Being stuck at home is new to many people. But I started sheltering in place in 2013 when I was diagnosed with Lyme disease. I spent three years on IV therapy, seven days a week, and walked only to the bathroom and back. The years after IV therapy was just as rough.

I required assistance with everything. The pain was unbearable–going to the bathroom, taking a shower, walking down the stairs were so difficult. Mentally I struggled, too, trying to remember to make appointments and phone calls I needed to. I couldn’t even handle putting my medicine in the case each week without mistakes. I felt so much guilt.  I thought my husband would leave me as soon as he could, or maybe he would have an affair. Why couldn’t I keep up with showering and fixing my hair? When was the last time I wore makeup? 

But I have learned to overcome my guilt by dealing with facts, not fears, and knowing I can handle whatever reality throws my way.

In addition to Lyme disease, I’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, cognitive dysfunction (which includes lack of balance), and dementia. Dementia is the real kicker. There are a host of other ailments I suffer from, and I’m sure I will have more as the years pass. I was told early on that Lyme would cause problems that seem unrelated for years to come because there is no cure and my immune system remains compromised. This past month I found that to be true again when.

I was diagnosed with a new immune disorder, hypogammaglobulinemia. Hypogammaglobulinemia is a problem with the immune system that prevents it from making enough antibodies called immunoglobulins. Antibodies are proteins that help your body recognize and fight off foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Without enough antibodies, you’re more likely to get infections. People with hypogammaglobulinemia can more easily catch pneumonia, meningitis, and other infections than a healthy immune system.

This makes the COVID-19 pandemic especially scary for me. I get stressed out when I watch more than an hour of news a day, or see people not wearing masks.

In general, though, I’m very used to having to stay at home. I quit driving years ago and have only driven a handful of times in recent years. It’s not that I couldn’t drive, but my husband came along to take notes at appointments since my memory is not what it used to be. Don’t get me wrong. I miss the independence of driving without my husband having to take off work. I also miss being able to see my hairstylist, getting a manicure, and finding great spots for taking photos.

I have to get out of the house for my mental health, at least a little bit, regardless of my immune deficiencies. We still go for a Starbucks run as often as possible. We have a whole sanitation process down, including wiping down his mask, credit card, steering wheel, and both of the top of our cup to the bottom. We take all precautions when he brings groceries in and packages, we wash our hands immediately and wash again after putting everything away. He doesn’t want me to get sick, and I know he does everything possible every time he leaves the house.

I’m ready for this to pass and it will pass, but for now, I’m staying calm and entertained indoors as best as I can. I hope you can do the same.

Melinda

Whether you are a business owner or not, you need to do all that you can to stay safe on social media. Social media is a wonderful addition to our current daily lives, but that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to take measures to stay safe. Everything that you put out there is saved – even if you delete it from your profile, someone will always have a copy of it. We use social media as readily as we do our toothbrushes, so it makes sense that we would want to keep our information safe. 

Online safety should be a part of mainstream education these days. Identity theft is a huge problem, and our information isn’t as safe as we thought. Plenty of business owners have been caught out by posts that they made before they were relevant and it’s these posts that can drive people away. You can learn how to create a second Instagram account to remain private just for your friends and family, but your information is still out there for all to see. Everything you post can be used against you and while that’s a sad state of affairs, it’s vital to be aware of how your information is used. There is a big tradeoff between the convenience of social media and the privacy you want to achieve and that means that you need to be aware of your own personal safety online. So, with this in mind, here are some of the best ways that you can stay safe on social media.

Image source: Pexels

Always keep your antivirus software up to date. You need to block potential threats to your information, and the best way to go about this is to make sure that your computer is covered in the first place. 

Avoid using any public WIFI connections if you can. Coffee shops and public arenas with a WIFI login are not safe and they’re not encrypted. So, if you log in with your banking details, someone somewhere is going to know about it and can pull that information from you.

Always type an address into the search bar rather than click links – unless they’re trusted, of course. You need to avoid phishing attacks and these often come in the form of links in your email.

Don’t share your passwords with anyone, even people you trust. Log in for them if you must, but never share passwords. It’s a bad idea to share anything that you don’t want being interrupted. 

Don’t use any social media at work. You need to keep your social media life separate from your working life. You can have a working account for Instagram, but anything personal needs to be just yours and a second account is a good way to remain safe.

Check your settings online and make sure that your posts are encrypted. You should ensure that you are protected as much as possible. Encrypting your posts is a tool that a lot of social media sites use for protection.

Watch your mouth – or fingers? Either way, whatever you say on social media can and will come back to bite you and we cannot stress this enough. It’s marketing 101 – even if it’s personal marketing. If you want to make sure that you are seen as a good person online, make sure that you’re not putting anything out there that you cannot take back.

Make up a master list of passwords and don’t ever use the same password twice. If you do, you are weakening the strength of your passwords in general. Keep this list somewhere safe that others cannot access.

Never accept friend requests from people that you don’t know. While it’s nice to make new friends, it’s never nice to accept a request from a stranger who then uses your information in a negative way.

It’s important to check out what’s posted about you online, so every now and then it’s a good idea to Google yourself. Every now and then, check out what’s found on search engines about you so that you can make the best possible decisions about your posting going forward.

Where possible, go Incognito. Users are tracked with every website they use even when they leave social media. Going incognito prevents you from being tracked. The more we search online, the more the cookies find us!

Social media is great, but it has the potential to go very wrong very quickly. Take the time to protect yourself and don’t be blind to the dangers. 

