Category: Health and Wellness

Fixing Our Skewed View: Stopping Self-Medicating With Substances

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. In some instances alcohol abuse is a simple and convenient way to deal with life’s pains and hardships. If the user isn’t careful though, there can be unintended consequences and they become abusers of that alcohol. The following contributed post is entitled, Fixing Our Skewed View: Stopping Self-Medicating With Substances.

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In life, we can tend to self-medicate. Whether we are going through physical pain, emotional pain, or psychological pain, there are little vices in life can seem to be an ideal solution for a short period of time. But with something like substances or alcohol, we know, deep down, that’s not an ideal solution. But what can we do before it gets to the point that we lose all sense of comprehension, and have a genuine reliance on it?

It Overrides Our Sense Of Safety
When we feel that we can have a few drinks and drive home without any worry, this is when the law catches up and we face the consequences. Being detained under what is called a physical control arrest, where you are in control of a motor vehicle under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drug, is enough to make many straighten up and fly right. But for a lot of people who are functioning under a certain level of intoxication, especially when they have life duties, there is a self-centeredness that overrides any sense of safety. Unfortunately, there are many examples of parents who drink and take their children to school under the influence.

Getting To The Root Of The Problem
Self-medicating is the refuge of someone who’s not able to cope. It’s an easy way to cloud our memories of a situation. But this doesn’t help us get to the root of the problem. If you are someone reading this who knows that you’ve got to function, but still will struggle to face facts, how can you get to the root of the problem? By getting to the core of it, it requires a lot of soul-searching, and a lot of pain. Naturally, we don’t want to face up to this sort of thing. But, counseling, helplines, or even some sense of clarity can be a great way to understand why alcohol is not the way forward. Medicating in this respect is a short-term solution.

The Symptoms Get Worse
Self-medicating with alcohol means that, after a while, your tolerance increases. As such, we’ve got to find ways to get back to that original hazy way of thinking. It seems to be the perfect way to wade through life, at least in the short term. The big problem is that alcoholism, or addiction in any form, is a selfish approach. After a while, it becomes a fact that we have a reliance on a substance that overrides any sense of duty, except to that of the substance. We live a subservient existence, and only then is it when an intervention occurs, or we do something to snap ourselves out of it, that we realize the extent of our troubles.

In many ways, it’s preaching to the choir, but we all fall victim to a bad time in life. And, we can self-medicate with alcohol to an extent, and it makes everything feel okay for a bit. But this is not a tried and tested solution to overcoming the problem. Whatever issue you have in life, drinking becomes the perfect mask, but after a while, the mask begins to slip, regardless of the effort you make to avoid this happening.

Living With Dementia: The Trials And Tribulations Of A Carer

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. Some people develop Dementia with old age. As the caregiver of someone with Dementia, it can be a tough road. It’s important to know what things to look out for. The following contributed post is entitled, Living With Dementia: The Trials And Tribulations Of A Carer.

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Between 5 to 7% of people over the age of 60 suffer from some form of dementia. By the time you hit 85, this number increases to between 25 and 50%. Unfortunately, when you reach this age it can literally be a coin toss whether you do develop this condition. That’s a problem because life expectancy is increasing. On average, we’re all living a lot longer than we used to, which means that mental health issues associated with age are going to become more common. What can we do about this?

Well, we need to be prepared for living with dementia. This is going to be important if your partner develops the condition or if you choose to look after an elderly member of your family at home. What changes should you make?

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Child Safety

As silly as it might sound, if your partner is suffering from dementia or you are bringing someone with dementia home to live with you, you need to get the child safety equipment out the attic. Alternatively, this is available to buy on the market. You need to make sure that you are putting measures in place to ensure that someone with dementia can’t hurt themselves.

Be aware that people with this condition can forget what they are doing while in the middle of a task. An example would be pouring a cup of tea. A person suffering from dementia could forget they were pouring and start putting the water on their hands rather than the cup.

