by | May 11, 2021 | Fitness |
Did you know that nature is one of the best prescriptions for poor mental health? Numerous studies have shown that spending time in nature can reduce stress, lower your risk of dementia by as much as 36 percent, and alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and depression.
A lot of people, when they are suffering from mental health issues, will try to ignore them and hope they go away, or maybe talk to a therapist or try medication, and the latter two of those options are absolutely fine, but they are not the only things you can do. You can take natural remedial gummies such as Delta 8 Gummies that can help you relax, as well as spend time out and about in nature.
God has made a beautiful world, and spending more time in it, whether alongside therapy and medication or on its own, can help you find a calm, relaxing space inside yourself where you can just be you.
The combination of fresh air, no screens, and being in our true natural environment surrounded by beautiful trees, rocks, flowers, and plants seems to do something to our brain that staying indoors never could, as many of us have found out in the pandemic in the past year or so. Still, now it’s time to change that.
You don’t even have to head out onto the trails or camp in the nearest National Park to get the benefits if that isn’t your thing because, if you take a look at the infographic below, you will see that spending some time tending to your gardening has many health benefits both mental and physical, so a good bit of gardening could be all you need.
Infographic designed by: Trim That Weed
by | May 9, 2021 | From the Heart |
Some of us have sought solace in our own bubbles of being after more than a year of lockdowns or restriction. As restrictions loosen across the community and our social media feeds are filled with places beginning to reopening, we may start to feel anxious. But, because we have been through so much, it is perfectly natural to feel a range of emotions, from excitement to overwhelm or anxiety. Let’s look at how you can learn to cope with coming out of a pandemic.
Photo by Christian Chen on Unsplash
Take it easy
It’s important to acknowledge that you have options. It is absolutely fine if you are not ready to fill your calendar with social activities. Friends and family should not pressure you into doing more than you are happy with. You might feel overwhelmed at first after being out and about for too long but take it slowly. Try not to concentrate on what others are doing to help you remain calm, and instead focus on yourself.
Talk about how you feel with someone that you trust
Talking to a trusted friend or family member about how you are feeling is a crucial first step in regaining control of your life. It is very likely that they are experiencing the same feelings as you. After all, we have all been through this together and will emerge stronger as a result. Recognize that any doubts or concerns you have are rational.
Consider what advice you would offer a friend who said that they felt this way and treat yourself with the same kindness. If you do not feel comfortable approaching a friend or family member, there are plenty of professional agencies who can lend a helpful and caring ear.
Be organized
It is possible that being in a crowd right now is daunting. Take some time to prepare and create a schedule for returning to work and socializing. Call ahead to find out when bars and restaurants are open to avoid the busiest times of the day. It is also a good idea to inquire about the precautions in place to keep you safe.
Many people, understandably, would be concerned about public transport. Consider how you can reduce your risk factor and increase your sense of security. Bring hand sanitizer with you, wear a mask, and keep your distance from others.
Look after your body and mind
When life becomes busier, it is important to schedule a time to care for your health. Consider what you require right now in order to truly care for yourself and make it a priority. It may be that you need some rest or a quiet moment – whatever it is, make time for it. For many people, now is the time to get that long-overdue haircut, manicure, or sort out your smile with All on 4 Dental Implants. If it makes you feel good, and it is safe to do so, do it!
Keep up to date with news, but know when to switch it off
Make sure you have the most up-to-date knowledge and information from reputable sources. If it starts to feel stressful, limit your news consumption to once a day.
by | May 8, 2021 | Inspirations |
Hi Lovely Beautiful People,
Wow, it’s May, and the irises are starting to bloom. As I sit on the piano bench, looking out the window in my living room and begin to practice, I ponder over memories of my mother. You know I’m not a child prodigy on the piano. I didn’t start playing at age five, nor did I begin performing concerts at age 7. My mother always wanted me to have a piano, not even really knowing if I could actually play or not. She always wanted me to be the best at everything. I don’t know if she secretly wanted to play piano, but the goal was to one day have a piano, and I took hold of that. She attended San Francisco State and studied music for two years. The joy of music rubbed off on me, and I didn’t have a clue.