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Go to bed at 9:00 p.m.

Wake up 12:30 a.m.

Have two cups of coffee

Check WordPress

Buy new reading glasses at Amazon

Drink a glass of water

Eat a carrot to help me go back to sleep

Go back to bed 2:00 a.m.

Take two Tylenol

Lay awake waiting for sleep

Get out of bed at 2:30 a.m.

Write this post

Wonder when sleep will come

Melinda

It’s an unfortunate fact that many people are not able to get the mental health support they need. Unfortunately, this can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness, making physical and mental health worse. But you don’t have to let this happen. There are four easy ways that anyone can create a haven for themselves inside their home, no matter how big or small it may be. You’ll feel better after reading this article on how to do it.

Let In the Natural Light

The natural light of the sun can have a significant impact on your mood. Unfortunately, you may spend so much time looking at screens that it’s essential to find ways to let in as much nature and sunlight as possible. 

Consider renovating your house with the help of home builders to accommodate natural light through large windows, skylights, and other features.

Open up curtains during daylight hours, keep windows open when you’re home, or try using an app like flux to reduce the effects of electronics on your sleep cycle.

Do you use artificial light after dark? Consider using a small candle or lamp instead, and opt for warmer lighting like candles. Lighting that is too bright can cause tension headaches.

Natural light is best for helping to balance out hormone levels during the winter months, which is a good time for restoring serotonin levels in your brain. Consequently, this helps you manage anxiety at home, stress, and other discomforts. 

No matter how you do it, make sure that you get some natural light! 

Make Your Bed a Sacred Place

Your bed is a sacred place, so why not make it as cozy and comfortable as possible? You can do this by stretching out your body to create an energy of openness. This will help you avoid feeling closed off or trapped at night when going to sleep. 

Claim a Personal Space

Claim a personal space and make it your own. Make this area the place where you recharge, whether that’s sitting in silence or by reading a book. This is also an excellent spot for therapy dogs to hang out when they’re visiting. 

If you have trouble getting started with decluttering, ask someone else for help setting up a donation box. By donating the things you no longer use, it feels like you’re shedding your old self and embracing your new one – just what mental health needs.

Make It Clean

If you live in a mess, your brain will never be at peace. Cleaning up is not just about the dirt and dust; it’s also about the mental clutter that affects your mood. The process of decluttering clears away space for mindful reflection and self-care.

It feels good to have a place where everything has a place. Therefore, living in a clean and organized area is good for your brain. 

Conclusion

There is no right or wrong answer to the question: “What does mental health look like?” It looks different for every person. For some people, it means going outside and exercising in nature. For others, it may mean spending time with a friend over coffee at their favorite cafe. So, do what makes sense for you and helps uplift your mental health.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

 

We all need to do our part when it comes to looking after the people in our family, and one of the important aspects of that is looking after the elderly in particular. The older people in your family will often, in many ways, need a lot more help and assistance than other people, and you need to make sure that you are always going to be offering that to them wherever possible, and in whatever way might be necessary. In this post, we’ll take a look at four of the important ways you can care for your elderly loved ones more effectively.

Image – CCO Licence

Make The Necessary Home Changes

There are often changes that need to be made in the home in order for your elderly loved ones to be happy and to be able to live the life they want, so this is something that you are going to want to think about in particular early on. You might need to help them by making a few important changes such as installing stairlifts, wheelchair access, and so on. By making these kinds of changes, you should be able to help them to live more easily, whether or not there is someone there to help them on a regular basis.

Look After Their Finances

If it is at a point where you think they might need help with their finances, then you should absolutely make sure to do whatever is necessary in order for them to have a much better financial life, which is, of course, a necessary part of one’s life in so many ways. If your elderly loved one is in a residential care home, be aware that elder financial abuse is unfortunately quite common, so you should do all you can to protect them from that. You might also want to help them with things like their monthly budgeting, as necessary.

Visit Often

The most important thing for most of us, at any stage in life, is to feel as though we have people around us who can help, and who care for us and love us. So, one of the very best things you can do is to visit your elderly relatives often and make a point of showing them just how much you really do care about them. This is going to lift their spirits enormously, and it will help them to feel so much better about life in so many ways. Visit often, and you’ll really make a difference.

Image – CCO Licence

Promote Independence

As far as possible, you should make sure that you are promoting their independence. This helps them to feel so much more useful and normal, and it means that they avoid being too stigmatized as well. This is a really important part of keeping them from lacking a sense of dignity, so make sure that you are thinking about this as best as you can. You might find that it is the most important thing you can do for them as they age.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

This is a helpful re-post that is very appropriate for today’s weather around the world. 

Melinda

 

This year, especially, creates new stressful events that affect all of us. Nobody can ignore how much the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge for our mental health. Yet, the pandemic fear isn’t the only thing that can lead to stress during the last quarter of the year. 

SAD symptoms get worse

You are probably familiar with Seasonal Affective Disorder, especially if you’ve been consciously self-isolated this year. SAD, for short, is a type of depressive disorder that is linked to seasonal light exposures. Typically, it occurs when days get shorter and nights longer, as you receive less direct sunlight. As the summer has come to an end, you may find your mood sinking again. SAD can develop into severe depression, so it’s not a disorder you should ignore. Thankfully, a lot of individuals with SAD can experience significant improvements with light therapy. Did you know that something as simple as buying a lamp for SAD may help to create the feel-good serotonin that affects your brain’s needs? 

