Never-ending tiredness is all part of parenting fun, right? Well, what if it didn't have to be that way?

Tiredness happens for all kinds of reasons, but being consistently tired can begin to impact your focus, as well as your health. When you’re overly tired, things can begin to slip, and you can be left feeling unproductive and unmotivated.

Are you ready to put an end to feeling tired all the time? Regain your energy and focus with the help of the following tips.

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Start with more sleep

Most parents suffer from a lack of sleep, and it’s easy to see why. Juggling work, taking care of the kids, and maintaining your home all take their toll and leave you feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day. By the time you make it to bed, you’ve already lost the battle to get your eight hours of sleep a night. 

Prioritize your sleep - it’s an important part of your routine. Form a nighttime routine that will get your body and mind ready for bed at night, helping you get those crucial hours of rest that will help you feel more energized during the day.

Organize your day

Sometimes tiredness can come from a lack of planning. If you’re always chasing your tail, it can feel exhausting to keep up. Being more organized with your day can help you do what you need to do, without overstretching yourself. From planning your meals to developing a cleaning schedule, there are a lot of ways to be more organized to make your day easier so that you can get the rest you need.

Give your body what it needs to function

The right nutrition is important for maintaining your energy levels. If you eat an unhealthy diet, you’re more likely to feel sluggish and bloated, which can make it difficult to focus.

A diet that provides your body with healthy energy sources can help you banish feelings of tiredness. You shouldn’t skip meals and should try to find the right balance of fats, carbs, and proteins. There are also supplements you can take to boost your energy and eliminate brain fog, helping you get through your day. If you’re eating a balanced diet and still experience unexplained tiredness, you should make an appointment with your doctor to check there isn’t an underlying cause.

Keep your body active

While being active burns energy, it is a great way to boost your overall energy levels. Regular exercise will keep your mind focused and your body fit, helping to create a healthier you. Self-care should be a consistent habit, and exercise can form a big part of that.

Feeling tired all the time can impact both your physical and mental health. If you want to avoid burnout and do what’s right for your body, make sure you take steps that will help save you time, so you can get the rest you need. 

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Buying a home for yourself and your family is something that many of us see as an essential step in our lives. This is a very understandable perspective. After all, there’s something really wonderful about knowing that you’ve found a place that’s truly yours. Of course, the actual process of buying a home is something that a lot of people are fairly intimidated by. After all, it’s likely to be the biggest financial commitment of your entire life. With that in mind, here are some ways that you can make sure that your finances are in the right place for you to buy a home.

Get a handle on your debt

One of the first things that you need to be able to do when you’re looking to buy a home is to get your credit score in order. The reality is that buying a home isn’t just about how much you can save, it’s also about being able to demonstrate that you can handle the financial burden of a mortgage. In order to do this the first thing that you should do is to make sure that you’re paying off your debts. This doesn’t mean you always have to be 100% debt free but you need to be sure that you’re paying those debts off reliably in order to avoid tanking your credit score.

Know your budget

If you’re going to buy a home, you need to be aware of what you can actually afford. After all, the last thing you want is to find the perfect home and then realise that it’s way out of your price range. Getting a mortgage quote early on in the process is often very useful because it means that you have a far better idea of just how much you’re going to be able to borrow. That way you can adjust your search for a home as clearly as possible.

Start saving

Buying a home is expensive, there’s no getting around it. Because of that, it’s essential that you start saving as soon as possible. Most people who feel like they can’t buy a home actually mean that they can’t buy a home right now. If you’re thinking of buying a home then it’s important that you understand the process could take some time. Being patient and finding ways to put aside as much money as possible is absolutely essential if you want to turn the fantasy of home ownership into a reality. There are all kinds of ways to save and you’d be amazed at how quickly that money adds up.

The reality of trying to buy a home is that it’s something that will take time and a great deal of patience. It might be frustrating that previous generations were able to treat home ownership as an expectation rather than a challenge, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways that you can make that dream into a reality. It’s just a matter of knowing what you want and being willing to push forward and going after it with everything you have.

5 Things You Might Be Doing Wrong With Your Child’s Dental Care

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As a parent, you will undeniably do your best to ensure your kids have the best start in life. For example, you make sure they eat as many healthy foods as possible and understand the importance of hygiene and cleanliness.