Safe Furniture

If you visit a care home equipped for dementia, you will find that they tend to use special types of furniture. This furniture is designed to provide the maximum levels of safety for individuals in their care. That does include everything from slips and falls to a potential hit on the head. Companies like Crown Furniture provide mental health furniture that is ideal for keeping environments safe and free from hazards.

Cues And Support

Depending on the stage of the condition, it might be necessary to ensure that you are putting cues around the home. These can be cards that are laminated and placed in key areas. It provides information that someone might need to protect themselves or to continue to live with some level of independence. For instance, you might label the fridge, the microwave and the phone. Studies have shown that these cues can help a great deal.

Safe Place To Sleep

Finally, it’s common for someone with dementia to forget where they are in the middle of the night. This can cause them to fall out of bed which can lead to both a shock and an injury. It’s important therefore to consider investing in a lower bed so the fall won’t be as severe. You can also consider purchasing a bed with sides.

We hope this helps you deal with some of the issues that you could face when living with someone who has dementia. It is important to keep them safe as well anyone who is sharing the environment. Be aware that people with dementia can be a threat to themselves and to others without warning.

3 Ways To Show Your Patients You Care In Your Healthcare Business

Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Health/Wellness. The Healthcare Business is one that will likely always be needed. That said as a business, there is still level of competition. How do you separate yourself from your competitors? The following contributed post is entitled, 3 Ways To Show Your Patients You Care In Your Healthcare Business.

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Running a healthcare business is much the same as any other business. If you show your customers that you care (or in this context, your patients), you will retain their loyalty and receive the financial rewards to your business. And if you don’t show that you care? Well, the reverse is true. You won’t be the only healthcare business in your community, and you might lose your patients to somebody who is doing more than you to care for their needs.

So, to ensure you stand out in the healthcare sector then, here are just a few of the ways that you can show your patients that you care.

1: Listen to what your patients have to say

Do your patients feel cared for? Are you meeting their needs? You would never know unless you asked them, so to ensure they know that you have their best interests at heart, make every effort to listen to what they have to say. This begins at the reception desk when your patients express their needs to your receptionist, and it continues into their appointments when they are talking to your healthcare professionals.

So, ensure your receptionist staff have customer training behind them. Make sure appointment times can be scheduled so your care staff have sufficient time to get to know and understand your patients. And ensure feedback forms are available, so if your patients have something to say, be it good or bad, you can then take the appropriate actions when necessary.

2: Show your patients your appreciation

If it wasn’t for your patients, you wouldn’t have a business, so to retain those that you do have on your books, show them that you care for their needs by finding ways to reward their loyalty to you.

So, you might offer your loyal patients discounted services, or you might show your appreciation by revamping your practice’s waiting areas. Check the medical fit-outs at Levitch, for example. You might also adopt an incentive scheme, so if your patients can direct others to your business, you might reward them with a free gift (such as an electric toothbrush if you were in dentistry) or money off their next visit.

What you do depends on the area of healthcare your business is in, but for some general inspiration, here are some other ideas on how to show patient appreciation. Your patients will then show you their appreciation by returning to your business.

3: Educate your patients

To show your patients that you care about their health needs, you can take extra steps to keep them informed. So, you might run special classes in your business, with expert advice from your clinicians and outside professionals to educate your patients on any health issues that pertain to their situation. You might also send out newsletters to your patients, be that through e-mail or snail mail, not only to market yourself to them but to give them new information that relates to their needs.

By educating your patients, you are showing them that you aren’t only interested in their money. They will see that you are going the extra mile to give them better care through the information you relay, and this will do them and your business a world of good.

Thanks for reading!

How to Actually Relax after a Long Week at Work

Two of the focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and Health/Wellness. One of the keys to being successful in your career is understanding how to rejuvenate yourself. This process of self-renewal can pay tremendous dividends. The following contributed post is entitled, How to Actually Relax after a Long Week at Work.

