Health and Wellness – Page 3 – The Big Words Blog Site

7 Alternative Racket Sports To Try

Two focuses of my blog are Athletics/Sports and Health/Wellness. A group of sports that can be both exhilarating and beneficial are the racket sports. If you have never tried them, they may change your life. The following contributed post is entitled, 7 Alternative Racket Sports To Try.

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When people think of racket sports, they tend to think of tennis or badminton. Many even ping pong. But there are actually many other racket sports to choose from (as many as 40 of them, if this list is anything to go by!). If you love tennis or badminton or ping pong, why not consider dabbling in one of these alternative sports? Below are 7 popular alternative racket sports, their rules and their requirements briefly explained.

Squash

A lot of us have heard of squash, but have most likely not played it. Squash was invented in the UK in the 19th century and continues to be quite popular in Britain. Its following around the world has also been growing – so much so that it has even been shortlisted for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.

Squash is played in an indoor court with two or four players. Unlike many other racket sports, players do not face opposite one another with a net in the middle, but instead stand beside each other hitting the ball against a wall. The aim is to hit the ball at the wall in a way that makes it hard for the opponent to return it. This guide delves more into the rules of squash. It is widely known for being a physically intense and challenging sport.

Racquetball

Racquetball was invented by a man named Joseph Sobek in Connecticut in 1950. The squash-like sport has gradually become more popular over the years and is now played internationally.

You can play racquetball on a standard squash court, however it has slightly different rules to squash and typically uses a different type of racket. Compared to squash rackets, racquetball rackets are shorter and wider. The ball used in racquetball is also larger. Racquetball is known to be easier to pick up than squash.

Pickleball

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the US. It originates in Washington state, where it is still very popular. It is often described as a mix of ping pong, tennis and badminton.

Players hit a ball over a net using a pickleball ‘paddle’. This is different to a netted racket and more similar to ping pong paddle. The sport is played on a pickleball court, which is about the same size as a badminton court. Players serve diagonally into the opposing court, striking the ball with the paddle in an upwards motion. You can read more about the rules of pickleball and best pickleball paddles online.

Padel

This Mexican racket sport has also been gaining popularity in recent years. It is believed to have been invented by a man named Enrique Corcuera, who modified his squash court to play his own version of tennis.

Padel is usually played in doubles on a Padel court, which is smaller than a tennis court. Like pickleball, it uses paddles instead of net rackets. The scoring system is pretty much the tennis scoring system, but with an added ‘golden point’ rule to help win games more quickly. There are several guides online that can teach you how to play padel.

Beach tennis

Beach tennis combines elements of tennis and volleyball (and yes, it is played on a beach). It was first played in Italy in the 1970s and has slowly started to be played around the world.

Unlike in tennis where the ball can touch the ground, the ball in beach tennis cannot touch the ground – and so the game is played entirely in volleys. This makes it much faster paced than tennis. It is played over a high net that is similar to a volleyball net and uses a depressurised ball that moves slower than a standard tennis ball. While specialist beach tennis courts exist, they are not common and many people simply play the same in a volleyball court.

Qianball

This hybrid of tennis and squash originated in China in 1998 and has become popular across the country. It is less popular in other parts of the world, but is gaining traction.

Qianball is one of the more unique racket sports. The ball is attached to a n elasticated string, which is attached to a hook in the floor or weighted ball bag. Both players stand on the same side of the court and hit the ball over the net, Because it is elasticated, it returns back to the same side of the court where it is then hit by the other player. This video gives a better demonstration.

Tamburello

One of the oldest and most obscure racket sports on this list, tamburello is a sport with 16th century Italian origins that uses tambourines as rackets.

It is commonly played with two teams of three. Players volley the ball back and forth across a large court. You can click here to check out a demonstration.

4 Healthy Ways To Boost Your Child’s Development This Fall

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“Whether it’s planning outings or engaging in home-based activities, it’s the simple things that create strong bonds and boost a child’s development.”

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Two focuses of my blog are Creating Ecosystems of Success and Health/Wellness. If you have children, one key consideration is their proper development. There are some things to consider in the fall months. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Healthy Ways To Boost Your Child’s Development This Fall.

