When our bodies are holding tension even the simplest tasks seem hard because of the heaviness. I believe we are not meant to live day to day with tension. I watched my parents numb themselves with alcohol most of my life and when I got older I saw myself leaning on numbing the pain. For […]
How to relieve tension naturally, put down the ibuprofen — Diving Deep
Your parents and older relatives spent their time supporting you through a range of roadblocks you encountered in life. Now that they are older, it’s your turn to repay the favor. But how can you, your partner, siblings, and children provide the vital support that seniors need as they grow older?
It’s easy for seniors to become isolated from the world around them. Their friends may not live close enough anymore. Or they aren’t as mobile as they once were. However, staying in touch with a community can help stave off degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, which will ensure their quality of life is as good as it can be. There are plenty of elderly communities around that you can find and introduce your relatives to, allowing them to meet people their age who share their interests. This means they won’t solely rely on you for the company, and can even have new experiences.
Life can be exceptionally busy, there’s no doubt about this, and because of this, there’s a risk that you neglect to get in touch with your elderly relatives as often as you should. However, this shouldn’t mean they cannot get in touch with you when they feel like a chat. Smartphones, laptops, and tablets may intimidate them at first, but they are crucial for ensuring that they can contact you, allowing you to offer the support they need. They won’t need the latest smartphone, but something easy to use and with a strong wifi connection will do the trick.
When planning how to support your parents, you need to remember that they are not just there. They are still human, and they will always have their preferences for how they want to live. Because of this, you must include them in any plans you have for offering support. Don’t neglect to ask them what they want to do, whether it’s visiting them at their house or go somewhere else where they can get some fresh air. It’s easy to feel like you lose your autonomy the older you get, so providing a chance to retain their independence will do wonders for their well being.
Sometimes, you can’t provide exactly what your elderly relatives need, so you need to assess these needs and look for solutions. While they might live at home now, medical conditions could impact how easy this is for them. If this is the case, you can consider retirement homes or care workers who will visit your relatives to provide the treatment they need. Services that offer such assistance include https://catholiccarecenter.org/long-term-care/, which will provide expert service and give you and your relatives the peace of mind you need.
Supporting your elderly relatives will help them manage their senior years more comfortably and prevent any of the loneliness or isolation problems that can come from old age. Whether they require a helping hand now and again or need more professional support, you can be there for them no matter what and make the best of the last years you have with them.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Have a great day!
Melinda
This is one celebration I can get behind anytime of day! My first coffee experience was in my baby bottle. I’m sure it was a dab but gramps said I had to have what he was drinking. I believe it knowing how close we were.
International Coffee Day is an occasion that is used to promote and celebrate coffee as a beverage, with events now occurring in places across the world. The first official date was 1 October 2015, as agreed by then International Coffee Organization and was launched in Milan. This day is also used to promote fair trade coffee and to raise awareness for the plight of the coffee growers. On this day, many businesses offer free or discounted cups of coffee. Some businesses share coupons and special deals with their loyal followers via social networking. Some greeting card companies sell National Coffee Day greeting cards as well as free e-cards.
Here’s a hot or cold toast of coffee to you! Here’s to the farmers who keep us going each and every day.
Melinda
I was kindly gifted a copy of One Step At A Time, My Eating Disorder Dairies by Francesca Giacomozzi from Soraya Nair at Cherish Editions for an honest review. Thank you, Soraya.
“Francesca Giacomozzi has lived in the UK since April 2016.
After quitting a full-time job that wasn’t fulfilling her, she studied to become a yoga teacher and reflexologist and now owns her own yoga teaching and massage therapy business.
Her drive to help others overcome mental health issues has pushed her out of her comfort zone, leading her to raise awareness about eating disorders as a daily mission.
Francesca has two degrees and can speak five languages.”
Excerpt From: Francesca Giacomozzi. “One Step at a Time.” Apple Books.
“My long-winded journey into a fuller and healthier self. Written with the hope that if you are lost, you will soon be found. This is the honest and unfiltered truth about me and my experiences as a warrior in eating disorder recovery. All the people mentioned in this book are real, and therefore have been made anonymous unless they provided consent to be spoken about by name.”
_______
Francesca Giacomozzi found herself on the verge of a crisis, exhausted from waking up day after day without a sense of purpose. Determined to get her life back on track, she decided to take on a challenge to engage both her mind and body: a two-week walk along the South West Coastal Path.
She invested in kit and prepared – or so she thought – for the solo trek. Little did she know, her journey would leave her with a completely different outcome to the one she expected. Her diary pages are filled with two tales: what happened on the trail, and how it made her feel on the inside.
When you’re faced with your demons, you have two paths you can take. You can tackle them head-on or you can turn and run. Francesca found herself at a crossroads and decided to face her demons in the most interesting way. She set out to trek 360 miles across England to find herself and found so much more.
Armed with her diary, she sets out and discovers the generosity of others feeds her need for food. When you struggle with an eating disorder, you over focus on food and look for an emotional fulfillment which doesn’t come. Fran struggles with her thoughts and self loathing along the way but as she reaches her destination there is a new sense of self. A sense she can overcome and ask for help.
Ask for help she does, she sees a therapist for the first time and starts a new, more informed and self assured chapter. I beleive she is living her best life and inspires others with deep rooted struggles that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Fran sprinkles in poetry throughout the chapters. She is a great writer and the book is a fast read, you can’t wait to see what adventure she will encounter next. You can also fully relate to the insecurities she feels about herself and in social situations.
I struggled with an eating disorder for years and can say this book hit home. It’s real and gives a look at the true mental and physical toll an eating disorder can take in the body.
This book is a great read for most types of mental health struggles, not just eating disorders. The guilt, anger, insecurities and shame are universal.
I highly recommend One Step At A time and give it 5 stars!
Cherish Editions is the self-publishing division of Trigger Publishing, the UK’s leading independent mental health and wellbeing publisher.
We are experienced in creating and selling positive, responsible, important and inspirational books, which work to de-stigmatise the issues around mental health, as well as helping people who read them to maintain and improve their mental health and wellbeing. By choosing to publish through Cherish Editions, you will get the expertise of the dedicated Trigger Team at every step of the process.
We are proud of what we do, and passionate about the books that we publish. We want to do the very best for you and your book, holding your hand every step of the way.
Happy Reading!
I know you will enjoy the book as much as I did and encourage you to pick up a copy today.
Melinda
Owning rental property can be a rewarding way to diversify your income, but it also requires a lot of work. One mistake that many landlords make is not investing in the right equipment or hiring the appropriate personnel. If you want to improve management efficiency for your rental property to maximize the return on your investment, read on.
Keeping up with repairs is essential to maintaining your rental property. You can do it yourself or hire a contractor if you do not have experience in repairs. If you find that the project is too much for one person, hiring someone will be worth it. It’s essential to communicate with tenants when there is an upcoming repair so they know what to expect and have time to plan accordingly.
You don’t want them surprised when their shower isn’t working at 11 pm on a Friday. Make sure you purchase all necessary materials ahead of time, so there are no delays during the process because you needed something but out-of-stock. Also, make sure any contractors you hire have insurance. This way, their damage won’t cost more than the actual material (and their insurance will cover it).
A noise monitoring device refers to a tool for surveillance. You can find these devices in homes and businesses of renters who want to ensure landlords or management companies don’t invade their privacy. They can be helpful when it comes to reporting noise complaints because Noiseaware, a noise level monitoring device, will record evidence that a tenant did make loud noises at an unreasonable hour.