Floodings everywhere 

After the sunny summer comes the autumn rain. Unfortunately, some areas are more likely to get flooded during the colder months because the soil can’t absorb the rainwater. Unfortunately, depending on where you live, seasonal floods may be a frequent occurrence. Even if your home is safe from significant damages, you could still get affected when you drive on the road. It’s not uncommon to come across deep puddles in winter that could damage your engines. Ideally, countryside dwellers need vehicles that can survive heavy floods, such as the reliable high-chassis Land Rover Discovery – You may want to head to your local Land Rover dealerships to find a vehicle that can drive through deep water. 

Only 2 months before Christmas

It is soon the season to be jolly! Except that Christmas can also drive your stress levels to the maximum. A lot of people are already experiencing pre-Christmas stress when they think of the cost of preparation, shopping for presents, and the pressure to deal with family expectations. With a little over 2 months to get ready, it’s likely that you may be feeling overwhelmed already. It’s been an odd sort of year, and time has seemed to fly away from us. 

The feeling that the year has gone by too quickly

How can it already be October? The last time you checked, it was March and the news of a pandemic was just hitting the media. What happened to 2020? While everyone has had to put their lives on hold for the past 6 months, it’s hard to get to grips with the reality of the situation. It feels like a wasted year where you haven’t been able to enjoy much of it. For the time being, we have to learn patience to stay safe. 

In conclusion, feeling stressed or depressed by the rainy season is the most natural thing in the world. Thankfully, there are more than one ways to handle the situation. Whether you need to consider light therapy or organize your Christmas events early, stress is a response to a problem. Yet, most problems can be solved once you’ve identified your triggers! 

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Spending time in the garden makes a massive difference in your overall wellbeing and longevity according to research by the Royal Horticultural Society – a UK-based based charity. Investigators studied more than 8,000 people between 2009 and 2016 following their daily gardening habits. They found that those who spent more time in the garden had better overall psychological and physical wellbeing. 

The findings were dramatic. The research indicates that the difference in health outcomes between the people who spent the most time in their gardens compared to the least was the same size as the difference of living in a wealthy area compared to a poor one. 

Pexels – CC0 License

The findings suggest, therefore, that we should all be looking for ways to open up our gardens and spend more time in them. We should view our outdoor spaces as both beautiful places to spend time and tools for improving our mental health. Like exercise, the areas around our homes are places that can potentially alter our neurochemistry and change the way that we feel. 

People With Access To Private Gardens More Likely To Report Psychological Wellbeing

The study also found that even people with access to private gardens were much more likely to be in good psychological health. Those who could have a yard or private space to themselves reported feeling much happier to the researchers. 

What’s more, the evidence suggests that merely having a garden is often sufficient to confer the benefits, not the process of gardening itself. Thus, people with an outdoor space beside their home were much more likely to experience the health and wellbeing benefits compared to those who didn’t. 

The lead researcher on the project suggested that the findings were indicative of the fact that people need to feel close to nature to have a sense of contentment. Gardens might have a crucial role to play in issues of public health she said. 

How To Spend More Time In The Garden

So, while this research is interesting, it doesn’t answer the practical question of how to spend more time in the garden. We’d all like to be outside as much as possible, but often, it’s not possible. So what can we do? 

Let’s take a look. 

Purchase A Laptop

If you can work from home, purchasing a laptop can be one of the best things you do to increase the amount of time that you spend in the garden. You can connect to the internet, take it out to the garden, and then spend all day among the flowers and the birds, weather permitting. 

Install Decking

Getting deck builders to install decking is another way to make your garden spaces more practical. Having somewhere off the grass to place garden furniture can encourage you to use your garden as an entertainment space. 

Build A Garden Room

A garden room is simply a room in your home that connects the garden to your indoor space, encouraging you to use both. 

Most modern garden rooms have sliding doors that act as a kind of interface between your indoor and outdoor spaces. But you can do it in other ways, such as bi-folding doors. 

Install A Summer House

In certain parts of the world, it’s not warm enough to spend time outdoors year-round. Spending time on your patio isn’t fun when it’s freezing cold. 

The obvious solution to this problem is a summer house – a strange name for something you’ll use in the colder months of the year. And because it provides shelter, you can place indoor furniture inside, making sitting in it more comfortable. 

Get A Vegetable Patch

Vegetable patches offer two advantages. First, they let you grow tasty organic food. And secondly, they force you to get out into the garden and take care of them. 

Your onions and leeks can become a real source of focus that takes your mind off other things. When you’re digging up soil and planting bulbs, you’re not thinking about all the things that affect your wellbeing. It’s a healthy physical activity that takes your mind off things and allows you to thrive. 

Subscribe To A Gardening Magazine

Pexels – CC0 License

Finally, subscribing to a gardening magazine is something that can inspire you to get out into the garden and create something beautiful. Editors introduce you to essential concepts, such as when you should plant bulbs and how you should arrange your beds. You’ll also learn practical things, such as how to weed and the tools you’ll need to keep your yard looking good all year long. 

This is a collaborative post.

In Health,

Melinda

IDEAS.TED.COM

Mar 14, 2019 / Marc Freedman

iStock

Imagine a place for the elderly that’s also filled with the sounds of kids playing. Marc Freedman goes to Singapore to investigate a new model for intergenerational living.

Sister Geraldine Tan, an energetic woman in her 60s, speaks rapidly and is given to sweeping gestures. She wears the flowing white robes of the Canossian Daughters of Charity, and they threaten to engulf her small frame. But Sister Geraldine — trained in the hospice movement in the UK and now the executive director of the St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged and Hospice in Singapore — is not easily overwhelmed.