As I started my sophomore year of college, I decided to take a private course in beginning piano. At this point, I didn’t have a piano of my own, nor had I ever played before. I went to a private Catholic college, and my instructor was a nun whose specialty was classical music. I could only practice at the East Building in the piano study rooms while I was on campus. I didn’t stay in a dorm for a variety of reasons. I would catch the bus with my Dad being my chaperone and come to school early to practice before my 9 am class. I was a very protected and sheltered only child, so you read that correctly. My Dad would ride the bus to me to college before he went to work. Without a piano, I could go through the first semester and perform a recital at the conclusion.
That next semester, my parents purchased me a piano at a great deal, and I still play on that same piano today. I enjoy learning new pieces. Right now, I am taking a course in piano to sharpen those skills. My mother and father always wanted the best for me and would do whatever they could to help me pursue my goals. I’m their only child, and as I shed tears, I love them so much.
Am I a concert pianist? No, but I enjoy playing. Every time I sit down and play, I am humbled and grateful for their love and overflowing generosity. Even after all these years, it has not been easy to share memories of my mother and father. I would not want to go to church because people would say Happy Mothers Day to me, not knowing whether my mother is on earth or actually a mother myself. I have grown to nod when people say Happy Mothers Day and smile, which is really okay. I remember saying to my friends that Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are hard for me to talk about because they are both in heaven. I realize I have to change my mindset because if I don’t talk about the love they had for me, no one will ever know.
I miss my mother, grandmother, and father, but I know they are with the Lord, and they are forever in my heart. My family is not big, but they were family. The treasure of the beautiful times with my parents is fond jewels to hold on to.
Whether you are a mother, a step-mother, an aunt, a father-mother, a fur-mom, an influence, or however you may have positively impacted a child’s life, I say Happy Mothers Day to you! You do not have to conceive a child to be a motherly influence.
by | May 1, 2021 | Fitness |
If you’re focusing on changing your diet as a means of meeting your health goals, then you’re already taking the right approach. A lot of people look at fitness methods first, but diet accounts for 80% of all health regimes. However, it’s still easy to make a few mistakes, especially if you’re relatively new to the world of dieting. Here are a few that you can keep note of, and avoid.
Picture – CC0 License
Having no goals
Any changes you make for a healthier lifestyle should be done with a pinpoint focus. In particular, you should be thinking about what your goal is and ensure you’re making diet changes towards them. For instance, if you’re aiming to lose weight, then calorie restriction should be a key part of it. However, if you’re trying to address some deficiencies, then you should do your research on where to get the nutrients you need and incorporate those foods into your diet.
Cooking everyday
Whole food meals are, undeniably, going to help you when it comes to reaching your nutritional goals. However, cooking healthy meals from scratch every day can be tiring and there are going to be days that you would wish you could take a shortcut. Make those shortcuts easier on yourself by preparing some healthy meals in advance. Apps like Noom Meal Prep can help you find meals that are easy to put together in advance while still sticking to your health goals.
Not keeping track
Of course, you want to make sure that all of the foods that you eat are not only helping you stick to calorie goals, but are also providing the nutrients that you need. To that end, you can use tools like the MyFitnessPal Diet Tracking app that can look at your overall diet, letting you know what you might need a little more of and what you can cut back on from week to week.
Not fueling your exercises
If you’re working out at the same time that you’re dieting, you should make sure both of them are compatible. Restricting your calories a lot while you’re also doing strength training is not a great idea, however. You can easily supplement your controlled diet with additions like Muscle Nation Custard. You want to make sure you’re giving yourself enough calories, especially in proteins and fats, to allow your body to meet its workout goals.
Allowing yourself snacks
One of the worst habits that you can allow yourself to keep falling into is that of snacking. You should ensure that you’re only eating the meals that you have planned throughout the day. You can start by making sure you only have healthy snacks available in the home, but slowly you should start to phase even those out of your diet. The quicker you get out of bad eating habits, the sooner you can manage full control over your diet.
With the tips above, you can make sure that you’re avoiding some of the most common and easy pitfalls while building a healthy diet.
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