The Importance Of Living A More Stress-Free Lifestyle

The Importance Of Living A More Stress-Free Lifestyle

Stress is an issue everyone faces in their lives and can come from a variety of sources including pressures at school or work, dealing with a divorce,  the loss of a loved one, struggling with financial debt, being the victim of a crime, experiencing a traumatic event such as a car accident etc. However, according to Heathline, not handling and managing stress levels properly can lead to larger issues that take a toll on our mental and physical health such as illnesses, fatigue and loss of appetite due to frequent stress decreasing the strength of our immune systems. However, learning to handle stress in a positive way can provide positive benefits as people who manage stress tend to live longer and healthier lives, according to Mayo Clinic. Listed below are some tips on how to help handle stress in positive ways.

·         Exercise: According to Healthline, those who exercise regularly are more likely to maintain a healthier outlook on stress, as exercise helps produce serotonin. Serotonin is a chemical in the brain that can ward off depression and anxiety and help create a more positive mood. Some simple ways to exercise daily include walking, jogging, zumba, swimming or riding a bicycle. 

·         Create a more calming environment at work and home: Creating a more relaxing environment can help to reduce stress. Ways to do so include cleaning out and reorganizing your work area or home and getting rid of unnecessary clutter. Creating more space in your home or work area can help to detox an environment and produce a simpler living or working environment.

·         Engaging in a relaxing activity: Every day, you should try to engage in a relaxing activity you enjoy. Partaking in an activity that you enjoy can help lower stress levels significantly and increase happiness. Some suggestions of simple activities you can do to take time for yourself include gardening, reading a favorite novel or magazine, playing chess, taking a warm bath, watching a favorite film or television series, fishing, writing a story etc.

·         Planning: When you begin to feel overwhelmed about all of the tasks and errands you need to complete, it can often increase your stress levels. Writing down a list of everything you need to accomplish for the day can help you organize everything by priority, putting your more important needs first. When you check off each task from your list, you will feel less stressed and more accomplished. However, if you cannot complete everything on your list in one day, don’t stress or feel guilty about it. Just do what you can every day and be proud of what you did accomplish, even if it was something as simple as getting your grocery shopping done, washing the dishes or getting gas for your car.

The Importance of Maintaining Good Mental Health During Difficult Times

The Importance of Maintaining Good Mental Health During Difficult Times

Throughout our lives, many people struggle with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic attacks, depression or other mental health concerns, especially during times of difficulty and distress. Unfortunately, mental health issues are not always taken as seriously as they should be and often are stereotyped due to misconceptions regarding mental health conditions. However, according to Mental Health America, 46 percent of Americans will meet the standards for a diagnosable mental health condition sometime within their life, and half of those Americans will develop conditions by the age of 14.

Additionally, Mental Health America notes that nearly 1 in 5 American adults will have a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year.  Knowing these facts, we can establish that mental health awareness is something that should be prioritized, and that mental health is important to manage in order to live our everyday lives more productively. Listed below are some tips on how to help manage mental health, particularly during times of stress and hardship.

Meditation & Breathing Exercises:  Meditation and deep breathing exercises are a great way to help stay calm and focused when dealing with anxiety and stress. Make sure to be in a comfortable position when doing breathing exercises. According to Healthline, it is also important to take slow, gentle and lengthy exhales out. Avoid breathing in and out too quickly as it could cause hyperventilation. Listening to guided meditation practices with relaxing sounds is also helpful with releasing anxiety, stress and tension from the body.

Aromatherapy: According to The Cleveland Clinic, aromatherapy is great for helping to reduce stress, lessen anxiety, improve your mood and create a calming environment. Aromatherapy can also help improve mindfulness, improve sleep and ease depression, according to WebMD. Aromatherapy can be used through scented lotions and bubble baths or by using scented oils and candles in your home. According to Healthline, some scents known to have a soothing effect include lavender, jasmine, chamomile, bergamot, rose and clary sage.

 Physical Exercise: Physical exercise is excellent for staying in good shape along with improving one’s mood. According to Mayo Clinic, exercising for 30 minutes or longer for three to five days a week helps to relive symptoms of depression and anxiety. Great examples of physical exercise you can do at home include tai chi, aerobics, yoga, dance or pilates.

Take Time For Yourself: Taking time to do something you enjoy is very important to maintaining a good mood. According to Healthline, taking ten minutes doing an enjoyable activity can help lift your spirits and leave you feeling more relaxed and happier. Make sure to take some time for you each day partaking in an activity you enjoy whether that’s spending time with a pet, reading a favorite book, listening to music, writing poetry etc.