St. Joseph’s is not your typical nursing home. It’s striking, with tropical flora, open pavilions and airy rooms, and large, accommodating some 400 older people. Natural light and trade winds flow through its floors.

But the people it serves aren’t all elderly. The facility includes a childcare center for about 50 children, ages two months to six years. At the center of St. Joseph’s courtyard is an intergenerational playground, home to spontaneous interactions between the older people at the nursing home and the little ones at the childcare center.

Singapore’s leaders see the generations growing apart. They’re eager to bring them back together, to find new ways to do old things.

The neighborhood isn’t typical, either. St. Joseph’s is in Jurong West, an industrial area gone high tech. Google Singapore is next door; on the other side is the Boys’ Home, which houses young people who have been in trouble with the authorities. Across the street is a primary school. The massive Supply Chain City building — a facility “that serves as Asia’s supply-chain nerve center” — is less than 100 yards away. St. Joseph’s sits in the middle, a bastion of humanity.

While many residents share a strong cultural respect for their elders, Singapore’s leaders see the generations growing apart. They’re eager to bring them back together, to find new ways to do old things. This fits Sister Geraldine’s vision. She is determined to create an environment that encompasses the full “circle of life,” as she puts it, with children at its center. “They remind us of the purpose of life and of the importance of play and simplicity,” she says.

“There is birth and there is death,” says Sister Geraldine. “At both ends, we all need someone to tend to us.”

Today, one in eight people in Singapore is aged 65 and older. By 2030, it will be one in four.

Just as the childcare center aims to foster bonds that benefit young and old, students at the primary school visit regularly, and some of them are being mentored by the seniors. Boys’ Home residents operate a coffee cart in the courtyard, delivering drinks to the older people at St. Joseph’s — another way Sister Geraldine is instigating meaningful, cross-generational relationships.

Sister Geraldine and St. Joseph’s are all part of Singapore’s scheme to deal with their aging population. The wealthy city-state has put forth a national plan to invest $3 billion Singapore ($2.1 billion in USD) and become the envy of other aging societies. It’s a staggering investment given Singapore’s population size: just under four million permanent residents, about the size of Chicago.

Like many countries in Asia and the rest of the world, Singapore is aging fast. In 1970, one in 31 Singaporeans was 65 or older; today, it’s one in eight. By 2030, it will be one in four, or from about 440,000 people over 65 to more than 900,000 by 2030. “Aging is really the single most important demographic shift that will affect the future of Singapore,” says Amy Khor, the government’s senior minister of state for health.

Singapore officials are promoting “3Gen flats” to help older people, younger people, and those in the middle live in close proximity.

As in much of the world, the change is caused by increasing longevity and decreasing birth rates. In February 2016, Khor announced the Action Plan for Successful Ageing, an ambitious collection of some 70 initiatives covering a wide array of issues, including health care, volunteerism, employment, housing, transportation and protection for vulnerable elders. A leitmotif is engaging older people to support the next generation behind them.

To bring the generations together, Singapore is launching programs to help older people retool for second acts, to recruit young people to teach technology and social media skills to older folks, and to help community organizations better use senior volunteers. Officials are promoting “3Gen flats” to help older people, younger people, and those in the middle live in close proximity. One of the Plan’s most striking features is the creation of a “Kampong for All Ages.” Kampong is the Malay word for village, and it envisions a future Singapore built around a cherished element of the past: the multigenerational village.

The Plan also funds a $200 million Singapore ($140 million in USD) National Innovation Challenge, toward research on promising models and incentives to encourage more ideas for a multigenerational society.

The idea is to use community design to re-create natural opportunities for cross-generational support — to move from program to proximity, from concept to reality.

I sat down with two young architects at the CDB, the ministry that oversees land use in Singapore, where space is at an absolute premium. They showed me plans for the Admiralty Kampong, a development created to encourage connection between the generations. It will contain a ground-floor plaza with a grocery store and eateries, a daycare center, assisted-living services, a day center for elders with more extensive needs, and lots of opportunities for socializing.

The idea is to use community design to re-create natural opportunities for cross-generational support — to move from program to proximity, from concept to reality. The conscious effort is all the more striking in an Asian society where interaction and care between young and old, especially in families, occurred naturally for much of its history. But in our fast-paced, highly mobile, globally-oriented 21st-century world, there’s a need to find new ways to cultivate these time-honored values.

I admit being taken with Singapore’s plan, but my burning question on arrival and throughout my visit was: Is it real or a mirage? Some experiences were underwhelming. At one point, I visited the nation’s oldest center that brings together children, adolescents and older adults. The program’s diversity was impressive, mixing many different ethnic backgrounds, as well as ages. Yet the contact between generations was mostly superficial — there was a patina of closeness without much in the way of genuine interaction.

Scarcity of space could have led to conflict; instead, it’s prompting creative thinking about how to wring the most social value from limited square footage.

Still, those experiences were the exception for me. In Singapore, for the most part, I witnessed a sense of common purpose among people to realize the plan’s goals, a shared vision that was more significant in some ways than the sums being spent (although I can’t get over my envy of the money).

Two lessons stood out for me from my trip. First, not having much land can be a powerful impetus for change. Scarcity of space could have led to conflict; instead, it’s prompting creative thinking about how to combine institutional purposes to wring the most social value from limited square footage. Second, I found the instinct to combine old and new — a new-way-to-do-old-things approach — everywhere.