Setting prices and expectations is essential because it helps you avoid disputes with tenants. For example, if the rent is set too high, your tenant may feel overcharged and look for another place to live. On the other hand, if prices are set too low, this could lead to reduced income and problems arising from non-paying or late-paying tenants.
To decide what price range to charge for a rental property in an area of comparable properties:
If rent control ordinances limit price increases, think about ways to make it more valuable over time. For example, it may mean investing money in improvements like landscaping and painting before new renters move in.
Paying regular visits to your premises is a double-edged sword. It is essential to be proactive and visit the premise regularly, but when you do, it’s also crucial that there are no issues left unresolved since your last visit. Your goals in doing this should always remain clear: find out what needs attention and take care of any problems right away.
It helps you follow up on any new issues that may have sprung up and make sure everything is in order. But, of course, you can never be too careful when it comes to your rental property, so err on the side of caution and keep making regular visits until you are sure there are no more problems.
When visiting, take time to look around to see if there is anything that you could improve or change, whether it’s about the premise’s security features or their organization and cleanliness. It isn’t always easy to remember what was wrong when looking at things from afar; by visiting regularly, you can make sure any problems get fixed before they turn into more significant issues later.
Learning about your tenants is essential for several reasons. You can know whether your tenants are good people to have around the property, but you can also use this information as leverage when setting prices and expectations. For example, if one tenant has a history of noise complaints from other neighbors, it might be time to set some ground rules around late-night activities to prevent future problems before they start.
Hiring a property manager is a great way to improve efficiency for your rental property. A professional management company can help you keep up with repairs, changes in tenant information and set appropriate fees for the cost of the rent. These are only a few ways that hiring a property manager will increase overall performance when renting out your valuable properties.
In conclusion, if you own rental property, several things will help improve management efficiency. By keeping these tips in mind, it’s easy to see why hiring managers can have such an impact on your bottom line as well as creating more free time.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Switching to a vegetarian diet is not for everyone. If you are, however, one of those people that can live off of vegetables and getting your proteins from vegetable-based foods, then switching to being a vegetarian may be a great choice for you. Vegetarian food is more clean, light, and has several health benefits. You need not switch to a vegetarian diet permanently, but if you are feeling that you need to take some time away from meat to cleanse, then going veggie could be what you need to feel better faster. Here are a few ways you can go veggie and still feel like yourself.
There are now several plant-based types of meat on the market. These alternatives have been flavored to taste just like the real thing, and many people who have chosen to switch to these products say that they cannot taste the difference. Switching to meat-less meat is good for you in that you are not getting animal products of fat or certain greases or oils into your diet. The meal will also rest lighter in your stomach and your digestion time will be faster than when your body has to use all of its enzymes to break down the animal meat in your body. It is recommended that you take yourself off of meat gradually so that you don’t fully shock your body. Start with pork and beef and then eventually get yourself off of chicken.
Not only can you get pasta made from vegetables like zucchini pasta, but you can also take regular pasta and make veggie pasta dishes. This alternative to meat pasta or pasta with meat sauces makes for a lighter dish that won’t weigh you down or make you feel tired. The veggie pasta is much lighter and the nutritional value is higher because you can mix soybeans for protein and taste along with carrots, peas, corn, asparagus, and a variety of other vegetables into the dish. With a light oil-based sauce mixed in with the food, you won’t have to worry about anything too high in acid that can affect the balance of your stomach. This dish will leave you feeling very light and full.
If you have ever watched the Popeye cartoon series you know that spinach is what gave him all of his power. He was right. Spinach is a great source of iron, so if you are going off of red meat, which is full of iron, spinach is a replacement that will keep your iron levels up and keep you energized. Iron helps build muscle and helps with growth and development. Iron helps the red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body. If you are going vegetarian then you won’t have to worry about losing that very important mineral in your body. Spinach can be used as the base of a salad or it can be a great side dish at meals. If you are going off meat, then go to the store and get yourself a bag of spinach fast.
Now that you have seen some dietary changes you can make, what are the actual benefits of changing your diet?
When you eat a plant-based diet, you will have several health benefits and one of them is the reduced risk of diabetes. Because your diet will be virtually free from refined sugars, you won’t have to worry about the risk of developing blood sugar that is too high. You will find yourself getting sugars from other places like in fruit, but that can be easily managed.
You will find a lower risk of having high blood pressure from having a vegetarian diet. Most fruits and vegetables are low in sodium, fat, and cholesterol so the risk of your blood pressure going up is highly reduced.
There are other benefits of vegetarian diets like lowering the risk of asthma by reducing the intake of foods that cause inflammation, good bone health by eliminating the loss of calcium from animal products, and good heart health by eliminating ingredients that can cause blockages in arteries. Overall, you will be making a good choice by going vegetarian. You don’t have to go vegetarian forever, but if you are prone to or have a family history of some of these ailments, going vegetarian for a short period of time can help you reduce these risks and help you get on track to a healthier lifestyle.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Depending on what your goal is and what you are looking for in life, renting an apartment might be the best option for you. There are many benefits that come with renting an apartment, here are just a few to help you make your decision.
One of the key benefits of renting an apartment is that you get to live in a complex that offers a wide range of amenities, such as a swimming pool, fitness center, tennis courts, dog parks, etc. These kinds of perks would be too costly to have on your own property or apartment, but complexes include these offers in the lease agreements, which means you can enjoy them at a much more affordable price.
Rental contracts offer a lot more flexibility, as you can stay in an apartment for as long, or as short as you like. Although a length of time has to be agreed upon, signing the lease, can range from 6 months to 5 years. This means you can get up and move apartments fairly often, trying out new locations, price points, decor, layouts, etc. It also means more flexibility with money. You of course need enough to pay the deposit and rent, but that is a much smaller amount tied up in the lease, as opposed to the sizable deposit you have to make that is left tied up in a purchase.
Renting an apartment not only means you can move around more often if you wish, to try new locations, but you can also easily access more sought-after areas, for example, in the center of the City. This is because prices are much more accessible for renters, as opposed to those looking to purchase, who will see prices skyrocket for popular locations. This means you can reap the benefits, without the cost.
In most cases, the apartments are of top quality, as it is the goal of the landlords to fulfill the spaces. Most rental apartments need to be in good enough condition and meet certain standards, to be put on the market and habitable. In apartment complexes, you usually have dedicated staff on hand to keep up with the cleaning and maintenance of the complex and amenities. Renting also means access to high-quality apartments, as high-quality properties for sale tend to be priced significantly higher.
In a typical lease, there will be certain things you are responsible for, but there are also many things the landlord is responsible for too, such as repairs. This means if something breaks, that is not your fault, you can call the landlord to get it fixed. This takes a huge burden off your shoulders, as well as saves you a lot of money in the long run.
There are many benefits to renting an apartment. For more information, take a look at https://www.liveiconlouisville.com/.
Find exactly what you need when you need it.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Anyone looking for a family home needs to consider essentials including school catchment, child-friendly amenities, and, as we’ll be discussing here, local crime rates. After all, no parent actively wants to take their children into a well-known danger zone, especially in light of risks including home break-ins, drugs, and other criminal activities that could have a knock-on effect.