However, some parents unknowingly make some mistakes when it comes to children’s dental care. If you want to make sure you’re not making any routine dental care and hygiene errors, check out the following five top examples below:

1. Not Registering Your Child With a Dentist

You and other members of your household will undoubtedly have a dentist that gets used for all dental concerns and care. But have you registered your kids with the same dentist that you all use?

If the answer’s no, now is the time to get them registered. Most dentists provide dental services for children, but if yours doesn’t, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a provider that can check each child’s teeth periodically.

2. Waiting for All Teeth to Sprout Before Cleaning

If you have very young children, such as babies or toddlers, it can often take a while before the first tooth appears. You’ll have undoubtedly noticed that young infants typically have lots of saliva running through their mouths.

It’s a good idea to gently clean an infant’s gums with a soft, clean cloth. When the first tooth does appear, you can clean it with a thimble or gauze each night before bedtime. Starting from such an early age helps set an important dental hygiene routine for infants.

3. Using the Wrong Toothpaste

You might assume that all kinds of toothpaste are the same or feature the same ingredients. However, toothpaste specifically developed for children contains less fluoride than adult toothpaste as children’s teeth are generally healthier than adults.

Generally, children that are around seven years old or older are fine to use adult toothpaste. Younger kids should have their own children’s toothpaste. If you’re in any doubt about what to use for your kids, it’s worth consulting your dentist for further advice.

4. Letting Kids Snack After Brushing Their Teeth

Kids, as with adults, must brush their teeth before bedtime because they won’t be consuming any food afterward. If you let your children snack on food after they’ve brushed their teeth, the brushing exercise was essentially a waste of time.

That’s because, during the night, saliva doesn’t pass through a child’s mouth, making their teeth and gums an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Such an effect is significantly less likely to occur when the teeth get brushed immediately before sleeping.

5. Not Supervising Kids When They Brush

Last but not least, if you let your young kids brush their teeth without your supervision, you have no idea whether they are brushing their teeth correctly, if at all.

It’s important to keep in mind that kids might sometimes forget what to do due to tiredness, or they might lie about brushing their teeth because they don’t want to do it. Make sure you always supervise your children when they brush.

 Making your baby comfortable at night will help them sleep through and make them less grouchy during the day because they are better rested. But a lot of babies are too warm while sleeping and parents don't always realize it. Babies cannot regulate their own body temperature very well, so you need to make sure that their sleeping environment is perfect for them.

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How Can You Tell If Your Baby Is Too Hot?

There are a few key signs to watch out for if you are worried that your baby is too hot.

Clammy skin 

Clammy skin is a sign of overheating. If your baby's skin feels clammy when you touch them, they may be too warm.

If in doubt, take their temperature. You don't want to wake a sleeping baby to take their temperature, but in this case, it is necessary if you think that they are too hot. Their normal body temperature is around 36.5-37.5 degrees Celsius.

Rashes

If your baby is too hot and they are sweating a lot, this can cause irritation and rashes. If your baby has red spots or rashes on their body, especially in areas where they are bound to be sweaty, then they are probably overheating while sleeping.

Irritability

Another sign of overheating is irritability. If your baby is sweaty and red, they will be uncomfortable while sleeping which can cause them to wake up more frequently during the night. If they seem very agitated, then you should check their temperature.

Rapid breathing

Rapid breathing is another sign of overheating. This can also be a sign of illness, so you should monitor your baby's breathing if they are hot. If you are concerned, you should speak to a doctor because this could also be caused by more serious problems. 

How To Keep Your Baby Cool At Night

If you notice any of these symptoms, you need to take steps to keep your baby cool.

Get Their Bedding Right

You need to make sure that your baby's sheets and blankets aren't too heavy or hot. You don't want any thick layers over them while they are sleeping because this will restrict airflow around their skin. Using a heavy blanket could make them sweat overnight, making them uncomfortable and unable to sleep very well. You need to buy good quality bedding from sites like Foryourlittleone too. Cheap bedding made from poor quality materials can be very hot and scratchy on your baby's skin, so invest in better options.

Monitor The Temperature In The Nursery

The temperature of the nursery matters as well. If you don't monitor the temperature, your baby could be too hot whenever they sleep. Ideally, you want to keep the room at around 16-20 degrees Celsius. You can use a thermometer to check this and regulate it if necessary. If it is too cold, then you might need to add more layers to your baby's bedding until the room reaches the correct temperature. If it is too hot, then you need to open up a window or turn on an air conditioning unit. Make sure you consider all of this when setting up the nursery in the first place.

Seek Medical Advice

Finally, if your baby's temperature does not change and they are still overheating, you should speak to a doctor. They might have a fever.

Your baby's temperature is the body part that you need to monitor most closely. If it gets too high, they will be very uncomfortable while sleeping and may not get enough good quality shut-eye which could affect their mood during the day. So, make sure that they are always at a comfortable temperature at night.

 Family doctors can provide you with reliable medical care. Your family deserves to have a physician ready for medical examinations whenever any issue occurs. However, finding the best family doctors is a struggle for most people.

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You could get a physician online or contact your medical network for referrals, but before doing that, here are some things to consider:

The Physician's Medical Reputation

A physician's medical reputation can be determined by what other patients say after receiving treatment or diagnosis. It could also be your experience with the doctor at the hospital. 

Avoid choosing a physician with a history of patients hiring medical malpractice lawyers because of dissatisfaction in treatment or diagnosis. Going for a doctor with positive patient reviews can assure your family of quality health care.

You could also consider what your trusted family and friends say about the physician. These two groups of people are dear to you and would always recommend the best health care practice for your family.

The Primary Care You Want

You should understand the kind of family care you want. The specification a physician has can guide you when choosing. You could go for a practitioner, gynecologist, pediatrician, or internist.

Pediatricians are usually good with child health care; therefore, this would be an excellent choice to cater to the family's young children. However, your family could use a physician who can help everyone, not a specific age or gender.

Open Communication

It would be best if you also chose someone who can create a good relationship with your family. This way, you will be able to share your medical history freely and get the best care. A good relationship with the doctor also depends on how comfortable you are around each other.

It should also be someone who can accommodate your family's concerns and listen to what you say when recommending interventions.

Accessibility

You should consider a physician who can be easily accessed whenever you have a medical issue. The accessibility should be based on how long it takes you to reach the physician's practice by any means of transport.

How easy is it for you to fit in the physician's schedule whenever you have a medical issue? A doctor who has a tight schedule may not be able to offer the best family care.

The open hours of a physician's office also determine how you can access health care services. Going for a doctor whose office is available when your family needs medical attention can protect you from constantly adjusting your schedule to book appointments.

The Type of Practice

You can choose an individual or group practice. A group practice gives you a chance to see other medical providers within the group when you have any concerns.

The health care quality you get may not get affected by the type of medical practice. However, you could feel dissatisfied when a different physician attends to your needs.

The physical environment of the practice you choose can also influence your decision. The group practice could mean that you get to change offices when meeting different healthcare providers.

Conclusion

Your choice of a  family medical provider should be based on the quality of health care you intend to acquire.

Top Reasons Why Your Workouts Aren’t Working (and What You Can Do Instead)

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Are you struggling to reach your weight loss goals, and unsure why? It can be disheartening when you are spending a lot of time and effort exercising, but not seeing any changes.

Everyone is different, and each body will respond differently to exercise, which is why there can be many different reasons why you are not seeing the results that you are after. 

Here are some of the top reasons why your workouts aren’t working for you, and some tips on what you can do instead. 

Time

As hard as it is to admit, seeing results with exercise takes time. For some, you may see drastic changes within 12 weeks. For others, it could take a couple of years to see the same results. Time is a key factor in changing your weight, along with consistency. If you are consistent with your exercise, and your diet, for a long period, then you will see results. Many people think after a short amount of time that the program is not working for them, and give up or change. Exercising should be thought of as a lifetime journey. That will make it much easier to exercise and see results, as you learn to be more patient with yourself, and stick to your routine for a longer period.

Nutrition 

Many fitness experts will tell you that the majority of your weight loss will come from your nutrition. You can exercise as much as you like, but if you have a poor diet, or it is not changed accordingly, then you are unlikely to see results at all, or as quickly as you could be. Nutrition is not necessarily cutting down on calories. Depending on your current circumstances, and what your goals are (e.g. to lose weight or to tone up) there may be different dietary requirements to suit you, including eating more food as your body requires fuel for the extra activity that you are doing. 