Maintain Adequate Rest & Proper Nutrition: Proper rest and a nutritious diet is essential to maintaining good health, both physical and mental. Healthline suggests avoiding sugary foods and also notes that 7-9 hours of sleep is recommended for those whose ages range between 18-64 years old. The National Alliance On Mental Illness suggests maintaining a good sleep schedule by going to sleep at the same time every night. WebMD suggests eating meals regularly around the same time every day, limiting caffeine intake by avoiding caffeinated drinks that can make you jittery and avoiding spicy foods that may cause heartburn which could keep you awake at night. Mayo Clinic advises eating fresh fruit and vegetables that are packed with vitamins and nutrients and to drink more water to help boost your mood and stay hydrated.

Laugh Therapy: According to Mayo Clinic, laughing can reduce stress, lessen symptoms of anxiety and depression, ease muscle tension, relieve pain and boost the immune system. According to Health Central, laughter can also lower blood pressure. Take time to watch a funny television show or movie that makes you laugh. You can also try a technique known as laughter yoga, which combines yoga techniques and chants to help promote laughing.

The Importance of Self-Love

The Importance of Self-Love

                February is known as the month of love, especially with Valentine’s Day being such a special holiday for many. However, whether you have a significant other to show love to or not, it is also important to show yourself love by taking care of your mind and body properly. Here are a few ways you can show yourself some self-love, which enables you to be at your best and most productive health-wise, a factor that is extremely important for your everyday life.

                First, it’s important to take time for yourself doing something you enjoy or something to help you relax. This allows your body and mind to get the proper rest and relaxation it needs to function productively. Yoga, taking naps, getting massages, enjoying healthy comfort food and soaking in a bubble bath are good ways to help your body whereas reading an interesting book, listening to calming music, writing poetry, spending time with your pet or watching a funny movie or sitcom that makes you laugh can have positive effects on your mental health.

                It’s also important to keep your mindset positive. Ways to accomplish this include practicing daily affirmations to help boost your confidence, wearing an outfit you feel comfortable and attractive in and creating positive environments in both your workspace and home that include inspirational quotes and motivational pictures. According to the University of Southern Indiana, surrounding yourself with positive people is also important to maintaining healthy relationships and keeping yourself in an optimistic and encouraging environment.

                Using scented candles is another way to help relax yourself as certain scents can create mood-boosting and calming effects. It is known that various scents can trigger happy memories for people that remind them of their childhood or a positive life experience whether that’s the scent of chocolate, vanilla, coffee etc. Additionally, some scents are known to be very therapeutic and calming. Lavender, jasmine and peppermint are very popular candle scents as they help create a relaxing atmosphere. According to an article from Gardening Soul, the scent of rain is also said to refresh the mind and help reduce stress so feel free to open the window slightly for a bit of fresh air on a rainy day.

                Lastly, treating yourself to something nice is also a great way to add some positivity to your life whether that’s something as simple as your favorite dessert, a spa day, a night out at the movie theatre or a quiet walk in the park. Additionally, buying fresh flowers for your home or office is another special treat that helps reduce stress. According to an article from Harper’s Bazaar, researchers have discovered that being exposed to flowers helps reduce blood pressure and feelings of anxiety. The report also states that being exposed to flowers helps produce a more positive environment.

Tips for Staying Safe & Healthy During the Winter

Tips for Staying Safe & Healthy During the Winter:

                With colder temperatures and severe weather conditions, Winter can cause some unsafe situations if precautionary measures aren’t taken. Some of those unsafe situations include frostbite, illnesses such as colds and flus, and dangerous road conditions. Here are a few tips on how you can stay safe and healthy during the Winter season.

·         Dressing Warmly: Dressing appropriately for the weather is very important for preventing frostbite. You are more susceptible to frostbite when skin is exposed in colder temperatures. Scarves, hats, coats, earmuffs, gloves, mittens, knee high socks, legwarmers and long-sleeved clothing such as sweaters and sweatshirts are all good examples of clothes that should be worn in the Winter when temperatures are colder. Wool, fleece, flannel and thermal clothing are also beneficial to keeping you warm during the colder months of the year. According to The Washington Post, cotton clothing is not beneficial for colder weather as it absorbs moisture and traps it next to your skin.

·         Check Weather Reports: Make sure to frequently check the weather reports to know of any dangerous driving conditions that could affect your commute to work. If the weather report mentions anything regarding ice or snow, you can plan ahead by leaving your home a little earlier than usual when heading to work, in case of any traffic or accidents caused by poor weather conditions that could potentially result in you arriving to work later than usual. Additionally, it is important to check for any closings or delays that may also affect your work commute.