The trouble is that with crime rates directly impacting house prices, buying in the most obviously ‘safe’ neighborhoods often means price tags that remain out of reach for many of us. On the surface, this can make it seem like there’s no other option than to either redirect our property searches altogether or compromise somewhere along the line. But, what if we were to tell you that there is an easier, and cheaper, way to buy in a safe space? Keep on reading to find out how!
One of the best ways to ensure low crime rates regardless of your zip code is to simply consider complex living. With 24/7 maintenance and typically secure access, options like these Willow Crossings apartments provide undeniably, and more importantly affordable, safety benefits. Regardless of where you’re moving, these benefits can ensure safe streets for your kids to play on, as well as almost eliminating the possibility of break-ins. The typically close communities in areas like these also mean that you’ll be able to develop trusting relationships, and ensure that no matter what they’re doing, your kids are surrounded by friends who you know to be safe and trustworthy.
There’s no denying that the appeal of low crime rates can increase property value overall, but that doesn’t automatically have to outweigh your budget if you choose your areas wisely. Obviously, an already pricey suburban area may well be out of reach when you add low crime on top of that. However, buying in safe areas across affordable states like Mississippi (e.g. Madison and Brandon) could still see you enjoying the fourteenth-lowest violent crime rate in the US. As such, research, and price comparisons that help you to avoid already costly areas should mean that you can quickly offset the price of safety, to begin with.
As well as researching crime rates as they stand, it’s also well worth considering the future of any given area. This is true of any house search, where buying in locations in the pipeline for development can ensure bargain prices and steep increases. For safety purposes, especially, expansions and improvements that facilitate increases in police presence and a generally transformed population mean that, even if crime rates aren’t the best right now, they soon could be. And, getting ahead of that trend is almost guaranteed to see you paying less for the privilege.
Safety matters, but so does cost. Find a happy middle ground between the two by keeping these considerations in mind as you search for your next family home.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
As a part of Suicide Awareness Month, I want to talk about those left behind. Those left to grieve.
Grieving after suicide is complex and gutwrenching. Everyone grieves differently and heals in their own time but the process can be a difficult one. This is my story.
Buy to rent has really become an invaluable asset for the last 20 years or so. Many individuals are turning their hand to this form of investment so that they can get a major source of income. Right now, market confidence is high and the property market is certainly looking bright too. If you are thinking about making a property investment then believe it or not, now is certainly the right time. If you are a first-time investor then it helps to know where to start so that you can make yourself aware of the decisions you are going to have to make when buying a property so that you can come out on top overall.
Before you do anything, you have to make sure that you do all of the right research. If you are a first-time investor, then you need to make sure that you think about which property is right for you and even what you can achieve from it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s capital growth, rental income, or even a mixture of both. At the end of the day, there are many different types of property out there for you to buy and it helps to consider things like renovation and even what type of tenant you are hoping to achieve. By doing this, you can then begin to get the best result out of your investment and the goals that you set for yourself overall. If you want to make a smaller property investment, why not look into bungalows for sale?
The location that you choose will make all the difference between a successful investment and an unsuccessful one. Some investors choose to actively limit their property search to areas where they live so that they can have some peace of mind. It may be wise to consider some of the other areas if you want to maximize the returns you are going to get. Do your research and find out how you can capitalize on the highest amount of profit depending on the city you choose to invest in. Check out this article by Reed Pirain on the best metro area for first-time buyers for more insights into this
If you do this well, then there’s no reason at all why you shouldn’t be able to come out on top.
You have to know that purchasing a buy to let property is very different from buying a home for yourself. If you are looking to try and attract young professionals or even students as your tenants, then you need to try and think about all of the amenities that are likely to appeal to your market. Bars, shops, schools, restaurants, or anything else of the sort can easily increase your rental yield by a huge amount. While these factors might not be something that you personally look for when buying a home, you may find that it is in fact a deal-breaker for any potential tenants.
There is absolutely no doubt that buy to let can be profitable, to say the least. A lot of landlords will use the properties that they have as their sole source of income. Increasing your portfolio will give you the chance to maximize the returns that you have but at the same time, you have to make sure that you have a good outlook when it comes to your finances. You have to make sure that you make a budget and that you plan how much you can afford or borrow. It doesn’t matter whether you are a cash buyer or whether you have a buy to let mortgage because there will be various tax implications that you need to keep in mind.
Ultimately, it is very crucial for you to decide what kind of property landlord you would like to be. If you want to remain more hands-on then you will need to try and find tenants, conduct any viewings, and also maintain the property as well. If you are a hands-on landlord then you will be able to save some money by simply opting for a DIY approach. This will give you some extra responsibility, however, and you may not be able to manage all of this. If you are time-limited or if you have a lot of properties, then you may want to think about adopting a more hands-off approach instead. If you are willing to pay a small fee, then there are tons of letting agents out there that will manage your property and you won’t have to get involved at all with the day to day dealings of having a tenant. This includes any ongoing maintenance, viewings, paperwork, and more. So many landlords prefer to go down this route because it gives them way more time to focus on some of the other ventures. It also helps to try and start out slow so that you can build gradually as well, so keep this in mind if you can.
Knowing what you want will really help you to create a nice and coordinated time frame for your achievement. If your objective is to try and make a return in a very short space of time, then it may be wise for you to flip properties instead. This may sound like the best way forward but at the end of the day, it does put you at a very high level of risk. If you want a high return over a much longer period, then buy to let may be a much more suitable option. Yields of around 12% can easily be expected, but of course, you do have to think about things such as vacancy rates and even maintenance costs as well.
Try and make sure that you don’t use more than 50% of your mortgage when financing a property. This may be difficult when you are first starting out but as you explore the idea of property investment, even more, you will soon find that you can make it more feasible. Even though there is a lot of surface attraction with mortgaging, you have to remember that it is in fact a bad idea. The longer you carry on this way, the more pain and stress it will cause you at a later date.
Even though a shared mortgage can give you the chance to take out an even bigger mortgage, they do require one person to be the main borrower. The other person will then borrow less. The person who has the highest income will usually be the core borrower. If you have a lower credit rating, then you may find that your interest rates are much higher as well and this is the last thing that you need. Shared mortgages tend to allow for one property owner as well so arranging all of this can be a stressful and daunting process.
It’s also very helpful for you to constantly review your plan. Keep some clear notes of your process and also make sure that you plan at least 6 months in advance as well. You have to remember that no two six-month periods are the same, so you have to make sure that you are able to adjust your investment according to property prices rising and falling. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to reap the benefits.
If you do not have enough confidence in the world of domestic property, then why not try and use foreign currencies to your advantage? At the end of the day, there are so many markets out there that don’t require as much investment, but that can easily give you a much higher yield. You have to make sure that you don’t just look at the value or even the potential of the property. Instead, think about the economy, the stability, and the political state of the company too. If you know that there is a tourist hot spot then this could indicate that the market is lucrative. Overseas hotspots include Berlin, Sofia, Sao Paulo, and even Istanbul too.
You have to know that timing is everything when it comes to investments. Knowing when you need to exit is half of the job. You have to make sure that you keep an eye on the market and you also need to know when to pull out of a certain investment too. If you have a valuable workplace exit strategy, then this will save you a lot of time and effort when the time comes for you to liquidate. Remember that the property market gives you way more data now when compared to just a few years ago. Keep track of it and take your time but never make any knee-jerk reactions. If you do, then you will soon find that you are able to make better decisions and that you can also stabilize your investment too.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
As COVID-19 continues, it’s time to look at how to protect your business from the damaging effects the virus and the lockdown may have. While many people were recently relieved that things looked set to go back to normal or at least into the “new normal,” unfortunately, it was short-lived as the coronavirus case numbers have increased again, and drastic action has to be taken. You may have learned lessons from the first lockdown, whether it is things you should have done, done differently, or not done at all. The critical thing is that this time you will know what to expect and work as best you can to protect your business. So, what this time.