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If you feel as though you are constantly tense at the weekend, then you will know how frustrating this can be. You may feel as though you never get the chance to unwind and that you also find it difficult to switch off too.

Disconnect from your Phone

It doesn’t matter how you choose to unwind because it will be difficult to do if you are always thinking about work. If you want to help yourself here, turn your phone off as soon as you leave the office. If you have a work phone, try and leave it at your desk. This will really help you to switch off from work and it will also help you to have some more personal time too.

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Run yourself a Warm Bath

Believe it or not, one of the best ways for you to relax after a long day would be for you to have a warm bath. You can wash the tension away from your body and you can also calm your mind too. If you do decide to have a bath, then light some candles and buy some bath salts. This will boost your experience and it will also help you to feel well and truly pampered.

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Try and Workout

Working out is another fantastic way for you to release those endorphins. Science has proven time and time again that exercise is a great way to relieve stress and that it’s great for your mental health. If you want to get the maximum benefit, then consider taking part in a team sport. This will help you to be more social and it will also help you to connect with other people in your local area.

Get out of the House

A change in scenery can really make a change to being cooped up inside all day. If the weather is fine, then try and seek out nature. Get out a chair, sit in the garden, and breathe in the fresh air. If you have some nice flower seeds, get them planted out or even try and rearrange the hanging basket outside your front door. Little things like this can take your mind away from work and bring it back to the present moment.

Put on Some Music

Play some soothing tunes and have a moment to yourself. The music that you listen to can influence your mood and you would be surprised at how much it could help you to relax. If you are finding it hard to choose a playlist that’s suitable then consider using Spotify as there are plenty on there to choose from.

Play a Game

Playing games like the ones on wombatcasino.com can help you to forget all about work. Try and find one that you can really get into. When you do, you’ll feel all the stress from the week leave your body and this can help you to maintain a more positive mindset. It’s also ideal if you want to have a relaxing night in.

4 Relaxing Hobbies You May Not Have Tried Yet!

Two of the key focuses of my blog are Athletics/Sports and Health/Wellness. Often times the hobbies we have can affect our qualities of life. Some of them can contribute to creating a much healthier quality of life. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Relaxing Hobbies You May Not Have Tried Yet!

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You’ll know that if you want to look after your wellbeing, your exercise regime should be a top priority. With ample benefits for our physical and mental health, you won’t want to skip out on your get active fix! Sometimes, the gym can get a little boring, especially in the summer when it’s all stuffy and you just want to get outside! In addition to this, when you’ve had a hard week, pounding away on the treadmill doesn’t always feel so calming. If you’re looking for a new sporting hobby that promotes relaxation, you should consider some of these options.

Yoga

If you are serious about relaxation, yoga is just about the most calming exercise that you can do. You will learn about breathing techniques, meditation, and mindfulness to help calm your mind and focus on the present moment. Yoga is often practiced to relaxing music or accompanied with incense and candles to ease your senses. Yoga also provides so many excellent benefits for the body, from improving your core strength to your posture and flexibility. You can find a local yoga studio, or self-teach via online videos if you would prefer.

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Paddle Boarding

Activities which we can do on the water can be largely therapeutic. SUP (stand-up paddleboarding) is relaxing because you have to use lots of concentration and focus to balance and move across the water. Paddleboarding is another excellent activity to work on your core strength and tone your muscles. Be warned it’s not in fact as simple as it looks, but with a little practice, you could soon become a pro!

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Archery

Archery is an excellent sport to destress because, like yoga, it focuses on your ability to stay with the present moment, focus, and persist. Many people find that aiming and hitting a target with precision allows them to expel tension from their bodies and minds. You can play archery outdoors so you’ll be boosting your endorphins with both nature and the sunlight. When you are starting out, you will need to figure out what kind of equipment you will need. As a beginner, you’ll need to find the right kind of bow. Some people also like to add a bow stabilizer, to help them to perfect their archery skills.

