All posts by Tia

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Al Fresco Living: Your Ticket to the Good (Outdoor) Life

Al Fresco Living: Your Ticket to the Good (Outdoor) Life

It is true that nature’s bounty doesn’t end at dirt and bugs; instead, it offers opportunities for fresh air, roasting marshmallows, and soaking up glorious sunshine – not unlike alfresco living – an appealing lifestyle concept that brings the outdoors in by blurring boundaries between indoors and out, making outdoor spaces as comfortable for living as any indoor space is.

Photo by Kate Tandy on Unsplash

The Charm of Alfresco Living 

Alfresco living, is more than just a trend; it’s a lifestyle decision with its own set of charm. Alfresco living means making outdoor spaces part of your everyday living space for maximum pleasure and comfort. Imagine this: the comfort of your backyard, with a book, tea, birdsong, and you. Or even better: romantic dinner under the stars without needing reservations or worrying about what to wear! Alfresco living is about embracing the freedom and flexibility that comes from following the sun and stars; giving your life some extra breathing room. So are you ready to step outside? But before moving your sofa and coffee table outside, let’s delve deeper into creating that ideal alfresco living space from scratch.

Read: SIMPLE UPDATES TO MAKE ON YOUR HOME WHILE ON A BUDGET

Doing it All – From Scratch

So you want to enter the alfresco lifestyle but don’t know where to begin? Worry not; creating your alfresco oasis from scratch is simple. Here is our step-by-step guide on creating your very own open-air oasis!

  • Step one of outdoor space design should always begin by identifying your space – this step acts like selecting a room layout indoors but involves fresh air and bird interference! From small balconies and mid-size patios to expansive lawns and spaces in between, identify what area needs transformation.
  • After this, you need to determine its purpose. Is it meant as a peaceful area for reading and relaxation, a place for summer barbecues and gatherings, or even an area for your children to play in? Knowing how you plan on using your area will guide your choice of furniture, accessories, and layout choices.
  • Furniture selection should include durable pieces that are both sturdy and waterproof; choose pieces that meet your style preferences such as nautical, boho, or modern minimalist themes to complete the look of your outdoor space. Remember that outdoor spaces are extensions of interior styles.
  • At this point, let’s address flooring. To truly enjoy alfresco living, outdoor terracotta tiles can make an outdoor space feel Mediterranean! Sun-baked clay tiles like these make an excellent choice due to their high density and moisture resistance – plus, over time they develop an irresistibly rustic chic patina! However, remember these red beauties may become slippery when wet so it may be worthwhile considering or opting for anti-slip options as alfresco living should not involve slippery slipperiness!
  • After that comes the fun part – accessorizing. Consider adding fairy lights for a soft warm glow, potted plants for some added greenery, and perhaps an outdoor rug to add comfort – your alfresco abode is now ready for its first sunset soiree!

But we aren’t finished yet: every story comes with its own warning; alfresco living is no different.

The Don’ts of Alfresco Living

As part of creating the ultimate alfresco living atmosphere, there are some pitfalls you should try and avoid. 

  • Most importantly, don’t overcrowd your space; that wrought-iron bistro set might look lovely, and who could resist adding life-sized gnome statues to their garden decor… but remember, relaxed outdoor living should not feel like yard sale shopping; let it all breathe freely in its space.
  • Next, don’t overlook the weather. This goes beyond selecting weatherproof furniture; it means taking into account climate realities when planning outdoor living space. If you live in a sunbaked desert, a shade structure is absolutely essential; in a mosquito-ridden swamp area, some type of bug-zapping device might come in handy; rain could turn an alfresco dinner into a soggy sandwich affair in an instant!
  • Keep up on maintenance. Outdoor spaces need regular upkeep to look their best; otherwise, that chic Spanish villa look can quickly degenerate into haunted-house territory. Keep your alfresco space clean, tidy, and ready for action.
  • Never overlook lighting when designing an outdoor area. Without proper illumination, an otherwise beautiful design can quickly fade after sunset without adequate solar-powered garden lights, lanterns, or string lights to add ambiance and keep parties going well into the night.

Photo by Nick de Partee on Unsplash

Read: RELAXATION AS A STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS

Conclusion: Breathe In, Chill Out

And there you have it; your guide to alfresco living! Remember it’s not about creating the ideal space; rather it should reflect you! So take some deep breaths of fresh air, unwind beneath an open sky, and enjoy life outdoors – are you ready to live alfresco?

​Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, TIPS IN ACTION

Keep Your Home Safe While Traveling

Keep Your Home Safe While Traveling

Photo by Maria Tyutina

If the idea of traveling makes you feel giddy then you are not alone. However, if you have just bought or moved into a home, this is a huge purchase and it is something that you no doubt considered carefully. 

This means that you will have to make sure your home is kept secure, especially when you have to be away for a while.  

Here are some ways to make sure that your property is still getting superb care while you are away.