Most businesses experienced their employees remote working in some way during the first lockdown, so they will be used to the process and know what works best for them. Some of your employees are best getting up and showered and dressed in their work clothes to get in the work mindset, while others find they work better in their comfy clothes and sat on the sofa. That’s for your employees to work out, but at least this time, they can be prepared either way, or they can try working a different way this time if they felt they weren’t in a good enough routine last time. As an employer, make sure that you have sufficient support networks in place for your employees; this means regarding technology and work materials and equipment that they need, but also, you need to be more aware of their mental health this time around. Many people’s mental health is deteriorating the longer that the pandemic goes on, and the more issues they have to deal with. Make sure they know they can talk to you if they need to and that you check in on them while they’re working from home.
You can take this time now to plan your next return to work, and while this means deep cleaning, disinfecting the office, calling in the Renew Crew to do a power wash, and maybe putting in more social distancing measures and hand sanitizing stations, it also means preparing your business for something new and different because the world has changed. Now it’s worth looking at next year’s plan rather than trying to save this year’s. Despite how it may seem, you’re actually in a good position now as you can adapt to respond meaningfully and creatively to the current marketplace. For example, marketing campaigns and images will need to include people wearing face masks and respecting social distancing. Take the time to think carefully about which direction you want to take your business in and understand what’s needed to bring solutions to the problems and overwhelming challenges your customers are facing.
If your business struggled during the first lockdown, then you need to be more careful this time. Of course, this goes without saying, but it’s knowing how to be more frugal that’s important. Do you know how you can maximize your profit margins? While it might seem like a good time to get certain jobs done, it is important to control your spending during this time and to put away any extra cash you can. Find out what you’re entitled to in terms of deferrals on rent and loans, and if there’s any way you can save money on your suppliers, then do so. Find out what other funding is available to you or if there are any temporary loans you can apply for.
If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that you never know what’s around the corner. If you want to protect your business, then you need to be prepared for anything and everything. This isn’t an easy thing to do while trying to run your business, but if you are on top of your finances and know what your business can take and what it can’t, then you can make plans. Try to think of every scenario that you can, and don’t forget to factor in what could happen to the third parties you rely on to keep your business running and providing a service to your customers. While your business may have a good chance of making it out the other side, some of the businesses that you work with and rely on might not be so lucky, so make sure you have a contingency plan just in case.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Every single day of our lives, we are making choices about our future. Whether we like it or not, there is no getting away from the choices we have to make and so the best thing that we can do is be smart about those decisions. You don’t have to be a decisive person to know what you want in life, but have you thought ahead? Not just for your career, but for your distant retirement? Have you considered where you’d like to travel and where you want to live? These are the biggest decisions that you’ll make in life, but you need to make those decisions with great thought. Every single time you choose something to do in life, it’s got to align with your life goals, but that’ll only work if you know what your life goals are.
There will be moments that you think that you are making the wrong choices, but the honest truth is that there is no such thing as a wrong choice. Everything you choose to do will eventually lead you in the right direction, whether it’s about your future senior care options or your job prospects. The key is in weaving away from the impulsive decisions and thinking better about each decision. Let’s take a look at six tips that will help you to choose better things in your life.
It’s so hard to make choices for yourself when you are busy thinking about everyone else around you. You should always be aware of the decisions that you want to make for yourself based on what YOU want. The best way to make any decisions is to keep your goals at the forefront of your mind at all times. If you know you want a comfortable retirement one day, base your choices on how you can have that comfort. If you know you want a house of your own one day, start saving some of your income now.
You can ask everyone you know what you should do about XYZ, but that doesn’t mean that you have to ever take anyone else’s advice. You should always go with your gut. No one but you knows what you feel day to day and no one else is living your life. If you’re going to ask for advice, be prepared to hear different opinions but when it comes down to it, the only opinion that counts? It’s yours.
Every decision that you make needs to match your instincts. If you want to know that you have money set aside for in-home senior care one day, saving it up is a must. If you want to make sure that you don’t have to sell your home for your future, start being smart about your investments. Life is a big deal as it is, and you should always listen to what your instincts are telling you to do. Going with your gut isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it could lead you to some amazing experiences in life.
It’s so much easier to make destructive decisions when you are in a bad mood or a poor frame of mind. If you want to make good decisions, you need to know that you are in the right mood for it. Never make any decisions about changing your life if you are currently angry with your boss or dealing with rubbish from your landlord. There are so many ways that you can make a bad decision, so wait until you know you are thinking straight before you make a choice.
You really have to make a choice and not question it. Trusting yourself can be the hardest part of making a decision and the person that you need to trust before anyone else is yourself. Trust that you know what you want and you can make the best decisions for yourself.
The only way to be better at making the right choices for you is to practice doing it. You should make this a part of your daily routine and be more confident in your actions as a result. Over time, you’ll feel way more in control of the choices that you make for your future. You deserve to know what you want and you deserve to grab it all with both hands. Don’t be afraid!
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Home renovation is an exhilarating, frustrating, emotional, challenging, and often addictive process. The journey of seeing a house go from unloved wreck to home of your dreams is a feeling quite unlike anything else. Getting there can be quite the ride, but you may find that you love the end result so much you’re soon itching for your next big project. There are many reasons to renovate an older home. Generally speaking, you can get much more for your money and it may enable you to buy a bigger plot or in a nicer area that would normally have been just out of your budget.
If the property is liveable, you can then give yourself some extra time to save up the money needed for construction work. It can also prove a good investment – if you buy at the right price and are able to make the renovation budget work, and you don’t overdevelop the property when it comes time to sell hopefully you will have made a profit. It’s also a chance to design and develop a home exactly as you want it, specific to all your own needs and preferences. There are a lot of plus points to renovating your first home. On the other hand, being prepared is everything, or first-time renovation projects can be quite a shock. The expense, noise, mess, unexpected problems, and missed deadlines can be enough to put some people off for life. So how do you get ready for renovation if you’ve never done it before? And what do more experienced home renovators wish they had known before their first project?
It may not be very romantic to hear, but everything within your project is driven by one factor: budget. There’s no denying the extensively redeveloping property is hugely expensive, so understanding from the outset exactly what your renovation budget is, and estimating realistically are vital. After all, no one wants to run out of cash part way through a building project. It’s quite likely you may have to scale back some of your expectations, especially on a first project, when you’re unlikely to have huge cash reserves to fall back on. Plan out the projects you want to do in phases, in order of how urgent they are. You may have to wait a while between phases if you need to save up more money or secure a loan for the building works. Keep a close eye on the budget during the project and remember that the small things can be expensive and quickly add up.
Decide in advance what features of the renovation are an absolute deal-breaker for you, and what you will be prepared to compromise on if you have to. Always create a contingency fund. It’s likely that there may be unforeseen issues that pop up during the course of the project – especially with older properties – that you haven’t budgeted for, so this margin could save you. You may find yourself having to pay for additional structural work, new electrics, or even things like local pest control. And if by some miracle, you don’t spend it, it can be spare cash to spend on the final decorative touches. Remember that it is possible to save money on a home renovation. Learning to DIY some of the slightly easier bits yourself can be very cost-effective, so jobs such as painting, adding skirting, etc are all easy wins. Shop around for everything, from equipment hire to kitchens, to get the best price, and consider what preloved elements you could either reuse from the original property or source elsewhere.