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Hiking

Taking up hiking is an excellent way to relax and experience some beautiful places. You will destress, burn calories, and connect with nature. What’s more, hiking has a huge social aspect as you can hike with friends or join a local hikers group if you don’t have any takers! If you don’t have any worthy hiking destinations near you, why not find one further afield, hop on a train and make a day of it!

Sometimes it can be hard to know how to destress after a long week at work, but before you reach for the TV remote why not give one of these a try and see if you learn some new skills and relax in the process!

4 Effective Tips For Dealing With Back Pain

One of the key focuses of my blog is Health and Wellness. One of the most debilitating chronic pains a person can deal with is back pain. Once you start having problems with back pain, it’s important to know how to manage it. The following contributed post is entitled, 4 Effective Tips For Dealing With Back Pain.

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Back pain is something that most people will deal with at some point in their lives, especially as they get older. It’s also a particular problem for people that work in an office because sitting down all day is not good for the muscles in your back. If left untreated, back pain will get a lot worse and eventually, it will affect your ability to go about your daily life. But you don’t need to let it get to that point because there are plenty of ways that you can deal with the pain and relieve it before it starts to get worse. These are the best ways to deal with back pain effectively.

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Don’t Self Diagnose

Self diagnosing is very common these days because it’s easy to put a few symptoms into an online search and get a load of results about serious health problems. But there’s a big danger with self diagnosing because it’s likely that you’ll convince yourself that you have a serious problem like a slipped disc or something and end up rushing to the hospital even though there isn’t really anything wrong, it’s just tight muscles.

If the pain is severe and you’re really worried about it, don’t go online and start looking through all of the potential problems that you might have, just get yourself to a back doctor and get a professional diagnosis. If there is something seriously wrong, they will be able to offer treatment. However, they might just tell you that you have tight muscles in your back and it’s nothing to worry about.

Keep Moving Around

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they have back pain is that they stop moving around. They think that the pain will only get worse so they stop all activity but often, that isn’t the best thing to do. Inactivity is often the cause of the back pain, especially if you don’t move around at work very much, so sitting down and doing nothing is the worst thing that you can do. Try to stay active as long as it doesn’t cause you too much pain and you will see more improvement.

Heat And Ice

Heat and ice are both good ways to treat back pain depending on the cause. It may be muscle inflammation or swelling, in which case, the cold will help a lot. Try getting an ice pack and pressing it on the affected area for a while. In some cases, the pain is caused by tight muscles and if you apply a heat pack to the area, it will help to loosen the muscles up and work out some of those knots.

Stretches

Stretches are another great way to get rid of the knots in your back and loosen up your muscles. If you start doing daily back stretches you should find that the pain is lessened and your back doesn’t feel as tight. It’s a good idea to do these stretches even if you don’t feel any pain because it can help to prevent the problem in the first place.

Before you start diagnosing yourself with any serious health issues, you should try these simple methods for relieving back pain because usually, it’s just tight muscles and you can deal with it easily.

What You Should Keep in Your Car

The principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success. A key focus is Health/Wellness. Regardless of where you’re driving, there are a few select items that you always want to keep in your car. Doing so will assure yours and your passengers’ safety under most circumstances. The following contributed post is entitled, What You Should Keep in Your Car.

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Is your car filled with old receipts, dirty jumpers, empty drinks bottles, and food packaging that should have been in the bin a long time ago? Or, are you a super tidy car owner? Do you clean your car out every time you get home, and take it to be washed and vacuumed every few weeks? Most of us fall into one of these two camps. Your car is either very messy, so that you are ashamed to offer anyone a lift, or always clean and tidy and ready for guests. But, whichever camp you fall into, chances are your car is missing a few of the things that you should always have with you.

There are a few things that you should have with you in your car at all times. Things that could keep you safe in an accident, help you out if you get lost, or even save your life if you end up stuck somewhere. Let’s take a look at some of the things that you should always have in your car.

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Contact Numbers

Do you know What happens in a hit and run? Would you know who to call if you broke down? Or if you were involved in another accident? Have contact numbers like your breakdown service in your phone all the time in case you need them quickly.

A Map

You might use your phone or a satellite navigation system. These are great and exceptionally useful. But, they’re not always accurate, and cell signal still isn’t 100%. It’s a good idea to carry a map too, especially if you are traveling to somewhere new.

A Phone Charger

Your contact numbers are in your phone. Your map is on your phone. There’s a torch on your phone. If you have an accident, you might use your phone to photograph the damage. You might even use it to play music. What if your battery died? Take a car charger wherever you go, and you’ll never need to worry.

Water

If you breakdown or find yourself stuck waiting to be rescued, you can manage without most things. But not water. Take a bottle of water on all long journeys. Snacks and spare clothes are a good idea too, but at least take water.

A Basic Tool Kit

You’d be amazed at how much you can repair, or patch up enough to get to a garage yourself by the side of the road with just a basic tool kit and some car repair videos on YouTube. A first aid kit might come in handy too.

A Spare Tire

You should always have a spare tire, that’s pumped up and in good condition, or if you drive a newer car, an emergency repair kit, just in case. A jack can also be handy in case you need to change it yourself by the side of the road. It can also be a good idea to carry an air pump and pressure gauge. Sometimes just adding a little air is all that you need to be able to drive it to a garage, which can be a lot easier than trying to change it yourself.

Tips that will Help you to Avoid Unemployment Depression

Two of the focuses of my blog are Career Discussions and Health/Wellness. For many, jobs aren’t just a way to earn a living, they’re also critical pieces of our lives. Losing them can thus have multiple effects on our personal well beings besides just the loss of income. It’s important to understand how to fall in depression. The following contributed post is entitled, Tips that will Help you to Avoid Unemployment Depression.

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If you are out of work then you will know how frustrating this can be. You may feel as though your life has been turned upside down and that there is no possible way for you to get out of the rut you are in. This is not the case at all, and when you are able to refocus your attitude, you’ll soon find that you are able to come back bigger and stronger.

Step Back

Nobody likes losing their job. If you are unemployed then you should never look at yourself as a failure. Instead, think of your time off as a mini vacation. You could probably do with the rest anyway. Use the first few days to catch up on some rest, watch a few movies or even finish the DIY project you have going on in the garage. As long as you are doing something meaningful and enjoying your time then you are helping to put yourself in a good place.

Don’t get too Comfortable

When you’ve relaxed for a few days, it is time for you to start turning things around. Use your time wisely and get up at the same time every day. It also helps to prepare yourself for the job that you want as well. This could include taking a training course, or even going through your CV so you can add any new skills. There are plenty of services that can help you to craft the perfect CV, and when you use them, you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to make yourself appear friendly and professional.

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What you’re Feeling is Normal

Losing your job can feel like losing a loved one. A lot of people go through the grieving process when they become unemployed, and this is completely normal. If you want to help yourself then you need to let it happen. When you’ve worked through the emotions, you can then pick up the pieces and move on. Sometimes you’ll need to push yourself more than others if depression is holding you back, but you need to know that what you’re going through right now won’t last forever and that better times are just around the corner. If you lost your job as the result of personal injury, then it’s well worth contacting https://www.bellevuetrialattorney.com/.

Speak with Friends and Family

A lot of people experience a high amount of guilt when they lose their job. They feel as though they should isolate themselves and they also feel as though they shouldn’t talk to their family or friends about it too. This should never be the case, and at the end of the day, you need a support network now more than ever.

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Network

Another thing that you can do is network with other people. When you do, you can then find out if there are any other opportunities in your local area and you can even chat with people who are in the same industry as you. This will help you to broaden your horizons, and it will give you a more positive outlook in the future.

How Do You Live Your Best Life?

The first principle of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and a key focus is Health/Wellness. Everyone wants to be happy in life. Some of us however do things at times inadvertently do things to hurt their qualities of life. The following contributed post is entitled, How Do You Live Your Best Life?

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It’s a cliche to say that you only live once, but it’s important to keep in mind that, like most cliches, it’s also true. There is, we imagine, no sadder feeling than reaching the end of your life and understanding that you didn’t quite do things as you intended, that you didn’t quite reach your full potential. The best remedy for this is, of course, to make sure you don’t end up feeling that way. Live your best life while you have the chance! But of course, that’s something that’s easier said than done. Fortunately, us humans have acquired plenty of nuggets of wisdom that can put us on the right path towards a happy and fulfilled life. We take a look at some of the key areas and actions to focus on.

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Know The Rules, Don’t Blindly Follow

You’re pushed into a system that encourages you to get a job, buy a house, have a family, and all-around stay on the well-trodden path. However, there’s still a lot of freedom within the system! To live your best life, you’ll want to be aware of the rules and your limitations/possibilities, and out your own spin on how things are done. Everything is possible. If you don’t feel like the path you’re lead down is the right one for you (say, all the talk is of an office job when you want to work outside), then go your own way.

Your Immediate Surroundings

You’ve got to be happy where you are! If you’re not, then all the professional and personal success in the world will be unlikely to make up for the plain and pure fact that you don’t enjoy your surroundings. By this, we mean the place where you’re living (the house, the apartment), and also the area of the country. If you’re struggling to identify with the interests and way of life of people around you, or you feel like you can’t be yourself for whatever reason, then take a look at moving. Millions of people move to a new state each year: it’s not as momentous as a decision as it’s sometimes made out to be. While it might take a little getting used to, in the long-term you’ll be grateful that you made a move if it allowed you to flourish.

Who You’re Hanging Out With

People tend to think that they’re independent folks, and they are to an extent, just not to the extent that they believe. We’re all much more influenced by the people we spend the most time with than we realize! Indeed, they say that every person is the average of the five people they spend the most time with. So take a look at who that would be in your case, and figure out in which direction they’re taking you. If they’re pushing you to be the best that you can be, then there’s no problem. If they’re pulling you down, then that’s another matter. It’s important to be loyal to the people in your life, but equally, you have to know when to cut the cord and look after yourself for a while.

Your Work and Career

If you asked people what would be the one thing in their life that they’d love to give up, the majority of answers would be “work.” And that’s understandable, because most people dislike their jobs. However, there isn’t the option of simply waving goodbye to employment — only lottery winners get to do that. So if you’re going to spend decades working, then you may as well take some time to find your calling. You’ll enjoy your job much more if it involves doing something that you inherently enjoy. Plus, weekends become a whole lot more when you’re not battling that Sunday feeling because you dread going to work on Monday.

Giving Back

It’s not all about you. Your hopes and dreams and happiness will be your main priority, but it shouldn’t be your only priority. You’ll feel more fulfilled if you help others in one way or another. While it might not seem like something that’s traditionally fun, Keep in mind that studies have shown that doing charitable work and helping others has a noticeable effect on our happiness levels. It feels good to do good, basically. It doesn’t really matter what it is, either — so long as you’re engaging in a selfless act for the benefit of others, then you’ll feel good. Plus, it’ll be pretty special to look back on your life when you’re older and know that you did something to push the world in the right direction.

The Basics

We tend to complicate our lives. If we break our needs down to the basics, then you’ll see that we don’t need all that much — but we do need them, especially if we’re going to go on and do more important things. The basics, which can include exercise and eating well, will provide the platform from which everything else can develop. It takes next to no time to prepare a healthy, tasty meal in the evening (check out some twenty-minute recipes), while exercise doesn’t have to involve spending an hour in the gym: it can be whatever you want to be, be it squash, cycling to work, climbing, or kayaking.

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Carry on Learning

You might think you’ve got everything figured out, but the truth of the matter is that you, well, don’t! Because no-one does. Many people spend the bulk of their first two decades in education, and when it’s over, seldom take the time to learn some more. There’s a lot of value in taking a course, reading, or simply staying curious throughout your life — you never know what pearl of knowledge will come your way.