On my final day, I visited a church initiative that was a faith-based bookend to the St. Joseph’s experience that started my trip. St. John’s–St. Margaret’s is a well-established Anglican congregation near the National University of Singapore. The church is in the midst of creating a large senior living facility and early childhood center, having broken ground on it in mid-2017.

When complete, the project may be even more impressive than St. Joseph’s. This redesign was prompted by the expiration of the church’s lease on government-owned land. In order to stay on its prized plot, St. John’s–St. Margaret’s was required to “intensify” its use of the land — to do more social good. The congregation decided not only to build a nursing home and senior programs but also to find ways to simultaneously support young children. I love the notion of intensifying the land; it’s another way of saying every dollar should be spent (at least) twice.

When complete, St. John’s-St. Margaret’s will contain a nursing home, a senior center, and an early childhood center. Its name? Project Spring-Winter.

For insights, the St. John’s–St. Margaret’s team headed to the US and visited facilities that bring the generations together for mutual benefit, including the Providence Mount St. Vincent Intergenerational Learning Center in Seattle (the subject of the 2017 documentary The Growing Season). Another source of inspiration was a passage from Zechariah 8:4–5 that describes the renewed city of Jerusalem as a cross-generational paradise: “Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of great age. And … the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”

When open in 2021, St. John’s–St. Margaret’s will consist of a 273-person nursing-home facility, a senior center for 100 older people, and an early childhood center for 200 children. The name for the initiative? Project Spring-Winter.

When I visited the congregation members leading this effort, they told me of an unanticipated side benefit. While working on the plans, they realized the church itself had become age-segregated — for example, there were children’s services and adult services, often held at the same time in separate rooms. Prompted by the research that’s gone into Project Spring-Winter, they’re thinking how best to age-integrate the congregation.

Congregant Sherlyn Lee, one of the Project Spring-Winter leaders, told me that she hopes this new effort will restore a sense of the “circle of life” — both at the church and in Singapore. I was struck by the symmetry: Sister Geraldine and Sherlyn opened and closed my trip with the same beautiful phrase.

Excerpted from the new book How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations by Marc Freedman. Published by PublicAffairs, an imprint of Hachette Book Group. Copyright © 2018 Marc Freedman.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marc Freedman is CEO and president of Encore.org, a nonprofit that aims to harness the abilities and experiences of people aged 50 and over. Originator of the encore career idea linking second acts to the greater good, Freedman cofounded Experience Corps to mobilize people over fifty to improve the school performance and prospects of low-income elementary school students in more than 20 US cities. He also spearheaded the creation of the Encore Fellowships program, which helps individuals translate their midlife skills into second acts focused on social impact, and the Purpose Prize, an annual prize for social entrepreneurs in the second half of life. (AARP now runs Experience Corps and the Purpose Prize.)

In life, we have lots thrown at us. Some of it can be handled, and some of it can take a real toll on us. When things get us down, it can be difficult to pick ourselves up again. Sure, if we have the motivation of looking after a healthy family, then getting out of bed in the morning can come quite naturally. When we lack motivation and willpower, life can really stop us from being productive and positive. 

Fortunately enough, there are plenty of things we can all do in order to put ourselves in a more positive and productive headspace. There is an endless list of tasks that can get us out of a funk and put us on the road to recovery. It may take a little while, but consistency will ensure that things get better over time. Here are a few ideas: 

Write Down Your Goals In Life

When we have goals in life, we become more proactive. When we have a reason to get up in the morning, we suddenly find the energy. If you feel as though you have literally no light at the end of your tunnel, then you’re going to struggle to find the purpose in your life. If you create goals and write them down, you bring them to reality – they’re no longer ideas in your head. 

Make It Your Mission To Always Improve Your Life

This is easy to talk about and difficult to actually pull off without the right attitude. Your life should be a continuing journey of moving up ladders. Try to be a better human being and a more accomplished person than you were the year before. Look at quick move-in homes, find jobs that make you happy, look to bring in more money than you did the year before – all of these are great examples of moving up in the world. Just give it a go and you’ll naturally be happier as you’ll subconsciously become more advanced. 

Talk To Someone About Your Next Moves

Staying silent and keeping things bottled up never helps. If you let someone know about your problems, the chances are that they’ll be able to help. If they can’t, then the practice of opening up will, at least, make you feel better. Talking about your next moves in life will also be a good step and you can learn something new and find out about the kinds of opportunities available. 

Don’t Sit Around For Too Long

When you sit around for too long, your brain can begin to play tricks on you. While the brain is amazing and creative, it can be counterproductive as you can begin to think about pretty negative instances. The best thing to do in life is to keep productive whenever you can. When you need to rest, do it. When you have things to do, get up and do them. 

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

As a parent, there will be very little in life that is more important to you than your family. And because of this, you will want to be sure that they are happy and live good lives. However, that can sometimes be hard to work out. Maybe you’re not sure what you need to do to make that happen? It can seem more complex than it needs to be. Because one sure-fire way to make sure that they live a good life is to keep them healthy. Let’s take a look at ten different ways that you can make sure that your whole family stays as healthy as possible.

Make It A Priority

For starters, you will want to make sure that this is a priority for you. It’s easy to just let things slip by the wayside or for you to think that this is going to need way more time and attention than it does. In fact, being healthy can just become a natural part of your lifestyle and routine. But for that to happen, you have to proactively make it a conscious priority.

