We think it can be agreed that now is a good time to start thinking about your immune system. Your immune system is either going to be really strong or a little bit on the weak side. There is so much that can affect your immune system. Allergies, health conditions, the time of year, how you eat and exercise. If you feel like you are one of those people that gets ill all of the time then you're definitely going to want to focus on your immune system at this time. The best way to do so is to focus on your body as a whole. The way that you treat your body is going to have a direct impact on how you feel every single day, and how easy it is for you to fight viruses. Plus, isn't it just nice to feel good. It's terrible when you feel as though you're carrying that sluggish feeling around with you. Taking care of your immune system first will definitely help with everything else! 

Image Source

Sleep Is More Important Than You Think

Sleep is most definitely going to be more important than you think. Sleep is what our bodies need to function right, but it’s one of the most ignored things that we as a human suffer with. Without sleep, it’s so easy to walk around and feel like you’re a zombie. Your body loses its strength, and it doesn’t have the energy to function as a normal human body should. This leads to a lower immune system that people struggle to function on. So, if you wonder why you’re always the one to catch a cold as soon as someone brings it into the office, that’s why. Sleep is also important for your mental health and the way that you feel every day. If you’re not getting enough sleep it can so easily feel as though your body is giving up on you, and you’re carrying a lump around with you.

What Are You Putting Into It?

You’re putting into your body the fuel it needs to run as it should do, and there are some things can boost your immune system more than others. Having a good understanding of what you’re putting into your body and how it works is so important, and some of these current health articles can help you to do that. For example, foods that are high in vitamin C are immune system boosters, so fruit is a good place to start. Plus, the fruit is a good way of getting some natural energy into your body and some sugars.

Getting Out In The Fresh Air

Finally, you need to make sure that you’re getting out in the fresh and giving your body exercise. A stronger body is always going to be one that has a higher immune system, and we know how much some of you are going to value being outside over the coming weeks. As the world is going into lockdown, being outside has become far more precsious.

pexels

Parent’s know that raising kids is a journey that’s both profound and tough. We all want to be ‘perfect’ parents, but frankly, no one is perfect all of the time, it’s just all about doing the best you can. We don’t have all the answers, which is why it’s useful to seek parenting advice now and then. For some excellent parenting themed podcasts, give these five a listen.

1 . Mom & Dad Are Fighting

Mom & Dad are fighting is a fun-filled parenting show brought to you by Slate Magazines. During each episode, Dan Kois and Jamilah Lemieux share with you their successes and failures, providing plenty of parenting advice whether for toddlers or teens. The show covers a huge range of interesting topics including kids safety at the park; setting boundaries with grandparents; and the division of household labour. The show takes a call-in format where listeners can get advice from Dan and Jamilah directly. Recent episodes have included topics like ‘online learning during the coronavirus outbreak’ and ‘taking a break before kindergarten’.

2. Spawned

Come and join Kristen Chase and Liz Gumbineer, the women behind the ‘CoolMomPicks’ site. Here you’ll find plenty of celebrity guests and laughs plus all the parenting chat you could want. Your hosts tackle a wide range of subjects including introducing a new pet to the family; craft activities for your kids; advice on tricky teens; and kids and social media. The women of Cool Mom Picks have many tips to offer, plus bags of humour along the way!

3. Happy Mum Happy Baby

This podcast is created and hosted by Giovana Fletcher, author of the bestselling book of the same name. Here you’ll find plenty of honest and warm insights and engaging conversations with many other high-profile parents. Giovana delves into the many topics of parenthood; the ups and the downs. The Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast encourages listeners to try not to compare themselves to others. Giovana believes that it’s important for parents to lift each other up and offer support. Recent guests on the show have included Lorraine Kelly, The Duchess of Cambridge and Kate Ferdinand.

4. Your Parenting Mojo

Tune in and join Jen Lumanlan on her quest to gain her Master’s in Child Development and Psychology. Jen shares all of her exciting research from pediatrics to mental health and suggests methods to keep kids healthy and successful. Jen leaves no corner unturned with it comes to bringing up kids; from the impact of consumerism to teaching children about race. Want to help your child overcome anxiety? Worried about the impact of a divorce? Jen has all these answers and much more.