Act Like Good Things are Coming

Life can be hard, there’s no doubt about it, but it’s important that you’re not getting too down when the low moments arrive. They will just breed more low moments! Whenever possible, act like good things are coming. They probably are.

How To Build A Great Father-Son Connection

A key focus of my blog is Health/Wellness. A key aspect of growing into a healthy man is a health father-son relationship. There certain keys to becoming a great father. The following contributed post is entitled, How To Build A Great Father-Son Connection.

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Raising children is one of the best and most rewarding jobs you’ll ever have in your life, but if can also be one of the most terrifying and confusing. You constantly doubt yourself and wonder if you’re messing them up at every turn, and although they say it gets easier as the years go on and you have more kids, it really doesn’t – it just becomes different.

Just as the relationship between a mother and daughter can often be a complex one, the relationship between a father and his son is equally complex. The main issues that men often face is that the way we’ve been brought up to view men is that they have to behave in a certain way – they’re not allowed to display emotion because it’s seen as weak, and although these paradigms are shifting within our society, it’s definitely taking a bit of time.

So, in this post we’re going to share with you some of our top tips for building a great father-son connection that will hopefully help you build an unshakeable bond with your son as he grows from a small child to a man you can be proud to say you raised.

Build mutual interests:

Whilst it’s important to let your son be his own person, as one of the foundations of building a connection with anyone lies in the commonalities you share, the same logic applies when building a connection with your son.

This isn’t to say you need to have every interest be the same – for example, he may like football and you prefer basketball, but then you can identify other areas where you share some common interests, such as fly fishing, so you can teach him how to fly fish, and even when he’s a child you can look for things that you may even want to develop as a common interest since often it’s the aspect of nostalgia that really creates an interest in the first place. If you’re worried that you and your son have no common interests, there’s likely going to be something – although it’s not impossible, it’s pretty rare for a parent and child to be real polar opposites in every area, and the funny thing about that is, even in cases where people think they’re polar opposites, they actually have so much in common but can’t actually see it because this commonalities in their personality, such as stubborness often causes a clash of personality.

Don’t wrap them in cotton wool:

It’s absolutely normal for a parent to want to protect their child at every turn, and we’re certainly not saying let them play with knives or go wandering away from home after dark – safety precautions should always be taken when it comes to your child and as the parent you get to say what boundaries you set around that because you do know best.

However, wrapping your son up in cotton wool and never doing things like playing rough or the typical things that fathers and sons do together and have done perfectly fine with for generations is something that could definitely cause problems for him later in life because he’ll be too afraid to do anything and could end up in some pretty dangerous situations if he doesn’t know how to take care of himself.

These things like wrestling with your son or even playing the occasional video game are great for bonding and as long as you’re keeping your communication open and letting him know that violence isn’t a solution to life’s problems, then you’re probably going to be doing just fine.

Make time for father-son activities:

As mentioned above, if you have some common interests that you and your son both enjoy, then why not take these to the next level and enjoy some father-son bonding time? Even if you haven’t yet established what your common interests are, then you can think of the things you enjoyed as a child, whether it was with your father or just with your friends. It can be things like playing football together, going to watch a game together, going hiking or camping, or even riding bikes or a hover board together. The point is, it’s really not so much about what you do, but more about the fact you’re doing it together and using that time to really focus on building your relationship and connection with your son.

Take on projects together:

Taking on projects with your son can, not only be a great way to bond and build your relationship, but it’s a great way to show him some responsibility, build his confidence and also be able to see that you trust him and believe in him enough to let him take on important tasks. Even just asking for his input in things like renovating the garage or fixing up your car will do wonders for his confidence and self-esteem, and although you may not notice the difference immediately, these are the things he’ll carry into his adult life and that will really have the biggest impact, so maybe start thinking about any projects you have or potentially could have that you could do together with your son.