Books I Recommend You Read [November]

Monday, November 30, 2020

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Fall is a great time to get cozy with some good books.  Check out what I read this month.


Creating a Self-care Sanctuary Bathroom

Sunday, November 29, 2020

 

No matter what you do for work, your lifestyle, or how you usually relax, turning your bathroom into a self-care space has its benefits.

A bath is an ideal space for you to soothe your muscles and get a full-body dose of warmth. Even the busiest of days can change in the time it takes to soak in some bubbles. Sure, a bath isn’t the only part of self-care - but it is wonderful.

Photo by intan Indiastuti on Unsplash


Cleaning up

It is hard to feel calm, clean, or content when you have a lot of mess around. One of the first things that you should do is clean your space. Cleaning actually has its own mental benefits too. When you clean, you are taking control of your environment, and in doing so, it can help calm your mind. A sense of satisfaction follows it, and that can improve your mood. Check out these 5 nifty tools to support your cleaning

Set the scene

Setting up everything you need in a place that makes practical sense for you is important. If you usually use a specific bubble bath or shower wash, have them easy to reach. This will mean you don’t have to dip in and out of the tub to get what you need. If you don’t have a bath, it might just be time to get one fitted. You can find out more here about having a bath installed.
 
Colors

Not everyone wishes to paint their bathroom. But you can add color in different ways. You can unify your towel colors. Using colors and tones that you find calming and enjoy looking at. Using those as a base for the rest of the colors, change your soap dish, add stickers to your tiles, and tie it all together with a shower curtain and bath mats.
 
Scent

The scents you use in a room can change how it feels as a whole. There are some scents that we are familiar with in a bathroom. Lemons, pines, and ocean-fresh are typically used for cleaning products. Lavender, jasmine, roses, and mints are known to bring calm and relaxation to the room. You might choose to have deeper, richer scents like neroli, ambers, and sandalwood.
 
Skincare

The bathroom is the perfect place to keep your skincare. Night creams and hand creams might be better by the bedside so that you don’t forget them. But using your skincare in the bathroom while cleaning or in the bath can increase how relaxed you feel and the potency of things like cleansers on softened pores.
 
Self-care

Self-care does come in many forms. From taking a nap on a Sunday afternoon to arranging your taxes. It is important that you have some self-care in your weekly or even daily routine. Things that you do in order to uplift yourself. Recharging yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically so that you can be the best and most productive version of yourself.

Think about the things you need in your bathroom so that when you close the door behind you, you can take care of yourself, mind, body, and soul.


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Why Doing What You Love Can Transform Your Life

Friday, November 27, 2020

 

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When you’re choosing a job or career, there are lots of important things to consider. Your earning potential, geographical location, professional experience, and work-family balance will all be determining factors when it comes to finding a job role that’s right for you. However, many people overlook the importance of doing something you live,

When practical concerns take precedence, it’s easy to put your dreams to one side but choosing a career you’re passionate about can have a positive impact on every area of your life. If you’re not convinced, take a look at how doing what you love can transform your life:

More Self-Confidence

When you spend your time doing something you enjoy, you can boost your self-esteem and naturally feel more confident. Following your dreams can take courage and determination, which is why being successful in your chosen field can have such a powerful impact on your confidence. Instead of feeling out of your depth, you can feel empowered, knowledgeable, and successful when you allow yourself to choose a career you’re truly passionate about.

Reduced Stress

Any type of career can be stressful, particularly if you’re doing something you don’t really enjoy. No matter what type of environment you work in, a role you’re not committed to can increase the risk of experiencing health issues, especially chronic stress. This can manifest itself in a number of ways, from physical ailments, like headaches and high blood pressure, to emotional negatively, such as anxiety or depression.

Conversely, when you’re in a role you love, it can have a positive impact on your stress levels, even if the job itself is fast-paced or involves a substantial amount of responsibility. Instead of seeing problems as unavoidable trials, you’ll view them as exciting challenges instead. This change in your perception is one of the reasons why doing something you love can lower your stress levels.

Willingness to Learn

If you choose a career that you are genuinely interested in, you’ll always be eager to learn more. Of course, this will stand in you good stead when it comes to securing promotions and furthering your career.