Educate Yourself

It’s also a great idea to make sure that you’re educated on health issues. There will always be concerns that you might want to be aware of. Sometimes, you won’t always know when something is wrong and being aware of what could be is a great idea. You might not recognize adult cradle cap or food allergies, but if you’re staying in the loop you’ll know more and what to look out for. Even just reading up on nutrition and health, in general, can put you in a great position.

Get Regular Check-Ups

Then, you might want to be sure that you’re seeing your doctor and dentist as much as possible. Staying on top of your visits is just a quick and simple way to make sure that you’re all healthy. It’s a great way to avoid any issues and catch anything before it’s bad too.

Focus On Nutrition

One of the greatest ways to stay healthy is to make sure that you’re all ticking off the proper nutrition that you all need. This doesn’t mean you have to eat super crazy healthily, but looking to get as much fruit and vegetables into your diets as much as possible can make such a difference to your health.

Limit Toxins

Whether you know it or not, there are so many toxins in life that we can all be exposed to on a regular basis. And so, it’s important for us to make sure that we’re doing what we can to limit that. Minimizing toxins can be such a small way to make sure that you have a huge impact on your family’s health for years to come.

Find A Balance

It’s never too good of an idea to live a life of extremes. Of course, you don’t want your children to be unhealthy. But at the same time, you’re definitely not going to want them to go to extremes and be on the other end of the scale. Because being uber strict with healthy eating can also lead to issues. So, as with anything, you will want to find a good balance. Do this with food, exercise, and your attitude to health and life in general.

Make Exercise Fun

Then, when it comes to the exercise you want your family to do, it’s a great idea to try and make it fun. If you’re a drill sergeant with workouts, it can be quite tough. So try to mix things up and have fun with it. Think about different sports you can try out or games you can play. Even rollerblading or hiking or different things out in the wild can be a great way to work out and stay fit as a family.

Create A Relaxed Environment

If your home is a stressful place to be, it’s going to make your family feel stressed out. That’s never going to be an ideal situation for anyone. So, instead, it’s a good idea to make sure that you’re creating a relaxing space instead. You can manipulate the environment in so many ways and it can be a great idea for you to allow everyone to feel relaxed and able to rest in your family home.

Make Communication Important

It’s also a great idea to make sure that you can all communicate well as a family. This isn’t something that all families make a priority, but it definitely should be. If you can have better communication as a family, it can bring you closer together. It can also mean that you feel happier together and that you’re able to talk and air issues – whether with each other or in general. A close happy family can be so much healthier. It can make a much bigger impact than you’d think.

Care About Health Holistically

Finally, you should make sure that you’re looking at health holistically and not just on the surface. Sure, seeing your doctor is important – and so is what you eat and how much you move. But the mind is also vital too. Mental health should be made a priority. Making sure that you’re all happy and looking after your minds is key. Encourage rest and self-care. Make sure everyone knows it’s okay not to be okay. Because you can make life great together and get through it all together.

It’s always going to be important for you to make sure that your family is happy and healthy. But approaching that may not look the way that you think it should. Instead, you can approach this in so many different ways that can go on and make such a huge collective difference. So take action today, enjoy the process, and know that you’re doing your best to keep your entire family happy and healthy.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Have you ever noticed that some of the happiest people you know are massively into gardening? The reasons for this are simple: gardening is one of the best things you can do to boost your mental health. 

But why is this? Why do people who spend time in their gardens seem to have healthier inner lives than everyone else? It is a little mysterious. 

The reason, it seems, comes down to the ways that our bodies react when we’re working outdoors. Naturally, we’re inclined to spend time in the sunlight, observing the world around us, and trying to get to grips with it. It’s not just about the physical activity of gardening and so-called feel-good hormones. There’s also a sense that you’re really profoundly connecting with nature. It feels very different from spending an evening in front of Netflix. 

So what benefits do people who garden regularly report? Check them out below. 

A Sense Of Accomplishment

Having a sense of accomplishment and control over your environment is an addictive feeling. The more you experience it, the more you want it.

Gardens are chaotic systems. Over time, they devolve into an all-against-all survival of the fittest. And it can be a challenge to bring them under control. That, however, is part of the joy of the process. It’s nice to feel like you can tame nature – at least on a small patch of land – and get some genuine satisfaction from the process. 

An Increase In Creativity

Pexels – CC0 License

We don’t tend to think of being creative as a health benefit, but it is a vital sign that we are in a good place. Creativity is a mental state that recruits practically every area of the brain. But it can only happen if we are in a positive frame of mind. If you’re using mental resources worrying about something, it’s hard to develop new ideas. Gardening helps to direct your focus on the outside world instead of your internal thoughts, allowing you room for creativity where you would have struggled before. 

Improved Mood

Would you like to improve your mood? Well, according to data collected by Plant Life Balance, gardening can help. According to their research, around 58 percent of people experience improvements in how they feel when they spend time in the garden. 

Feeling More Connected To Others

We typically see gardening as an individual pursuit. Interestingly, a large segment of people who do it feels more connected to the broader community. Part of this has to do with the fact that some gardening tasks are communal. For example, Lineage Tree Care points out that gardening involves tree trimming and storm clean-up that affect the whole community. If you visit their website, you can see examples of what they mean. Things like overhanging trees can affect both the property owner and their neighbors. 

Feeling More Connected To Nature

Finally, a large number of people say that gardening makes them feel more connected to nature – something that tends to enhance overall well-being considerably.

