Tag: Healthy Life

Everything You Want to Know About Meditation

Meditation has different meaning for different people. For me, its a soothing effect on my mind, body and soul. I don’t practice it regularly but whenever I do, it surely helps me declutter. I will admit that it takes a lot to meditate. It doesn’t come easy and even now I am not a pro. It really takes months and years of practice, because merely closing your eyes and deep breathing is not meditation. Meditation is like a connect with your own soul, to hear your innermost voice and to feel each and every breath that you take. Its difficult, but once you are able to do so, the peace is unmatchable.

Here is everything you wanna know about Meditation

Do You Know Enough About Psychotherapy?

WHAT IS PSYCHOTHERAPY AND HOW EXACTLY DOES IT HELP?

Most people have heard the term “psychotherapy”, but don’t have an accurate concept of what it really is. Their ideas about it are formed by television shows instead of facts.

So what exactly is psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy aims to enable patients, or clients, to recognize both positive and negative feelings, and what triggers or situations can make them feel good, nervous, or depressed. This allows them to cope with difficulties in a more constructive way.

Most courses of therapy last less than a year, and clients who are excited to change and willing to work often report great outcomes.

Psychotherapy helps with a diverse set of problems, including depression and low self-esteem, addiction and family quarrels. Anyone overwhelmed by daily problems and an inability to cope can benefit from psychotherapy. Learn more about psychotherapy careers.

Types of Psychotherapy

At least 500 different types of psychotherapy exist, according to one estimate by University of Scranton psychologist John Norcross. Given the vast number, researchers can’t dedicate the time to investigate whether they are beneficial, so they focus on the most frequently used types.

As Scientific American noted:

These include behavior therapy (altering unhealthy behaviors), cognitive-behavior therapy (altering maladaptive ways of thinking), psychodynamic therapy (resolving unconscious conflicts and adverse childhood experiences), interpersonal therapy (remedying unhealthy ways of interacting with others), and person-centered therapy (helping clients to find their own solutions to life problems).

Let’s look at each of these in a bit more detail:

Wellness Matters 101: Simple Solutions And Suggestions That Promote Health

People who have decided that they’re no longer comfortable with signs of poor health like mood instability and weight gain should know that they don’t have to tolerate a substandard physical or mental state of being any longer. If you’re ready to begin cultivating a lifestyle that is conducive to health, now is the perfect time to get started. Below you’ll find just three of many simple solutions and suggestions that you can implement to begin promoting health right now:

1. Eat Mindfully.

One of the most effective and important mindfulness strategies under the sun is mindful eating. This technique is powerful because it enables the individual to take conscious control over their eating habits so that they are continually consuming foods that promote clear thinking and physical vitality. Although defined broadly, eating mindfully basically involves thinking critically about the food you consume rather than simply consuming a product because it is available or to quell the rise of a negative emotion like anger or sadness. There are many ways that you can make mindful eating your new normal, and one is by recording what you eat in a food journal.

2. Meditate.

In addition to eating mindfully, make sure that you tap into the efficacy of other mindfulness strategies such as regular meditation. Meditating regularly is a wonderful way to promote health because it helps individuals think clearly, decrease their stress levels, and sleep more soundly. Because there are literally hundreds of meditation modalities under the sun, it shouldn’t be difficult for individuals to locate at least one that they will enjoy and attain excellent results from. Whether you recite words of affirmation within silently or concentrate on inhaling and exhaling rhythmically, you’ll likely start to feel that your mind and body begin operating at a higher level of efficacy so that you can maintain your mental and physical equilibrium!

3. Start Engaging In More Physical Activity.

One final technique that can take your level of wellness to an all-time high is working physical activity into your life. Doing so will empower you to gain strength, build muscle, enhance your metabolism, lose weight or maintain your ideal weight, and attain more mental clarity. There are many ways that you can get started with the process of exercising regularly, and one is by purchasing home gym equipment from a company such as Smart Squat.

Conclusion

Once a person realizes that they’re no longer willing to settle for less than the best in terms of health, it’s time to put the strategic planning process in full swing. You can use some or all of the wellness strategies outlined above to keep yourself on track to attaining the high level of health you deserve to have!

