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5 Steps to Treating Dry Eye with Dr. Michael Lange

By
Elizabeth Williams

For many people, dry eye is a condition that they deal with on a daily basis and is something they unfortunately have just accepted. As a chronic, progressive condition, people do not realize that it is something that can be easily managed through a few different steps. Dr. Michael Lange, an Optometrist and expert in natural approaches to dry eye, believes that patients should be able to have comfort along with great vision. Dr. Michael Lange took the time to share his expertise on the causes of dry eye and provided the following five steps to help your dry eye condition.

Causes of Dry Eye

Dry eyes are generally caused by reduced amount of tears being produced to sufficiently keep the eyes wet and lubricated, causing discomfort, irritation, redness, trouble focusing, and many times light sensitivity. Dr. Michael Lange explains that some common reasons for dry eye include contact lens use – from improper use to frequent use – there is decreased oxygen supplied directly to the eyes and increased tear evaporation, aging causes decreased tear production and many arthritis related conditions can cause dry eyes.

Additionally, certain medications act on receptors that decrease tear secretions leading to dry eyes. Finally, one of the biggest causes of dry eyes is our environment, where things such as heaters, dust, pollen and pollution can lead to the drying of eyes. 

Artificial Tears

For patients with mild dry eye symptoms, many find that lubricating eye drops help ease symptoms significantly and are comforting, as they help artificially restore moisture while also helping to flush away any irritants that may have built up. Depending on symptoms, Dr. Michael Lange suggests using them anywhere from once to 4-6 times/day as needed, and also suggests staying away from certain eye drops meant to reduce redness, as they vasoconstrict causing further decrease in natural tear production. 

Lid Hygiene

Something that many people neglect is our eyelids and the importance of keeping them clean. Eyelids and eyelashes have the important role of protecting our corneas and eyes in general from debris and other particles that may potentially be harmful by acting as a physical barrier. But if not properly cleaned, these foreign bodies can build up and cause irritation and can potentially lead to tear duct blockage, eventually leading to dry eye. Dr. Michael Lange recommends washing your eyelids once daily, using a warm cloth to gently clean out the eyelid. 

Warm Compresses

As part of the daily routine of cleaning the eyelids, it is also recommended to use a warm compress to help open up potentially clogged ducts that can keep natural oils and our tears from helping to keep our eyes moist. The heat of the compresses can help break down the clogs and empty out the ducts, allowing tears and oils to flow naturally. It is suggested using a washcloth and soaking in warm water, followed by rinsing and placing over your eyes for at least 10 minutes. This can be done twice daily to help with more severe symptoms. 

Lifestyle changes

Other little changes Dr. Michael Lange suggests is taking breaks from screen use, as this can cause both eye strain as well as dry eyes. It is suggested to take a break every 20 minutes and look at something for 20 seconds that is 20 feet away to help relax your eyes, sometimes referred to as the 20-20-20 rule. Another simple change is removing eye makeup thoroughly, especially before bed, as makeup can clog up our glands and ducts, leading to dry eyes. 

Fortifeye Advanced Dry Eye Therapy

Another popular dry eye and eye health remedy is the use of fish oils and omega fatty acids. With over 25 years of research in the field, Dr. Michael Lange has been heavily invested in helping his patients that suffer from dry eyes and has researched and developed his own formulated dry eye therapy that has recently become available to the public.

On a cellular level, inflammation and oxidation can lead to damage, and many of these supplements help as antioxidants and help to relieve dry eye and eye tiredness. Generally, Omega-3 is used, and in his special formulation, Dr. Lange uses what he calls Super Omega, helping deliver the fish oil in a way and in the right dosage to help dry eye symptoms.

In his specially formulated Advanced Dry Eye Therapy, he has achieved clinical results using this Omega-3, along with an Omega-6 called GLA, and astaxanthin, a potent carotenoid, along with lutein and zeaxanthin to significantly reduce the amount of dry eye symptoms patients experience. It has been shown that this formula has reduced inflammatory marker levels in the blood, and as each of the ingredients serve a particular purpose, the eyes are greatly benefitted, both with dryness and strain.

5 Ways to prepare for An Exam for Excellent Performance

By
Elizabeth Williams

When the days of exam come closer a feeling of palpitation conquers the mind of students appearing for either board or university exams. Such experiences can be easily managed if proper planning is done. We have a few tips with us which we would like to share to make your exam preparations easy.

Create an organized place for study:

You need to ensure that your study table is having enough space for the proper spreading of textbooks as well as notes. The table needs to be at the right angle to help your focus on your books. The chair must be a comfortable one for sitting.  Computer and mobile should be out of sight from the study table to avoid distraction.

Prepare a time table covering all subjects:

Prepare a time table which covers each paper or subject of your course. There should not be anything left for the last minute. First pen down the dates of exam for every subject, Chapters to be revised per subject, and the number of days left for each exam. Now plan your study habits based on these factors.

Collect previous year question papers:

You can take help of your seniors and collect previous year test papers from them. Practice writing the answer of questions keeping a track of time. This will help you to manage time for every question to complete the paper well before time. You need to keep some time for revision of the answers.

Drink Plenty of water and take breaks:

It is advisable for you to take a minimum of 2 liters of water daily to keep the body hydrated and energized. It will keep you active while studying hard. Make a habit of taking a break after every 30 mines to 1 hr gap. It will help your brain to regain focus.

Take healthy food and do the exercise:

Avoid taking too much spicy and oily food at least starting from a month before your exams. Too much oily food may cause acidity and make you weaker from inside. Include fresh and vitamin enriched items in your diet. Do 30 mins of exercise every day to keep you active.

Include supplements:

To help your brain support you during your exam days it is important to take brain boosters or supplements. NitroVit is one such product which empowers the brain and improves your power to focus on studies, enhances productivity, and memorization capability. It reduces stress and makes you capable to concentrate more on studies. It is FDA-approved. You can call this magical product as focus pill which helped many students in concentrating well on studies.

Check the rules and regulations of the exam center/board:   

Ensure you have the hall ticket in place with you. Check if there are any prohibited items which are not allowed in exam hall like mobile. Take a note of the entry time in the exam hall as you need to reach there at least 10 minutes before time.

Above are a few ways and tips which you can follow to prepare for your exams and perform well.

What Response Time is Best for a Gaming Monitor?

By
Elizabeth Williams

What Response Time is Best for a Gaming Monitor?

For detailed gaming reviews and buying guides, visit kickofftech. We have hundreds of independently tested product reviews and expert guides to keep you safe from making unsuitable choices. For all reviewed products, we do comparisons based on quality, functionality, tech trends, handiness, design, ergonomics, price, and value for money.

On this piece, you will learn everything you need to know about gaming monitor response time, and the best to choose.

What Does Monitor Response Time Mean?

Response time is among the most important gaming monitor display specifications and should definitely influence your choice.

A monitor’s response time is also pixel response time and refers to how quickly a monitor is able to change a pixel from one color or shade to another.

A monitor’s response time may be affected by its panel technology since some come with lower response times than others.

In simple terms, response time can be used to indicate how fast changing a pixel from black to white takes, or how quickly one shade of gray will change to another. In this case, Black-to-white is normally regarded as the monitor’s “true” response time, while gray-gray response time is much of a marketing strategy.

Hence, if you see a manufacturer advertising their monitor’s response time as “gray-gray”, it means that its black-to-white response time is a little bit higher.

Difference BetweenResponse Time and Refresh Rate

Response time is commonly confused with refresh rate but here’s the difference – Although refresh rate is all about changing flames, response time basically involves changing individual color pixels.

The Effect of Response Time

A monitor’s response time affects clarity and accuracy with which a moving object will be displayed. The point is, the higher a monitor’s response time, the more difficult it will have in displaying fast moving objects. The following happens in such a scenario:

  • Motion blur
  • Ghosting

A Motion Blur

This is the most noticeable effect of high response time. During fast camera movements, pixels might lack enough time to change color, and this leads to a blurred image. You might find this a big issue especially if you are prone to motion sickness.

Ghosting

Ghosting is also common during fast camera movements. Pixels lack enough time for changing colors properly and when an object moves on your screen, what follows is a fading silhouette.

What is the Best Gaming Response Time?

Naturally, lower response time is always better for gaming, but there is a catch on this.

The catch really has nothing to do with response time, but rather, the technology used in modern monitors.

A wide array of monitors today use TN and IPS panels. The two categories have both their benefits and drawbacks, one of them being response time. For example, TN panels feature response times as low as 1ms. On the other hand, IPS panel monitor response times cannot go below 4ms.

What Does This Mean?

Consider how you feel about in-game FPS. Some gamers find 30FPS unplayable, while others do not find the difference between a 60FPS and a 30FPS. The two situations apply to response times too.

However, bear in mind that it is more difficult to use a 30FPS if you have been used to higher framerates. The same applies to response times. If you have been using a 1ms monitor for a long time, you could find a 4ms quite high for you.

How Do You Check?

Checking a suitable response time is easiest when done in person. Most big hardware stores have monitors on displays meant for customers to check how a response time sits. At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong if you go for the best 1080p 144hz monitor with a 1ms response time.

You can also do this without leaving your home, so long as you have some help from your Television.

TVs normally have higher response times, even though manufacturers don’t include it in their specifications. Most TVs have their response times ranging from 8 to 15 and whichever the case, the response time of your TV will be higher than that your monitor. Try gaming with this to see if a high response time works well for you.

Bottom Line

If you are able to identify the difference between a 1ms response time and a 4ms or higher, you should then go for one that suits you most. However, lower is always better and 1ms is the lowest response time at the moment. If you choose an IPS monitor though, you will have to stick with 4MS.

In Summary, we recommend a 1ms for competitive gamers, and the 4ms or higher for non-competitive games.

Adrafinil: Is It An Effective Cognitive Enhancer?

By
Elizabeth Williams

People have used nootropics for thousands of years, although the term nootropic was only coined about half a century ago from two Greek words that translate to “mind-bending”.

Nootropics include nutritional supplements and drugs that are believed to help boost cognitive performance and enhance mental well-being. They include some herbs that have been used for many centuries in traditional Eastern medicine to treat different forms of mental impairment. They also include modern medicines that have been clinically proven to treat various mental disorders.

Adrafinil is one of the most commonly used nootropics today. It is a moderate stimulant of the central nervous system that was developed as a treatment for sleepiness and tiredness in people suffering from narcolepsy, night shift problems and sleep disorders.

Adrafinil as a Cognitive Enhancer

Although adrafinil was meant to be used by patients who had certain health problems, many healthy people found that this drug is also effective for them. It is used to improve vigilance, alertness and energy. Some people also claimed having improved mood after taking adrafinil.

It is not yet known how adrafinil exactly works, but studies found that it increases the levels of dopamine in the brain by acting as a dopamine reuptake inhibitor, which contributes to the arousing effect of the drug. Other mechanisms of action have also been suggested.

Adrafinil is usually used by people who work for late hours or don’t get enough sleep. Some students also take it to improve learning and memory, however, there is no scientific evidence that it helps in this regard.

When used as a wakefulness and energy booster, adrafinil is remarkably more effective than most other supplements and drugs that are available over the counter. However, results vary from one user to another and not everyone may have a positive experience with it.

Adrafinil vs. Modafinil

Modafinil is the pharmacologically active metabolite of adrafinil. After adrafinil is ingested it gets absorbed and transferred to the liver, where it gets metabolized into modafinil. Both adrafinil and modafinil are used as medications in different parts of the world, and they both essentially have the same effects and uses.

Because adrafinil has to be broken down by the liver first and modafinil doesn’t, it was found that modafinil is more effective at lower doses, and so most pharmaceutical companies chose to make and market modafinil, while adrafinil remained relatively less known and used.

In most countries, modafinil is an approved prescription medication whereas adrafinil is not approved or regulated. That makes adrafinil legal to purchase without a prescription, albeit it cannot be sold under any claims that it treats any illness.

Where to Buy Adrafinil?

Many online retailers carry adrafinil in powder and capsule form. There are several reputable nootropics sellers from whom consumers can buy adrafinil and other cognitive/brain enhancers. The Morris on Health website provides a quick rundown of some of the top stores that sell adrafinil.

There are also a few sellers on eBay that offer adrafinil capsules, but you should be very careful when buying supplements, or anything really, from eBay. Some of those sellers may be pushing fake products, and users have complained about possibly fake nootropics purchased from eBay and Amazon. Look for vendors that do third-party lab testing to confirm the purity of their products.a

The Advantages of a Meal Delivery Service

By
Elizabeth Williams

Meal delivery services are becoming increasingly popular these days, and you might wonder what the hype is all about. If you’re confused as to their advantages, go through this list of benefits below to see if you can maybe benefit from a meal delivery service yourself!

Saves Time

One of the most obvious benefits of a meal delivery system is the fact that it will save you a huge amount of time. The average person will spend 6-10 hours every week planning out meals, shopping for them, prepping them and then cleaning up after they’ve been consumed. A meal delivery service saves you all this lost time and you can utilize it by working out, spending quality time with the people in your life or even just catching up on some sleep.

More Nutritious

People with busy schedules often end up sacrificing nutrition in their meals because they have to get the meal over with in a hurry. You’ve probably opted for fast food over a homemade meal for dinner way more than you would like to admit. The benefit of meal delivery services is that they deliver a quick meal to your doorstep but it still has nutrition in it. It’s like nutritious fast food for every meal: sounds like a dream right?

Accommodates Different Dietary Requirements

Cooking can especially be difficult if you have certain dietary restrictions or if someone you’re cooking for does. People are increasingly avoiding, gluten, soy and dairy in their meals, and dietary requirements can be different for vegans and vegetarians. This multitude of choices leaves you stuck with a number of different food requests, and in this scenario it can be really helpful to sign up with a meal delivery service that can cater to a number of different requirements and ensure everyone eats what they need.

Fully Customized Amount of Meals Per Day

It could be that you have time in the mornings to make breakfast, and grab lunch from your office during the day, but dinner is what truly bothers you. In that scenario, it can be a good idea to sign up for a meal delivery service that delivers one meal a day to your house around your dinnertime. You’ll spend less money on the service and only order as much food as you need for the day.

No Cutlery Required

Meal delivery systems usually delivery the meals in containers that you can carry and eat out of. ActivEats, a Toronto healthy meal delivery service, delivers food to your house in such containers. You’ll be saving time not just on food preparation and shopping, but also on actually eating and the cleanup required afterwards.

More Variety

Busy people often resort to the same 4-5 meals that they rotate around and try to make new with creative additions. If you sign up for a meal delivery app, a certified chef will ensure that the menus change every other week or so and that taste is not compromised no matter what your nutritional requirements and dietary restrictions might be.

Tastier Meals

Meal delivery services also deliver on taste more so than home-cooked meals cooked on a busy schedule. A busy person can only get so much flavor into scrambled eggs spread over a toasted piece of bread, and meal delivery services can help you in that arena by ensuring that no matter how many meals a day you eat with them or what your customized specifications are, that you’re not bored of your food and continue to enjoy your meal times.

Saves Money in The Long Runs

While upfront, meal delivery services can seem pricey and much more expensive than home-cooking, they can actually save you money in the long run. If you’re signed up to a home delivery service, you’re not going to be visiting a grocery store, or at the very least you’ll be going much less than you did before. Because of that, your expenditure on temptations and unnecessary items will completely vanish and your budget will actually ease up. Add this to 6-10 hours that open up in your week during which you can do something productive and clean up the house or walk the dog instead of paying others to do it.

No Meal Planning Hassle

As aforementioned, the entire process of cooking consumes time and mental energy. Meal planning is no small part of this entire hassle. This is especially true if you’re someone that is committed to taste and variety: how many flavorful dishes can you really think of that are nutritious and take only half an hour to make? You’re bound to run out at some point, but the chefs working with meal delivery services are trained to provide variety and so will ensure you never get bored of your food.

If some of these things sound like something you want, sign up with a meal delivery service today!

What Are The Different Types Of Health Insurance?

By
Elizabeth Williams

Health insurance is a complicated game, and it seems every provider has something bigger andbetter to offer at a more competitive rate. From preferred provider organization plans, which allow employees to choose from a preferred network of medical professionals, to supplemental health insurance for seniors with Medicare, here is the ultimate guide to help you pick the right package for you.

Preferred Provider Organisation (PPO)

A PPO plan allows the employees involved to use an exclusive network of doctors and hospitals and will have flexibility within this to pick the healthcare professional who can best meet their needs. This gives more power to employees, providing a greater choice of provider with the bonus of lower premiums.

Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) Health Insurance Plans

An HMO is a group policy which offers a low-cost solution to your health insurance concerns. Premiums are low, and there is a broad range of preventative services available such as immunizations and checkups. The lower cost does come with a price; you will have less choice over the physicians and hospitals you have to choose from.

Point of Service (POS) Health Insurance Plans

A POS plan allows you to combine many of the features of PPO and HMO plans. Employees will choose a primary care physician from the network providers options, and any services referred by this primary care physician will equip the employee with a higher level of coverage. One of the downsides is that many costs may have to be paid upfront and the cost reimbursed. Find the best health insurance in Ontario.

Exclusive Provider Organisation (EPO) Health Insurance Plans

An EPO will work in a similar way to an HMO, offering a select, predetermined network of physicians to choose from. A professional must be selected from these options, except in the case of emergency, when an alternative may be sought. The employee will have a primary care physician who is responsible for referrals to specialists within the network where required allowing the policyholder always to have access to high-quality care. The lower, more affordable rates offset the lack of choice.

Indemnity Health Insurance Plans

An indemnity health insurance plan is also known as a fee-for-service plan. Predetermined amounts, or specific percentages of costs, are paid directly to the member for the services covered. The member may then be responsible for any deductibles or coinsurance amounts. This requires the member to pay an upfront cost, and a claim will need to be filed to ensure reimbursement. This plan also allows for high levels of flexibility when it comes to choosing health insurance brokers in NJ or a hospital, or a medical professional.

Health Savings Account (HSA) Health Insurance Plan

HSA plans are a popular alternative which offer a combination of a tax-favored savings account and a high-deductible health plan to cover any medical expenses.  These are usually owned by employees, and it is up to the small business to contribute, whether they are part of a group policy or not. Contributions are made pre-tax, and any unused funds will roll over to the following year and accrue interest, all tax-free.

How Does Stress Affect Your Relationship?

By
Elizabeth Williams

Being in a relationship with your partner is one of the most beautiful feelings that one can have. It is blissful to have a companion that stands by you through your thick and thin, understands you and knows you inside out. Your partner or spouse is one person you can open up to without any inhibitions. Unfortunately, while it is all dreamy and fairytale picture in the beginning, but as the time passes and the pressures of an expanding family and added responsibilities begin to take a toll on your relationship.

Even the most romantic of the couples do go through a phase when their relationship hits a rock bottom. It is crucial that your relationship stands this test of time. The biggest culprit behind all this mess is stress. It is very common for a human mind to become stressed out but some people let the stress get to their head. As a result, the impact gradually starts showing up in your relationship. Often, couples do not even realize how their mental state is taking a toll on their relationship and they write it off with something normal. It is very important for you to acknowledge the fact that stress is affecting your relationship in order to sustain a healthy relationship and work on your shortcomings. Here are a few key signs that will help you detect the effect of stress on your relationship.

You Lose the Emotional Connection

One of the best parts of having a soul mate is the ability to connect with one another on an emotional and mental level. Even if you are two separate individuals with a different thought process, it is this emotional tuning that enables you to detect changes in your partner’s mood and your intuition communicates to you what the other person wants. However, when you are stressed out, this tuning goes haywire because your mind is in a constant state of paranoia. As a result, you lose the touch and are unable to connect with your partner the way you otherwise used to.

Emotional Unavailability

There was a time when you remembered all the important dates and you surprised your spouse in the most creative and exciting manner. However, you suddenly find yourself busy with your phone or watching television while your spouse is talking to you and your conversations have lost that depth. This is because you have become emotionally unavailable for your partner and that is what stress does to you. Your mental state puts you in a position where you prefer solace over talking to someone even if the other person is your loved one. Gradually, your partner feels the heat and your relationship starts to go south.

Physical Intimacy

It is no brainer that physical intimacy is a very important part of a relationship. However, it is important to understand that your mental health and your sexuality go hand in hand. Problems such as Erectile Dysfunction are very common among men and stress is the major trigger behind this issue. What most people do not know is that Erectile Dysfunctions can be cured easily by consuming Erectile Dysfunction Medications. However, while you are at it, it is important to address the underlying issue that is stress.

4 Major Contributors to Anxiety and How to Treat Them on Your Own

By
Elizabeth Williams
anxiety

Anxiety is your body and mind’s natural response to stressful situations. Think about the fear you feel when you’re going to a job interview or giving a speech in front of a large audience. For most people, anxiety is minor – acting as an alert to motivate us or warn us of impending danger. An anxiety disorder, on the other hand, involves unhelpful anxiety that is overwhelming and frightening. We know a lot of factors can lead to an anxiety disorder. In fact, research shows having a close relative with an anxiety disorder increases your own chances of developing one.

But we don’t know if this is genetic or if it’s learned behavior from our partners or other family members as we grow up. Let’s take a look at the four major contributors to anxiety and how to treat them on your own.

1.A Traumatic Childhood

Difficult or traumatic experiences that occur during adolescence can lead to anxiety disorders later in life. Things like physical or emotional abuse, parental abandonment, neglect, and other harmful situations are huge factors when it comes to developing anxiety disorders.

Treating this contributor on your own:

Consider going to therapy, and if that’s not doable, make sure you give yourself time to heal. Don’t try to force the healing process. Instead, be patient when it comes to dealing with difficult emotions. Put time and energy into dealing with whatever you’re feeling.  

2. Drug and/or Alcohol Addiction

Substance abuse, whether involving recreational drugs or alcohol, is commonly associated with the onset and exacerbation of anxiety. Unfortunately, many individuals who end up with anxiety also self-medicate with drugs and/or alcohol – making the situation worse.

Treating this contributor on your own:

When it comes to substance abuse, it’s vital to reach out for support whenever possible. Going through withdrawals alone can be dangerous, so try to find a local treatment center to help you undergo the process of recovery.

3. Other Mental Health Disorders

For individuals with other mental health disorders, such as depression, an anxiety disorder develops as a result of the initial mental health disorder. This is because depression often creates feelings of despair and hopelessness – lowering energy levels and resulting in social isolation. This, in turn, creates a feeling of anxiety.

Treating this contributor on your own:

Do your best to continue participating in activities you enjoy and spending time with loved ones. When you’re suffering from mental illness, it’s more important than ever to stay connected and in touch with those you care about. Anxiety, like many other conditions, is harder to treat if you wait, so get help early.

4. Current Life Stressors

If you’re going through stress in your life, anxiety disorders can develop as a result. Things like exhaustion, long hours at work, financial struggles, losing a loved one, housing problems, and other issues can take a toll on anyone’s mental health.

Treating this contributor on your own:

When you’re going through a stressful time, it’s important to take as much time as possible to focus on your well-being. Take some time to do things you enjoy – from taking a walk outside to having a coffee with a good friend. Little things can add up when it comes to self-care.

How Do You Know If You Have an Anxiety Disorder?

As mentioned, many individuals feel anxious from time-to-time. But how do you know if you have an anxiety disorder? While it’s important to talk with your medical professional to be certain, here are some common signs and symptoms:

  • Feeling nervous or restless
  • An increased heart rate
  • Rapid breathing (hyperventilation)
  • An impending sense of doom or panic
  • Profuse sweating
  • A trembling or weak sensation
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Difficulty controlling or rationalizing worry
  • Avoiding social situations

If you’re worried your anxiety results from an underlying condition, see your doctor if:

  • Your anxiety or worry is hard to control and impacting your day-to-day life.
  • You feel depressed as a result of isolation due to anxiety.
  • You worry your anxiety is linked to a physical health issue.
  • You have uncontrollable suicidal thoughts and/or behaviors.
  • You feel like your anxiety is interfering with your work or relationship.

Conclusion

Anxiety is a common part of life. Most of us feel anxious from time-to-time, but those with anxiety disorders feel intense anxiety when it comes to everyday situations. This feeling is beyond the individual’s control, and more often than not, impacts their life negatively. If you experience episodes of sudden intense anxiety that reach a peak within minutes, let your doctor know you may be experiencing panic attacks alongside your anxiety.

When it comes to your mental health, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Talk to your doctor as soon as you notice a negative impact so you can get help as soon as possible.

Sleep Hacks for Ensuring a More Restful Night

By
Elizabeth Williams

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to our overall health and wellbeing. Too many of us aren’t ensuring that we maintain good sleeping habits and are paying a price for it. Here are some simple life hacks anyone can use to improve the quality of their sleep.

Try Some Sleep Aids

If you aren’t getting enough sleep or your sleep is low quality, there is a plethora of sleep aids out there. Many of these are designed to help you breathe while you’re asleep, while others are designed to prevent light or sound from disturbing you. If your problem is with excessive snoring, you should give these a try.

Set a Sleep Schedule

This is perhaps the most important thing you can do to improve your sleep and it’s the simplest hack of all. You should be aiming to get around eight hours sleep every night, and you should be trying to go to sleep and wake up at roughly the same time each day. If you do this, your body will fall into a natural rhythm of preparing for sleep and waking up at the same every day.

Developing a natural rhythm means that you will have an easier time getting off to sleep and will find it much easier to wake up in the morning too. There is no other hack that can replicate the power of a sleep schedule. However, in order to unlock the full potential of this technique, you will need to experiment until you find the times that work best for you.

Create a Sleeping Environment

Your bedroom should ideally be mainly used for sleeping. Try to avoid the temptation to have your laptop with you so you can work in bed. Not only does using your laptop at night hurt your sleep (more on that later) but you will be introducing stress into a space that is supposed to be all about relaxing.

There are a number of things you can do to make your room a better sleeping environment. First and foremost, make sure that your bed is physically comfortable. A sub-par or uncomfortable bed will make it much harder to get to sleep at night and will lower the quality of your sleep.

If you have a television or any other electronic devices in your room, ask yourself if they really need to be there. If you don’t need electronics in your room, don’t waste space on them. They will only provide a distraction when you are trying to sleep.

Choose Background Noise Carefully

Some people are convinced that they will be unable to sleep without some kind of background noise. Many of us find that when we turn out the lights that’s when our minds decide to start racing over the day’s events. Even when our thoughts aren’t particularly stressful, they can still make it difficult to get to sleep.

Having some noise in the background can definitely help with a good night’s sleep, but there are some caveats. First of all, if your background noise is being made by a TV or laptop with a bright display, that’s a no. Any artificial light in your room at night will make it harder to sleep.

Ambient music and sound effects are the best choices for getting to sleep, but music is fine as well. Just make sure you have something you can set playing and then leave without having to keep checking it.

Use Blue Light Filters

Our smartphones and other electronic devices keep us from getting proper rest because they emit light at the same frequency as the natural sunlight that tells our body it’s daytime and time to be awake. There are particular frequencies of blue light that trigger a wakeful response in us and can interfere with the physical processes our body uses to prepare us for sleep in the evenings.

Most smartphones and tablets today offer blue light filters. These will automatically tint your display color to be more red in the evenings, and therefore easier on your eyes.

Once you have worked out the right sleep routine for you, you should find it completely changes your outlook on life. Getting the right amount of sleep is vital to our emotional and physical health; the above are just some of the ways you can enhance your sleeping experience.

5 Things to Consider When Choosing a Life Insurance Policy

By
Elizabeth Williams

A multitude of life insurance policies are available on the market, and you may be overwhelmed by the options that are available to you. Many of those policies may be unfamiliar to you. Though there are some differences between them, they all serve the same purpose – to leave behind a lump sum of cash behind when you die. The policy that is best for you depends on your personal coverage and investment needs. Here is our list of 5 things to consider when choosing a life insurance policy.

Duration of Need

When you purchase life insurance your policy will either last your lifetime or a certain amount of time. If you need insurance for only a short period to get keep your love ones protected until your children are grown or your mortgage is paid off, then you will want term life insurance. If you need life insurance to handle expenses after your death, you will want to look into getting yourself permanent coverage. Consider each of your needs before making a decision.

Your Health

Almost all insurance policies require physical exams or medical questionnaires to determine your current state of health and bring to light any possible risk involved with your health. This will have to be done before you can be accepted for a life insurance policy. There are a lot of factors playing into your coverage and price. This includes your age, weight, gender, mental health and overall physical health. Insurers will also take your family health history into account. Living a healthy lifestyle will help get you the best coverage at the best price.

Your coverage is directly related to the state of your health. If at any time your health were to improve, your rates are likely to drop. Quitting smoking, losing weight, reducing your cholesterol and improving your overall health could greatly reduce what you have to pay. Make sure that you are seeing your doctor for routine visits and ask for a life insurance medical exam when there are sign that your health has improved. As always, regularly reassess your life insurance to get the best coverage possible.

Your Knowledge

The amount of knowledge you have on the life insurance market could mean the difference between getting a fair price on a policy and overpaying. Some insurance policies are used to generate cash value for additional purposes. It is no secret that many people can become overwhelmed by all the information that is you there. If this sounds like you, do your research and speak with a life insurance agent to help you decide which policy will meet your needs.

Ability to Pay for Premiums

If you are considering purchasing a term life insurance policy then you need to know that your coverage will come to a complete halt if you do not make your premium payments. Make sure that you are in a financially stable situation before shopping for life insurance. Permanent policies sometimes have the possibility for payment options once the policy has established a decent amount of cash value.

Company Reputation

Shopping around and getting quotes from various companies is important when trying to get the best coverage for the best price. However, there are several more reasons why you will want to look into and do research on a number of companies before purchasing a policy.

Company reviews can help you gauge how happy or unhappy customers have been with a specific insurer. It is important that you purchase a policy from a company that will provide you with the tools, knowledge, and support necessary for you to make an informed decision.

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