This is a collaborative post

Melinda

This was one of the most popular posts last year and now is a good time to update, almost eight months into the year and some of my routines have changed, yours probably have too. New Year’s Resolutions or goals as I call them, can start to lose their luster and get thrown out the window by summer so now is a good time to examine where you are.

The key to lack of motivation is understanding what’s missing, what is the root cause of the lack of interest in pushing forward with your goal. We have to constantly reassess as life and our health change, as life, and health changes so do our goals. Maybe your goals are outdated and no longer fit where you are today.

I have Chronic Lyme Disease, Fibromyalgia, and Hypogammaglobulinemia., which is an Immune Deficiency Disorder however, I’ve been fairly healthy. Insurance has rejected my claim for Plasma Infusion Treatments so I haven’t been able to start treatment. As I mentioned before, my immune disorder means my body doesn’t make enough antibodies. It’s like needing 23 players on the field and I only have 11. It’s a losing game but I’m not sick enough for insurance. The same ole, wait till it cost three times as much to take care of you. 

 I do chalk my good health to some lifestyle changes including learning to forgive and giving myself some grace. If I get off track, I can’t beat myself up or feel quilt. I don’t own an alarm clock and have not found a need for one. I’m fortunate to not work or I would be in big trouble. 

For me, self-care is the things we do every day to stay healthy, not just the special treatments we spend taking care of ourselves. I’m learning more about the importance of how my mental health plays an important role in my physical health, they are very intertwined. 

Here are some simple but steps I work hard to accomplish every day, there are days when I don’t get outside or go to Starbucks but as a general rule this is my daily schedule.

Daily

One big change you will notice if you read my original post is I’m taking far fewer supplements. I go thru phases and now I don’t want to take that many pills. 

Taking all of my medications is critical to my physical and mental health. Just one day of skipped medication can throw off my system and wreck havoc on my Bipolar Disorder. 

Women’s over 50 Multi-Vitamin with Calcium.

Mixinolin 2%, for Hair Loss, twice a day. (It works)

Biotin for healthy hair which also boosts my self-image.

Manuka Honey, Certified UMF 20+ (MGO 850+)  One tablespoon per day.

Use Vegan CBD products.

Eat fresh fruit, most weeks four pounds of fruit, strawberries, blueberries, and sometimes mangos and yogurt for lunch and/or dinner every week. 

We have meal kits, Home Chef, delivered three days a week. I pick the healthiest options with a medium level of preparation. That way dinner prep is easy and not stressful. We cook together which takes the load off of me. 

Eat dinner by 6:00 PM every night. 

We go to the Starbucks drive-thru for a coffee. We take the dogs with us and it’s like a family outing. When time allows we take them for a short walk at the park. This is where I get my exercise each day, or however many days I can. Now that it’s triple digits in Texas we are not walking in the afternoon. Most days it’s walking the stairs for exercise and for recovery after my knee replacement surgery. Now that it’s triple digits in Texas we are not walking in the afternoon. 

I reduce stress by meditating several times a day for at least 5 minutes. Nothing fancy, no special location in the house, just in my chair or wherever I am. I don’t know a particular method, I just work to clear my mind and let everything go. 

Only watch one hour of news, 30 minutes local, and 30 minutes national per day! Any more than an hour is regurgitated and adds to the stress level. 

Limit my Social Media time and involvement. You won’t find me chatting with people all hours of the day and most days not chatting at all. Just posting and helping others by retweeted. 

During the day I light an aromatherapy candle, placed somewhere I won’t forget it’s burning.

In spite of COVID, I still schedule critical doctor’s appointments and lab work.

Getting outside for fresh air even for 10 minutes. Just hearing a bird call can change the outlook on my day.

Nature! There are several bird feeders and a birdbath at the kitchen window. I get to see the birds, woodpeckers, and squirrels, it’s great entertainment. 

 

Bedtime Routine:

Go to bed 1to 1.5 hours before my husband. During that time, there is no sound, no computer, no phone, nothing! I lather up with my CBD and hand creams. I bought a new UltraSonic Aroroma diffuser, what a difference it makes! It’s not noisy like my old one. It has three timers settings and an auto shut-off if the water runs out. I found a great Essential Oil mix called Dream and I let it run for an hour, it’s so relaxing. I’m usually nodding off by the time my husband comes to bed. 

That extra time gives my mind a chance to wind down, get all the ramblings out, and let my mind completely calm down. At bedtime, I take my sleeping meds and another round of CBD cream. I’m now ready. Rarely do I have trouble going to sleep. 

I don’t accomplish these every day, it’s impossible to always have the motivation to do what’s best for our health. Looking at the big picture each week I can see if I’m focused on the right things, if not I have to ask why. Sometimes it’s just that life gets in the way. 

There’s no one size fits all to have the best healthy life but we all can take steps every day to push ourselves forward.

Melinda

Clear A Space

The first part of this journey is going to involve clearing a space for your pilates area. You won’t need too much room for this, with just enough space for you and your friends to do your exercises while maintaining proper social distance. The more people you have, the more space you will need, and this can often mean having to break into parts of the garden that can long be taken over by nature. Tree removal, weed services, and even landscaping companies can help you with this process, making it possible to make a good start on this side of your garden.

Add Some Ambience

Once you’ve made space, it will be time to start making your garden feel extra relaxing. There are loads of ways to do this, but you want to make sure that your changes are ambient, rather than sticking out and demanding attention. Water fountains, wind chimes, and speakers can be used to generate sound that will make your garden feel natural and open, while different materials can be used to highlight different aspects of your garden. Many people go over the top when they are doing this, but it is worth keeping in mind that you’re trying to capture nature, rather than making your space feel like a disco.