As well as gaining more professional experience, your willingness to learn may motivate you to obtain additional qualifications. From an MBA for businessmen and women to an MOT degree for occupational therapists, there are plenty of options out there. When you study for an advanced qualification in something you love, you’ll fulfill your natural curiosity and fuel your professional thirst for knowledge. By doing so, you can become a better practitioner and fall in love with your chosen career path all over again.

Broaden Your Social Circle

While it’s important to cultivate a strong professional network, you’ll also find that your colleagues, clients, and peers form part of your social circle when you have a job you enjoy. Your shared enthusiasm for your industry is a great starting point for any friendship, which is why it’s easier to connect with people when you’re doing a job you love.

Loneliness and isolation can have a major impact on your physical and emotional well-being, so it’s important to maintain social connections at every stage in life. When your work and professional life has a positive impact on your social life, you can reap the rewards in so many ways.


Pushing Your Boundaries

Overcoming challenges is simply part of life and this can make you a more confident person in the long run. Staying inside your comfort zone won’t necessarily get you to where you want to be in your career. This is why you might want to consider medical schools, dentistry, engineering and other challenging fields that push you outside of your comfort zone and regular boundaries. The uphill battle may be hard to overcome, but once you have discovered your passion, you will feel so much more content in your career. Choosing a career that allows you to step over your usual boundaries may just transform your life.

Increased Motivation

Following your dream career path can give you motivation in other areas. As you’ll feel more empowered and in control, these positive feelings will lead to action in other areas of your life. Knowing that you’re capable of following your dreams in one area of your life will give you the motivation you need to do the same in other areas.

Whether you want to run a marathon in your spare time, launch a new business or make industry breakthroughs, the inherent motivation your job brings will give you the drive and determination to succeed in other areas of your life.

Finding a Role You Love

Some people know exactly what they want to do from a young age but, for many people, it’s not quite so straightforward. However, you spend the majority of your adult life at work, so it’s well worth taking the time to think about the type of career that you will truly enjoy.

By assessing your natural talents and interests, you’ll begin to establish which industries can provide the most fulfilling career path. Similarly, learning more about the different roles available and the various routes to qualification will allow you to create a long-term plan for professional success.



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5 Nifty Tools To Support Your Cleaning Regime

 

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Once your home is nice and clean, you’ll immediately feel more content, healthy and relaxed. Many of us don’t enjoy the cleaning process, but perhaps one or two of these apps can change that!

1 . BrightNest

Need a little help sprucing up your home? Then you’ll just love the BrightNest application. With BrightNest, you can create a personal schedule, set reminders, and prioritize your essential household tasks. Here you’ll find plenty of cleaning tips, plus some fabulous interior design ideas. One of the best things about BrightNest is that once you type in your postcode, you’ll get cleaning advice depending on your climate. The app will also offer tips on the natural cleaning products that you can purchase in your country.

2. Unfilth Your Habitat

Unfilth Your Habitat is a unique tool which can help you to improve your house cleaning regime. The app works by giving you challenges, to declutter and clean your home in a flash! Work against the timer of your choice, whether 5 minutes or twenty. Timing yourself is the perfect motivational tool. With the UFH app, you can write to-do-lists, create reminders, or allocate chores by room. The application is excellent for people who don’t have much free time but want to get their homes looking great.

3. Home Routines

The Home Routines application is a fantastic tool to help you get nice and organized. Here you can create cleaning checklists, get tips and set yourself notifications. You can customize your cleaning lists quickly, and sync them on different devices. Whether you want to schedule monthly, weekly or daily chores, Home Routines can help. One of the best features is the ‘focus zones’ settings, which helps you to prioritize the most important chores.

4. Spotless

With the Spotless app, getting a cleaner home is super simple. It’s essentially a household manager which can help you to keep up with all your chores. Here you can set up home areas, design tasks lists, and create a hierarchy. You can plan your time, get decluttering tips, and save time on cleaning. Many of us don’t enjoy cleaning, but it does have to be done! With Spotless, you can make the experience a little easier by speeding up the process.

5. Decluttr

When you’ve got too much clutter, it’s tricky to clean your home and make everything look nice. The best thing to do is to look through all your items and separate anything that’s old or unwanted. Once you’ve decided which items to get rid of, you can use the Decluttr application to sell these things and make money. Here there are lots of different categories that you can sell in, whether it’s tech, clothes, homeware, furniture or kid’s toys. Decluttering your home is an important part of any good cleaning regime.

Keeping your home clean and clutter-free is a great way to boost your health and wellbeing. It’s also essential if you want to keep your home pest-free. Since pests are attracted to food debris, deeping clean is a great preventative measure. If you are experiencing pest issues, despite having a clean home, you’ll need to contact a good pest control company.




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Is There Really A Male Menopause?

 


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A lot of men do not realize that andropause is a “thing” until they experience it themselves. This is something that impacts a lot of men between their 40s and 50s.

Common symptoms include poor short-term memory and concentration, increased tiredness or difficulty sleeping, a general lack of energy or enthusiasm, fat distribution - such as developing ‘man boobs’ or a large stomach, reduced ability to exercise and loss of muscle mass, as well as irritability and mood swings. These symptoms can interfere with a person’s happiness and day-to-day life. It can impact the brain too. It’s worth reading up on what are neurotransmitters for a better understanding.

What are the benefits of bioidentical hormone therapy?

Bioidentical hormone therapy is a type of hormone replacement therapy, which is aimed at men. Men who have had this therapy have reported a number of different benefits. This includes maintenance of lean body mass, boosted sexual performance, increased muscular strength, reduced anxiety, and improved mood. They have also noticed reduced body fat and more energy as well.

What to expect from your treatment

When you book an appointment for male menopause treatment, they will always start your experience by providing a thorough consultation. This is to make sure that you benefit from the greatest treatment for your needs in particular. This is why they take the time to discover more about the symptoms you are experiencing, as well as finding out about your medical history. They will also discover your hormone levels by conducting a simple test. Once they have all of the information, they will provide their recommendations on the right sort of hormone therapy for you. They will continue to monitor this to make sure you are on the correct dosage.

What is bioidentical hormone therapy?

You may be wondering what bioidentical hormones are and how this therapy works. This type of therapy can help to reduce the symptoms of aging by getting your hormone levels back into a balanced state. Bioidentical hormones are compounded hormones, which are derived from sources that occur naturally and are designed so they are not distinguishable when compared with endogenous human hormones in terms of their structure. In simple terms, bioidentical means they are an exact match replica, and so they help to get your hormones back into the right balance.

What are the side effects of bioidentical hormone therapy?

When compared with other forms of hormone therapy, bioidentical hormone therapy is believed to have lower risks in terms of side effects. Nevertheless, as is the case with any type of medication, there is always the risk that there will be some side effects. Common side effects include elevated red blood cell count, decreased testicular size, decreased sperm count, oily skin or acne, and mild fluid retention.

Who is suitable for andropause therapy?

In order to determine your suitability, it is always best to book an appointment with a specialist, as they will be able to look at your medical records and assess your symptoms in order to make their expert opinion. After all, there are some conditions whereby seeking this sort of therapy is not a wise idea. For example, you may need to get approval before you have hormone therapy if you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in the past.

How do you know if you have male menopause?

Unless male menopause is disrupting your life or causing hardship, you may be able to manage your symptoms without treatment. However, for a portion of men, andropause interferes with their life and really gets them down. If this is happening to you, the best thing you can do is speak to a specialist.

Is andropause comparable to menopause?

Because andropause has been given the name male menopause, a lot of people think that they are the same. However, there are a lot of key differences here. Andropause does not represent the end of male fertility, unlike menopause in women. Men remain fertile for the rest of their life, although the quality and quantity of your sperm are going to get lower with age. Moreover, with andropause, the production of testosterone is slowed down. However, with menopause, women will stop producing estrogen altogether once they reach the age of around 50-years-old. Aside from this, a much greater percentage of women experience menopause when compared with men and andropause. While most females experience menopausal symptoms, only around 40 to 65 percent of men are going to be impacted by andropause.




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How To Prepare When Your Parents Are Going To Live With You

Thursday, November 26, 2020

 

It is difficult to see your parents struggle with everyday gestures. You grew up turning to your parents for support and guidance. Therefore, nobody is prepared to become their parents’ caregiver. However, a lot of families have found that they can help elderly adults maintain their independence for longer when they share the same house. How does it work?

You can have your peace of mind, knowing that you’re here if your parents need you. On the other hand, you can also build a meaningful relationship, spending quality time together. When your parents live with you, you can be both a carer and a relative, making them part of your day-to-day life and helping them only when required.

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6 Beauty Hacks To Look Your Best Natural Self Every Day

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

 

Busy women often don't have the time to put on a full face of makeup, spend hours at the spa on the weekend, or hit the gym.

But, many still want to look great regardless. And why wouldn't they? When we look good, we feel great. And when we feel great, we're much better at coping with our daily responsibilities.

Picture by Cottonbro from Pexels - CC0 License



For six beauty hacks that will ensure you look your best self without taking hours to achieve. Look no further; these beauty hacks have you covered.
Beauty Sleep

To enhance the turnover of dead skin cells and reduce redness and puffiness in your skin. Moreover, to rid your body of water retention. Sleep is the answer - or at least a large part of it.


But not just any length or state of sleep will do. To witness positive effects on your appearance, a nightly, long deep sleep is needed.


And so if you can nail the early nights. And make your bedroom comfy, cool, and quiet. You'll be able to add quality sleep as one of your beauty routine essentials.


After a few nights of great sleep, you'll begin to see the results. As such, you won't find yourself rummaging for your concealer to cover up pesky dark circles anymore, either.
 
Teeth Whitening

As we age and eat foods and consume drinks prone to staining our pearly whites, they inevitably become dull. Plus, any crooked teeth become more accentuated when your teeth are discolored.

A full tooth scale and polish may suffice to bring your teeth back to life. But if it doesn't, consider booking a consultation with A Gifted Cosmetic Dentist to discuss whether tooth whitening is a viable option for you.

A great, white smile knocks years off your age and makes you look healthier and more attractive.

Plus, a brighter smile will give you the confidence to smile more. And smiling lifts your entire face, making you look instantly radiant.
 
Moisturise

Our face and hands' skin experiences a range of damaging and drying weather conditions, not to mention pollution too. Consequently, your skin needs a barrier of protection to keep it looking healthy and bright each day.

Picture by Chermiti from Pexels - CC0 License



Opt for an anti-aging moisturizer that doubles up as an SPF cream. Don't forget to extend the moisturizer down your neck and onto the back of your hands too.

Exfoliate More Often

Dead skills instantly make your skin look drab and increase the appearance of wrinkles while tarnishing your natural beauty.

Gently exfoliating your skin can shift along with unwanted dead skin cells and reveal soft and supple new skin.

Gentle is the keyword to take on board when exfoliating. And exfoliating once is more than enough, particularly on your face and hands' delicate skin. However, other areas of your body, like the legs and bum, can withstand more vigorous exfoliation.
 
Reduce Hair Damage

For voluminous, soft, shiny hair, there are few steps you can take to help your hair be the best it can be.

The first step is to reduce or completely stop styling your locks with tools that emit heat, such as blowdryers, straighteners, and curlers. Heat styling electronics cause hair to thin, frizz, and break.

The second is to not use hot water on your hair, which can frazzle and damage the follicles. Instead, opt for warm water for washing.

Third, consider not dying your hair anymore and instead leave your natural color to grow. You'll find your hair will be in much better condition if you do. Reducing the time, effort, and money it takes to style it each day. This step can take a while before all of your dyed hair has grown out, but in the end, it'll be worth it. 

Silk Pillow

While sleeping, you toss and turn as your skin and hair rub against the cotton sheets.

Ideally, to reduce the prospect of wrinkles and keep your skin and hair in the best condition as you sleep. Buying a soft pillow cover, which won't absorb the moisture from your skin or dry out your hair, is essential.

Silk pillows are the go-to beauty hack for women and men worldwide. And will ensure you look your best self when you wake up each morning.

The tips above are just a few ways to enhance your natural beauty without spending hours and lots of money doing it.

By using the beauty hacks above and taking better care of your teeth, your skin, and hair, you're guaranteed to look healthier and more youthful in no time.




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4 Signs You Need To Take Better Care Of Your Teeth

 

Since you were a child, you’ve probably been told time and time again about the importance of taking care of your smile and attending regular dentist appointments. However, for one reason or the other, this is something we often avoid. In fact, we often start being ‘afraid’ of the dentists as children and carry this fear (however irrational it might be) into adulthood.

Furthermore, many people are unwilling to visit the dentist due to the fact that it can be expensive - but solving any issues early is the best way to save money.

With that in mind, here are four signs that you need to take better care of your teeth (and perhaps need to visit the dentist!)

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash



Toothache

This is perhaps the most obvious symptom of poor dental hygiene, but too often people try to treat the pain itself as opposed to figuring out the cause. For example, there are many different reasons as to why you are suffering from a toothache, including:

Tooth decay

An abscess

A damaged tooth (Perhaps it has been chipped, cracked or otherwise broken)

A damaged filing for a previous cavity

If you experience toothache frequently, you need to schedule an appointment with a dentist. Painkillers can help relieve the symptoms, but they won’t make the problem go away - you need Exceptional General Dentistry to solve any issues you have encountered.

Bleeding gums

If your mouth bleeds, namely after brushing your teeth, this is a clear-cut sign that you need to visit a dentist - and you need to do it soon. In fact, bleeding gums is the first sign of tooth loss. Gum disease also manifests itself with other unpleasant symptoms, including receding gums and breath.

Bad Breath

Bad breath is something that everyone wants to avoid. However, despite popular belief, bad breath is not always a sign of bad dental hygiene - it may be that you’ve eaten too much garlic or another food item that causes bad breath. However, if you often find that you have bad breath, you need to visit the dentist, who can help resolve any issues you are facing. As mentioned previously, your bad breath may be attributed to gum disease, but could also be the result of a build-up of bacteria inside your mouth. Thankfully, it is easily treated once you know the cause of the issue. Furthermore, you can fight off bad breath by brushing your teeth regularly.

Discoloration

If you are suffering from discoloration, you may need to begin taking better care of your teeth. Thankfully, you do not always need to visit a dentist to resolve this issue - although they are sure to be able to offer support and guidance. To battle discoloration, you should:

Use fluoride toothpaste when brushing your teeth

Floss in between meals

Use mouthwash after brushing your teeth

Avoid foods that may ‘stain’ your teeth (Cirtrust fruits, candy, and caffeinated beverages such as tea and coffee).

Avoid foods and drink with high amounts of sugar (Candy, sweets, bread, nuts)

Quit smoking, as this can cause your teeth to yellow.

You can also find dentists that give your smile a second chance. Not only can this help you with discoloration, but it can also give you the chance to repair chips, cracks, and other unsightly oral problems.



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Winter Preparedness Tips for Apartment Building Managers

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

 

Winter weather can present a lot of challenges for property managers. In an apartment building, your residents rely on you to react quickly when a weather emergency heads their way. Some advance preparation before the worst of the winter weather sets in can make serving your residents a little more manageable, and it can make life a lot easier for your maintenance staff. Moreover, getting ready for winter can help you save on your operating expenses by sparing you from having to do things last minute. Lastly, being prepared to respond to weather-related problems will lessen the possibility of an accident and make it easier for you to keep your residents safe. Here are some important tips for property managers about what they can do to be prepared for winter weather events.
 
Have a Good Plan for Snow Removal

Plowing parking lots and clearing snow from walkways is one of the most essential parts of managing a residential building during the winter months. Residents have to be able to walk outside of the building and drive out of the parking lot when they need to. It’s important to establish a relationship with a reliable company that can respond quickly when you need help with prompt snow removal. In addition to being reliable, you need a company that’s affordable and will offer you competitive pricing on their services.
 
Prevent Slip and Falls

People coming into a common area from a wet and snowy day outside are likely to track in snow and leave the floor wet and slippery. You should have a floor mat placed immediately where you walk into the building at each entrance. Having a good floor mat will greatly reduce the risk that someone will leave an entire hallway wet for the next unsuspecting resident who walks down it. However, it’s important that you use a market that has a thick material and a non-skid bottom. If the mat is too thin or moves too easily, it could shift from its place when someone walks on it and cause him or her to fall. Also, you should try to get a material that is relatively easy to clean because you can expect that it may get stained with salt or ice melt. Another good way to avoid slip and falls is putting up a conspicuous caution sign near your entrances. A mat will catch most of what people will track into a building but not everything, so having a caution sign offers another important form of protection by reminding residents to be careful.
 
Be Ready to Deal With a Power Outage

A severe winter storm could knock out the power to an entire region. It’s imperative that your emergency lighting and any other backup equipment such as a generator are in good working order. It’s advisable to inspect and test your equipment in advance of the weather so you don’t learn of a problem when a malfunction could be dangerous. Be sure that your emergency lighting in common areas and stairwells complies with any applicable fire and safety code in your area.

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