will need to first look into what kind of changes they might need to make in general. You might be keen to try and improve your overall health, for instance by eating better and exercising more, and you might have a specific goal in mind like losing a certain amount of weight over a period of time. But before even all of that, it’s good to know about some of the essentials of the kind of dietary requirements that we all have – the sorts of things that you should be aiming to fit into your diet for the sake of posterity. Let’s take a look at some of those now!

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Fiber

First of all, make sure that you are getting plenty of fiber in your diet. Without fiber, your digestive system can’t properly break down the waste in your food, and you could give yourself stool problems. If left alone, those issues can later become much more serious, to the point where you might need to rely upon ostomy supplies or where you could even find yourself with colon cancer – a very serious problem indeed. You can help to keep all that at bay simply by getting a little more fiber into your diet every day, which you can do by eating more grains and cereals, and beans.

Vitamins

One of the main reasons why it is so important to eat a wide variety of vegetables and fruits is that it allows your body to get all those vitamins that are necessary for your good health and for your survival. If you are eating a rainbow of different veggies, you will be getting vitamins A, C and E, amongst others, and that will enable your body to operate as well as possible at all times. If you lack any of these vitamins, it can mean that your body is going to struggle to work as well as you would hope, and you could even cause yourself to have a weaker immune system in the long run as well. Make sure you get plenty of vitamins and you could really make a difference to your life.

Pic Credit – CCO License

Variation

The most important thing of all when it comes to diet is to ensure that you are eating as much of a variation of different foods as you can. That is absolutely true when it comes to making sure you have many different kinds of vegetables, but also more broadly in ensuring you are eating something from each of the major food groups. While that doesn’t mean you have to follow the old rules of eating a certain amount of meat and so on every day – you can actually get by without meat perfectly healthily – it does mean that you should focus on getting all of the same minerals and nutrients that you would have done with meat. If you can do that, you will be much healthier indeed.

Thank you for reading!

Health

7 Tips To Stay Fit Towards Old Age

August 26, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

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Health is wealth, and before you think about achieving anything, you need to be in good health. Do not take your health for granted. Later in life, when you do not experience any signs of hearing loss, diabetes, or heart illnesses, you will thank yourself. So, follow these health-enhancing habits and live a good life.

Exercise regularly

To prevent or reduce the effects of issues like heart illnesses, osteoporosis, depression, high blood pressure, and stroke, you should exercise regularly. It even helps you easily fall asleep and stay asleep for a longer time. It also keeps your weight at a normal level, by burning excess calories, and contributing to the management of blood sugar and levels of insulin. This decreases your chances of getting type two diabetes. So, try being active for about 60 minutes each day, and it will go a long way in maintaining your health. Your bones and muscles get stronger when you exercise. And as you grow older, loss of bone density also slows down when you exercise regularly.

Drink in moderation

Experts suggest that two drinks a day are enough for men and one drink a day for women. Too much alcohol could cause damage to the liver, as well as cancer in the throat, pancreas, and even the liver. Alcohol abuse has been the cause of a lot of deaths from car accidents to murders and even suicide. Also, avoid drinking while driving, or when you’re pregnant.

Reduce smoking or quit if you can

Smoking is a harmful habit. It can cause heart diseases and even cancers in the lungs, mouth, or throat. Emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are also caused by excessive smoking. It is better to quit smoking now than to wait until it’s too late.

Practice safe sex

Use protection anytime you have sex with someone you’re not married to prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Using condoms protects you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Also, get tested immediately if you suspect any STD.

Protect your skin

Sun exposure can cause skin cancer, which is the most common type of cancer in the United States. So, try to limit your exposure to the sun by protecting your skin with protective clothing when outside. Also, use sunscreen on exposed skin, especially your hand and face. Consider the broad-spectrum sunscreens which will block both UVA and UVB rays.

Try to lose weight if you’re overweight

Weight problems are one of the most common health issues a lot of people face. Being overweight, you expose yourself to so many health risks, including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart diseases, type two diabetes, and stroke. Arthritis in the weight-bearing joints is also caused by being overweight. So, consider working on your weight to maintain a standard weight and stay away from weight-related illnesses. The general recommendation is to start early and slow. Eventually, you’ll get the hang of it.