Start Planning

Planning your pilates area will always be a good idea as you go through this process. You need to think about when you’re going to use it, building a routine that will make it easier to keep up with your exercise. Alongside this, though, it can also be good to think about who will be joining you for each workout. Having friends to enjoy a space like this with you will always improve the way that it feels and the use you’re able to get out of it. Of course, though, you will need to take the first step and invite people if you’re going to find success.

With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to get started on making your garden perfect for pilates. Having a space for activities like this can make it much easier to keep on top of them and continue your good work. Of course, though, at the same time, and a lot of people find themselves struggling when they get to points like this, and you may need some help from friends along the way.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Getting into a fitness routine, pushing yourself, and reaching your goals takes a lot of time and energy, as well as a big commitment to yourself and your health. So when your health suffers, either through an injury or an illness, it can really set you back and put you right back at square one.

Feeling like you’ve got to start over with your fitness is a common feeling, and it can really affect your confidence. Whether you feel like you can’t do it or that things are harder than they used to be, it’s important to get back on that horse. Exercise will help improve your physical health and boost your mental health, and it can be a welcome part of your routine once you’ve found your feet again.

Here is some advice to help you regain the confidence to work out when you’ve suffered a setback.

While it’s understandable that you’ll want to be back where your fitness used to be, it isn’t going to happen overnight. If you try to move too quickly, you could end up injured or losing further confidence from not getting the same results as you once did.

Set yourself some manageable goals

Start by setting yourself some manageable fitness goals, aims you can work towards slowly, helping you to regain technique and basic fitness first. From increasing the times of your workouts to making it to the gym a certain number of times a week, start with goals that are realistic before building up to bigger ones.

Choose workout clothes that help your performance 

The workout clothes you wear can help you feel more confident about working out. You should choose items that are comfortable, supportive, and can help keep you cool too. Treating yourself to some new outfits will help you feel in a better mindset for working out. Brands are more attune to the different needs of people now, so you can find great selections for curvier shapes, as well as amputee leggings and other items that can help give you a boost. Always make sure you have the right type of shoes for your workout to make sure you’re better protected against injury.

Ease yourself in, and consider working with someone else

Fitness is something that needs to be built up over time. So if you’re getting back into things after a long period away, ease yourself in gently. Walking and swimming can be gentle, effective exercises to start until you’re feeling fitter and stronger. Take a look at fitness plans from others in your position to see how they’ve eased themselves back into exercise.

It can also help if you work out with someone else, such as a friend or personal trainer who can help make sure you’ve got the right form to prevent injury, as well as help you train as needed. 

If, for any reason, you feel pain – stop! Consult your doctor or take a rest to stop yourself from overdoing things.

Exercise is something that can help you begin to feel a semblance of normality, helping you form a routine and get back into activities that you once enjoyed. Take it slow, put your health first, and soon you’ll see your confidence creeping back up as you start to reach your goals once more.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Are you currently feeling lost, not knowing what to do or where to go? While you may be confused and unsure of yourself in certain moments, you have much more clarity than you may be willing to admit. The feeling of confusion arises when you have too many conflicting thoughts running through your mind, and you do not have a way to hold them back and keep them at bay.

But life is full of ups and downs. So, it is not a surprise that anyone can fall victim to confusion. Even though you may feel all alone, you are not. Try focusing on persevering and getting through the problem.

But how do you go about it? What should you do when you are feeling lost and confused with life?

Be Honest with Yourself and Accept the Situation

Running from problems never solves anything. Rather than pretending that everything is okay, admit that you have a problem and take responsibility for it. You will only make the situation worse by ignoring it. The first step towards solving any confusing situation is by admitting that you have a problem. Only then can you get clarity of the confusing situation that you are facing and find a solution.

Relax and Avoid Panicking

Every time you run from a problem, there is a high probability of panicking and developing anxiety—panic and fear sets in when you start becoming afraid. If you allow it to drive you, you may create negative thoughts that may lead you to make the wrong decisions.

Instead, it would help if you strengthened yourself to face the problem through relaxation. Relaxing helps to quiet your mind making you feel calm and peaceful. Relaxation is not only good for overcoming confusion but also for stress relief. Some relaxing methods you can use include practicing mindful meditation, listening to soothing music, soaking in a warm bath, and breathing exercises.

Focus on What you Know

When confusion sets in, your mind may be thrown through a web of repetitive and consistent thoughts without a beginning or end. To get yourself out of such a situation, you should focus more on first solving what you can understand. Only then can you slowly lift off the cloud of confusion that hovers over your life.

Be Patient

Confusion is a sign that you need to take some more time before making a decision. You should accept and be at peace with the fact that you may not have all the answers. Instead of rushing to make a decision when your mind is clouded with confusion, you should take a step back and consider listening to your gut feeling.

You do not have to make your decision quickly. Take your time until you are comfortable and confident enough to trust your gut.

Take Away

Apart from stress, panic disorder, and anxiety, several other reasons may lead to confusion. For this reason, you should seek medical attention if you or anyone you know shows signs of confusion and anxiety. It may not be very comforting at first, but you can quickly deal with it by taking immediate action to boost your mental health. 

Being stuck in confusion is not necessarily bad. It highlights that no matter the path you decide to take, you will overcome the feeling of being lost.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda