Self-Care Corner – Page 2

Brain Wave, Family and Home living, Self-Care Corner

The Importance Of Taking Care Of Yourself As A Parent

August 11, 2019 No Comments

As a parent, it can be too easy to put your own needs to one side and forget that you need to be looked after as well as your little ones. It’s important to realize that you are your best for them when you are taking care of yourself. Easier said than done, as it can be hard to break habits but you should try to make sure you put some level of your focus on you. Even if it means scheduling yourself some recuperation time or prioritizing a few elements of family life to benefit your health it’s vital you take some time to become the best you can be by looking after yourself to look after them.

Image Source

Have a look below at some of the forgotten areas of your life you should focus on as a parent to make sure you’re looked after too:

Schedule Your Own Healthcare

It’s extremely easy as a parent to be completely on top of all your kid’s appointments and then push yours to one side. However, you shouldn’t only be looking after them you should be on top of yours too. What would they do if you were out of action because you hadn’t got the right healthcare that you needed at the right time? So if you have a health check that you need to get to, an appointment with a personal injury lawyer that you’ve been putting off or a trip to the dentist that you should have attended months ago make sure you catch up and then keep up with these. You wouldn’t miss the appointments for your children’s health so why would you miss yours?

Sleep Should Be A Priority

Okay, so this might seem easier said than done with little ones running around. Especially if they are having naps, and all going to bed at different times because of age gaps. However, it should be a priority to try and get at least the minimum amount recommended for an adult, which is seven to eight hours a night by the way. Lack of sleep can have serious adverse effects on someone’s health so getting enough means you are setting yourself up to feel better when your kids are taking every last scrap of energy. Yes, it can be easier to get things done when they are fast asleep but it should never cut into your own sleeping pattern.

Stay Connected To You As A Person

It can be very easy as a parent to lose your identity and forget who you are as an individual person or even as a couple. Whether it’s the daily routine of carpooling, preparing meals, washing the clothes, cleaning, getting the kid’s backpacks ready and many others or cleaning and picking up the groceries you should try to allocate some time to do something that you enjoy that doesn’t necessarily relate to being a parent. By doing this you’re not only keeping connected to yourself, but you’re teaching your children that it’s important as well as healthy to have some time alone doing things that make you happy. They will soon see that it’s good for them to have their own individual activities as well as ones with the family to be happy and healthy.

These are three ways to keep healthy and focused as a parent, there are many more. Do you have any that you can share int he comments section below?

Brain Wave, Self-Care Corner

Self Care: Little Ways To Look After Yourself

March 19, 2019 No Comments

Lives seem to be getting busier and more hectic; it’s no secret that burning the candle at both ends, can lead to stress, fatigue, and an array of other mental and physical health conditions. Therefore, it’s crucial to a fulfilled and successful life, to strike a balance between all of those commitments you have. Fortunately, if you’re prepared to take a step back, and look at your current lifestyle; there are always ways you can improve things, and ensure that self care becomes part of your fresh routine. It’s not about giving-up anything you love doing; it’s just about ensuring that all you do is beneficial to your well-being and happiness, overall.

Acts of self-care are ways to check-in with yourself so that you can rest, recover, and assess how you’re doing. They can come in all sorts of ways, adn are often simple ways to ensure that you’ve made yourself a priority. Whether it’s a particular activity, learning to embrace saying certain things or doing things, or a set amount of time that you set aside each day to try a variety of things; you’ll never regret utilizing some time out to be calm and to take care of yourself and well-being. The following are some ideas, inspiration, and advice, for busy women who need to take better care of themselves, and don’t want to sacrifice what they find important to a happy life.

Image Source

Little Health Checks That Make A Big Difference

So many people avoid any sort of healthcare check-ups and appointments. However, ignoring those symptoms, or powering through with life when you’re not quite right, will lead to any health concerns becoming far worse than needed. Booking into see a healthcare professional, as soon as you feel that something isn’t right, is the most literal and effective way to implement your self care. You can reward yourself with a trip to your favorite cafe, or to see a movie afterwards (more ways to take care of yourself), so it doesn’t feel like any sort of ordeal; actually, you could make it a trip to look forward to.

Whether you need to get your throat checked, book in for some ear cleaning, or sort out that annoying wisdom tooth; book to see a reputable professional as soon as you can. You’ll only come away feeling proud of yourself, and with the right advice or treatment so that you’re a picture of great health again. Making sure that your as physically healthy as you can be, will have a positive impact on your mood and demeanor each day. Gaining that extra pep in your step will ensure that your mind is clear, and each morning feels like a fresh start so that you can make the most of each day ahead.