5. Coffee and crumbs 

Coffee and crumbs is based on a storytelling site all about motherhood. Here your hosts April Hoss, Ashlee Gadd and Indiana Adams get together to discuss the beauty and the struggle of raising kids. Ideas discussed on the podcast so far have included motherhood and priorities; motherhood and minimalism; personality types; and postpartum anxiety. Coffee and crumbs has plenty of useful hacks to keep your kids healthy and happy.

There’s a lot to take in as you get older. Whether it’s looks or thinning, grey hair, it’s not nice when you don’t remember the image staring back at you in the mirror. Of course, it’s more than your appearance that has this effect. Your memory is one of the first things to go, yet it often lurks under the radar until it’s too late.

The inability to recall names and faces won’t only make you feel old - it will ruin your lifestyle. After all, losing your memory leads to stress, which intensifies negative emotions. And then you’ve got the link with Alzheimer’s, which is very scary. Your best bet is to ensure that your mind stays as sharp as ever, even if you don’t think you’re near the age where these things happen. Keep in mind that they can take place at any time, not only when you reach your golden years.

With that in mind, here are four memory hacks that you’ll never forget.

Pexels - CC0 Licence

Train Your Brain

Your brain is similar to a muscle in the sense that it atrophies. The process is heightened when it sits idle, doing nothing for long periods. Sure, it’s always hard at work behind the scenes, but there are levels to activity. The trick is to make sure that it’s taking part in things that are challenging, such as crossword puzzles, sudokus, and reading. Anything that increases brain volume is a winner in this regard.

Also, you can train your mind to remember stimuli. According to Memorials.com, this can be as easy as putting an urn on your mantelpiece, if you’re that way inclined. If you aren’t, alternatives include looking through old photos and linking dates and times with occasions. By doing this, the brain has assistance and doesn’t have to rely on small fragments that are pieced together.

Stimuli are memory joggers that get the wheels turning and encourage your mind to delve deep into its banks.

Pexels - CC0 Licence

Use All Of Your Senses

The senses are stimuli, but they are natural. There is no need for a photo album or an urn on the windowsill to kick your brain into action. Instead, breathe in and use your nose to take your back through the years. Health.harvard.edu quotes a study which proves people who use their sense of smell have better memories than those you can’t tap into it. This is because the piriform cortex is activated.

Your nose isn’t the only organ that is capable of helping you to remember events and periods. Everything from touch to sight to sight and hearing is a memory tool that you should try and exploit. The next time you’re struggling to recall a piece of information, try to picture where you were and what was happening. Can you hear the sound of the waves crashing on the beach? Is there a distinctive taste in the air?

The odds are you’ll remember more when you bring your senses into play.

Get Enough Sleep

A link between poor memory and a lack of sleep has been around for decades. And, it’s quite easy to spot if you can remember being tired. If you’re exhausted, you can’t be bothered doing anything, mental or physical. Therefore, attempting to encourage your mind to be productive is out of the question. This ncbi.nlm.nih.gov report backs up what you’ve known for a while.

How do you make sure that sleep is long and fulfilling? Going to bed with plenty of time to spare is an excellent start. You need at least seven hours, but it can take thirty minutes to one hour to drop off. Another option is to remove electricals as they interfere with your sleep, causing you to wake up more often.

The most basic hack is to swap blinds with curtains so that less light gets into your bedroom.

Repeat Information

Drilling the info into your brain will reduce the chances of you forgetting it in the future. Repeating information, while dull, is a fantastic tactic that works in the majority of situations. Say you meet a person for the first time, for instance, be sure to use their name in conversation to enhance the connection.

For those who don’t trust their memories, a trusty pen and paper combination never fails. All you need to do is to create an organized filing system for when you require the info the next time! 

How do you maintain your memory as you get older? Do you have any tricks you would like to share?

You only get one life on this earth, so it’s important that you make the most of it. Alas, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, we find ourselves in a bit of a lower mood than normal, and we’re just not hitting the peaks of happiness that we’d like to enjoy. While sometimes this happens purely because of a chemical imbalance, at others, there is a reason why it’s the case. In this blog, we’ll take a look at a few things that’ll compromise your enjoyment of life, as well as offer guidance on how you can overcome these issues.