The key to a successful renovation is to find a new layout that works. You will either be working within the original floorplan of the house, but with the option to remove and add walls and reconfigure the space – or you may be extending your home to add on additional space. You’ll be surprised what the right layout change can do to transform both the feel and the usability of a property – for example, opening up a maze of little rooms to form a free-flowing, open-plan space. If you do want to keep smaller rooms, there are lots of tricks to make them appear more spacious, from the clever placement of mirrors to dressing the windows so that they look taller and choosing paint techniques that make the room look bigger.
It’s a time in your life you will always remember, so be prepared, do your research and embrace the chaos – your ideal home is now within reach.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
For the first time in U.S. history, a debate between major party presidential candidates is shown on television. The presidential hopefuls, John F. Kennedy, a Democratic senator of Massachusetts, and Richard M. Nixon, the vice president of the United States, met in a Chicago studio to discuss U.S. domestic matters.
English seaman Francis Drake returns to Plymouth, England, in the Golden Hind, becoming the first British navigator to sail the earth. On December 13, 1577, Drake set out from England with five ships on a mission to raid Spanish holdings on the Pacific coast of the New World. …read more
On September 26, 1820 the pioneering frontiersman Daniel Boone dies quietly in his sleep at his son’s home near present-day Defiance, Missouri. The indefatigable voyager was 86. Boone was born in 1734 to Quaker parents living in Berks County, Pennsylvania. Following a squabble …read more
On September 26, 1928, work begins at Chicago’s new Galvin Manufacturing Corporation. (The company had officially incorporated the day before.) In 1930, Galvin would introduce the Motorola radio, the first mass-produced commercial car radio. (The name had two parts: “motor” …read more
Poet T.S. Eliot is born in St. Louis, Missouri, on September 26, 1888. Eliot’s distinguished family tree included an ancestor who arrived in Boston in 1670 and another who founded Washington University in St. Louis. Eliot’s father was a businessman, and his mother was involved …read more
Melinda
Moving to a new home can often seem like an absolutely enormous task, as there are just so many different responsibilities you have to think about at any given time during your project. Luckily, keeping calm throughout your home move needn’t be as difficult as you might think, as there are a few simple tips and tricks that you can make the most of to ensure everything goes to plan. So, if you would like to find out more about how you can take the stress out of your move, then read on to uncover some of the best steps that you can follow now!
Struggling through such a large task by yourself is bound to become a laborious and draining exercise, so you needn’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether you reach out to family and friends to ask a favor or seek some specialist professional support, don’t make the mistake of tackling every step on your own. You can find friendly estate agents to help you uncover the ideal property, visit a reputable vehicle relocation site like https://carsrelo.com/ that can transport your car to your new home, hire some handy tradesmen to tackle any decor or engineering tasks, and even enlist the services of a stylish interior designer!
Far too many people make the mistake of simply diving headfirst into a home move by facing different tasks whenever the dire need arises, but one of the best things you can do to reduce your stress is to plan each and every detail. It’s a great idea to take a notebook or utilize a digital alternative on your smartphone, writing down each task (such as payment deadlines, move-in dates, change of mailing addresses, etc). Search online to find inspiration for what to include on this list, as there are many helpful resources that can help to make sure that you don’t forget any of the essentials. You can tick off each task as you go to encourage you to stay motivated and identify which steps remain to reach your ultimate goal.
Moving to a new home can be a totally consuming process, as it’s such a huge life change that will no doubt affect the way that you lead each day. Letting yourself get too involved with your move will raise your stress levels and inspire you to think of nothing else, so you should take some time out every now and then to relax and unwind. Whether you decide to have a long hot bath, a session of meditation, or a walk around your local park, just having the opportunity to take your mind off your project will do you good.
Keeping calm when moving house has never been so simple when you are able to make the most of the top tips and tricks detailed above! Stay cool and collected whilst you start a new chapter.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Every family needs a safe and secure place to call home – this is why housing is a significant global issue, as many families seek decent and affordable accommodations. According to the World Property Journal, the US real estate market is worth about $33.6 trillion. There are several residence options suitable for families. Are you keen to learn about the different types of homes best suited to your family? Here are six home types you should consider.
Single-family homes are one of the most popular housing options among American families. These homes are designed for one family only. There are numerous benefits of single-family homes that make them worth considering. They offer more privacy than other housing options since you do not share any walls. Personalizing your landscape in a single-family home is even more effortless compared to other home types. Therefore, it would help if you consider single-family housing when looking for your family’s perfect accommodation.
A condo living space is a single unit in a larger building or housing community. Condos are usually located in the heart of cities, unlike many single-family homes and apartments. The benefits of condominium living are worth considering for your family. Condo residents typically enjoy easier access to major roads and public transport systems. Convenience is another key benefit of condos because facilities like malls are easily accessible due to the dense area population. There is an excellent provision of security in condo buildings due to the presence of round-the-clock security personnel. Many families that chose condos agree that it is a great place to raise kids because of child-friendly amenities and vibrant community life.
Apartments are living spaces within larger buildings and housing communities, differing from condos because you would have to pay rent. Apartments provide a cost-effective housing option for families, as the exorbitant home prices on the market are overwhelming for many. The perks of apartment living include access to amenities like pools and gyms, which single-family homes usually do not have. You can also have quality family time since you do not have to spend time on yard work, as apartment owners hire professionals to take care of the property. The apartment home is also financially flexible, as the rent is usually yearly. Not owning the place also allows you to relocate should the need arise.
Statista data projects that US multifamily buildings will be worth almost $80 billion by 2022. Multi-family homes are single buildings with more than one dwelling unit that serves as homes to one or more families. Duplexes and triplexes are typical examples of multi-family homes. These units differ from condos because the various units cannot be purchased, as one person owns the building. It would be best to choose multi-family housing as a long-term investment to give you rental income. This rental income will increase your cash flow and help you to defray your housing cost. Also, multi-family homes allow for comfortable living with other family members together but separately. Securing a multi-family home mortgage is also easy because of your potential to generate income as a landlord. If you want to make and save money, these homes would be the perfect choice for you and the family.
A 2016 study showed that the ranch-style home is the favorite of American homeowners, being the popular pick in thirty-four states. These houses are known for their simple single-story design, with low-pitched roofing, plenty of windows, and attached garages. Many homeowners mentioned the size, layout, and functionality as elements they like about this type of house. Ranch homes have open floor plans, meaning living spaces are not too compartmentalized. The typical ranch house design offers a seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors due to many windows and glass doors that lead into your backyard. Also, ranch homes are easy to maintain and energy-efficient. It would be best to consider ranch housing if these features and benefits appeal to you and your family.
Townhomes allow you to experience both condo living and single-family housing in one building. They are usually described as a single-family home sandwiched between or next to similar single-family homes. Unlike the condominium residents, townhouse residents own both the interior and exterior space. But, like condos, there are little maintenance responsibilities. Townhome communities are also safe, peaceful, and quiet. These homes cost less than houses, and many real estate experts agree that they are better investments than apartments. Finally, consider townhouse living because of your access to many amenities and recreation opportunities.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
You may learn interesting information and chances are you will laugh at least once.