Learning To Say No To Others And Yes To Yourself

So much of what people do is out of a sense of duty, habit, or just because they feel like there’s not another option. However, when it comes to non-essential activities and events, that wear you out, or don’t give you a boost; it’s time to assess your response to them. You’re able to refuse plans that don’t excite you, and stay-in or do something different, that will make you feel much better. Swapping after-work drinks, to stay in and enjoy a book or bubble bath (or both), is far more likely to enrich your week, and ensure that you have plenty of energy left to do the things you really want to.

Stop feeling guilty about saying no to plans and people that make you feel run-down, tired, and drained. They simply aren’t worth it. It will take some time to change these habits, but, if you make a conscience effort to make the changes more regularly; they’ll just become a part of your habits and way of thinking. You can use that free time to enjoy whatever it is that allows you to switch-off, and let the stresses of life ebb away.

Enjoying The Simple Things More

Fresh air, nourishing food, and quality time with those who lift your spirits, are all excellent ways to invest in your self care. Therefore, make sure that you incorporate more of these simple pleasures (and life essentials) into your everyday routine. Take an extra five minutes to stand and look in the garden each morning as you drink your coffee, notice the little acts of kindness people are doing, and make the most of those simple things more. Each time you do, you’ll be giving your mood and mental health a much-needed boost, to help you get through that busy week.

Brain Wave, Health and medicine, Self-Care Corner

The Best Fat Burning Cardio Exercises

October 17, 2018 No Comments

Excess fat in one’s body has proved to be dangerous on several occasions. It can lead to conditions like high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks. Lifestyle conditions like diabetes and cancer can also be triggered by excess fat in one’s body. Working out turns to be one of the best ways you can get rid of excess fat in your body. Apart from shedding pounds, you also gain an increase in muscle mass.

Combining your workouts with supplements like musclesfax will help you achieve more gains. Cardio exercises are also useful in helping one shed off those extra pounds. These are exercises meant to increase one’s heart rate and even metabolism. There are various cardio workouts that help burn excess body fat you can try out. They include:

Rope Jumping

It is one of the best, and easiest cardio exercises you can try out. This exercise involves jumping over a rope slowly as you increase your speed. Common among athletes, it helps improve one’s foot speed and also movements. You get to burn more fat within a short period with this type of exercise. You should try it because of how cheap and effective it is.

Stair Climbing

It is another effective way to burn more calories within a short period. It also helps make your leg muscles stronger because they are the most used in such exercises. You need to find some stairs or steep area where you can carry out this type of training. Remember to monitor your progress.

Cycling

You also get to burn more calories through cycling. One can try out this exercise using the cycling machine which is stationary, or you can use a real bicycle. You get to use more energy which is vital when it comes to burning body fat. It is also good for your knees and the joints found in your ankle area.

Elliptical

It is a form of stationary workout which can help you lose a lot of fat within a short period. This type of exercise involves the use of an elliptical machine which works by simulating running. It is best known for cardio workouts that are of low impact. Common in many gyms, you can try them out to get quality results within a short period.

Running

This is a simple cardio exercise you can try out anytime and in different environments. You don’t need to go to the gym because you can do it in an open space near you. Morning jogs help one burn more calories. In the gym, you can try out different equipment that can help you monitor your progress. The treadmill is the best for this type of exercise.

Swimming

One can also shed off some extra pounds as they entertain themselves. Swimming is one type of exercise that can keep you occupied as you also gain some health benefits. Fast swimming will help you burn a lot of calories fast. One can also do it at several intervals and wait for some quality results.

Brain Wave, Life in general, Self-Care Corner

Start Feeling Better About Yourself Fast

May 10, 2018 No Comments

If you don’t feel absolutely awesome in yourself, then you need to take action. It might sound cheesy or cliche, but you should be your best friend. You’re the only one who has to live with yourself forever, so you should learn to like yourself! Here are some pointers that will help you to learn to like yourself, or feel better about yourself, quickly:

Start Taking Play Seriously

The problem a lot of people have is taking work more seriously than play. Work earns people money and helps them to live, and play does not – so naturally, people don’t prioritize it, and it falls to the wayside. However, you’ll feel so much better about yourself and your situation when you take play just as seriously as you take work or home cleaning. Play is important as it’s great for your overall well being. It’s great for stress relief, enjoyment, and simply forgetting your troubles for a while. Try a hobby you’ve always wanted to try, or spend more time doing the things that you really love.

