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What is Somatic Psychology?

By
Ana Miller

Every experience that we deal with every day affects us in a way or another both consciously and unconsciously. Some of these experiences, like near-death experiences, serious illnesses, deeply humiliating moments, or even anxiety-driven fearful thoughts can leave us traumas. As a result, these kinds of events make our psyche suffer and we are left with distress and emotional damage. Somatic Psychology can help us in these instances, but how exactly?

Somatic psychotherapy is one of the best ways of dealing with traumas. It lets them cope with the unfortunate incident and ultimately recover and lead a normal life. Somatic comes from the Greek word soma which literally translates to the living body. Somatic psychotherapy is an encompassing therapy that tries to dig deep into both the mind and body and trying to find its connection to the psychological part of the patient. ANS or the autonomic nervous system is said to be easily disrupted by traumas. Somatic psychotherapy aims to deal with this by studying the effects of the instability caused by the trauma on the ANS.

Somatic psychology postulates that the human mind and body tries to hold on to past traumas for as long as possible. This is evident in the way a person who has experienced it acts by way of body language, expressions, and even posture. Some traumas even manifest themselves as unexplained physical pain. Some lead to hormonal imbalance and may then result in sexual dysfunction. Other symptoms include digestive issues, immune system dysfunction, and psychological conditions like depression, anxiety or addiction. (1)

Through Somatic Psychotherapy, however, the ANS can go back to normal and achieve stasis as it was before the trauma had piled up. There is a lot of conditions that are directly resulting from traumas that have happened to a patient’s past. The therapy has been able to alleviate these symptoms.

From an academic standpoint, somatic psychology proves the deep underlying connection between the mind and the physical body. More importantly, neuroscientists are now able to back the claim of somatic psychologists after studying the many functions of our nervous system and finding the link to the physical body.

How Somatic Psychotherapy Works

As an aspiring psychologist that may have taken interest in somatic psychology, you may be deeply interested by how the science works. Traumatic events leave scars to the emotional and mental part of the body as what has already been established. By finding what physical tension is connected to these events, the therapy will be able to look for a way to alleviate these symptoms. By finding which part of the physical body responds directly to the events that caused the trauma, a somatic psychologist can zero in on where to perform the therapy. After tracking the body point, there are then many ways on how to proceed with the therapy. The wide range of activities may include bodily sensations, dance, and breathing techniques. Some patients also respond to healing touches, voice work and any forms of physical activity such as sports or exercise.

There are a lot of benefits for the patients that undergo somatic psychotherapy. For one, the patient can regain his former self by transforming a bad experience and framing it in a better context that does less harm to the psyche. It instills the idea that the patient is worth way more than what he/she is giving himself/herself credit for. And it gives them hope and makes them more resilient for future traumas that they may experience. They also gain physical benefits like reduction of stress and strains that they have been suffering from. And mentally, they can get a boost in concentration. (2)

Titration and pendulated methods are the two most common approaches that somatic psychologists employ. Titration method allows the patient to feel secure by projecting him/her into a safe space or resource state. As the patient is guided by the psychologist through the traumatic memory, his/her reactions are tracked and are being analyzed as the memory is slowly being revived. There will usually be subtle physical effects at the beginning but these will become more pronounced and will require the psychologist to watch the patient more intently as a precautionary for any expected pain.

The pendeluted method takes a careful look at the two important states that the patient will go through, homeostasis and instability. The object is to move the patient from the two states and the physical symptoms are recorded and observed. There is a danger however as it may not be always as easy to bring back the patient to homeostasis after a while. Ultimately, the patient should endure a painful process called a discharge. This is where all the suffering that the patient is subconsciously going through will be flushed out of his/her system.

After sessions of successful somatic therapy patients often describe the feeling as having a huge weight coming off of their shoulder. They can now enjoy a life of being free from all the baggage that they have been holding tightly to for no reason at all. While the physical pain may not be pleasurable, once endured could be the ticket out of a lot of unanswered anxieties.

The career in Somatic Psychology

As a fairly new field of study, somatic psychology might not be offered by many psychology schools. There is still some scepticism surrounding the practice although is slowly in the decline. Schools often offer these degrees as specialization programs in the form of a master’s degree after taking an undergrad in psychology.