Pexels - CC0 Licence

Financial Woes

Money isn’t everything in this world, but it is true that you can find yourself in poor mental health if you’re in financial difficulties. The thing about money problems is that they’re always around; sometimes, it’s just not possible to think about anything else. While it’s an unfortunate situation to be in, it’s worth remembering that you’re not alone in the problem, and that there are plenty of steps you can take to improve the situation. It’s difficult to take the first step, but it’s worth it. Eventually, you’ll find yourself in a healthy financial situation.

Low Energy

Life has so much to offer, but you won’t be able to enjoy it to the fullest if you’re continually battling with low energy levels. If you’re not quite as sprightly as you once were, then it’s worthwhile investigating why it could be the case. Common reasons for low energy are poor sleeping habits, drinking too much alcohol, or not getting enough exercise. All three of these issues can be resolved just by making a few changes. Do things differently, and you’ll soon find that you have the energy to enjoy everything that’s on offer.

Carrying Injuries

Your body is the best machine that you’ll ever have, but alas, sometimes it has a fault that makes life a little more difficult than it should be. If you’ve ever carried an injury, then you’ll know just how much it can impact your life. Of course, some injuries are more significant than others; one in your little finger won’t impact your life too much, but one in your ankle or foot will. It’s hard to get out there when you’re having difficulty walking. If you’re suffering from this type of injury, then check out https://www.apostherapy.com/medical-conditions/ankle-and-foot/ for guidance on how to recover. You’ll find that it’s much easier to go after your dreams if your body is in tip-top condition.

Uninspiring Work 

Finally, there’s the matter of work. If you don’t like your job, then it’s likely that your whole life will suffer. While people seem to think professional and personal lives are different, it’s normal that they flow into one another. If you’re getting those Sunday evening blues, then you’ve been robbed of one of life’s great moments. It can be scary to try something different, but if you do not like your career, then it’ll be important to do so. 

As we’re all getting older, maturing into a life that, for many, involves a family and, for many more, involves a career and other responsibilities, there’s a concern that seems to creep up on us. The concern of our parents aging, becoming less able to take care of themselves and need more help than before. It might be time to talk about the options available to you. Here, we’re going to look at different ways you can ensure your parents get the care they deserve and need.

Photo by sabinevanerp - Pixabay License

Independence (with a little help)

Your parents might be able to look after themselves just fine for now and, as they age, we can help them maintain their independence for a lot longer. But we should help them ensure that’s the case. There are a lot of health tips to help elderly loved ones remain independent, and talking to their doctor about their health with them (if they agree) is a good idea. For instance, the doctor can recommend safe, low-impact exercises that can help keep them more active. If they’re not as physically able as they once were, then you might also want to consider looking into making the home more accessible to them. Adapting their environment and helping them be better able to utilize it can help them stay independent for a lot longer.

Know when you might need a little help

Even if you’re ready, willing, and able to take a more proactive approach in helping your parents live their best life as they grow older, it’s important to be aware of when you might not be able to meet all of their needs alone. There’s nothing wrong with that, we all have responsibilities we have to meet. However, you can work with them to help find high-quality senior care services that bring both the compassion and dedication to their specific needs that can ensure a happier life. Having care professionals step in also allows you to focus on being a family member and a familiar, loving face, too, rather than changing the relationship between you and your parent to one of caregiver and ward.

Know how it affects you

Seeing our loved ones grow older and become less independent can be pretty tough for us grown-up kids, as well. When you’re a caregiver, that can add to the stress that presents a very real danger of burnout. If you’re taking care of your parent (or parents), then it’s important to find the time to look after yourself. This might mean asking other family members to pitch in for a day a week, or even looking at respite care services to give you some time off.

The question of how we look after the older people in our lives is one we need to find an answer to. As we are all living a lot longer, it also means that we’re going to eventually need the same kind of care. The answers we find now can help us better prepare to make the same decisions with care later.

Welcoming a puppy into your home is such a fun experience, but it’s so important that you are able to take the right preparation steps to ensure that you can provide your new addition with everything they need to be comfortable and happy. Though you may be absolutely bowled over by the cute and small bundle of furry joy, it’s important that you can remember that a dog is for life - they are sentient beings who have a passion for affection and fun, both as puppies and fully grown dogs, and they can really act as ‘man's best friend’ for the rest of their lives. Whether you’re drawn in by the adorable cocoa coloured pups at www.chocolatelabradorretriever.ca or have fallen in love with a rescue pup at a local animal charity, any dog that you decide to buy deserves to be treated as a valued member of your family that doesn’t get forgotten or left behind! Giving your puppy the best start in life is easy, as there are a few simple tips and tricks that you can make the most of to ensure that they can settle into their new home and have everything they need to be healthy and full of energy as any pup should. So, if you want to find out more about how you can prepare for a puppy, then read on to uncover the best steps that you can follow to get started today! 