Eat a balanced diet

Try to eat a low-fat diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and try choosing diets that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Consider lowering your intake of sugar and salt or stop consuming them altogether if you can. Also, reduce your intake of total fat. Skipping meals is a no-no if it comes to balancing your diet because it lowers your rate of metabolism. Three major meals and two snacks between meals is normal. Try your best not to skip breakfast as it is a very vital meal of the day. Healthy food will increase your energy and make you more productive. It also makes the immune system stronger and prevents weight gain. A balanced diet with variation provides the nutrients needed to avoid nutritional deficiencies. Healthy eating prevents you from getting certain diseases like diabetes and heart illnesses. And even if you do fall ill, you can better manage it if you follow a balanced diet.

Stay hydrated

To stay healthy, take a lot of fluids. Fluids are crucial in maintaining the function of the systems in the body. They also take nutrients to the cells, flush bacteria from the bladder, and prevent constipation. Older people become dehydrated, especially in the summer when it’s hot, and there’s much more sweat. They do not easily feel thirsty. This could be a problem, and especially for those on medication that causes fluid loss, it can cause weakness, low blood pressure, confusion, dizziness, and dark-colored urine.

The bottom line is that it may be challenging to achieve anything worthwhile if you’re not healthy and so you should take it seriously.

Nutrition

4 Superfoods to Power Your Day

August 22, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

When you choose to make your health and wellness a priority, it requires changing things inside and out. One of the major things people tend to look at when they want to take control of their overall health is their diet.

Paying attention to what you eat is an important factor in bettering your health, in general. It doesn’t matter what your overall health goal is. Whether you want to lose weight, improve your cardiovascular health, or lower your risk of certain diseases, it’s never a bad idea to make dietary changes that can boost your body’s immune system naturally.

One of the best ways to do that is by including more superfoods in your diet. Most superfoods contain high amounts of antioxidants, which are substances that can either delay or prevent certain types of cell damage. That helps to lower your risk of a variety of different diseases while making your system stronger in the process.

So, what are some of the best superfoods you can include in your diet to boost your antioxidant intake?

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1. Dark Chocolate

Just to prove that something indulgent can be extremely healthy too, we’re starting out our list with dark chocolate! Now, we’re not encouraging you to eat an entire chocolate cake every day. But, the antioxidants in cocoa can help to reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure.

It has also been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, and raise your levels of “good” cholesterol. The darker the chocolate (the higher the cocoa percentage) the better, so don’t reach for that milk chocolate bar if you’re trying to get any health benefits. A small serving of dark chocolate each day will not only satisfy your sweet tooth but can help your body in many other ways.

2. Blueberries

Blueberries are often one of the first foods people think of when antioxidants come to mind. There is a good reason for that.

Blueberries are often touted as a food that contains the highest amount of antioxidants above other fruits and vegetables. Plus, it helps that they’re delicious and versatile!

Some of the benefits of blueberries include decreasing inflammation and lowering the risk factors of heart disease. There have also been studies that have suggested blueberries can help to delay the decline in brain function that tends to happen naturally with aging.

3. Kale

Kale is more than just a fad diet trend. It is one of the most nutritious greens known to man, and it’s also very versatile. If you don’t particularly like the taste of kale or aren’t sure how to prepare it, you can “hide” the flavor in a fruit smoothie. Or, try delicious baked kale chips with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast.

Kale contains many immune-boosting antioxidants, but it is also loaded with vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, K, and C. Many people following a vegan lifestyle enjoy kale because it is a great plant-based source of calcium. Needless to say, a little bit of kale goes a long way when it comes to your health and the nutrients your body needs.

4. Beans

Beans have many health benefits that should make them a regular part of your diet. They are high in fiber and a wonderful source of antioxidants. But, the most important antioxidant in certain types of beans (like pinto) is kaempferol. This powerful antioxidant has been shown to reduce cancer growth, especially with breast, kidney, and lung cancers.

Beans are inexpensive and easy to find, so there is no reason not to add more of them into your life and experience the benefits right away.

Switching to a Super Diet

Getting the nutrients you need through your food is one of the best things you can do for both your body and mind. But, if you are particularly deficient in certain nutrients, or you’re having a hard time eating the foods that can really boost your health, taking natural supplements is a great way to still give your body what it needs.