American flags left on the moon will eventually get bleached white by the sun.
While they are hibernating, bears do not urinate. Their bodies convert waste into protein.
White-faced capuchin monkeys greet each other by sticking their fingers up each others’ noses.
Gummy bears were originally called “dancing bears.”
New Zealand has more cats per person than any other country in the world.
The hagfish is the only animal that has a skull but no spine.
People weigh less if they stand at the equator than if they stand at the North or South poles.
At their closest points, the U.S and the Soviet Union are over 2 miles (3km) apart.
The yo-yo was originally a weapon used in the Philippine jungle.
Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserable contains a sentence that is 823 words long.
Enjoy!
Melinda
Actress Drew Barrymore recently visited a mental health institution where she was placed by her parents when she was a teenager, and she got emotional during the visit.
“Charlie’s Angels” star Drew Barrymore took a tour of Los Angeles in celebration of the premiere of Season 2 of “The Drew Barrymore Show” and stopped by the institution where she spent time as a minor.
Drew, now 46, recalled her childhood experience in recent video footage and discussed how it shaped her into the woman she is today.
Drew Barrymore speaks onstage during the Building a Brand in a Mobile-First World panel on the Times Center Stage on September 27, 2016 in New York City | Photo: Getty Images
The California native tearfully shared how she ended up at the institution, detailing her vivid memories of the unfortunate events:
“I was a real wild child, and I just got so out of control that no one knew what to do with me. They drove me here in the middle of the night.”
Actress Drew Barrymore attends Netflix’s “Santa Clarita Diet” season 3 premiere at Hollywood Post 43 on March 28, 2019 in Los Angeles, California | Photo: Getty Images
Drew explained they escorted her through the two doors of the building entry, and she said when an individual goes through them, they do not come out. The now director revealed she was there for a year and a half.
Drew previously opened up about being admitted to Van Nuys Psychiatric Hospital when she was 13 years old for 18 months. She disclosed that those in the facility were thrown in the padded room or put in stretcher restraints and tied up.
A post shared by Drew Barrymore (@drewbarrymore)
The movie star explained she shared her story with her talk show audience because they have helped her recognize that we all experience challenges in life.
The Golden Globe winner was treated for alcohol and drug addiction at the institution, and in an exclusive interview with The Guardian, she described that time in her life as her lowest point. When asked what happened, she said:
“Just knowing that I really was alone. And it felt… terrible. It was a really rebellious time. I would run off. I was very, very angry.”
A post shared by Drew Barrymore (@drewbarrymore)
She said the root of her anger was because her parents were not there for her. Her father, actor John Drew Barrymore was a violent alcoholic, and her mother and manager, Jaid Barrymore, was herself a wild child with little knowledge of parental responsibility.
After her parents divorced, the “50 First Dates” star was only nine years old when her mom took her to Studio 54, where she was introduced to drugs and encouraged to dance with famous young men.
At age 14, the child star was legally emancipated from her mother and revealed Jaid, 75, lost all credibility as a mom for introducing her young child to the partying scene. However, she admitted that having been committed to a facility was what she needed.View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Drew Barrymore (@drewbarrymore)
When asked if Jaid told her about it prior, she said she did not and admitted she would have probably run away. Drew added her mom did go and visit her while at the institution.Read also
HOLLYWOODSEP 03, 2021Drew Barrymore’s TikTok Debut Dressed as Her ‘Never Been Kissed’ Character Has Fans in Stitches
The star said it dawned on her when she realized that her mom locked her up in an institution but that it did give her much-needed discipline.
Furthermore, the producer explained she understood why her mother had her committed because her upbringing was not normal. Therefore, something had to give for her to get her life back on track.View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Drew Barrymore (@drewbarrymore)
Shortly after being released from the facility, she opted to emancipate herself at the institution’s advice. According to the clinicians there, they believed she would be better off on her own, which Jaid supported.
When her memoir “Wildflower” was published, Drew shared that she and her mom were barely on speaking terms but ensured she was well off financially.
So glad you stopped by today and look forward to hearing your comments.
Melinda
If you are a caregiver for an elderly family member, you’re at the forefront of your loved one’s care. You may be taking on some or all of the following duties, cooking, cleaning, running errands, and overseeing medication compliance.
With so much responsibility resting on your shoulders, it’s important to select a private duty caregiver that can adequately assist you with meeting the needs of you and your family members. In this article, we’ll discuss things to consider when selecting a private duty caregiver!
You may be wondering how to find a caregiver that has experience caring for people with memory loss. Start by asking the person you’re thinking of hiring if they’ve ever cared for people the particular illness that your loved one has.
Their resume might list their experience but it never hurts to ask about this before hiring them.
You can also find caregivers with experience caring for people who suffer from specific illnesses by contacting different local agencies and organizations.
Some caregivers are licensed professionals, while others are specialized in certain areas. This can be important if you have any specific needs that need to be met by your caregiver.
Making sure that the private duty caregiver you choose is licensed, is a good way of ensuring that they have had the prerequisite training to properly take care of your loved one.
The most important thing to look for when selecting a caregiver is whether or not they have references. If the person you are considering hiring doesn’t have any, it’s best to move on and find someone who does.
References will give you insight into how the potential caregiver interacts with patients, their level of experience, and what kind of life skills they bring to the table.
If they don’t want anyone to know where they have worked that’s usually a bad sign too!
One of the things that you should do when you are interviewing a potential caregiver is to ask them what their hours are.
Home care agencies usually have set hours, so if you know what your agency’s hours are, it will be easier to find someone who fits in with your needs. If you decide not to hire from an agency you should discuss the hours they can work with the caregiver since this is extremely important.
Hiring the right person for a caregiving position is essential. The person you hire needs to have a high level of skill and good references. If you are going to be letting someone in your home you want to know that they can be trusted.
This is especially important because you will be giving over a part of the care of your loved one to this individual. The only way to ensure that you have peace of mind about the situation is to take the time to do due diligence before hiring anyone.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
While stress is most definitely the biggest buzzword in the route to health and wellness, we can overlook tension in a physical sense. Physical signs of tension can lead to more stress, which is why we’ve got to learn how to reduce these physical signs. So what are the best ways to reduce any physical tension?
If you are constantly experiencing pain in your lower back, this could be due to many knots in the lower spine area. Many chiropractic care providers can help you work through these problems, but massages can get to the root cause, especially if your tension is always based on a certain part of your body. There are so many ways you can use massages, such as a massage gun or you have sports massages. But it’s crucial to remember that if you are experiencing pain in a certain area, it could be due to improper use, especially if you exercise a lot.
This is something that works wonders to reduce physical tension. It takes its cue from isometrics and involves tensing a part of your body before relaxing it. Progressive muscle relaxation works through every muscle group gradually. Relaxing muscles that have been tense for a while can be difficult to calm down, but many people have noticed that it has made a significant impact on their sleep quality.
Something else that works very well in the modern world because it is a component that is “mind over matter.” Visualizing involves imagining a scene or an image that can help you to stimulate the subconscious in positive ways. A lot of other problems can stem from the subconscious mind, so if we feel that we are constantly tense in a certain area, actively focusing on that area and visualizing it “calming down” can make a massive difference. It also works wonders for people trying to hit certain goals. When it comes to physical tension, you have to remember that visualization can be key because your brain is not necessarily able to differentiate between the signals that are real and the signals that are imagined. So if you make a strong enough signal that you are relaxed, you will gradually begin to embody that.