·         Staying Dry: It is very important to stay dry during the Winter. Wet clothes provide little protection to colder temperatures as they draw heat away from the body. According to The Oakland Press, if you do get wet, it is best advised to relocate to a warm location and remove any wet clothing immediately, replacing it with dry clothing.

·         Eating Right When Sick: It is important to make sure you are eating healthy, especially when battling a cold or flu. Orange juice is loaded with Vitamin C which is essential to helping your immune system recover from illness. Honey can also help soothe a sore throat and suppress coughing. Hot tea, chicken noodle soup and broths are good when battling colds and flus as they work as a decongestant. It is also important to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water.

·         Proper Car Maintenance: It is important to make sure your vehicle is properly maintained to keep you safe during the Winter where driving conditions can worsen due to ice, snow and frigid temperatures.

·         Watch out for warning signs of frostbite: According to The Oakland Press, frostbite can be avoided by looking out for early warning signs. If you feel your toes, fingers, ears or other body parts start to feel frozen or numb or if your skin starts to look waxy or grayish, get indoors immediately. If blisters appear, do not open them. Seek medical assistance and do not expose yourself to cold temperatures again.

The Importance of Staying Safe in the Workplace

The Importance of Staying Safe in the Workplace

Maintaining proper safety etiquette is vital for a company’s production and success. According to the National Safety Council, a worker is injured at their place of employment every 7 seconds. However, with proper safety conduct being enforced, injuries can be prevented. The following tips can help protect you and your fellow employees from workplace injuries:

·         Wearing Protective Equipment: Wearing protective equipment such as safety glasses, safety uniforms and steel-toed shoes is very important for protecting employees from potential injuries.

·         Refraining From Horseplay and Physical Violence: Not only can a situation involving inappropriate physical conduct cause a workplace accident resulting in injury or death, it can also affect the employees involved in a serious matter that can affect their job status, such as a suspension or termination from the workplace. If you see employees in your workplace engaging in any horseplay or physical violence, report the incident to a supervisor immediately.

·         Ensure Workplace Equipment Is Functioning Properly: It is important that machinery used in a workplace is functioning properly. Using machinery that is broken or malfunctioning can put an employee at higher risk of a workplace accident resulting in injury or death. If a machine used in the workplace is not working properly, refrain from using it and inform a supervisor of the issue immediately.

·         Be Aware of Your Surroundings and Report Unsafe Working Conditions: If you see something unsafe in your work environment such as a spill on the floor, an emergency exit being blocked, a broken window, poor lighting, a fire hazard etc., report it to a supervisor immediately. An unreported condition can result in you or another employee potentially getting injured.

·         Stay Sober: Working under the influence of drugs or alcohol is extremely dangerous to both you and your fellow employees. Some signs that show suspicion of alcohol or drug-related influence include aggressive behavior from an employee, slurred speech, clumsiness, tardiness, twitching, paranoia, drowsiness, poor work performance and bloodshot eyes.  Additionally, if the employee is suspected of alcohol or marijuana use, you may smell the scent of alcohol or marijuana on them. If you suspect a fellow employee is working under the influence of drugs or alcohol, alert a supervisor immediately. 

The more priority we place on injury prevention in the workplace, the safer a company and its employees will be!

Protecting Your Skin In The Summer

Protecting your skin in the Summer

Summer will be here before you know it and that means warmer weather. While many vie for that perfect tan once the weather is warm, Summer days can get very hot and without the proper skin care can often leave someone susceptible to sunburns, skin peeling and sun poisoning.  Prolonged and unprotected exposure from the sun can also lead to skin aging, shown visibly through wrinkles, moles or freckles. 

Unprotected exposure to the sun has also been known to lead to more serious health issues including skin cancer. In fact, according to skincancer.com, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. However, we can take preventative measures to protect our skin during the hot Summer days such as:

·         Applying Sunscreen: According to skincancer.com, those who use sunscreen that contains an SPF of 15 or higher every day show 24 percent less skin aging than those who do not use sunscreen regularly.

·         Limiting Time Outdoors: If possible, try to stay in shady, cooler areas away from the sunlight. According to Mayo Clinic, it is best to avoid being outdoors from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where the risk of sunburn is increased due to the sun being at its most intense.

·         Wearing A Hat: According to Mayo Clinic, wearing a wide- brimmed hat helps to block the sun from exposure to your head, neck, ears and face.