For example, if you want to boost your antioxidant intake, red polyphenol powder can help by taking it every day.

Remember, by making your health a priority, you’re doing something kind for yourself. There are many more superfoods to consider that aren’t on this list, so don’t be afraid to do your research on different foods and how their antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals can improve your immunity! You’ll also lower your risk of certain diseases, and simply feel better and stronger from the inside out.

What types of superfoods do you like?

Thank you for reading!

Health

Has A Poor Diet Become The Norm In Lockdown?

August 12, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

By now you’ve probably heard of the saying ‘lockdown weight.’ Many of us have piled on the pounds and it’s because we have been stressed, eating comfort food, haven’t been able to properly exercise, and we’ve become lazy in our shopping practices. This leads many to think that a poor diet has become the norm in lockdown. Do you feel this way? You’re not the only one. Millions of people are now trying to melt off the pounds while summer is still here. Do you see more people running outside? Going for an afternoon bike ride? Families are beginning to realize that although they may have (hopefully) escaped the novel coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, they haven’t come out of this unscathed. Your body has suffered in one form or another, here’s what you can do about it!

The Essentials and Weight Gain

Since going into lockdown, the essentials have become the highest priority for all of us. When it comes to grocery shopping, the essentials come in the form of rice, cereals, bread, and pasta. All of these foods are in the complex carbs category. They have made us very overweight, in such a short amount of time. It’s because complex carbs are very dense in calories yet they don’t weigh a lot. So, it’s more likely that you will fill your plate with pasta and still feel like you are hungry. Whereas, a small portion of steak will fill you up because the meat is very dense.

We also don’t realize that carbs take a lot of time to digest and to burn off as fat. It means that the fat that carbs have been converted into, takes more effort to shift off our bodies once they are on. The main cause of this sudden weight gain is because carbs are full of starch which is released over a long period of time. Hence they take more effort to burn off.

Solution

Eat complex carbs as opposed to simple carbs. Consider eating more vegetables, nuts, whole wheat bread, and whole-grain pasta. You can also limit your carb intake, which will force your body to burn fat for energy quicker. Eating more fats and protein should suffice your appetite and cravings.

Comfort Foods

First of all, there’s no shame in eating comfort food every once in a while. Food is something that excites our senses and makes us feel good and happy. But, let’s never see food as something that can fill a void. But during the lockdown, that’s all most people have been doing. And who can blame them!? Everyone has been in the same boat, locked down, unable to see family or friends, and constantly worrying about the future.

We have turned to junk food, such as chips, ice cream, pizza, and candy. Why? Because it tastes good and makes us feel satisfied. But we’re now paying for the consequences. We thought that a short term hit to our health wouldn’t be so dire, but now we’re finding out that our clothes don’t fit us anymore, we don’t look healthy in the mirror, we are not feeling confident in ourselves and this plagues our mental health.

Solution

No pain, no gain. We’ve done this to ourselves, so now it’s time to workout. There are lots of at-home exercise groups you can join. Cycling clubs have started out of nowhere, right from within the family home. Getting on a modern screen bike that you can use to watch a class or be part of it, can be really motivating. Or perhaps, following a YouTube channel like Joe Wicks, who has been doing pilates and intense cardio aerobics for many weeks. It’s time to get moving and exercising again.

Too Much Candy

In lockdown, we have been more likely to give in to our cravings because we are either too bored or simply too stressed to comply with our good nature. This has led to many people not taking care of their teeth and gums. What can happen is that our gums and teeth begin to shrink and become far weaker than before. The sugar will eat away at our gums, making them recede. The smaller or shrunken gums can then make your teeth loose and potentially fall out. The issue comes from a lack of strength in the root canal.

Solution

Speak with a certified endodontist who has done many root canal operations and has the experience and track record you will trust. They will give you advice on what your options are. They don’t always recommend you go for surgery, because if there’s hope to save your teeth, then they will do everything they can to do so. This goes for your root canals too. If there is an infection or inflammation, you can be given medicine for it. But if there is no alternative, then a root canal removal will need to be done. Don’t worry, you’re in safe hands.