Learn A New Skill

Why not learn a new skill? When you set out to learn a new skill, you tend to break out of your comfort zone and begin to feel far more comfortable in your abilities. You may surprise yourself, and realize that you’re capable of far more than you could have ever imagined.

Wear Clothes You Love

The clothes we wear can have a direct impact on how we feel. If you’re wearing lounge clothes each and every day, you’ll likely feel lazy. If you wore a suit to work, you’d probably feel far more productive. This isn’t to say you should go to extremes, but there’s a nugget of truth when people say ‘dress for the job you want, not the job you have.’ As clothes impact the way we feel, they can impact how productive we are. Wear clothes that make you feel great and like getting things done no matter what.

Image Source

Take Care Of Your Appearance

Spend more time on your appearance. You don’t have to slather yourself in makeup every day – not at all. Simple spend more time grooming yourself and doing what feels good. There are plenty of resources online that can help you to take care of your hair for next to nothing, like this resource here. Going to a salon is great, but not always affordable. Make sure you have a great skincare routine, too. Take care of your teeth and nails. Let your natural beauty shine through!

Take Some Time For A Pamper

Run yourself a bath and spend more time in it than you usually would. Paint your nails. Moisturize your skin with something luxurious. Spend time pampering yourself once or twice a week. Don’t just save it for special occasions!

Spend Time With People Who Lift You Up

We become most like the people we spend time with, so if you’re spending time with people who are constantly negative about themselves, you’re probably going to feel the same, eventually. Spend time with those who are positive and lift you up!

Brain Wave, Self-Care Corner, Shopping and Merchandise

5 Laser Hair Removal Myths You Should Stop Believing

April 27, 2018 No Comments

There are about as many myths about ridding yourself of body hair as there are methods of removing it in the first place. Often, the information you’ll find is confusing at best and conflicting at worst. Is laser hair removal for you and can this makeover treatment do you any good? Below, we separate the fiction from facts:

Myth 1: Laser hair removal causes the hair to grow back faster and denser.

How fast your hair grows back, as well as how thick or coarse it is, is pre-determined by your genes. This means that regardless of the method you’ve used to remove the hair, it will always come back at the same rate. People believe this myth because untouched body hair lies flat, soft, and thin; a stark contrast to freshly shaved hair with blunted ends, which feels courser against the surface of the skin.

Laser hair removal should cause a marked reduction of hair growth, anywhere between 10% and 25%. There should also be a visible reduction in the density and thickness of the hair when it grows back, as well as a decreased rate of growth for every successive session. The hair that does grow back should be much finer and lighter than before, meaning that problematic areas won’t bother you as much when the hair does start growing back.

Myth 2: Laser hair removal lasts forever.

While it is a highly effective method of getting rid of unwanted body hair, laser hair removal isn’t permanent. However, it does drastically reduce hair growth, and as stated above, the hair that does grow back is thinner and much finer. After a point, it will become unnecessary for you to pick up a razor ever again, so long as you are able to complete your recommended number of treatments faithfully. This means going in for a sitting up to 12 times to fully realize the effects, though around 6 to 8 sessions is enough to notice a visible reduction.
Laser energy is used to damage the follicles in the growing phase, and several treatments are needed to get all of them. Depending on the hair type and your genes, certain people may require more treatments to fully rid themselves of hair.

Myth 3: Laser hair removal only works on a certain skin or hair color.

There’s a lot of misinformation out there about laser hair removal only being effective on those with light skin and dark hair. While this used to be true, the technology has advanced enough that people of all colors and hair types can now avail of laser hair removal and achieve the same results. However, it may take light haired, fair-skinned individuals a few more treatments for the lasers to get the work done. You’ll want to consult with a professional about this to determine how many sessions it’ll take for you personally, as it can vary from person to person.

Myth 4: Laser hair removal can burn the skin.

It’s actually very rare for the machines used in laser hair removal to cause burns. It depends on the condition of your skin, as darker-skinned individuals may be more at risk for this. That’s why it’s important to talk to a medical professional before undergoing any sort of aesthetic treatment. Listen to their advice and take any pre- and post-treatment medication you may be prescribed.

Myth 5: Laser hair removal is extremely painful.

How painful the treatment will be largely depends on which tool is used – there are many different kinds! Ask your aesthetician for a list of options and inform yourself well on each one, especially if you have a particularly low tolerance.

The pain level can vary for different people: some treatments are virtually painless, while others have reported to feeling a mildly uncomfortable pinprick sensation. Others still report a manageable amount of discomfort – certainly less than waxing, for example. You can rest assured that your aesthetician will do everything within their power to make the process as comfortable as possible for you, so don’t be afraid to speak up. Furthermore, laser treatments get progressively less painful as the hair becomes finer, so you can just grit your teeth until the worst has passed, for lasting hairless comfort.

Again, it’s very important to consult with a medical professional and educate yourself about laser hair removal prior to signing up for a series of treatments. This way, you can properly set your expectations and clear any misgivings you may have about it.

Brain Wave, Self-Care Corner

6 Ways You Can Be The Best Version Of You

April 3, 2018 No Comments

Self-care is one of the most underrated necessities in life today. When you’re hungry, you eat. When you’re tired, you sleep. When you need cash, you go to work. And yet when it comes to taking care of yourself personally, for your own emotional and mental well-being, I’m willing to bet that you put that right on the backburner. Your future, your present and who you are right now are going to depend not on the way that others see you, but how you see yourself. Success doesn’t happen overnight for people in any field; hard work and living the life that they want is how things happen for people.

Image Source

When you were a child, people would tell you to dream big and be the best that you can be in your life so that you can live a great life. Then you get to adulthood and you realise that rather than being free and living without rules, you live with more rules than you ever thought would be possible. The thing is, this is not a bad thing! Responsibility means stress, yes, but it also means prosperity and success. The key is to ensure that you care for yourself while you are caring for everyone else around you, and it’s important that you can identify the self-care that you need to care for yourself. For example, researching the fact that Sahaja meditation relieves stress can mean that those responsibilities on your shoulders that give your life the success that you crave can feel far more manageable, simply because you looked after your mental wellbeing. If you are searching for ways that you can be the best person that you can be while balancing all the tribulations of a successful adult life, check out the tips below:

Image Source

1. What Do You Want? The most important thing that you need to know to be able to be the best person that you can be is what you want out of life. Do you want love? Wealth? Friendship? You need to work out what your happy is and why you want those things. Once you work that out, you have a dream, which will develop into a goal and thus help you to find success.

2. Believe In Yourself. You can have all the dreams in the world, but if each thought is full of self-doubt, you’re not going to get anywhere at all, are you? You need to build your confidence up and have faith that you can succeed. Recognising your talents and believing in yourself is vital for the future.

3. Find Inspiration. To be your best self, you need a muse. Take a look at the person that you aspire to be like and see how they act and how they speak and how they treated others to get to where they were. You don’t need to copy what they do, but you can learn from someone that you admire most and go forward with them in mind when you picture your best self.

4. Positivity Counts. Negative minds and negative words will not bring you to the success that you want. You need to surround yourself in positive support; people who will cheer you on not tear you down. Positivity is catching, so make it count.

5. Take Care. Your mental health and physical well-being is important to get you to the best version of you, so make sure that you are nurturing yourself. Take that weekly class that you want to go to. Learn that new language. Anything you can do that you think will make you a better person, do it. You have nothing to lose.

6. Get Uncomfortable. Success and forward thinking is not found in the same routines and steps that you take every day. It’s time to step out of that comfort zone that you love so much and get uncomfortable again. If you believe you can’t do something, you’re less likely to try. You don’t have to change who you are but adding things to your personality is going to make you a much better person.

Image Source

Staying happy and pushing your future in the path that you want to follow is going to make you the best version of yourself. You need to love yourself first before anyone else can want to and being comfortable with who you are and who you hope to be is so important for a happy and healthy existence. Don’t put you on the backburner when you’re the front runner in your life.

Brain Wave, Self-Care Corner

Meditation: The Ultimate Self-Care Tip

February 22, 2018 No Comments

I often get asked what my best advice is for self-care. After a lot of pondering, I realized that the ultimate self-care tip is to meditate. Meditation is so beneficial for you in so many different ways. No matter how you’re suffering, a bit of meditation will always help you get a little bit better.

As such, I thought I’d dedicate this article to all the different ways in which meditation is good for your mind and body.

Source

Meditation Is Great For Controlling Emotions

One of the key benefits of meditation is that it helps you control your emotions. If you’re someone that’s often very emotional and gets angry or upset quickly, then you need to meditate. Long slow breaths will help you calm down and reach a sense of inner peace. From here, you think clearly, and it can stop you from overreacting when something happens. If you feel emotion building up inside you, take a step back and meditate for five minutes then see the difference it makes.

« Previous 1 2 3 4 Next »