To see better results with exercise, try changing your diet to eating wholesome, nutritious foods. Cut down on processed foods and opt for more natural sources of food. Try eating out less, and swap it for cooking fresh meals at home, and swap sugary sweets for baked goods using organic stevia. 

Type of exercise

Everyone is different and will require different types of exercise, especially to align with your goals. While exercise like cardio can be a great aid in weight loss, as well as come with a range of mental and physical health benefits, it’s not going to help you reach your goals if that is all you’re doing. The same goes for specific exercise movements. If you are just doing the same, mundane exercises each day, you are unlikely to see significant changes. While consistency is key, you need to mix up your workouts to suit your goals and challenge yourself each week. 

There are many reasons why you are not seeing the results you want, and these are often the main factors that hinder progress. 

  Whether you had your business before your kids, or your kids came before your business, no doubt about it being a mompreneur is tough. You have two full-time jobs that need to be balanced out, and sometimes one needs more attention than the other. Things happen and it’s a part of life. But this 24/7 role can get incredibly overwhelming to the point that intense burnout can be just right around the corner.

This is something that should be avoided, on top of that, the unnecessary feelings of guilt, anxiety, and questioning your roles should also be something that needs to be navigated as well. While there are some days where it’s hard to be a mompreneur, in the end, it’s completely worth it. These are some helpful tips in navigating being a business owner and being a mother at the same time.

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First off, you need to figure out your priorities

You’ll want to know what exactly has to be prioritized. Sometimes things that are prioritized on one day, won’t be prioritized the next day. It’s best to make a list of this and just keep a schedule so you have an idea of what needs to be taken care of first. It’s also important to have healthy boundaries with yourself. Having these healthy boundaries are going to massively help you out in keeping things in order. Healthy boundaries can include getting enough sleep at night, figuring out how to get whiter teeth, but it can also include just being stern with what you’re wanting. This includes family time, as this should be non-negotiable and should be a priority. It’s okay to say no to things as your family time is very important.

Stay healthy

Health comes in multiple forms, mostly the mind, body, and soul. Wellness should tie into your daily routine, and you should always try to have some time for yourself. This includes taking time to cook delicious food such as a smoked pork ribs recipe, taking time off to exercise, and even forming your routine for self-care. A healthy body is a healthy mind, and vice versa. While being your own boss means working long schedules, getting little sleep, you shouldn’t try to sacrifice your health just in the name of success. This goes along with creating healthy boundaries for yourself.  You should know that you’re not a super mom, and you can’t always handle everything that life throws at you.

Know when to unplug

If you can, try your best to only work during work hours and unplug once work time is over. While many people's schedules are different, having something such as a 9 to 5 is going to be the best way to be able to perfectly juggle your home and family life too. It’s also important to put your phone on silent, close the laptop, and just enjoy the time that you have with your children. You’ll want to give at least an hour of undivided attention to your children as this is very beneficial to their development. But this will also strengthen the bond between the two of you.  Children know when you’re not truly engaging with them, so you have to mentally turn off your work mode. 

 The color of the teeth does not depend, as one might often think, on the enamel but on the dentin. This is a calcified tissue which. It is responsible for the coloring of each tooth, which is also determined by genetics, just like the color of the eyes or the hair. The color of the dentin, a layer located just under the enamel, which has no color but is translucent, varies in shades ranging from yellow to gray. A healthy individual will have particularly white teeth during childhood: in fact, children's deciduous teeth are the whitest teeth. However, they are replaced by permanent teeth which tend to change color towards yellow or a darker coloration. This appears over time because the enamel becomes thinner and the color of the dentin appears. The color of the teeth can be determined by a color scale which includes all possible natural colors of the teeth and subdivides them by shade and intensity.  That is why it is best to consult a professional such as Mountain View Dental who can give you the best advice. 