Fat and Stress

Fatty foods have always been tempting to the majority of people. But now that we have been in lockdown for so long, eating junk food has been almost irresistible. Chips, chocolates, deep fried chicken, pizza, cheese, and all the rest of it, has been far too delicious to not have as part of your daily diet. But what does this mean?

Combined with stress, this has led to an obesity surge. Why? When stressed, the hormone cortisol activates and stimulates fat and carbs to metabolism and releases insulin. This then means that the fat in our body is increased due to the promotion of rapid digestion and absorption of energy. The chronic stress we have felt from lockdown has just added so much to this problem.

Solution

You need to have more endorphins and positive chemicals rushing through your body. Thus will make you feel far less stressed and able to return your body to it’s normal function. The constant stress of worry will activate our body’s fight or flight response. The body is simply protecting itself by absorbing more fat, which is basically just energy. Go outside now that the lockdown is mostly lifted. Go to a park, go for a walk in the countryside or by a river. Eat less and do more casual exercise such as cycling, walking, stretching and things like yoga. You should also do things that make you less stressed, such as turning off the news and staying away from social media. Focus on your diet and exercise, while focussing on your personal life, not what’s going on in the rest of the world.

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A Lack of Vegetables

A lack of greens in your diet is always a bad sign. But why has this happened? Well, for the first time in a long time, vegetables have not been part of the shopping list. Items such as toilet paper, medicines, bottled water and hygiene products like sanitizer have been at the top. Vegetables have neither been seen as necessary or worth the spend due to everyone also being put on hold from their professions. We haven’t known when we’re going to return to work so why bother spending money on food items that we may have already seen as a chore?

This has led to a drastic loss in minerals, nutrition and vitamins. Our skin has suffered as a result, due to a lack of vitamin B12 and vitamin E. We have also found that due to a lack of vegetables, our immune system has been weaker. We feel more distraught over an allergic reaction to the summer pollen, we feel more alive when the sun hits our skin and gives us the daily dosage of vitamin D we need and we feel heavier internally. Our system needs a good clean.

Solution

Make something with every ingredient being a vegetable. A vegetable baked with spices and herbs, or a vegetable smoothie with some natural sweetness, or perhaps a quiche with some summer vegetables? The bottom line is we need to increase our intake of vegetables, some way, somehow. Have vegetables as part of your normal breakfast. Bacon and eggs, with a side of onions and mushrooms? Pan-seared halloumi with some seared broccoli? Maybe even a bowl of porridge with some blackberries and cherries?

Eating At All Hours

Since the lockdown has broken our normal routines, we now eat at abnormal times. Do you find yourself having dinner later than usual? Perhaps you have it earlier and then can’t stop yourself from snacking. Well, now is the time you should stop eating and snacking at the wrong times and get your life clock back to where it should be.

Solution

You can do this by not eating breakfast for one day. You will then be hungry at lunch and have a chance to reset your eating habits to where they should. This only works if you are eating too much, however.

A poor diet has indeed become the norm. We shouldn’t get too comfortable with our poor eating habits and no longer use the lockdown as an excuse. Let’s take a more proactive approach in what we eat, how much of it, and when.

Thank you for reading!

Health

The Basics of Gut Health and What You Should Know

July 30, 2020 By lyndsinreallife Leave a Comment

Gut health is a complex topic, but for many, a bad gut can seriously affect day to day life. Making sure you know how to take care of your gut effectively and avoid problems in the long run is key to a healthy life. Below, you’ll find the basics of gut health and what you should know. Take a look:

What Are The Signs Of An Unhealthy Gut?

There are many signs you can look for in an unhealthy gut. If you’re regularly experiencing an upset tummy, constipation, diarrhea, and unintentional weight changes, then it’s likely your gut needs some TLC. Many people with poor gut health also experience sleep disturbances and fatigue, and sometimes skin irritation. If you have to deal with these symptoms more often than not, then your gut could definitely use some help.

What Can You Do For Gut Health?

If you know your gut needs some help, what can you do? It doesn’t all involve medication, and you will need to be willing to put some effort into your gut recovery.