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The cool weather is no reason to slow down, as Fall remains a busy season for most families. With only a few months left to Winter, most families will want to get their holiday plans and preparations underway. It’s also a wonderful time to stop, connect with your kids, and have fun together as a family. Whether it’s planning outings or engaging in home-based activities, it’s the simple things that create strong bonds and boost a child’s development. The season is filled with opportunities for kids to learn and grow in a fun way. Here are some ways to boost your child’s development this Fall.

1. Head outdoors every day

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During this season, the summer heat gives way to cooler and crisp weather, the leaves change colors, and there’s much to see, feel, and smell outside. So take your kids out as often as you can – every day, if possible. Engaging in various outdoor activities this Fall can improve your child’s motor skills. Choose activities like running, raking, collecting leaves, climbing, hopping, catching, and hide-and-seek. These activities involve gross motor skills, which are important for coordination, good posture, balance, and overall physical development.

2. Plan more family activities

Backyard BBQs, get-togethers, family dinners, parties, and family time are also excellent ways to boost your child’s development this Fall. These social activities can help improve your child’s social skills, understand, relate with others, and develop relationships. You can help improve by teaching them appropriate words and actions during social gatherings. Also, consider taking them to kid-friendly social events or encouraging them to play with other kids outside the home. Remember to address issues that could discourage your child from engaging in social activities. For example, consider the possibility of hearing aids if your little one has been diagnosed with hearing loss. You can also learn effective tips to address social awkwardness in your child.

3. Give them simple ‘day jobs’

Understandably, you’re busy with plans and preparations for the upcoming holiday season, but your kids can help in simple ways. So, consider giving them simple day jobs so they don’t feel left out or abandoned. For example, you can ask your little one to wipe the dinner table, fold laundry, sweep the floor, or put littered toys away as their job. Such simple responsibilities will make your child feel important and teach them much about being responsible. Some kids can even start preparing snacks or helping with minor kitchen duties. It helps if you give them a little tip, allowance, or reward for completing their tasks, which will encourage them even further.

4. Create Fall art projects

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Sometimes, temperatures may drop too low to head outside. But you can encourage creativity indoors by encouraging your kids to create Fall-themed arts and crafts. They can draw various Fall sceneries or objects, make collages, create Fall leaves chalk art, pumpkin picture frames, and other fun but educational activities. Art and craft allow your child to tap into their imagination and creativity. It also helps to improve their motor skills. Plus, it’s a fun way to spend time together with your little ones.

Staying Healthy: A Guide For Those Of Retirement Age

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“Many people work their entire lives for their retirement years. A major consideration though is not just having enough money, but also being able to enjoy the time in terms of health.”

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A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Many people work their entire lives for their retirement years. A major consideration though is not just having enough money, but also being able to enjoy the time in terms of health. The following contributed post is entitled, Staying Healthy: A Guide For Those Of Retirement Age.

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Our health is always important, but we need different things as we move through different seasons of our lives. The good news is that if you are currently in the retirement season of your life, you can find out how to stay fit and healthy below.

Keep moving

Mobility and exercise are incredibly important for people of retirement age. This is because we tend to slow down a bit physically around this time, and then once we no longer head to work every day, it’s easy to become more sedentary. The problem with this is that mobility is a use-it-or-lose-it skill, which means the less you do the less you end up being able to do.

To that end, putting a plan in place to stay active and mobile is crucial. This may mean joining a gym and following their class program each morning, or it could mean heading to the course for a round or two of golf. The activity you chose isn’t as important as making sure you enjoy it and do it regularly as this will help you keep up the habit and stay healthy and mobile during your retirement years.

Wear your hearing aid

Many people of retirement age experience some hearing loss and are given hearing aids to wear. Unfortunately, lots of us do not like to wear them because they make us feel older than we are! However, if you require a hearing aid and don’t wear it you could be setting yourself up for all sorts of health issues. This is because the mind and body do not respond well to the stress of hearing loss, and will continue to search for sounds even when they cannot be heard. This can put a great deal of stress on your system and lead to an increased incidence of depression, dementia, and even IBS!

With that in mind, you must wear your hearing aid if you have one. If there is a problem with it that is keeping you from using it be sure to speak to your specialist who can help you reprogram it to suit your needs.

Consider supplementing your diet

Supplements can be a controversial topic, as many believe we can get everything we need nutritionally from a well-balanced diet. However, chances are that by the time you have reached retirement age you know the foods you like to eat and the ones you don’t, as well as the vitamins and minerals you may be lacking in your diet.