While it has been proven countless times that somatic psychotherapy can help people get over their traumas, there are still many people reluctant to accept the field.

Conclusion

There can only be so many ways to deal with emotional trauma. Somatic psychology has however been one of the best ways that had been invented to help patients get over their condition. Somatic Psychology is a journey of the patient to explore how his body is physically responding to traumas done on the mind.

5 Incredible Facts About Breweries

By
Ana Miller

There is nothing quite like a cold, refreshing beer on really any given day. The time of year doesn’t matter; after a long day’s work or a fun day of play, nice craft beer is a great way to unwind while giving your taste buds a little treat. Odds are, you probably haven’t given too much thought to how that hoppy little beverage made its way from the earth and into your icy glass, but the processes that go on behind the scenes in breweries are really quite amazing. In honour of the thirst-quenching beverage that brings us all together, here are five incredible facts about breweries we bet you never knew!

1. Beer is in the Top Three Most Popular Beverages on Earth

Unsurprisingly, water is the most imbibed of all beverages., but right after water and tea is beer. Beer is consumed more than any other beverage on the planet. It’s great to socialize over, a wonderful way to take the edge off, and the perfect beverage for a refined palette. (1)

2. Beer Consists of Four Primary Ingredients

Now, we know that no two beers taste the same, so you might be astonished to find that all beer consists of four basic ingredients: water, grains, hops, and yeast. Now, beer has come a long way since its discovery thousands of years ago, and flavour profiles now have a prolific range thanks to new innovations in technology, but at the end of the day, it’s all thanks to these four fundamental parts!

3. Beer Fermentation Temperature

Here’s another bit of science for you! One of the most important parts of ensuring quality in any good beer is keeping it cold. We know that sounds a little obvious at first, but the science behind it is very precise and involved. According to North Slope Chillers, “Ideal beer fermentation temperature is between 68 and 72° F. Lager requires lower temperatures, between 45 and 55°F.” The slightest deviation in temperature can either change the flavour profile of the beer or ruin it completely, so you can imagine how meticulous brewers are in safeguarding their products, so they remain at optimum temperatures!

4. The Brewing Industry is Booming!

Brewing beer is a global enterprise. According to America’s Beer Distributors, there are over 5,500 brewery locations in the United States alone! Of course, there are the big-name brewing companies we all know and love, but micropubs and local breweries are definitely on the rise and allowing individuals to really broaden their beer horizons!

5. Darker Might Mean Stronger

In general, although not always, there is an easy way to tell whose beer is going to have higher alcohol content. Typically, beer colour can tell you a lot about the percentage of alcohol you’re about to imbibe. Lighter, sweeter beers tend to have a lower alcohol content; whereas, the darker and more bitter-tasting a beer is (think stouts), the higher the alcohol content.

7 Ways to Keep Things Fresh in Your Marriage after Having Kids

By
Ana Miller

Married couples with kids can find it relatively hard to maintain the spark and romance in their marriage when they’re up all night tending to a crying baby. The change from husband and wife to mom and dad can be an overwhelming transition for some people. However, keeping things fresh in your marriage after having kids is still possible by doing things such as moving to a new house, having a date night, complementing each other and many more.

1. Date Night Once a Month

Dating each other is probably what made you fall in love with each other in the first place; therefore, it makes great sense for you to continue dating to keep the romance alive. It does not have to be an over-the-top kind of date. Even if it is just conversing and laughing over a snack in low tones to avoid waking the baby, just set aside time once a month to go on a date and reconnect and stick to it. Family nights do not count as date nights. (1)

2. Random Act of Love and Goodness

Those times when you used to call/text each other just to say “hello” should not stop. Continue to send those lovely texts or notes to your better half even after having kids to keep the spark alive. Leaving a love note for your spouse under the pillow or hiding their favourite treat in their jacket pocket are some random acts of love and goodness, which do not require much effort or time, but they show your spouse that you care and love him/her.

3. Compliments

Everyone loves to receive compliments. Praising your partner on at least one thing each day can help to strengthen your marriage. Be careful to listen at all times. Your partner may compliment you on the areas they wish to receive praise. Ensure that you avoid back-handed compliments. (2)

4. Creating A Sanctuary at Home

You can still create space for romance even if you are sitting at home. Though it can feel hard to achieve a romantic atmosphere when your home is cluttered with toys and dirty utensils, there are some things you can still do to create a romantic sanctuary at home. Give gifts to each other like flowers once a week. If you’re watching television together, you can dim the electric lights and light some candles. If you are just having a quiet talk, you can turn up some romantic music. Always try to keep your home clean, so that you will have a relaxed time. Don’t leave dirty laundry spread everywhere in the house. (3)

5. Together Chores

Many marriages get shaky because of household chores. One party may feel they’re doing more chores than the other person. To avoid such a tricky situation, it may work well to do chores together. By so doing you will be sharing your time together and bonding at the same time. Marriage and kids are your life right now, do not get too busy that you forget to enjoy life. Designate some time to complete chores together.

6. Avoid Using Phones at the Dinner Table

In the world we live in today, many people are glued to their phones most of the time even at the dinner table. To keep things fresh in your marriage after having kids you should make it a point to avoid using phones while having meals together. This allows for conversations at the dinner table and strengthens the bond between the two of you. (4)

7. Move to a New House

Relocation may not be for everyone; however, some homes have negative memories and the marriage may have the ability to move forward by searching houses for sale in Florida together, it may provide a chance to start fresh if that is what’s needed. Close to the beach, new scenery, warmer weather, setting up for success. Moving to a bigger or better accommodating place may help your children and may work well for your marriage as well. A new house can spark a new bond for married couples to enjoy new things in a new place together.

 

Everything You Need To Know About Plantar Orthotics

By
Ana Miller

Plantar fasciitis is usually caused by aggravation and excessive stress on your foot. The plantar fascia is the connective tissue that goes from your heel bone to the ball of your foot. When your plantar fascia is inflamed, even taking a step becomes painful. When over-tightening, inflammation, and tearing sets in, you then start suffering from plantar fasciitis. (1)

What are the symptoms?

Usually, symptoms vary with each person, but most people complain of pain and stiffness in the heels, close to the middle of the arch. The pain can get sharp, and you might experience a burning sensation. This usually happens in the morning when you first wake up, or after sitting for a long time. Some other symptoms might include tenderness and swelling at the bottom of your foot.

What causes plantar fasciitis?

  • Age can be a determinant as most people that get it to stand between 40 to 70 years. However, it can affect anyone who actively uses their feet for long periods. For instance, plantar fasciitis is a common condition among runners.
  • Poor quality shoes might also be the cause
  • Tightening of your tendons or calf muscles might also cause plantar fasciitis
  • A sudden increase in weight or obesity could cause it given the heavyweight adding stress on the feet
  • High-stress activities such as jogging, ballet, or long-distance running could be a cause
  • Diseases such as arthritis might also cause plantar fasciitis

What are the treatment options?

After a thorough evaluation of your condition, your podiatrist doctor may recommend wearing a custom made orthotic. He also may start you off with medications and anti-inflammatory drugs to ease the pain and inflammation. If medications don’t work on you, you will get a steroid injection to the painful part of the foot. If that doesn’t work either, your doctor will recommend physical therapy to strengthen your lower muscles.

If it gets chronic, you will go through shock wave therapy where the plantar fascia will be stimulated to heal. The last resort to treat plantar fasciitis is usually surgery.

Do orthotic insoles help?

Plantar orthotic insoles usually mitigate pain and discomfort. They also minimize stress when you stand up or start walking. Additionally, orthotic insoles tend to absorb shocks, given the cupping effect they have on your soft tissues. The right orthotic insoles with good absorption capabilities will reduce pressure and impact on your foot.

You can either get customized plantar orthotic insoles or standard insoles. Quality plantar orthotic insoles will relieve your plantar fasciitis pain immediately. They will contour to your feet and offer you great arch support to your feet and therefore, reduce stress in the plantar fascia. If you need help determining which kind of insole is best for you, take a look at the wide variety offered by Protalus and find your ideal insole.

Conclusion

These are the basics of plantar fasciitis and some of the things you needed to know. If you have been experiencing heel pain, you need to see your orthotic doctor get the right treatment.

Recent developments in contact lenses

By
Elizabeth Williams

Contact lenses have evolved a lot ever since their inception in 1508 by Leonardo da Vinci. From scleral lenses developed by F.A. Mueller in 1887 that covered the entire eye to silicone hydrogel lenses of the late 1990s that have made the experience much more pleasant, contact lenses have come a really long way.

In the past, many people have been told that their eyes or their prescriptions weren’t suitable for contact lenses. Twenty or so years back, our choices were limited to one to two companies selling very few types of contact lenses. Our corneas are quite like fingerprints, unique to each and every one. The limited types of lenses made it quite difficult for lens wearers to find something suitable for their eyes and often struggled with ill-fitting lenses. However, times have changed. Contact lens technology has significantly improved over the last few decades making them available for people with almost all sorts of refractory problems. Today, we have numerous brands manufacturing different types of contact lenses from various materials in various designs and lens schedules that it makes us dizzy, see contact lenses UK.

Improved silicone hydrogel lenses with better material properties and oxygen permeability allow the wearer to be comfortable since the lenses do not suffocate the eyes with limited to no oxygen supply. Improved toric lenses for astigmatism and bifocal or multifocal lenses for presbyopia have opened the avenues for people with those conditions wear lenses without experiencing discomfort. Improved Rigid Gas Permeable (RGP) lenses offer much more comfort to the wearers when it comes to oxygen contact and is also resistant to wear and tear for a long time. Scleral lenses that cover the entire eye to correct certain medical conditions other than plain refractory errors are also available these days. Along with these developments, a new contact lens solution is also designed specifically to be used on silicone hydrogel lenses.

When it comes to wearing schedules, it is an altogether different story. We have daily disposable lenses that are one-time wear only, for people who wear them occasionally and for children. They should not be reused or worn overnight in any case. Bi-weekly or monthly disposable lenses should also be used for the stipulated time and replaced accordingly. These lenses come in different variants; say 8 hours per day to 14 hours per day. A 14-hour lens, if worn for a significantly lesser amount of time every day, can stretch the limit of bi-weekly or monthly replacement by almost a week. After that, a new set should be worn. Yearly lenses are also available which need to be replaced only once a year.

Apart from these, colored contacts have also seen a huge increase in demand and companies are starting to manufacture colored contacts with refractory corrections. Manufacturers like lens me and solotica solflex natural colors produce reliable and natural-looking colored contact lenses. Better contact lens care products are also available these days designed specifically for each type that helps take care of them better. Even with all these, it is in our hands to be hygienic and use them as per doctor suggestions to have a safer use.

How To Fundraise For Mental Health

By
Elizabeth Williams

Non-profit fundraisers are fantastic, and they’re often about the promotion of a good cause; raising awareness for the particular mental health issue by educating the public and thus gathering support from it too.

Not only that it brings in plenty of volunteers from the local community, offering a hand. There are plenty of aspects that require due consideration as they can make or break your operation you’re planning.

 One point is to figure out what’s more realistic for you to throw because some ideas will have some deciding factors such as funds, locations, staff, logistics, interesting and exciting for everyone.

Give it a Catchy Name!

In regards to making this non-profit fundraiser interesting, you will want to have it stick out to be memorable. If you just name the non-profit fundraiser just this: “Mental Health Fundraiser” that’s not going to excite anybody. Moreover, try to be smart about it as well because you don’t want to offend anybody as mental health is a very sensitive subject for some people.  So let’s look at a more positive example for a cause ‘Movember November’ this is about raising money for cancer.

Have a theme or a Visual style

Sticking to the idea of being memorable, have a visual style or visual representation. Having a logo and thinking about a branding style for your event would be a good start. The former will be another good way of sticking out and being more appealing to your audience. Although you will need to treat this aspect as a design project where you will need to consider what colours and typeface to use. Moreover, the logo will need to be related to your cause. Although this may seem a bit much it’s worth doing. Take Movember for example, You instantly think of a moustache and because the idea was great it was memorable to just about everybody. Do likewise.

Use Social Media To Your Advantage

Platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook are fantastic tools for you to use. Those social media platforms are free to use, moreover, just about everybody uses them, so there’s already a large audience you will have access to. Thus making it easier to reach a large and broad audience.

It might just be powerful enough to receive support from old classmates you have not spoken to in years. You never know who will be interested.  For your non-profit fundraising efforts you will be able to connect with more people as you will have the ability to converse with them too.

Make sure to take advantage of using your non-profits visual aesthetics on each of your pages on social media. You will also have better chances of making a memorable impact online too.

Now that we’ve covered a few bits for your potential non-profit fundraisers. We can now move onto the more exciting aspects of non-profit fundraising i.e. hosting an event or organising a community activity so let’s go through a few ideas. Remember some of these ideas will require some serious consideration because there are a few aspects that will require your attention.

Tie-Dye Party

A classic approach to promoting your cause is via the use of T-Shirts. It gets people with the program. You can make it more interesting for your non-profit fundraising event to have a Tie-Dye Party! Where people can create their own T-shirts, together with their family or friends.

Merely charge a small entrance, any personal item for a small donation, or recruit any artist from the local area to create custom designed t-shirts to sell.

You can be cost-effective by having some plain white t-shirts and some tie-dye materials ready to be used, so participants create and stylize their own masterpieces, especially on a budget! Although the tie-dying t-shirts are fun have some board games handy to keep the families and kids occupied.

It makes the experience more memorable.

Dodgeball Tournament

 One way to get people excited, especially the competitive individuals is to host a dodgeball tournament. Have people form teams and raise money for the non-profit fundraiser and reach the required amount of cash to enter. Once they have attained the target amount, let the games begin!

Cooking Competition

A reference to good old reality TV cooking shows, that plenty of people enjoy. What better idea is there than a cooking competition? Everyone loves food and people love competition!

The contestants are instructed to make their best dishes while meeting specific criteria such as the use of specific herbs or any other type of ingredient.  People can pay to have a taste of their best dishes in order for them to give their vote on what was the best dish.

You may also give the people who want to attend the choice of being the judge or chef too. What you can do is charge a small fee for them to sign up as the judge. The proceeds from the voters and the judges will go towards the non-profit fundraiser.  That will make the experience more exciting and interesting for the audience too.

4 Reasons Why a Woman Dumps a Man

By
Elizabeth Williams

Breakups are a setback for any man or woman. There can be several reasons for a split in a relationship, but often, it is the woman who dumps the man. They have their reasons for it, and most of them relate to the sensitivity and quest for equality.

Men have arguably been the dominant half in a relationship, and that is a growing concern in modern dating society. And quite rightfully so! Women have a subjective approach to relationships. Thus, a trivial reason for an argument for a man may be an overwhelming one for a woman. These reasons grow inside her, and it leads to the point of no return, and she decides to call it quits. Wondering what the reasons might be? Here they are:

1.    He is a control freak

Women hate men who are control freaks. This sense of control comes from the habit of dominating your partner. When she feels that her man is always controlling her in family matters or their relationship, she will look to go away. Many men like to be in control financially, emotionally, and even sexually. While it’s natural for men to seek dominance, this can become a severe concern in the long-run, and that’s why she may dump you if you don’t rectify your habits.

2.    Trust issues

Are you a Casanova even though you are in a stable relationship? That may lead to a premature breakup. People nowadays have plenty of options to widen their circle. While you may have dreamed of finding your one true love in Paris, you don’t have to travel far thanks to online dating platforms. Sites like LoveSita allow you to surf through hundreds of profiles to find that perfect match. But that doesn’t mean you should secretly keep on dating others even after finding your one true love. That is disrespect to the relationship, and to the woman, you are dating. If she finds out, it won’t take her time to end the relationship.

3.    Independence

Women are far more liberal when it comes to giving freedom to their man. But when they don’t get the same amount of independence back which they deserve, it becomes a reason to dump their partner. Every couple in a relationship should have an equal say in how to lead their lives together. If you say she can’t stay out late and should return by 10 pm, you should follow the rules too. Moreover, you need to support her at every emotional stage rather than judging her actions. If you don’t, the relationship may be over sooner than you imagine.

4.    He is irresponsible

Appearing late on a date that you two planned for a long time, not caring for her health, or not knowing the financial requirements of the family are signs that you are leading an irresponsible life. It shows that you take the relationship for granted. Your partner will not wait for long before dumping you to find someone who is more responsible; someone who cares about being together.

It is always wise to know what your faults are to prevent a bitter relationship. The key to a happier relationship is equality and respect. Give that to her, and she will be yours forever.

Signs and Symptoms of a Bad or Old Mattress (and How a Mattress Topper Can Help)

By
Elizabeth Williams

Do you wake up with back pain and sore muscles? Have you noticed that you are running on low energy level recently? Are you having problems falling asleep right away? All these signs will make you think that there is something wrong with your body, hormones or even, your emotions and mental state.

Before you Google your symptoms like crazy, there is one source that you may want to look at first – your mattress.

Since they are a bit pricey, most people think that their mattresses can last forever and that is why they tend to sleep on a bad (due to poor mattress choice) or worn out (because of the bed’s old age).

You will be surprised to know that the quality of your mattress can impact your health negatively. That is why it is crucial for you to determine the symptoms of a bad or old mattress and we will tackle that in this article.

Oh, and in addition to that, I will be sharing with you one secret hack on how to make your lousy mattress become better and old mattress to be brand new. Read on and find out!

The Signs and Symptoms of Bad or Old Mattress to Watch Out For!

What should you do once you have determined that the mattress that you are using is already too old or may not be right for you? The most obvious answer is to replace it right away. But what if you do not have the money to buy a new one? The best and most cost-effective solution to that is to buy a mattress.

Below you can find the symptoms of a bad or old mattress and few ways on how a mattress topper can help.

•    You wake up with a stuffy nose.

If you have been sleeping on your mattress for decades, there is a high chance that dust mites are also in your bed sleeping with you. Dust mites are small insects that can cause allergic reactions including watery eyes, itchy throat, and mouth, runny nose, and sneezing.

If there is dust in your house, there is most probably dust mites too so if you usually wake up with these symptoms, it Is most likely because of your mattress. You can reduce these symptoms by taking good care of your mattress—washing your pillowcases and bedsheets at least once a week and vacuuming your mattress from time to time.

If you are prone to allergies, it is recommended that you go for an allergen-blocking mattress.

How a Mattress Topper Can Help:

But no matter how much you wash or vacuum your mattress, dust mites may still accumulate on it, especially if you have been using it for decades. If you do not have enough money to buy a new mattress, investing in a mattress topper is a great idea.

A mattress topper can create a barrier between you and the dust mites in your mattress without altering the texture and feel of your bed. A study conducted in 2010 discovered that the use of a mattress topper could decrease the symptoms related to dust mites by 43%.

•    You have low libido.

Are you too tired to have sex with your partner lately? Or maybe you do not have the sex drive to become intimate with your partner? You may think that this is because something I wrong with your relationship when in fact, there might be something wrong with your mattress.

Low libido is often associated with a lack of quality sleep which may be due to the poor texture or firmness of your sleeping mattress that may be brought about by wear and tear.

Besides, using a mattress that is non-breathable and has temperature regulating features can lead to sleep disturbances and night sweats—two more things that may also cause low libido.

 

You can address this issue by adjusting the thermostat in your room and set it to between 60 and 67 degrees—a temperature that is conducive for a good night’s sleep.

How a Mattress Topper Can Help:

But if you want to increase your libido and boost your sex drive for the long run, the best thing that you can do is to use a mattress topper with a breathable cotton fabric at its surface. Cotton is a type of cloth that can promote proper airflow at night and keeps the user feeling cold while he sleeps.

•    You suffer from back pain and muscle soreness.

If you find yourself suffering from chronic back pain and muscle soreness, you may want to pay more attention to your mattress. A good mattress should be firm enough to provide you the back support needed to keep your spine in proper alignment. But as the years go by, cushions get less and less firm.

If the mattress is still doing its job, you should not feel any of these unwanted symptoms. But if it is already not firm enough and certain parts are already sagging, it is about time that you replace it.

How a Mattress Topper Can Help:

But for those who only have a tight budget, a mattress topper for back pain may be what you need. A mattress topper designed to add firmness and support to the mattress can solve all these issues at a much lower price.

When choosing the best mattress topper for back pain, it is recommended that you get one that uses body-conforming and supportive materials like memory foam, latex, and buckwheat. Among these three, memory foam is the most supportive. However, it can also get a bit expensive.

For other ways on how to maintain proper spinal alignment, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLSqzuK-SHc

•    You are having problems falling asleep.

Does it take your hours before you can get to sleep? Do you keep on tossing and turning at night? If you are, it is most likely that you are also suffering from lack of quality sleep which will eventually lead to a lot of health issues.

You may be blaming your inability to fall asleep on a lot of things—the use of your smartphone at night, your long to-do list, all the debts you have to pay and many more. But did you stop to take a look at your mattress?

If your mattress is too firm, it may prevent you from finding the right sleeping position and falling asleep right away.

How a Mattress Topper Can Help:

These days, you can find mattress toppers designed to add softness to the mattress’ sleeping surface. These mattress toppers are made from bamboo fibers or rayon fabric that are known for delivering a more comfortable sleeping space to the user.

However, you should keep in mind that the right firmness and softness of the mattress may vary depending on the personal preference of the user. Because of this, it is recommended that you test out the mattress topper first. This is also one tip that you should keep in mind when buying a mattress to prevent expensive mistakes.

•    The movements of your partner keep you awake at night.

Were you still single when you buy your old mattress? If you are now married or have recently acquired a co-sleeper, you are most probably suffering from lack of sleep. This tends to happen because of all the tossing and turning that you co-sleeper does all night.

How a Mattress Topper Can Help:

Would it be possible for you to replace your partner or can you sleep on separate beds? I thought not. If that’s the case, the only solution that you can try is to invest in a mattress topper that has motion isolation features.

These foam toppers are designed to absorb the motion caused by the movements of the other sleeper beside you. Because of this, you won’t feel a thing even if your partner shifts his position or gets in or out of your bed.

To know how to test the motion isolation feature of the mattress, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osak0XJPo3w

•    You become forgetful.

Do you find it hard to remember important details? Do you always forget to pay the bills or do an errand? Do you feel as if your memory has declined rapidly? Well, that can be due to old age, or it may come as a result of lack of sleep.

As you rest, your brain moves information from your short-term memory storage to your long-term memory storage. If you are not able to rest well, this process is hindered and may cause you to forget a lot of important things.

How a Mattress Topper Can Help:

The most common reason why you lack quality sleep is because of uncomfortable sleeping space. A mattress topper can be placed over the mattress to improve its firmness, softness and even level of support.

In Summary

As it turns out, the use of a bad mattress can have significant effects on your health, both mentally, physically and emotionally. The quality of a mattress can affect the quality of your sleep which can lead to the development of various health issues which can ruin your performance and worse, your relationships.

Of course, the easiest way to address these issues and prevent the signs and symptoms that are mentioned above is to invest in a new mattress. But as we all know, not all of us have the money to afford a new mattress. The next best thing that you can do is to buy a mattress topper that can address all these issues without costing you a lot.

You Got This: How to Pack for a Move to Reduce Moving Stress

By
Elizabeth Williams

If this is your first time to move, brace yourself. Moving stress is real! Make it easier on yourself by knowing how to pack for a move like a pro.

Are you planning a move and feeling like you’re in over your head already? Take a deep breath and find solace in the fact that 35.5 million Americans relocate to a new residence every year. You’re hardly alone.

While moving can be very exciting, it’s also very stressful. Packing can be overwhelming, especially with a concrete move-out date over your head.
Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to ease moving stress. First, check out Mayflower’s Jacksonville, FL movers and then follow these tips. Here’s how to pack for a move like a pro.

Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to ease moving stress by following these tips. Here’s how to pack for a move like a pro.

Start Early

The moment you know you’re definitely moving is when you need to start packing. The sooner you begin, the less stress you’ll be dealing with in the days leading up to your move date. It may be possible to pack a suitcase in 30 minutes, but it sometimes takes 30 days to pack up a home.

Gather moving materials such as boxes, bins, labels, bubble wrap, and packing tape. Begin packing items you know you won’t need until you’re in the new home.

Toss, Sell, or Recycle What You Can

Pare down what will actually be getting packed by getting rid of what you don’t want to keep. This means setting aside items that you can sell, donate, recycle, give away, or throw away.

You may want to hold a yard sale, post items to Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, or donate them to a charity. Some organizations like Big Brother Big Sister will pick up your donation curbside. Always check with their current donation list to make sure they will accept your items.

Focus on One Room at a Time

Instead of gathering items from several different rooms, focus on packing up and clearing one room at a time. This can often help you make faster progress.

Start with rooms that you don’t spend much time in, like an entertainment area or a home office being used for storage space.

Leave Clothing on Hangers

Instead of individually removing clothes from hangers and folding them up, consider leaving them on. Packing them with the hanger remaining can help save you time both now and when you arrive at the new home.

Consider Portable Storage Boxes

As an alternative to a traditional moving company, consider using a storage moving business. These companies provide you with large insulated boxes that you pack yourself, and then are securely stored until you’re ready to move.

This can be a more affordable option to hiring a moving truck.

Pack a Moving Survival Kit

Chances are when you move into your new home you won’t be able to locate certain items like your coffee maker right away.

Pack a moving survival kit that includes snacks, water, cups, toiletries, and a change of clothing. It may come in handy before you’ve had a chance to unbox everything.

Know How to Pack For a Move

Knowing how to pack for a move can make the difference between being prepared or being frazzled for this major lifestyle change. Getting a head start on the task and squeezing in time each day for packing will help smooth the process.

Here at Curious Mind Magazine, we love empowering our readers through content on self improvement, spirituality, and relationships. If you need further help de-stressing as you get ready to move, check out our meditation posts.

 

Losing weight, what are the top supplements that you can use for this

By
Elizabeth Williams

When trying to lose weight, the use of supplements can be a great help. However, it is important that before using supplements to help you lose weight, that you are sure to inform yourself as to the safety and effectiveness of many of them, as well as which ones are the best to take should you be looking to lose weight.

Each supplement intended for weight loss serves a different purpose to the body, for example, some supplements me directly aid weight loss by blocking the body’s ability to take in certain fats and carbohydrates. Other supplements however, address issues that cause your body not to be able to maintain a healthy weight for reasons such as suffering from vitamin/nutrient deficiencies.

It is important also to always remember that when you’re considering taking a supplement to lose a weight, you should be sure that you speak with a health professional first, especially if you have problems like high blood pressure or heart disease.

In this article we will take a look at what some of the top supplements that you can use for losing weight are, and how each of them helps the body to do so.

Vitamin D – does not directly impact the bodies and weight. However if your body is deficient in vitamin D, instead of converting to sugar that you can zoom into energy it will store it as fat. In order to come back to this taking vitamin C supplements may be a solution, it is known that taking vitamin D alongside calcium can help lose stomach fat faster.  Should you choose to take vitamin D supplements, either vitamin D2 or vitamin D3 is available, but, vitamin D3 is particularly good at raising blood levels of vitamin D. Read more about this Vitamin through Researched Supplements.

Iron – there are a huge number of people that are deficient in iron. Iron is an essential for us to have in our bodies as it allows us to feel energized. In terms of losing weight, feeling energised is massively advantageous since we will be encouraged to exercise more than we would if we were not. Iron rich foods that are good to eat include green vegetables such as broccoli and brussel sprouts, as well as black beans, pumpkin seeds, and dried fruits.  Studies have revealed that patients treated for deficiency in iron and noticed reduction in both their BMI and weight. If you are a female, you are more at risk of being deficient in iron as well, since your body will lose iron regularly as a result of the menstrual cycle.

Iodine – the iodine helps the activity of your thyroid gland. The thyroid gland is the one which controls the metabolic rate of your body along with other essential processes. If you opt to take iron supplements when trying to lose weight, you should be sure to take only the correct dose and not to take a huge number of supplements that are high in iodine, as this can result in inflammation of the thyroid gland and resultantly increased heart rate, as well as placing other stresses on the body.

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