Reduce your stress levels – find ways to reduce your stress levels. You can do this with methods like meditation, walking, gentle exercise, massage, spending time with friends and family, and anything else that helps you to feel more relaxed and at peace.
Get plenty of sleep – uninterrupted, quality sleep is crucial for every aspect of a healthy life. Try to get 7-8 hours a night for the best results. That being said, an unhealthy gut can disrupt your sleep, so you may need to work on other methods of healing your gut.
Eat slowly – don’t wolf down your food. Make sure you eat slowly, chewing your food properly, and putting your cutlery down in between bites.
Stay hydrated – stay hydrated with lots of water. Aim for 2-3 liter s per day.
Check for food intolerances – it could be worth having a test to see if you’re intolerant to certain foods. You might be surprised at the food that is giving you a bad stomach.

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Depending on the issues you are having with your gut, you may be able to find medication to address the issue. Your doctor or GP might prescribe tablets to stop diarrhea, for example, which can be a huge relief. However, it could be worth working on things the holistic way first. See if you can also reduce the amount of high sugar, high fat foods you eat, and make sure you’re also eating a diet that is high in fiber, onion and garlic, and fermented foods.

Another thing you should plan on doing is visiting a primary care doctor regularly. Only visiting a doctor when there is something wrong means never being able to visit a doctor that knows what you look like when you’re healthy! This sort of doctor won’t be as helpful when it comes to diagnosing your problems. By having a primary care doctor that knows you when you are healthy, you will more effectively be able to combat issues with your gut and health in general.

Thank you for reading!

Health

Proven Ways To Deal With Lower Back Pain

July 28, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

There’s nothing worse than waking up one day with back pain and realizing that you’ve somehow hurt your back. You begin hobbling around and feeling sorry for yourself, wondering why this sudden onset of back pain has appeared. While there are many reasons for back pain to happen, it can be difficult to pinpoint precisely what has caused it this time, especially if you’ve not done anything strenuous that could have triggered any pain. It’s a frustrating time, but there are many things that you could do to ease the pain, both long term, and short term. Here’s a guide on how to relieve lower back pain so you can get on with your day.

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Short Term

NSAIDs

You’ve probably come across the term NSAIDS before, but for those that don’t know what it means, it stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These are basically paracetamol and ibuprofen. While they might not take all of the pain away, they will undoubtedly relieve some of it so that you can try and continue your day. Try to take them at different intervals so you can make the most of having pain relief in your system. Remember though to follow the guidelines on the packet.

Back massage

One of the easiest and quickest ways of relieving pain is by massaging the area, so why not get a loved one to give you a gentle massage on your back? You can also buy vibrating back massagers that will also apply heat to the area, providing more relief. You can use this while watching television or sitting up in bed. They’re relatively inexpensive, but are without a doubt worth the money that you pay for them! They are also useful to have even when you’re not experiencing back pain, because you can use them for a short while daily, and this might eliminate the onset of back pain, to begin with!

Hot and cold compress

As mentioned above, applying heat to the affected area can help soothe the pain, but using ice packs will also have a soothing effect too. Ice helps to eliminate any swelling in the area that could be causing you pain, and will also numb the bottom of your back. Try alternating hot and cold compresses so that you can get the most out of the pain relief.

Keep moving

While your back pain might be making you feel like you don’t want to move, it’s important to try and keep your mobility up so that you don’t end up seizing up again when you come to move. Also, moving will warm up your muscles and help relieve the pain naturally too, just make sure that you’re not doing anything too strenuous to avoid damaging your back even further.

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Long Term

Know when to speak to a GP

Having back pain doesn’t always mean that you need to see a Doctor, sometimes simply following the short term methods above will get you back on your feet in no time. However, if the back pain doesn’t subside or you’re experiencing other symptoms with it, then you should make an appointment to see your GP. Symptoms like incontinence or fever might mean that you have an infection that is causing the pain. So, if you’re experiencing anything other than the pain, it’s time to make an appointment to help get to the bottom of the problem.

If you have spoken to your Doctor regarding your back pain, they may have prescribed you stronger painkillers. Remember that it’s essential to follow the dosage instructions correctly. Misuse can lead to much bigger and much harder to cure health problems, including organ failure and addiction.

There’s also a chance that when speaking to your doctor about your back pain, they’ll recommend going to see a Physiotherapist, and it’s definitely something you should consider! Physiotherapists will help you change small things that may be contributing to your back pain, such as your posture, the way you walk, the way you sleep, or even something as simple as which arm you hold your handbag. These changes, along with exercises they will give you, will help relieve your back pain over a longer period. However, the effects of this will be much longer-lasting than any short-term solution.