Read: HOME SWEET (AND SAFE) HOME

Check Everything

Before you, jump on your next flight. Be sure that no one can pry open and jump through your windows. Before you head out make sure that you check every door and window and see to it that they are properly locked.

If you have spare keys it’s a good idea to take them up. If a burglar were to come around and sniff out that you are not at home, they will start lifting mats and potted plants to find spare keys.

In doing so, they are likely to discover your secrets if you hide keys this way, so make sure you don’t keep any spare keys in these very obvious places.

Get Timers on Lights

Getting lights that have timers on them can help to level up your security. Your best security is often found in motion lights.

Motion lights will come on outside your home whenever a thief or criminal tries to walk or sneakily tiptoe their way onto your property. 

You will say goodbye to cat burglars with motion sensitive lights. These lights are often enough to frighten away these criminals.

Get Smart

Another great way to beef up security on your property is to install smart cameras, lights, and locks. You will get control of what’s happening at your home. 

You can control the ins and outs while you are on vacation. Let people go in or out as you wish from wherever you are via an app. You can put it up on your phone or your tablet and then go to work in securing your property from a distance. 

It’s great for letting service people such as house cleaners while you are away. With smart cameras, you can become a super spy because you can see what is going on in your home while you are in a different country.

This is how far smart technology has come!

Reduce Signs that No One Is Home

The next thing you need to do is reduce the signs that nobody’s home. You should try to get someone to pop in and pick up your mail from your mailbox. 

Also, get someone to come in and clear away any packages that get delivered.

Getting someone to do this will throw potential burglars off the scent. It will be almost impossible for them to tell that no one is home.

When your yard turns into a forest of overgrown weeds while you have been gone for a long period, it’s a dead giveaway that no one’s home. This draws attention to your property and lets the criminals know that the place is empty.

The best thing to do is to schedule tree trimming and lawn care ahead of catching your flight. 

Set Electronics Timers

It’s not just your locks, lights, and your doors that you can program when you are going away on vacation. It’s also possible for you to create the illusion of being home using electronic timers.

You can get lamp timers that will turn on at a specific time during the night or the day. Like magic, they will give the appearance that someone is home when they’re not. 

This magic can even be extended to your television. Let this come on at different times so that if someone is watching your house they think you are home. This is usually enough to make a burglar think twice before masterminding a plan to get into your home.

Read: HOW TO SAVE MONEY WHILE PLANNING A VACATION

Stay Safe

You must try to keep your house as safe as possible when you are away on vacation. You want to make sure that your home is not the equivalent of a sitting duck when it comes to being vulnerable to criminals. 

Throw confusion into the minds of burglars, so that they make plans in vain. By taking the time to predict and block every possible move while you are away. You can beat them at their own game and keep your property safe night and day while on vacation.

​Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

How To Ensure Your Elderly Loved One Maintains Positive Health And Well-being

How To Ensure Your Elderly Loved One Maintains Positive Health And Well-being

When a loved one is dealing with health issues, the first thing you will want to do is help them.

Photo by Matthias Zomer: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-a-stress-ball-339620/

Whether you are dealing with end-of-life care with a loved one or want to help your grandparent or parent whose health is starting to deteriorate, here is how to give your loved ones the support they need to maintain positive health and well-being. 

Read: BE A GUIDE THROUGH THEIR LIFE AND YOURS: COPING WITH AGING PARENTS

Encourage them to move to an assisted-living apartment

Encouraging your loved one to move to an assisted living apartment does not need they need to lack independence. If your loved one is simply in need of time-to-time care, it is a great idea to move them to an assisted living space so that they can attain that yet still feel like they’re living alone.

A Stiles Assisted Living space will ensure that your loved one can maintain their independence yet live knowing that they can have support whenever they need it. The spacious and comfortable apartments will help your loved one feel as though they are still living alone. Yet, whenever they need medical assistance, they can request and attain it within seconds. It is better for their health if they can have instant access to medical support. 

Encourage them to stay active and sociable

Another great way to ensure the well-being of your elderly loved one is to encourage them to stay active and sociable. When your parent or grandparent gets older, you might notice that they are being less active and sociable, which can deteriorate their physical and mental health simultaneously.

The best thing you can do is to encourage them to pursue physical activity as often as possible. Encouraging them to walk more or partake in elderly yoga classes will ensure that they remain as fit and healthy as possible when they age. It can help if you attend these classes with them so that they feel supported and motivated.

Furthermore, it will benefit your elderly loved one if you encourage them to maintain their social life, as it will help to reduce the risk of their mental health and cognitive function deteriorating.

Read: MAKING PLANS FOR THE FUTURE OF AGING PARENTS

Attend their health appointments with them

It is a wise idea if you attend the health appointments of your elderly loved one so that you can get a better understanding of their health and what they need to do to maintain, manage and improve it.