With this in mind, the idea of supplementing what you eat with vitamins and minerals to help boost your health seems like a no-brainer. Just make sure that you check with your doctor before you take a new supplement as they have interactions with other medications you use.

Embrace wellness checks

Yep, a visit to the doctor can be scary even if it’s only for a scheduled check-up, but that is no excuse to avoid them. In fact, the wellness checks offered to you by your doctor based on your age can be very helpful in keeping you healthy over the long term. This is because they are designed to test people at ages when these issues become more prominent and serious. The good news is that by attending these screenings you will either catch any issues early which makes them so much easier to treat, or have the peace of mind that you have a clean bill of health.

How To Recognize Health Issues

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“Personal health is probably our most valuable possession. It is not static though and must be monitored and protected continuously.”

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A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Personal health is probably our most valuable possession. It is not static though and must be monitored and protected continuously. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Recognize Health Issues.

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It’s always vital to take better care of your health, but sometimes you can try everything you can think of, such as exercise and eating better, and still suffer from health symptoms. Many people may just assume that’s how they are, but these issues could be more serious. While everyone can feel tired or ill now and again, chronic issues point to potentially severe health conditions, which is why you need to learn how to recognize health problems.

You Are Tired All the Time

Chronic exhaustion could be a sign of many things, but regardless, it is not normal, especially if you have a good night’s sleep of anywhere between seven and ten hours. Sometimes, this solves the problem even if it takes a few days of consistent sleep, but if your tiredness persists, there’s the risk of something deeper affecting you. Common causes include depression but it could also be chronic fatigue syndrome which could be treated by a combination of the doctor and exercise.

You Have A Long-Term Cough

A cough that lasts more than eight weeks is a sign of something severe, so you need to visit your doctor as soon as possible. These symptoms could point towards problems as serious as lung cancer, especially if you’re coughing up blood, but other problems could be COVID (if you have had it recently) or allergies. You may never have had allergies before, but since pollen and pollutants continue to evolve, it’s possible to develop them even when you’re older.

You Are Struggling to Hear

Hearing loss affects millions of people across the country, but it is not just old age that causes these problems. You can experience hearing loss at any age, especially if you attend concerts or work in noisy environments. Illnesses and clear blockages can also be the source of hearing loss, so speaking to your audiologist and receiving assistive listening devices can offer temporary or permanent treatment.

You Have Lost or Gained A Lot of Weight

While weight loss and weight gain are common, especially if you are actively trying to achieve one of the other, it is not healthy to experience unexplained weight loss or weight gain at any point. These problems could be various potential health issues, including gastrointestinal issues, cancer, a tapeworm infection, pregnancy, or menopause. For the most part, these problems are easily treatable, but it’s worth getting them checked out immediately.

You Feel Nauseous

Nausea is never pleasant, but you usually know why you feel you’re going to vomit. Perhaps you have a heavy night drinking or you’re on a boat and feel seasick. These reasons are common, but chronic nausea is less clear. Women may assume they are pregnant but it could also be a sign of an ulcer or gastroesophageal reflux disease. If you find out you are not pregnant and your nausea persists, see a doctor immediately.

While facing your health issues can be scary, you should not and cannot ignore them forever. Eventually, you will need to go to the doctor to discover what–if anything–is wrong with you. From there, they can prescribe treatment and guide you through the recovery process.

Navigate Divorce With Grace And Split Amicably

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“Many relationships last a very long time and stand the test of time throughout all sorts of ordeals. The truth is that not every relationship will do this.”

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A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. One of the most difficult life events many people will go through is a divorce. While sometimes necessary, divorces can be very messy and nasty. The best case scenario is the get through them peacefully. The following contributed post is entitled, Navigate Divorce With Grace And Split Amicably.

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Relationships are a huge part of life. If you want to be in a good place, you need to find somebody who’s going to support you and make you feel positive. We are heavily influenced by the people we spend our time with, so we have to choose wisely. Many relationships last a very long time and stand the test of time throughout all sorts of ordeals. The truth is that not every relationship will do this. Some people simply realize that they are no longer meant for one another – and a lot of the time it’s absolutely fine for this to happen.

We often think about our dream home with our wonderful family, but humans make mistakes as we are full of flaws. It’s absolutely fine to go through a divorce or any kind of breakup because we cannot expect perfection. Going through an amicable divorce is a great way to come out of the situation with respect and positivity. Not every divorce is smooth, so it’s up to you to ensure things go as seamlessly as possible. If you are currently going through this kind of situation, here are a few ways to navigate it amicably:

Communicate Properly

When things are awkward, it can be made even worse when you don’t talk things through properly. If there is a sense of anger or bitterness around the place, it can be very difficult to start to dialogue – but it’s entirely worth it. The more you hold back, the more awkward things will be. You need to make sure that you are talking things through properly and getting your point across without any kind of negativity.

Collaborate When Making Decisions

Turn this kind of situation into a joint effort and not a war. It’s very easy to make snide comments or to make things worse, so avoid this temptation and be mature. This will help you to reach agreements that suit everybody. Being flexible means that the outcome will be a lot easier on your mind.

Prioritize Your Children

If you have kids, you should put them in front of absolutely everything else that happens. You will want them to be at their happiest regardless of the situation. If you don’t put them first, you could risk scarring them for life. They might feel a sense of resentment due to how they felt during this entire ordeal. Always think about them whenever you make any kind of decision or before you snap.

Seek Professional Guidance And Support When Things Get Difficult

At the end of the day, you’re going to need some kind of professional guidance to get things done amicably. It’s not a case of making snap decisions because you could end up regretting them pretty soon. Thankfully, there are lots of legal professionals that can help out with divorces. The likes of state48law.com can step in and assist with whatever you need. Some areas can be quite tedious so you will need somebody who knows what they are talking about.

How To Get Through A Divorce With Difficult Ex

A focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. One of the most difficult negative life events one can ever experience is a divorce. Divorces can have long last effects on the for the two spouses and for those around them. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Get Through A Divorce With Difficult Ex.

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Getting through a divorce emotionally and physically is tough if the ex-partner is being difficult.

If you are going through a challenging divorce due to a troublesome ex-partner, then you have come to the right place and you are not alone. Using this guide, you can best understand how to achieve a smooth, safe, and successful divorce with a difficult ex.

Photo by Karolina Grabowska: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lawyers-looking-at-divorce-paper-7876050/

Seek expert legal help

The first thing you must do in order to attain a safe and successful divorce from a difficult ex is to seek legal help. Attaining help from an expert divorce lawyer will guarantee to help you get the best and fairest result possible.

At bestlawaz.com, you can find an excellent divorce lawyer who will guide you through the difficult process and ensure that you attain the result you desire. Working with a legal team will ensure that you are not taken advantage of and that you can stand up and fight for what you deserve after going through a tough divorce.

A legal expert will represent you and protect you throughout your divorce to ensure that you can be safe and secure from someone that is abusive or unfair.

Try to negotiate and stay calm

Another top tip to help you attain a successful divorce with a difficult ex is to try and negotiate with them and while doing so, remain calm.

Although it can’t be difficult to remain calm if they are throwing abuse at you, it is best for your own good as it will help you get a fairer response and if they do not want to listen to you then you can seek legal support to talk to them on your behalf.

If you know that your ex-partner can verbally or physically harm you, then ensure to avoid communication with them at all costs and allow someone to contact them on your behalf.

Expect to end up in court and prepare for this with your legal expert

If your ex-partner is extremely difficult to communicate with and thinks that they are in the right, then you should expect to end up in court.

Do not panic about this, as your legal expert will protect you and stand up for you so that you can achieve the fairest and best response possible.

Keep records

Whether you have communication with your ex-partner or they send you any form of letters or abuse, it is important to keep records of this as this can be used as evidence when you attend court.

Any records you have should be immediately handed over to your legal adviser as they will keep copies of them and ensure to keep them on your file.

Communicate calmly

Whenever you attempt to communicate with your ex, it is important that you do so as calmly as possible.

Although you might not wish to be friendly with them, being friendly and respectful is the best way to get a good answer from them and ensure that the divorce process is as smooth and seamless as possible.

These 8 Habits Could Be Ruining Your Mental Health

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Arguably the most important aspect of your personal health is your mental health. Sometimes we do things that hurt our mental health. The following contributed post is entitled, These 8 Habits Could Be Ruining Your Mental Health.

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If you want to protect your health as much as possible then you should know that these 8 habits could be sabotaging your efforts. If you want to start taking better care of yourself today, then this is the guide for you.

Perfectionism

Pursuing excellence is certainly a great habit to have. It’s important to do your best when trying to achieve an important goal. After all, doing something perfectly will increase your chances of success. If you try to be perfect all the time however then this may end up undermining your efforts. Psychologists have said that perfectionism can be positive but at the same time, it can also be negative. Habits of negative perfection involve you setting standards that are far beyond your reach, or being unhappy with anything other than perfection. You may also find that you have a preoccupation with failure and that you feel as though you are unworthy.

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Poor Posture

Sitting up straight can easily reduce your symptoms of anxiety. It allows you to sit with confidence and it also helps with self-focus. If you have a poor posture then you could be harming your spine, and causing extra tension in your muscles. Over time, this can lead to stress which is very bad for your mental health. If you want to do something about this then make sure that you sit up straight and that you focus on maintaining a healthy spinal posture. If you can do this then you will soon find that you end up feeling better in no time at all.

Guilt

If you feel guilty about leaving your family because you have to go to work, or if you feel bad about leaving your job because you have family obligations then over time, this will impact your mental health. If you leave this unchecked then you may find that you end up in a constant cycle of guilt. This will stop you from being able to give your full attention to either task. If you want to do something about this then you need to cut yourself some slack. You need to avoid magnifying problems and you also need to stop yourself from claiming responsibility for problems that had nothing to do with you. You are not a bad person if you make a mistake either, and if you can remember things like this, you will soon find that it is easier to benefit your mental health overall.

Not Exercising

A sedentary lifestyle is really bad for your waistline. It’s also very bad for your heart and your mental health. Regularly exercising may ease depression as endorphins are released. This also boosts your immune system while helping you to feel better in yourself. Bad exercise habits however, are all too easy to form. They can impact your mental health more than you realize. Some of the negative impact of exercising is you exercising irregularly or not exercising at all. You may also find that you end up exercising to the point of exhaustion, or that you adopt a bad form. Engaging in only one form of exercise is also a bad idea, so make sure that you avoid this where possible.

Failure Mindset

Everyone has negative thoughts now and again. It’s also possible for you to experience feelings of failure when things go wrong. There is nothing wrong with this, if it is only happening on an occasional basis. If your mental health isn’t great however then you may find that this ends up interfering with your own ability to succeed. Ugly thoughts often tell you that your life is bleak and that you have failed at everything you set out to do. They can stop you from sleeping at night and it can also stop you from being able to move your life forward. If you let your continual thoughts carry on then thinking them may become a habit. Feelings of failure can inflict a lot of damage on your mental health, leading to anxiety and depression. If you want to do something about this then one thing you can do is remind yourself of your success. What have you done well? What has worked in your favor? If you can give some thought to things like this then you are bound to reap the benefits.

Overusing Social Media

Overusing social media can contribute to feelings of anxiety and poor self-esteem. Mental health issues often arise from overusing social media. Using too many social media sites can also be damaging to your health. Studies have been done and they have found that if you use a lot of social media platforms on a daily basis then you may be at a higher risk of both depression and anxiety. Overusing a smartphone is also a bad idea. Using a smartphone can be a rewarding activity, because messaging systems, apps and more can all trigger very positive feelings. Using your smartphone habitually is a good thing, but if you use yours all the time then this can impact your mental health. You may find that you become addicted to compulsively checking for notifications and this is the last thing you need. Compulsively using your smartphone can lead to chronic stress as well as anxiety and depression too.

Regret

Regret is an emotional state. Everyone has some regrets in their life, whether it is not getting married when they could have done, or taking a new job. Regret should not be a daily habit though. A lot of people find that they make a habit of regret and they put it into daily practice. From this, you may end up experiencing depression, anxiety and sleep problems. Don’t spend all of your days ruminating over things that you regret, and instead, take steps to benefit yourself by focusing on the things you do have going for you. If a lot of your regrets stem from alcohol usage, then it could be a good idea for you to go to alcohol rehab. That way you can work through all of the feelings you have, and this can work in your favor.

Poor Sleep

Sleep is often a source of emotional resilience. If you do not give your brain and body the chance to switch off then you will never be able to recover from the hardships of the previous day. Sleep also helps you to prepare yourself for the challenges of tomorrow. If you lose sleep for one or two nights then this can lead to feelings of grogginess and grumpiness. You may also find that you can’t focus and that your mental health suffers as a result. If you want to do something about this then make sure that you take steps to benefit yourself by allowing yourself to sleep well at night. If you find it hard to switch off then build a good sleeping routine by reading a book before you go to bed, or by watching television. If you can do this then you are bound to reap the benefits and you may even find that you can relax more at night too. Consider investing in some aromatherapy candles, or diffusers. Relaxing essential oils are great if you want to unwind and they are also very good if you struggle with stress on a daily basis. Remember, if you do want to make a bigger change, you can invest in a new bed, or some new sheets as this will help to boost your mental health if you have had a very long day at work and need to relax in a comfortable environment.

Helping Grandma Through Her Final Days

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. A key to life is family and a central figure in most families is the grandmother. As we all get to the end of our lives, most people need help and grandmothers are no different. The following contributed post is entitled, Helping Grandma Through Her Final Days.

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As a loving grandson or daughter, helping grandma through her final years is a great way to ensure she feels safe and comfortable when the inevitable time comes. From just visiting to sitting down and talking about the good old times, here are some ways to make it easier.

Getting Affairs in Order

It’s often the case that older people have things they need to sort out before they pass if only to make sure there are no disputes. This often includes will writing and estate management of money. But how do you go about this? Well, you can help Grandma do it herself. But to make sure there are minimal issues, it is best to reach out to professional and reputable elder law firms that can guide you through the entire process or even do it on your grandmother’s behalf.

Visiting Makes a Huge Difference

According to some surveys, 1 in 3 people aged over 75 often feel lonely. It can be scary to visit an elderly relative, such as a close grandmother, in the final days leading up to death, but it shouldn’t have to. Additionally, any grandparents would be more than happy to see those they love when they don’t have long left. If you aren’t sure what to say but feel like you must help, you can ask if there is anything that needs taking care of and even discuss funeral plans.

Helping Grandma Through by Making Memories

Visiting with your grandmother is treasured enough by you and her, and you can reminisce about time past. But there’s also nothing to say that new memories cannot be made that immortalize the time spent together. And today, this is easier than ever, considering new technology. Smartphones come with a pretty impressive photo and video software these days, and both are very easy to use, without having to be a pro capture grandma before she goes,

Sitting Down and Talking

Visiting will be appreciated by an older relative, especially if they don’t have long left. But how is this time best used? Well, just sitting and talking is one of the best uses of dwindling time toward the end. Elderly relatives love to speak about when they were younger, their achievements, and, of course, children and grandchildren. The most compassionate thing you can do is indulge in this final act and listen to what they have to say because it will be missed when heard no more.

Being There to Say Goodbye

You will feel an enormous amount of guilt if you miss the chance to say goodbye to your grandmother when you have the chance and don’t take it. There is hardly anything that requires better use of time than to say goodbye to a dying loved one and maybe the birth of your child. In addition, having loved ones around when they pass makes it easier for your grandma. And you never know, but there may be something she wishes to say to you before she goes.

Summary

Helping Grandma through her final years takes some dedication and compassion. You can help get her affairs in order, make new memories before she goes and be there to say goodbye.

How Much Alcohol Should You Drink

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. While it is a popular social beverage and a personal means to unwind, alcohol can also be dangerous for multiple parties. The following contributed post is entitled, How Much Alcohol Should You Drink.

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It is okay to drink some alcohol? Our society loves to make us believe that it’s a normal part of socializing and existing as a functional human being, but is it?

That’s the topic of this post. We explore whether we really do need alcohol and some of the consequences of drinking even a small amount of it occasionally.

The Facts About Alcohol Consumption

The CDC is currently the world’s leading authority on the amount of alcohol people should drink, and respected all over the world. It says that alcohol consumption is associated with all sorts of short- and long-term health risks, including:-

● High blood pressure
● Various forms of cancers
● Sexually risky behaviors
● Motor vehicle accidents
● Violence

That’s one of the reasons the police are so concerned about public disorder offenses involving alcohol. Intoxication makes people less inhibited, and they are more likely to lose control of their faculties while under the influence.

The CDC recommends various approaches to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harm. It says that men should drink 2 or less drinks per day, and women should have 1 or less drinks per day.

That’s interesting. Under this scheme, the average person can still consume a substantial quantity of alcohol across the course of the week, potentially drinking at least something every day.

Are There Any People Who Shouldn’t Drink?

It turns out that there are some people who shouldn’t drink at all. The first group is, obviously, those under the legal age. However, there are individuals who are of legal age who should also generally avoid the habit.

Pregnant women, for instance, should avoid alcohol consumption because it can cause serious, untreatable birth defects. You should also avoid alcohol =if you are taking medications that interact with the substance. Side effects from combining, say, the antibiotic metronidazole with alcohol can be severe.

Lastly, anyone recovering from an alcohol disorder should also avoid alcohol entirely. Stepping back into dangerous behaviors can restart the cycle, leading to more rounds of treatment and damage to the body.

What Does The Science Of Moderate Alcohol Use Say?

It turns out that even if you drink within the CDC’s recommendations of 2 drinks per day for men, and 1 drink per day for women, you may be putting yourself at elevated risk of disease and death from all causes. Alcohol, it appears, is generally bad for the body and not something that anyone serious about their health should be consuming.

Some past studies previously indicated that alcohol consumption might be beneficial for health. However, these studies are now being contradicted by more controlled trials and mechanistic evidence supporting the notion of harm.

Furthermore, the recommendations are to moderate alcohol consumption over the course of a week by drinking the same amount every day. However, that’s not how behavior patterns work in most drinkers. The majority do not drink the same quantity daily. Instead, they consume dramatically higher amounts at the weekend, usually when socializing with friends.

Ultimately, therefore, the answer to the question; “how much alcohol should you drink?” is “as little as possible.”

Top Tips For Finding Your Calling

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“You must be prepared for some trial and error when seeking out your calling.”

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Two focuses of my blog are Creating Ecosystems of Success and Health/Wellness. One of the most fulfilling and important things you can do is to find your calling. Depending on your trajectory it may not be easy though to make it your fulltime endeavour. The following contributed post is entitled, Top Tips For Finding Your Calling.

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According to a recent study, only 1 in 10 Americans says they’re working their dream job. There are many reasons for this. Firstly, there are a range of different barriers you may face when it comes to carving out a career path in your ideal industry. For example, you may find it hard to get your foot in the door or make meaningful connections.

Photo by Cytonn Photography on Unsplash

However, many people are unsure of what their dream job actually is. This doesn’t mean there isn’t a ‘perfect’ position out there for them; they simply need to identify their calling.

With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to find your professional calling.

Figure out your passion

One of the easiest ways to figure out what kind of career is right for you is to figure out what you are passionate about. Once you’ve identified these passions, you can begin to explore related careers.

As such, it’s crucial that you view your hobbies as more than a way to relax after a long week and instead view them as potential career opportunities. For example, if you’ve always had a passion related to arts & crafts, your calling may lie in the creative fields. This means you could pursue a career as an artist or graphic designer.

Seek out inspiration

If you aren’t sure which path you’d like to follow when choosing a career, it’s important that you seek out inspiration from others. For example, Troy Thompson often argues that those who are unsure of what step to take next on the path to success (or financial stability) should consider a career within the armed forces. This is because it enables you to develop a range of skills that you can carry with you into later life, such as resilience and self-confidence.

Alternatively, you may want to speak to a careers advisor who can provide you with advice and guidance moving forward. After all, they’ll be able to note down your current qualifications and skills, alongside your interests and passions, and help you figure out what kind of career you are best suited for.

Be prepared for trial and error

Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that the first job you land will be your dream job. This is because you often have to develop specific skills and expertise to obtain more senior or established roles. Furthermore, you may begin working in a specific industry only to realize later it’s not how you imagined it to be. As a result of this, you must be prepared for some trial and error when seeking out your calling.

While this can be disheartening, especially if you’ve always had a very specific career in mind, it’s important to note that in time, you’ll find your calling – and once you’ve done so, you’ll be thankful for the journey.

Furthermore, there’s no shame in your calling changing over time. After all, we’re constantly changing and evolving, so it only makes sense for our careers or callings to change alongside us!