 

Help for Individuals with Parents in a Nursing Home

As your parents get up in years, they will face a variety of challenges that will be difficult for them and for you. Many have gone the route of finding a nursing home where their parents will be able to get the care that is needed as they age and as they face new challenges.

 

It is important for you to be as involved as possible in the care that your parents are receiving in the nursing home. You may not be able to spend all of your time there, but make sure that you are visiting often and that the doctors and caretakers know who you are. The more often they see you, the more likely they are to tell you things that are going on with your parents. If you can establish a good relationship with the caretakers and medical professionals who work in the facility, your parents are likely to get the best care possible.

You want to be fully aware of the medication and medical treatments that your parents receive. There is usually a nursing home MAR that contains information about the type of medication your parents have been prescribed and have taken. Make sure that you fully understand the type of medication they are taking and make sure your questions get answered. Take time to find out more about the conditions that your parents may have and learn about the variety of treatments that are available. It is extremely important to be proactive when it comes to the medical care they receive.

It is good to remember that emotional and mental health is just as important as physical health. This may require that you take your parents on outings if it is possible and provide them with friendship and entertainment. Of course, the type of activities your parents will be able to engage in will depend on their circumstances. Also, the amount of time that you have to dedicate to their care will depend on your circumstances. However, do the best you can to give them the emotional and mental support they need.

Healthy Habits You’re Doing Wrong

Image source

 

You might think you’re being healthy, setting up lots of habits to maintain your hygiene levels and boost your general wellbeing, but you could actually be making matters worse! There are numerous ‘healthy’ habits that are actually anything but. Check out the following to see if you’re doing healthy wrong:

 

Washing Your Hands After Applying Sunscreen

 

If you diligently apply sunscreen, then that is definitely a healthy habit, which you should be applauded for, but if after application, you wash your hands, well…you’re doing it wrong. It’s obvious really, but if you wash your hands, they won’t be protected from the sun’s rays! This is a common mistake millions of people make, but it’s easily changed by rubbing the sunscreen in and leaving it be instead of rushing to the sink!

 

Cleaning Your Ears with a Q-Tip

 

Keeping your ears clean is important for optimal hearing, and of course hygiene reasons. However, if you use a q-tip to get rid of waxy build-up in the ears, you’re doing it wrong. First of all, poking a q-tip in your ear is dangerous, it only takes a little slip for you to push it too far and perforate your eardrum – something that is really painful! Not only that but you could actually end up pushing more wax further into your ear canal, which is the opposite of what you want. Good ear cleaning practices never involve Q-tips! There are sprays you can use to dissolve wax and of course professional cleanings can be booked if the problem is serious, too.

 

Showering Daily

Image source

 

Okay, so this is a controversial one, but unless you’re regularly getting really dirty, perhaps due to your job, or you sweat a whole lot due to your heavy exercise regime, it is probably unnecessary to shower every day. Why? Because doing so depletes the layers of lipids and oils that protect your skin and keep it moist. If you must shower every day, at the very least, use moisturizer to replace some of these lost essentials.

 

Sitting With Your Knees and Hips level on the Toilet

 

Going to the bathroom regularly is healthy, but this is how most people sit when they’re using a modern western toilet, and if you’re one of them, yes…you’re doing it wrong. You see, a ‘squatting’ position where the knees are higher up than your butt is the perfect position for smooth flowing bowels and less straining when you need to go. Some people keep a stool in their bathroom to help them with this, and well, help make the passage of their stools a little easier.

 

Lounging Around When You Have Back Pain

 

A lot of people think that, when they have back pain, the best thing they can do is sit, or lie down and relax, but this is only likely to exacerbate the problem, especially if they’re lounging in a soft couch. If your back hurts, then inactivity can make the problem worse by increasing stiffness and allowing your muscles to weaken. So, actually, the best thing you can do is to get up and do some low-impact exercises, such as swimming.

 

Were you doing any of these healthy habits wrong?