Hypnosis is another aspect that can help you to retrain your brain, and therefore you won’t feel as much tension in your mind so it will not transfer to your body. There are fantastic apps out there that can help you towards this, but one of the best is Reveri, which allows you to go into a peaceful and tranquil state while also retraining your brain.
Learning to reduce your stress is not just about the mental components, but making sure that you reduce the physical signs of tension. Stress and physical tension can go hand-in-hand and one can cause the other, and vice versa. Getting to the root cause is crucial, and if you try a number of these methods, you should see a big difference.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Hair loss can affect anyone, whether male or female. When you start to experience your hair falling out, it can be shocking, especially if you’re still young. Typically, people expect hair loss to start happening closer to middle age, but there are many reasons people experience it in their twenties. This can severely impact your self-esteem and can have a damaging psychological impact. To overcome this, it’s beneficial to understand the reasons why you might experience hair loss.
The most common reason for hair loss is genetics. If you have a history of hair loss in your family, it is more likely that you will lose your hair as well.
This is known as pattern baldness, both male and female. It will often start slowly and in patterns, such as thinning hair and bald spots at the crown or a receding hairline. Most of the time, people who have a family history of baldness will expect hair loss, but this doesn’t make the initial occurrences much easier to deal with and accept.
Just like stress can cause your hair to turn gray, it can also contribute to hair loss. Too much stress leads to your hair thinning out, and you will usually find it most frequently when washing your hair in the bath or shower.
Such stress can come from a traumatic event, and the hair loss symptoms will usually last for at least a few months after. However, the good news is that this is usually temporary.
Some hair treatments, such as certain hairstyles or products you use in your hair can also contribute to hair loss. The more strain your hair is put under, the less healthy it becomes, and this can cause the hair follicles to fail, causing your hair to fall out.
Chemicals can also impact the thickness of your hair, but like stress, this can be temporary if you catch it early enough. If you experience hair loss after changing shampoos or testing new products, go back to your previous products to see if there is a difference or consider searching for PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) treatment to help slow and stop hair loss.
Hair loss can also happen as a reaction to certain illnesses and medications, such as cancer, arthritis, and depression. Often, this is a side effect of medication you take for the illness, although the stress of the sickness can also be a factor.
There are also medical conditions like alopecia related to your immune system and leads to hair falling out in patches, ringworm, a scalp infection, or even chronic hair pulling, a disorder also known as trichotillomania.
For anyone who considers their hair part of their identity, suddenly losing hair can make you feel entirely unlike yourself. It can cause stress, lack of confidence, and affect your mental wellbeing. However, if you can understand why you are losing your hair, you can come to terms with it more easily and take action to prevent or halt losing more hair.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
In a culture that celebrates success, progress, and onward movement, feeling stuck can be an extremely annoying scenario for anyone. Usually, people are told to push their feelings deep inside, letting them develop into uncertainty, pondering ideas, and anxieties about what tomorrow holds.
But, instead of overlooking the feeling, it is a good idea to think of your way out. So the following are some of the things you can do to get yourself out of the rut.
Everyone feels stuck in life once in a while; this might be due to many reasons. Most people work towards objectives that do not align with who they really are or what they actually yearn for. Living in a life full of false goals can make you feel stuck and annoyed at the same time. You can build a very successful and happy life according to society; however, you will never get life satisfaction if you have based your life on false objectives and hope.
So, if you feel like your marriage is based on false objectives, it might be time to set yourself free and get the proper satisfaction of life by getting the help of a divorce lawyer. Other things that might make you feel stuck in life can be a lack of motivation and fear of change.
Usually, people think they are stuck in life, but the problem is often their mindsets. Being mindful of your mindset is an excellent way to live a life of fulfillment and freedom. So to improve your attitude, work on how to restate your self-talk. For instance, instead of saying you can never start a business, say you don’t know how to start a business, but you can learn. You are not alone, sometimes; even the most motivated individuals have days when they feel unmotivated.
Taking care of your well-being is another excellent way of fighting the feeling of being stuck in life. Besides, it is also crucial to your mental health. Begin by quickly evaluating how well you have been taking care of yourself. Have you been exercising? Are you getting enough sleep, and lastly, are you spending time with the people that love and care about you?
Now will be the best time to address any place that you feel might be lacking. Get enough sleep, exercise, eat a balanced diet, and more importantly, spend time with your friends and family.
Sometimes, the feeling of getting stuck happens occasionally, for instance, one day, you feel stuck, and the next, you are all good. In some cases, you might need to take a more proactive approach. And there is no other way to do so than to focus on your motivation. There are many ways to boost your motivation even when you don’t feel like doing anything. Start by taking small steps outside your comfort zone, and reward yourself.
Feeling stuck in life can be very frustrating, but you can add a sense of adventure, motivation, and excitement back into your life with some effort. Put more effort into living intentionally and constantly remind yourself about what you truly want and whether you are doing things according to your desires. If your workplace is the source of your feeling, consider creating a stress-free work environment. This will make the feeling of being stuck gradually fade away.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Most of us spend most of our time doing the same things that we always do whether that be watching TV, working, cleaning our homes, or practicing our favorite hobby. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this, and if the things you always do make you happy, by all means, keep doing them, but maybe think about trying a few new things too. Why? Because trying new things is really good for you as you will see below…
One of the best things about trying new things is that it helps you to face your fears and overcome your anxieties. So many of us are worried that we aren’t good enough;l afraid of failing; too scared to pursue our dreams. When we try something new, even if it is something quite simple like learning how to fold origami animals or taking an art class, it helps us to confront our fears and shows us that we are capable of doing things if we put our minds to it. It’s not always easy to take that first steps, but once you do, your anxieties will start to lessen and things will get better for you.
Trying new things also helps you to ding out a bit more about who you are, what you like and dislike, and what you’re truly capable of. Whether you buy a used car from Edmunds and learn to drive for the first time, do a charity skydive, or volunteer for an animal charity, one way or another, you will learn something about yourself and the kind of person you want to be and this will help you live a happier life with better mental health overall, and really what do you have to lose?
Many of us have big dreams of how we would like our lives to be, but most of us are too afraid to follow them whether because we think they are unrealistic or because we think we don’t have the time/skills/whatever. Sure, we may not all realize our dreams, but you know what? We’ll probably have more fulfilling lives trying to do so, and at the end of the day, that’s what really matters, isn’t it?
When you try something new, you have to process different ideas, learn new skills and expose yourself to things you have not seen or done before. All of these things will boost your creativity because the more novelty your brain experiences the better it will work in this context.
Constant boredom can lead to depression and apathy so it is a state that you will want to avoid as much as possible. If you are constantly trying new things, no matter what they may be, you will rarely have time to get bored, and who knows, you may find your passion – the one thing that will never make you bored – while you do.
What will you try today?
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 7.7 million adults suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Along with a surge of awareness regarding PTSD, there are also many misconceptions. For example, some believe it is only associated with war veterans, events such as 9/11, or natural disasters.
Although this diagnosis has historically been associated with military veterans who undergo multiple deployments, there are many other events that can trigger symptoms of PTSD. For example, prolonged exposure to emotional and psychological abuse (e.g., verbally abusive relationships, alcoholism, or stressful childhoods) are risk factors for developing symptoms. Some of these lingering misconceptions may be due to the fact that development and recognition of the disorder is relatively recent and has really only blossomed in the last three decades.
In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) formally recognized PTSD as an actual mental health diagnosis. Historically, it had been formally recognized as “shell shock” and was thought only to occur in military war veterans. Further, PTSD had historically been thought of as something that someone “gets over” over time. This may be true for some, but it isn’t for others.
Researchers continue to discover risk factors that can cause PTSD symptoms. This includes emerging research on the study of what happens in childhood and how it affects adults in their lifetime (van Der Kolk, 2014). For example, some of my clients may have grown up with “tough love” and were disciplined with physical violence by a family member or a teacher. As adults, they may suffer from trauma-related symptoms but not realize the origin of their suffering.
Many who suffer from PTSD symptoms may have behavioral consequences such as binge eating, or they may self-medicate with alcohol, drugs, gambling, or other compulsive behaviors. Equally as important as identifying PTSD symptoms is understanding that they are a natural response to overwhelming events.
PTSD symptoms are an injury. Source: Pexels
Researchers argue that it is important to view PTSD symptoms as a mental injury, versus a mental illness or something pathological (Zimbardo et al., 2012). This is because PTSD symptoms are a natural reaction to a distressing event where one may have felt overwhelmed, afraid, or helpless. Historically, mental illness is pathologized as something that is “wrong” with the person, versus simply a manifestation of how most people would respond.
For example. if a person falls and cuts their leg, that would be an injury. Bleeding could occur, which would be a symptom of the injury; the amount of bleeding would be based on the severity of the wound, previous injuries, etc. Similarly, PTSD symptoms may manifest into problems with concentration, angry outbursts, sleep disturbance, sadness, anxiety, and even nightmares. These are natural responses to overwhelming circumstances, whether they are obviously traumatic to most (war, natural disasters) or less obvious to most people.
Researchers state that forms of trauma can be categorized into obvious and less obvious trauma. Obvious traumas include war, childhood abuse and neglect, sexual assault, rape, and natural disasters such as hurricanes. However, there are also less obvious forms of trauma that include:
A mental health professional can formally diagnose and treat PTSD. However, some people have symptoms but do not meet the full criteria.
It may be irrelevant whether a person meets the full criteria—what matters is if symptoms are causing problems in their life. Symptoms include feelings of irritability, angry outbursts, issues with concentration and sleep, feelings of detachment from others, and nightmares of the event.
A mental health professional can formally diagnose and treat PTSD. However, some people have symptoms but do not meet the full criteria.
It may be irrelevant whether a person meets the full criteria—what matters is if symptoms are causing problems in their life. Symptoms include feelings of irritability, angry outbursts, issues with concentration and sleep, feelings of detachment from others, and nightmares of the event.
‘There is an increasing number of books on evolutionary psychology that are available on the market focused on outcomes rather than ticking off boxes. When it comes to PTSD there is no doubt that while all survivors don’t fit into the same boxes, what really matters is that they can be helped back to a place of health from where they can move forward.’
There are several treatment recommendations for PTSD, including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). This is a highly effective treatment used by the U.S. Department of Defense to help veterans with PTSD.
Originally published on www.drtracyhutchinson.com
So glad you’re here, you make me smile and feel good inside. Keep the comments coming.
El Capitan ( Spanish: El Capitán; The Captain or The Chief ), also known as El Cap, is a vertical rock formation in Yosemite National Park, located on the north side of Yosemite Valley, near its western end. The granite monolith is about 3,000 feet (914 m) from base to summit along its tallest face, and is a popular objective for rock climbers .Elevation: 7,573 ft (2,308 m) NAVD 88Location: Mariposa County, California, U.S.Parent range: Sierra NevadaTopo map: USGS El Capitan
Which is the most beautiful rock formation in Yosemite? While El Capitan is better known, Cathedral Rocks and Spires is considered by many to be the most beautiful rock formations in Yosemite National Park. Their unusually symmetrical balance—appearing to be a massive, triple-rock formation—is a testament to nature’s power. Towering 2,000 feet skyward, it’s a view not to be missed.
Rock Formations & Cliffs | Yosemite National Park CA ..
Melinda
It doesn’t matter if you are employed or self-employed, working can be stressful. However, there are ways that you can make your workday a lot easier, it just depends on the job that you have. Here are some ideas that you can use no matter what your job is.
You might find yourself trying to plan things out as much as possible only for them to not turn out as you have planned. Sometimes even the best-laid plans can go haywire. If things don’t work out, make adjustments and plan things again. It might be worth your while using tools such as a Multi Stop Route Planner or a reminder app to keep you on track during the day. Whatever your preferred method of planning is, stick with and refine it as you go along so that you have a system that works to your advantage.
One of the most stressful things that we can encounter is our own mistakes and admit to them. If we constantly mess up, we will have to think about whether this job is the right fit for us. If we decide to own our mistakes and accept that they are showing us that this is not the job for us, we can move on with a clear mind. Let’s face it, the best way to have a stress-free day at work is to do something that you love and are good at. However, taking responsibility does not mean taking the blame for other people’s mistakes and you should stand up and take responsibility for your own reputation if people are trying to blame you.
The stress in our jobs and the mistakes that we make might not have anything to do with on-the-job stress. It could be an overflow from our personal lives due to a lack of self-care. Making sure we eat the right food, getting enough sleep, and drinking enough water are great places to start on your self-care journey. If we start doing these things and our stress levels go down in the workplace, then we need to make time for self-care at home. If it doesn’t help, we will need to look at other sources.
Although we mentioned not being good at a job as a reason for stress, this is not the same as having a stressful job. Many jobs are stressful such as working in the police or as a nurse. These jobs require dealing with life and death situations at any point. Some people thrive on this type of energy and will enjoy the thrill. However, this constant thrill can leave you feeling burnt out and stressed. If you know that your job is tough, there are a number of things that you can do. Take extra training to help you deal with different situations. Take time off if it feels like it is too much. And know when to take a step back.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
For Suicide Prevention Month I wanted to talk about my own suicide plan. I think it’s important that we talk openly if possible about our thoughts and plans. Here’s my plan.
Many of you know I have early onset Dementia and it’s progressive. When I contracted Lyme Disease the virus went to my brain and continues to do damage. It’s like a machine gun went off in my memories. It’s very difficult when my husband brings up important events in our marriage and I can’t remember them. It doesn’t discriminate, it’s short and long-term memories.
I take two Alzheimers drugs to help slow the progression, and this year has been pretty good.
Dying from Dementia is a painful death and it takes a horrendous toll on the caregiver. My Granny had Dementia from a Stroke and it broke my heart to watch her slowly die. She starved to death because the brain forgets how to swallow. I was there at her bedside almost every day until her last breath.
When diagnosed with Dementia I knew I would not die that way, I would commit suicide. So I have a plan, several actually. My husband knows and is understanding. I asked him what he felt about it and he said that I was trying to spare him pain. He’s right. Pain, gut-wrenching heartache, and everyday back-breaking work. Of course, he would rather I not but he tries to understand. He saw my granny die too.
My Psychiatrist and Therapist also know and understand. They don’t try to talk me out of my plan nor do they ask for details. I wouldn’t share anyway. It’s always possible my suicide could look like an accident.
I know to many this may sound overly dramatic, you haven’t been at the bedside of my Granny.
If someone you know is ill and commits suicide, be understanding as possible. I know there’s the reaction of “how can they leave us behind” or “how could they do that” but you don’t know what’s going on in their mind or body.
Melinda
lookingforthelight.blog 