Image Source - Pexels 

Learning Basic Training Skills 

Before you get your puppy, it’s important that you can spend some time researching some of the different basic training skills that you can utilise when they arrive at your home. It’s likely that they will not be able to perform any tricks or commands just yet, as their memories are not as strong as they need to be to remember these skills when they are just a few weeks old. The most important training that you have to give your puppy involves going to the toilet, sitting when asked to and some basic behavioural commands such as responding to ‘stop’ when misbehaving. You never need to be angry at your puppy if they make a mistake, as it’s more than likely that you are the one in the wrong. Never be physical with your punishment and hurt your puppy, else they may develop behavioural issues and anxieties that relate to people or being touched. Always be mindful of the way that you act around your puppy, as they can pick up on different emotions and may feel intimidated or frightened by your presence if you are too loud and aggressive. 

Purchasing Some Material Items 

Your puppy is going to require a few different material items to allow them to make themselves at home in their new surroundings, starting off with a bed. There are many kinds of beds on offer, from raised structures that can lift them off the cold floor to big fluffy pillows that they can spread out on, so it’s up to you to make a decision. Bear in mind that the size they are as a puppy is not permanent, and they are bound to grow quite considerably in their first 6-8 months. As well as a bed, they may also require their own personal blanket which can be used to tuck them in on cold nights as well as covering the car seat from nervous pees whenever you have to travel on the road. They will also need some kind of entertainment to keep them occupied, especially if you will be out of the house for some time. Any pet store will offer a range of toys and games that will keep your puppy occupied for hours, so find a few chewable items (perhaps one that squeaks or makes a noise) and help to keep them entertained whenever you are busy. It’s also important that you are able to source a collar or harness as well as lead that you can use to take them out on walks, as you will need this as soon you bring them home! 

Finding Food & Nutrition Information 

The selection of food that your puppy is able to eat is not as vast as you might initially believe, as young dogs are very sensitive and require certain vitamins and minerals to help them grow properly. This being said, there are many ready made puppy food options that you can purchase both in stores and online, and each brand offers its own unique recipes too. If you want your dog to follow a specific diet, perhaps one that’s free of grains or other common allergens, you can even make your puppies food yourself.  It’s so simple to make a meal for a dog, as they can eat most non-processed foods such as meat, vegetables, rice and pasta, as well as some produce that usually goes to waste such as gristle and egg shells. Do not use any salt when you are making their meals, as they do not have the capacity to digest it properly. Never give them anything that could be deemed as ‘unnatural’ such as chocolate, sweets or anything deep fried, and though they may seem interested it really will not provide them with any benefits whatsoever. 

Contacting A Local Veterinary Centre 

It’s vital that you can get in contact with a local veterinarian centre to register your puppy under their services, as you will need to take them for regular check ups to ensure that they are healthy and not suffering from any underlying issues. Obviously dogs cannot express themselves with words as humans do, so it can be really tough for your puppy to let you know if there’s something wrong. Always look for the main signs of illness, such as a very small appetite or an aversion to food, as well as struggles going to the toilet.

Preparing for a new puppy has never been so simple when you are able to make the most of the top tips and tricks detailed above! 

• Eat more soluble fibers. Stop eating white bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes. If you are going to have toast, make sure it's brown bread only. Eat more beans such as red kidney beans, black beans, and baked beans. Apples should become the main fruit.
• As with just about any diet, add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Try to have at least one portion of fruit and vegetables per meal. 
• Herbs and spices are a great way to lower your cholesterol, especially if they become a regular part of your diet. Spicy food is therefore greatly encouraged.
• Stop all intake of saturated fat. Chips, Greek yogurt, and cheese are all foods you should lower or cut out. Instead, get your fat from meat, nuts, and butter.

Pixabay CC0 License

These days, if you happen to have a free moment to yourself, there’s a good chance that you will revert to passive, on-demand forms of entertainment such as watching TV shows or movies, as opposed to engaging with more active and demanding pastimes.