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External causes of stains on teeth

Despite careful oral cleaning, complete care of teeth and gums with the right tools, it often happens that stains appear. The reason for this phenomenon is very simple. As mentioned above, dentin (the part that coats the tooth just below the enamel) is responsible for the color. Enamel, meanwhile, being porous, certain substances can attach themselves to it, causing the appearance of external (or extrinsic) colorations, i.e. on the surface of the tooth. The substances responsible for the appearance of these spots are linked both to our diet but also to our way of life. Here are some examples:

- Tea

- Coffee

- The Red wine

- Licorice

- Cigarette

- Drug treatments

In these cases, the use of anti-coloring products in brushing or in mouthwash, even a thorough cleaning carried out by a dentist can be very useful. Note that some drugs cause spots which are temporary: stopping taking the drug will make them disappear naturally. Nevertheless, there are drugs responsible for an irreversible change in the color of the teeth; they usually contain fluorine, ciprofloxacin and tetracyclines. In some cases, the change in color of the teeth or the appearance of stains also derive from targeted therapies to treat the teeth against the formation of cavities for example. Another example, after a trauma or after a devitalization, the color of the teeth can darken; it depends on the blood pigments or the portions of tissue that are left after the surgery. In these cases, tooth whitening will be necessary.

How to have white teeth and what oral cleaning to do

Everyone's dream is to have a bright and confident smile: this means pink gums, neat and shiny teeth and perfect breath. There are many ways to achieve these results, but they go through an essential: a complete oral cleaning on a daily basis. In addition to brushing your teeth, using an interdental brush or dental floss, special attention should also be paid to the choice of toothpaste and mouthwash. What is essential in choosing these solutions is that they do not damage your tooth enamel. It is better to choose toothpastes that do not contain aggressive whitening agents or strong abrasive agents that could deteriorate the condition of the enamel. 

 It's that time of year again - Halloween! We all know it takes a lot of work to get ready for such an awesome holiday. But with these tips, you'll be able to create the best Halloween ever.

Treats By The Buckets 

First off, make sure you have enough candy on hand. Everyone loves getting free sugar during this spooky night and will definitely come knocking at your door if they see signs like "free candy" or "trick-or-treat." It is also good etiquette to buy some more than usual because people usually bring their friends along. And what kid doesn't want more free goodies? So stock up early and often. The top tip is to book your kid's dental services the next day to get all the cavities scrubbed off. 

Did You Know? Halloween was originally called All Hallows Eve, which means "eve of the holy evening." It was a day to remember all saints.

Photo by Kristina Paukshtite from Pexels

Too Much Spook?

Also, decorate your house. Kids definitely appreciate a home with creative and appealing décor. But make sure you don't go overboard. If it looks like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie, they might not want to come in at all. Instead, try some spooky spider webs or fun seasonal lights for the kids' safety. Another great tip is to get decorations that can be used year after year. This way, you won't have to go out and rebuy everything for next Halloween. For example, try some cobwebs or fake spiders in your house windows. These are not only easy to use but will add a spooky touch when light shines through them at night too.

Dress-Up Fun

Make sure everyone gets into the spirit by wearing costumes from head to toe! Have fun with it. Especially if they're kids because this could lead to their favorite TV shows characters like SpongeBob SquarePants or The Muppets (just kidding). But really, though, there's no limit to what you can dress up as. Be aware that costumes are always great and dangerous because children can get tangled up in them very quickly. Make sure no strings are hanging down around their neck area too. If possible, have someone else dress them so you know everything is safe and secure before any nighttime trick-or-treating begins.

Did You Know? The original Halloween costumes were worn for protection from ghosts and other nasty things that went bump in the night.

Safety First

And don't forget the kids' safety while trick-or-treating. Make sure they have a flashlight or glow sticks so cars can spot them easier if it gets dark out earlier than expected (which happens every year). Also, make sure they stay together with their group of friends. But definitely not too close because then there's no room for any "surprises" like candy apples covered in peanut butter (gross!). Finally, always remember to carry extra money on hand if your little monsters get hungry after all that candy consumption!

Did You Know? There was a time when trick-or-treating wasn't allowed because many thought it would encourage children to lie and steal. So it took a while for people to accept this holiday as a fun, safe night of spookiness.

Photo by Yaroslav Shuraev from Pexels

And finally, have an amazing Halloween! Don't forget the most important thing, dress up in costumes that will scare even yourself from all those scary movies you watched earlier today (and no joke). Also, remember not to do anything dumb like going out into the woods by yourself after midnight or walking around alone on dark streets at night. Remember safety first! Have fun with your friends and family.