 

 

How To Stay Healthy As You Continue With Life

We all age. It’s a fact that some people may not like hearing much, but it is undeniable. However, it shouldn’t be a cause for feelings of despair. Yes, our bodies change as we get older, and we may not be able to do some of the things we could do in our early 20’s. But before you panic and start searching for affordable IVF plans because you think you’ve left it too late, or trying to find out if there is such a thing as a stylish zimmer frame, consider that with age comes knowledge, wisdom, and (usually) a fuller bank account.

(Source) Nonetheless, it’s never too early, or too late, to start caring for your body and your mind. Below are a few tips to keep the spring in your step and the sparkle in your eye as the years come and go, allowing you to pursue your passions.

 

Stay Active

The adage goes ‘if you don’t use it, you lose it,’ so make sure you keep using it. Your body is an amazing thing, so keep it fit and healthy by exercising it. There is plenty of information around to help you find a workout routine that fits your goals, fitness levels, and interests. The most important thing is to find a way of exercising that you enjoy; if you’re not having fun, you’re less likely to stick with it. Just half an hour of exercise a day to make you out of breath and a little bit sweaty can make a vast difference. You could try doing some form of resistance training too. Not only will it keep your muscles and heart strong, but it can also help strengthen your joints and ligaments and even combat the onset of osteoporosis by subjecting your bones to an unfamiliar workload, causing them to increase in density. You could even try attending a fitness class. Not only does it keep you healthy and active, but is a great way to meet new people.

Watch What You Eat

The food you eat is the fuel for your body; it allows you to do all the activities you take for granted day to day. The right food can even help keep you looking younger. If you want to get the most from life, you need to pay close attention to what you’re putting on your plate. As an example, the brain will burn through over 300 calories per day. It may burn through even more if you are concentrating and thinking hard at work, so it’s important that not only is it getting enough nutrition, but the right kind. Everyone knows the five food groups, which should be represented in every meal where possible, but it is also important to have the right balance between these groups. A well-balanced diet should be made up of around 60% carbohydrates, 20% protein, and 20% fats. If you are exercising regularly, it is important that your body has enough energy (carbohydrates) to support the activities you are doing – even if you are exercising to lose weight. If you are incorporating resistance training into your routine, it might be worth considering upping your protein intake slightly, as the protein in your diet is what helps your muscles recover and get stronger. The essential element here though is to make sure you eat healthily and regularly. Only then will you have the energy to spend your day exactly as you please.

Be Mindful Of Your Mind

As you get older, your life tends to settle into a routine. This can be great for your stress levels and time management, but it can be less than ideal for your brain function. Much like how you become weaker when you are bed bound for a few days due to illness, your mind can become less keen when it is not effectively used. Keep your mind active by training it to think in different ways than it is used to, doing so will keep you agile and able to cope with any challenges that life may throw at you. You should also be careful not to neglect your mental health. Making sure you have adequate downtime is key to keeping yourself happy and healthy. While exercise (as mentioned previously) and fresh air can help keep your serotonin levels in the right place, pursuing other activities that bring you joy will go a long way to keep some balance in your life. If you don’t have a hobby, consider finding one. Going to the theatre or attending painting classes are just some of the options when it comes to adding some variety to your free time.

 

Remembering that being aware of your health and wellness is not reserved solely for the very young, or the elderly, is an important step. We should all be mindful to intertwine our physical and emotional well-being into every aspect of our lives.

When It Comes to a Healthy Lifestyle, Don’t Rush!

Life is a marathon, not a sprint, and it pays to keep this in mind when it comes to getting yourself a healthier lifestyle. You see, the biggest pitfall in changing one’s lifestyle and making it healthier is the fact that when it is rushed it is more likely to be ruined. And when the changing of a lifestyle is ruined, it’s hard to get momentum back to attempt it again. So, don’t rush your lifestyle change! And for advice on the best ways to do this, make sure to read on.

Image source

Don’t attempt changes that are too drastic

The biggest pitfall in the road of making your lifestyle far healthier is the first one that is faced: the shock to the system that it induces. This shock is brought about by the fact that a massive change has occurred within your body, especially when the change is because of the fact that you have cut out unhealthy habits in your life, and it is shock that can make you give up on your lifestyle change before you even really get started with it.

In order to beat this pitfall and this shock, you should never make changes to your lifestyle that are too drastic. Instead, you should ease these changes in and have them occur naturally, rather than forcefully. This could mean gradually cutting down on cigarette intake with each day that passes or swapping cigarettes for a far healthier smoking instrument, such as a vape, entirely. It could mean cutting down on trips to your local pub or club and subsequently cutting down on your alcohol intake rather than cutting alcohol out entirely. Or it could mean forging that little snack you have been meals or replacing it with, say, a carrot stick.

The point is, there is no point in making too drastic a change to your lifestyle, even when your intentions for doing so are to make it healthier, because it will make you more likely to fail with it even before it has began.

Take your time with everything that you do

Not only should you not attempt changes that are too drastic, but you should also take as much time as you need to attempt whatever it is you are attempting. You should do this because of the fact that everybody works at their own pace and grows at a different pace to others, even those that they are closest to.

For instance, one weight loss system may work and work quicker for one member of a family, but may not work for another. And, the fact that, say, your brother is losing weight quicker than you shouldn’t disgruntle you. You should take YOUR time when losing weight, not your brothers. You should do things that your body can withstand.

Everybody works at different paces, and all bodies can withstand different changes. It’s important to remember this when attempting to make your lifestyle a lot healthier. And it’s important to ease yourself into whatever changes you attempt.

 

Mind Over Matter: Signs Your Brain Isn’t As Healthy As Your Body

Image

Physically health is all the rage in 2017. What with chefs pushing healthy meals and the effects of the consumption of meat, people are aware of the dangers to their body. Sadly, the majority of us don’t have the first clue about mental health. The old school may think it is unimportant, but the mind is the key to a happy and healthy life. Once it starts to fail, it’s an uphill battle which is difficult to win. With that in mind, it’s essential to spot the signs when they appear.

Below is how to tell your mind is fit and healthy.

You Think You Have An Illness

In the past, there was one term for mental illness and it wasn’t nice. Nowadays, diseases range from schizophrenia to bipolar and depression. The key is to watch out for the warning signs and act as soon s possible. Anyone who is unsure where to start can read more about the symptoms of bipolar depression and other mental illnesses online. If the symptoms match what you feel, the next step is to see a doctor or a specialist. One thing you should never do is bottle it up inside. Over time, the feelings get worse and explode spectacularly.

You Have Difficulty Managing Anger

You don’t have to suffer from an illness to be mentally unfit. Sometimes, struggling to deal with feelings of anger can be a sure-fire sign something is wrong. Again, it doesn’t mean you have to see a doctor or check into an institute. Usually, what it means is that there is an ailment which is causing the outbursts. Stress is a prime example. High cortisol levels tend to make it difficult to be patient or think about emotions rationally. As a result, you may lash out and have a short fuse. Meditating can reduce cortisol production and help control your temper.

You’re Experiencing Weight Loss

There are lots of reasons for weight loss, one being you are eating a balanced and healthy diet. But, dramatic weight loss is a problem which needs addressing as soon as possible. Usually, it has nothing to do with the physical form but the mental. Again, stress is a factor which can cause you to shed lots of weight because it prevents you from eating. Also, the way you view your body may be unhealthy. Young women suffer from this a lot due to peer pressure, but men have body issues too. Anyone who doesn’t eat to stay thin isn’t thinking logically.

You’re Fatigued

Don’t treat being tired and fatigued as the same thing because there are differences. Tiredness stems from a lack of sleep and can is easy to remedy. Fatigue is a mental problem which occurs as a result of the burden of responsibility. No matter how early you go to bed, the feeling won’t go away. The only way to negate it is to delegate your responsibilities and get your feelings off your chest.

If you are happy-go-lucky, have patience and don’t suffer from stress, your mind is healthy.

Work A High-Stress Career? Look After Yourself First

Pexels

Working a high-stress career is simply a must for many people trying to achieve their goals and pursue the life they want. There are almost more high-stress careers than there are low-stress, and so it’s important to tailor yourself to the job market so you can work the roles you truly want. For example, a great chef will only become great if they’re willing to suffer the long hours and hardships of the kitchen. A construction worker will need to become adapted to the rugged physicality of the job, as well as mitigating the overstimulation of the nearby machinery.

High-stress jobs are simply a factor of the working world, as they always have been dating back to antiquity. For these reasons, it’s important to take care of yourself to keep resilient and active in the direction you most want to pursue. We’d like to offer you some health tips for achieving this.

Medical

You must make sure you are well protected during your workplace activities. It shouldn’t take a H+S officer to give you the motivation to read through the safety policy at your firm. Knowing this could potentially give you life-saving information. At the very least, making sure you are well protected regarding the role you play can help.

If you’re on your feet for multiple hours a day, wearing soft crocs or supportive shoes can help your feet health and your alertness over the course of the day. Making sure you mitigate the effects of workplace trauma can help too, for example, tinnitus treatment can help you mitigate the effects of noisy environments, or become active to work again after an injury. Making sure your skin is protected in toxic environments and constantly assessing your breathing environment will give you and even more complete view of safety in the workplace.

Unwind

Giving yourself time to unwind from a stressful day will help you loosen some of the tightness you feel after a hard working period. It’s important that you give yourself this time, where you allow yourself to think about nothing in particular. For some people, this involves resting in front of the television, or consuming video games as a hobby. While these can be beneficial, and it’s more than your right to achieve this, there are better hobbies to help you.

Meditating can help you become more focused in your daily life, and actually de-emphasises the part of your brain responsible for stress. A simply crafting hobby can help you meditate physically, and creative expression is often the best way to de-stress. Reading a great book can help distract you in a completely different world, coming back to your life with added rejuvenation. These tips can help you overcome the difficulty of your daily schedule, and approach it with added caution and ability.

With these tips, your high-stress career will come second to your health, just the way it should be.

 

 

 

Does A Healthy Body Really Equals A Healthy Mind?

There’s a common saying that having a healthy body means having a healthy mind, and while some people believe this, others aren’t so sure. Is mental and physical health that closely linked or is it just a myth? Well, that depends on who you ask, but there is a lot of evidence that suggests that our physical health has a huge impact on our mental health and vice versa.

The ancient Greeks, one of the most advanced civilizations during their time, understood the importance of taking care of your mental health as well as your physical health, which could be why their civilization thrived. ‘Sound mind in a sound body’ was the credo of their civilization, and it worked wonders. It’s clear that in the past a healthy body equalled a healthy mind, but what about today?

Photo from Pexels

It’s time to explore whether, in modern day life, a healthy body equals a healthy mind. For everything that you need to know, read on.

Regular exercise reduces stress

It’s no secret that exercise is good for our bodies, but what about our minds. Various studies have shown that regular exercise can help to relieve stress because working out acts as an outlet for stress and worry. While activities like running, cycling and swimming can be great stress relievers, meditation-based exercise can also work wonders. Take pilates and yoga, for instance, these two activities are made to reduce stress while toning and conditioning the body and its muscles. It’s amazing how you can put on some yoga clothes, grab a mat, and begin to practice this ancient form of exercise, and instantly start to feel happier and less stressed. A bonus of which is that the less stressed you are, the less likely you are to fall foul of anxiety or depression.

Being healthy boosts self-esteem

Did you know that it is scientifically proven that being healthy boosts self-esteem? When you are regularly active and take steps to feed your body with healthy foods, you feel better for it, which then helps to boost your confidence. Being healthy can help to foster your sense of self-worth and boost your strength and power. By meeting your health and fitness goals, you will begin to feel better about your appearance.

People who are more active, sleep better

Obviously, the more active you are, the better you sleep. But what you may not know is that a lack of sleep is linked to many mental health problems, such as depression, post-natal psychosis and post-natal depression, and anxiety. By regulating your sleep patterns, you can help to ensure that you get plenty of sleep, and thus you are mentally healthier. Referring to your physical health, when you don’t get enough sleep, your body sufferers as a result, with your immune system being impacted the most.

So there you have it, a healthy body does equal a healthy mind, or at least in most instances, it does. Admittedly, there is no way to completely prevent mental health problems from occurring. However, that being said, if your body is healthy, then the chances of developing mental health problems is much lower.