Of course, it’s not that there’s anything wrong with the occasional passive pastime or relaxation session, but these passive pastimes are often insidious because it’s easy to follow the path of least resistance, and to sacrifice almost all your free time to them.

Here are a few relaxing and uplifting pastimes to try, instead, that may have a greater overall positive impact on your life.

When you create a scrapbook page, or a journal entry, you are simultaneously exploring your own thoughts and feelings, processing and interpreting your experiences, creating a log for the future, and exploring and expressing your own creativity.

In other words, these pastimes can be deeply rewarding both in terms of helping you to get to know yourself better, and also in terms of helping you to “digest” experiences you have in everyday life, and to give some greater sense of structure and direction to the overall story of your life.

There are many different approaches you can take to scrapbooking and journalling, and it’s certainly likely to be a good idea to do your own research, and to come up with approaches that seem like they would best gel with your own temperament and preferences.

It might be that a particular daily chairman journalling prompt could work wonders, or it might be that there’s a predetermined structure that you would like to use, in order to keep everything neat and organised.

2.Reading for pleasure, instead of watching TV

There are various benefits to reading books, rather than watching TV.

For one thing, reading books helps you to engage more deeply with a particular topic, or a more prolonged period of time, and a TV show series will typically entail.

For another thing, when you read a book, you are training both your imagination and your ability to focus in depth, on one thing at a time.

Finally, reading for pleasure is something of a meditative exercise, in and of itself. It can help you to calm your thoughts, slow down, and enter a more reflective state of mind.

Making time for some daily reading, therefore, can do a lot of good, in a variety of different ways.

If you consider yourself a natural “artist,” or an innately gifted DIY enthusiast, there’s a good chance you might feel nervous about trying out some arts and crafts.

The point, though, isn’t to be a virtuoso from the beginning. It’s to experience the satisfaction of actually creating things, as opposed to merely existing in a consumer bubble.

So, try your hand at arts and crafts, whether that means using a detailed specification to try and build a shelf out of wood, or else honing your ability to draw well.

As time goes on, with the right kind of practice, you will naturally become more skilled at these pastimes. and in the meantime, you may grow significantly through the practices themselves.

Image Source

We tend to lead busy lives and find it difficult to keep to hectic schedules. We have work to do. Social plans to attend. We have places to be and people to see. So, it’s not all too surprising that so many of us put off visiting doctors when we may need to, or that we often fall behind on routine health checks. But these check ups are recommended for a good reason - they help to keep us in good health so we can continue to do the things we enjoy for as long as possible. So, here are a few checks that you need to prioritise and really keep on top of.

Unique Health Complaints

It’s absolutely essential that you reach out to relevant medical advisors if you notice any changes in your health or negative symptoms. Any health complaint you’re experiencing can be taken care of - whether that’s completely resolving the problem or simply minimising the discomfort or pain associated with it. You can find treatment here.

Eye Tests

There’s no excuse to miss your eye tests - you only have to go once every two years. No matter how busy you are, there must be some sort of way for this short appointment to fit into your schedule. The test itself is simple and completely pain free. An optometrist will just take a moment to check the health of your eye from the front to the back. This is a basic health check, but is important in that it could help to identify warning signs of serious eye problems like glaucoma, cataracts and displaced retina. Your eye test could even help to identify illnesses like diabetes! Following this health check, you will have a sight check, where the optometrist will determine whether you need prescription contacts or frames or not.

Dental Check Ups

Dental checks are required a little more regularly than eye checks, but they should still easily slot into your routine at some point or another. You should visit a dentist at least once a year. If possible, you should make time to go once every six months. During your regular checkup, your dentist will take a look around your mouth and examine its overall health. This can include the health of your teeth and your gums. If you have any issues with decay, they can be rectified with routine procedures, such as fillings, root canals or tooth extraction for problematic wisdom teeth or any broken teeth.

Hearing Tests

You don’t really need to head for a hearing test if you’re not experiencing any problems with your sense of hearing. But if you have noticed changes, it’s worth checking in! An audiologist will be able to diagnose any problems and suggest equipment such as hearing aids to help where necessary.

These are just a few basic health checks you need to keep on top of. Schedule them into your diary and avoid missing them!