Keep yourself fit

Being fit and healthy is important in ensuring that your health is good in general, but it can also contribute to eliminating your problem with back pain. Exercising often so that you can build up muscle strength in your back and your abdomen is important. Sometimes a lack of muscle strength in your abs can be the reason for your sudden onset of back pain. You can do some exercises at home, which can strengthen your core and hopefully avoid this problem happening again. If you have been to see a Physiotherapist about your back pain, try performing the exercises they have recommended. While they may not be giving you a strenuous workout, they’ll help support your back in the long run.

Lose weight if needed

Another major reason for people experiencing back pain is because they need to lose weight. The spine is a strong bit of bone, but it can only hold up and support so much weight. Women with large breasts often struggle with back pain, too, because of the weight that the spine needs to support. Consider losing some weight, not only to eliminate the chance of back pain occurring, but for your general health, too.

Unfortunately, there are no magical cures for your back pain. There are no ‘hacks’ that you can try out; it’s just taking care of yourself, plain and simple. Remember that if you’re experiencing anything other than just the pain, see a GP. Keep yourself fit, healthy, and within the right BMI range and you will notice that your back problems might virtually (if not wholly) disappear!

Thank you for reading!

Health

3 Tips To Help You Lead A Life Of Happiness And Health

July 23, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 2 Comments

We all know that following a healthy diet and getting enough exercise and physical activity is beneficial to your overall health, but they are far from the only things you can do to stay healthy. There are plenty of things that you can do to improve your physical health and your mental health, too, and stop you from turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms.

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Get a good night’s rest

Sleep is essential for maintaining both physical and emotional wellbeing. However, these days, it is not given the priority that it deserves. We are so busy working and caring for others and doing everything else that our active lifestyles demand that we tend to fall into bed exhausted and wake up feeling pretty tired still.

Try putting your sleep first for a while and see how much happier and healthier you feel. It is recommended that you get seven or eight hours of sleep a night, but of course, some people need more, some people need less. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning to get your body into a routine. Cut out or reduce caffeine in the run-up to bedtime, drink plenty of water, and put down your cell phone and other technology devices for at least an hour before bed. Spend this period doing something relaxing and let your body and mind rewind. Some people find warm, milky drinks, or a hot bath can help them.

If you still wake up feeling tired after all of this, take a trip to your doctors. It may be that there is something that is disrupting your sleep cycles. The good news is that there is sleep apnea treatment available and other sleep disorders.

Start saying no

There are only so many things that one person can do. Not only is there only a certain amount of time in a day to do things, but everyone has a mental and physical capacity, and when that is full, anything else can lead to exhaustion and mental health stresses. The best way of dealing with this is knowing when to say “no”. Whether it is turning down an extra hour or two of overtime at work or declining a social invitation so that you can get a good night’s sleep, learn to say no to things that will take you over your mental and physical capacity.

Reach out to others

Loneliness and feeling isolated are two of the biggest causes of depression and other mental health issues, so if you do feel like you are struggling, reach out. In an age where we are surrounded by technology, it has never been easier to communicate with other people, whether that is face to face, via video call, social media, or email. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a friend or family member. There are support groups available for almost everything and online groups and forums where you can chat and make friends if doing it in person is a challenge.

•What are your tips for living a healthy and happy life?

Thank you for reading!

Health

Looking After Your Hearing Health

July 21, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

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Have you ever stopped and wondered what it would be like to lose your hearing? Your hearing is an important sense. It gives your brain so much information about the world around you. It warns of danger, and it brings you pleasure in the form of sounds that you enjoy such as music, birdsong, or the sound of the voice of a loved one.

So what would you do if you lost your ability to hear?

Hearing loss is something that affects many people in their lifetime. It can affect you at any age, it is not just something that is reserved for older people.

Taking care of your hearing is essential. Here are six ways that you can take the best care of your hearing.

Get Your Hearing Checked Out

If you think that you might be experiencing hearing loss, then it is important to go for an audiological hearing test so that your audiologist can get to the bottom of the problem.

There are many causes of hearing loss. It is essential to identify the causes so that the right treatment can be put in place. Your audiologist will start off your hearing test by asking you about your lifestyle and any existing or historical medical conditions that you may have. This will help them to narrow down the root cause of your hearing loss.

Once they have done this, they will test your hearing. This will often involve having a series of sounds played to you. You’ll need to indicate when you have heard the sound. This will give the audiologist an idea of the extent of your hearing.

From this, they will be able to recommend treatment or that you get a hearing aid.

Avoid Loud Noise

There are lots of places where there are loud noises, nightclubs and concerts will typically play their music very loud. In these situations, you should avoid being too close to the speakers. Think about wearing ear protectors such as earplugs to help dampen the sound.

If you work somewhere particularly noisy such as a factory or a construction site, you should be cautious. Make sure that you wear any ear protectors provided. These might include earmuffs and earplugs. If possible, limit your exposure to loud noises by working in a different area.

Listen to Your Music at a Safe Volume

If you enjoy listening to music, particularly through headphones, then the volume that you listen to may have an impact on your hearing health. Listening to music too loudly can cause serious longterm damage to your ears. If someone else can hear what you’re listening to through your buds, it’s too loud!

Consider using noise-cancelling headphones that will prevent the sounds outside coming through. This will give you a clearer listening experience without having to turn your music up to the maximum volume level.

Many modern devices have safe listening levels set. Pay attention to any warnings that your device gives you and make sure that you keep the volume of your headphones down to a minimum.

•How do you protect your hearing?

Thank you for reading!

Health

Show Self-Neglect the Door

July 20, 2020 By lyndsinreallife 1 Comment

Pixabay – CCO License

Most people assume they take adequate care of themselves, but self-neglect can occur in many different ways. If you’re not making your health a priority, you’re not motivated at work, or you’ve lost interest in your hobbies, it may be a sign that you’re neglecting yourself. Fortunately, there are effective ways to reignite your zest your life.

To make a start right now, take a look at these top tips for banishing self-neglect!

Make your health a priority

When you’re feeling down or despondent, you don’t tend to prioritize your health or wellbeing. If you’re overdue for a medical check-up or you haven’t got up-to-date hearing aid products, make an appointment to see a professional. With routine checkups and assessments, you can ensure your physical and mental wellbeing is a top priority.

Be responsible

Self-neglect can be the start of a vicious cycle. When you stop taking care of yourself, your mindset change, rather rapidly. Before you know it, you’ll feel like you’re not worth making an effort for and then your self-neglect will worsen. But recognizing that you’re worthwhile and capable of making positive changes gives you the power to enhance your life. By taking responsibility for your mood, outlook and mindset, you give yourself the power and freedom to change them.

Pixabay – CCO License

Be more active

If you’ve neglected your usual workout routine or stopped going to the gym altogether, now is the time to start a new fitness plan. Small daily goals will give you an achievable target and get you back into the routine of working out regularly. As you begin to accomplish your initial goals, you’ll start to enjoy the process of pushing yourself further and achieving more.

Modify your diet

Eating an unhealthy diet is one of the most common forms of self-neglect. When you don’t have the energy to prepare a healthy meal, it’s easy to order junk food instead. If you don’t get the right mix of vitamins and minerals, your physical and mental health can suffer. By committing to eating a healthy diet and incorporating more fruit and veggies into your meals, you can enhance your mood and increase your energy levels.

Be kind to yourself

Recovering from a cycle of self-neglect isn’t always straightforward. You may be breaking patterns that have been in place for months or years, so be kind to yourself. If you fall back into unhealthy habits, don’t waste time chastising yourself. Instead, recognize it as a bump in the road and find ways to switch to healthier options.

Recognizing Self-Neglect

When someone stops socializing, gives up work and fails to maintain their appearance, it’s easy to spot that they’re neglecting themselves. However, self-neglect manifests itself in many different ways. If you’re not taking enough time for yourself, prioritizing your own needs or constantly taking on too many responsibilities, it’s likely you’re in a spiral of self-neglect too. By recognizing the signs, you can commit to taking action before things get worse, and begin enhancing your quality of life right away.

•Do you tend to neglect yourself? How do you try to fix that?

Thank you for reading!