·         Wearing Sunglasses: According to Mayo Clinic, wearing sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection helps to keep the sensitive skin around your eyes safe from sun exposure which will better protect your vision.

The more you practice proper skin protection, the healthier your skin will be!

How To Avoid Showing Disrespect To Women In The Professional Wrestling Industry

How To Avoid Showing Disrespect To Women In The Professional Wrestling Industry

With advancements in technology, the increase of internet creepers continues. Women in the professional wrestling industry are often subjected to having to deal with these creepers who don’t understand how to be respectful when speaking to a woman, particularly a woman in the professional wrestling industry. Thus, here is the third installment of how fans can avoid disrespecting a woman in the professional wrestling industry.

First, please don't keep messaging her if she says she is currently at training, at work or in class. If she tells you that, she is clearly busy. Continuing to message her non-stop while she is training, working or studying is just inconsiderate and rude.

Next, don't keep messaging her if she says she is trying to get some sleep. Chances are you just woke her up by the notification sound she received from you contacting her via Facebook messenger or by the notification sound she received on her cell phone via text message (presuming she actually gave you her phone number). By choosing to continue messaging her just because you already woke her up is very inconsiderate as she is likely trying to get back to sleep so she can have enough energy for work, training or school the next day.

Additionally, please do not keep creating social media profiles just so you can continue messaging her over and over after she has already blocked you on previous accounts. Chances are if she blocked you, you said or did something to deserve it so please stop harassing her through other social media profiles. All that will do is make you look both annoying and like a stalker and if the harassment continues to persist, she can investigate into doing something more serious about the matter such as taking legal action.

Also, do not add her family or friends if you don't know them. That's beyond creepy, stalkerish and disrespectful towards both her and her family or friends. Many of her friends and family have absolutely nothing to do with the wrestling profession so adding them just because she knows them is very intrusive of not only her rights to a private life but also her friends and family’s private lives as well. Simply put, if you wouldn’t want someone you don’t know invading on your privacy like that, please don’t do it to anyone else.

Next, please don't ask her to create an account on another social media site just to talk to you. She may only use certain social media accounts for privacy reasons and have no desire or purpose to create another social media account on another website that she is not active on. If you ask her to create another account such as Snapchat, Hangout, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp etc. and she tells you no, don’t keep pestering her about it. if she said no, she has her reasons and you need to respect that plus chances are the more you bother her about it, the more she will be less likely to ever create a social media account for that site in the future. Not to mention, most people don't want to create a social media account they have no interest in having just to talk to one person they may not even know personally.

Additionally, if you ask a female in the wrestling profession what her relationship status is and she tells you that she has a significant other, do not add her significant other just to bully, threaten or harass them for being romantically involved with her. Women in the professional wrestling industry 100% know the only reason you would even consider threatening, harassing or bullying their significant other is because you are jealous that they have a romantic relationship with her whereas you don’t.  Also, threatening, bullying or harassing her significant other just because they are in a relationship with her is beyond disrespectful to both her and her significant other. If you threaten, bully or disrespect the person that she loves, she certainly won't want to chat with you due to you choosing to be rude to her significant other.

Next, please don't offer to pay her for sexual favors. She's a professional wrestler, not a prostitute. She wants to be respected for her work in the ring. If you offer to pay her for sexual favors, she’s going to get upset and more than likely block you immediately.

If a woman wrestler says she doesn't do session wrestling, please don't continue to ask her to do them and please respect her decision not to be interested in doing them. There is no reason to be rude to her for telling you she does not participate in session wrestling. Also, if she wasn't interested the first time you asked, she won't be interested a few days later when you ask again.

If you disagree on a woman wrestler's opinions that she has every right to express, it is not ok to go on her social media pages and bully or harass her for having a different opinion than you. That just makes you look rude and disrespectful. It will also likely result in you being blocked by her. 

If a woman wrestler tells you she isn't interested after you keep flirting with her or if she tells you that she is already in a relationship with someone, it is not ok to go on her social media pages and comment on her posts with mean, hurtful or harassing messages just because she turned you down. It just makes you look like a bitter, deranged stalker. It's a very quick way to get blocked and possibly even reported on the social media site, depending on how inappropriate your messages or comments were.

Additionally, if a woman tells you she is not interested or already in a relationship after you keep flirting with her, do not show up at a show she is booked on and harass her from the crowd solely because she turned you down. That is disrespectful and will easily make you look like a bully along with looking like a crazy stalker. It's a very quick way for you to even have a restraining order placed on you, should the female wrestler involved choose to file one.