Your elderly loved one might not tell you exactly what is going on with their health as they do not want to worry you or make you stressed. However, what will be will be, whatever happens to your elderly loved one, you will want to be there for them so you can support them in getting better or managing their symptoms.

Furthermore, going to their health appointments with them will guarantee that you get a better understanding of what medication they need to take to manage their health condition. This will ensure that you can help them organise their medication and guarantee that they take it on time, which will help them manage and improve their health concerns.

​Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

SEX & LIFE, TIPS IN ACTION

Ultimate Success Routine

Ultimate Success Routine

Topics:

1. How to design a routine that sets you up for success and ensures you create impact wherever you direct your energy.

2. The key to staying refreshed, revitalized and renewed even when you’re incredibly busy.

3. The secret to finding fulfillment, satisfaction, and inner peace while you go about conquering your dreams.

4. The secret to finding fulfillment, satisfaction, and inner peace while you go about conquering your dreams. A method for building a rock-solid foundation that will give you the strength to triumph over yourself and life.

What is an Ultimate Success Routine?

AN ULTIMATE SUCCESS ROUTINE IS A SET OF DAILY HABITS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO SET YOU UP FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE. IT REVOLVES AROUND THIS SIMPLE, BUT LITTLE-USED, CONCEPT: EITHER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE IMPACT ON YOU OR YOU IMPACT ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

If you want it to be the latter, you’ll need an ultimate success routine. Nobody gets on top of life without one. The idea is to make deliberate, daily space for the activities that ensure you flourish. It is best completed when you first rise in the morning and should leave you feeling ready to spring into action for the day. A good personal success routine will renew, refresh and revitalize you.

Read: 7 SUCCESSFUL STEPS TO START ACCOMPLISHING YOUR GOALS

Why do you need One?

Personal success routines may be a simple concept, but they’re startlingly effective when implemented consistently. Ultimately, what they do is connect you with both your spirit and the world around you, allowing you to walk through life as the best possible version of yourself. That enables you to find fulfillment, satisfaction, and inner peace while you go about conquering your dreams.

A personal success routine will not only create deep, lasting happiness – it will give you a rock-solid foundation from which you can build any dream, conquer any goal and triumph over yourself and life. To put it simply… You need a personal success routine because it will give you the power to thrive, no matter what circumstances life throws at you. Here’s what Executive Life Fulfillment Coach, Gagan Gupta has to say about the results he experienced from implementing his personal success routine:

“I wrote a program I was dreaming about for quite some time, am on my way to restoring my health to its peak, making more time for fun and friends, expanding my business with collaboration, and

creating deep, lasting relationships like never before. I feel like I am finally getting connected with my spirit.”

The Key Elements in an Ultimate Success Routine:

While individual personal success routines can differ quite a bit, there are some key elements they all need to include in order to deliver at the extraordinary level they do. A personal success routine can be broken into two sections – the first is for seeking space and the second for seeking connection. Here are the key ingredients that you’ll need to include…

THE KEY SPACE INGREDIENTS:

• Get up early

• Exercise

• Space

• Introspection

• Inspiration

Of those five things, the most important are to rise early, seek some space and be introspective.

Exercise is an excellent ingredient to add if you can, but if you’re short on time the others are the place to start. Depending on your personality, you may be able to exercise and be introspective at the same time.

THE KEY CONNECTION INGREDIENTS:

• Connection

• Helicopter View

• Brainstorming

• Creation

Here, the critical parts are connecting with loved ones and getting a helicopter or ‘big picture’ view of the day/week. The brainstorming and creative elements may be different for you depending on the nature of your work. However, if your day includes anything creative, it’s helpful to put those activities right at the beginning.

Example of an Ultimate Success Routine:

The following example comes direct from the Author (Gagan Gupta), so it is specific in terms of what works for him, but contains all of the key elements mentioned above. This example would work particularly well as a model for entrepreneurs and business owners, but could be adapted to suit anyone’s needs. Here are a few notes from Gagan on the nature of his routine…

RISE 5AM & EXERCISE (60 minutes)

I rise early because I’ve yet to meet anyone highly successful who gets up late. I’m immediately off

to do Yoga. I listen to my body and do Kriyas (techniques) that I feel like doing on the day.

Movement is key. While doing Yoga, I am also enjoying the space to be introspective. I don’t listen to music or podcasts while doing Yoga.

MEDITATE (30 minutes)

I meditate immediately following my Yoga because it’s the most logical next step for me and I also don’t want to take a shower right after some movement. Meditation allows that gap for me and allows my body to continue to cool down while I connect with my spirit and reap the multitude of other benefits meditation delivers.

SPIRITUAL READING (15 minutes)

This is reading that is inspirational, thought-provoking, and character-moulding. During this stage of the morning, I just immerse myself in the deepest material I can find (generally about living a spiritual life) because I know it’s setting up the channel my mind will run along for the rest of the day. The purpose is to awaken my inner self, so to speak. By the time I head for the shower at the end of my spiritual reading, I’ve spent several hours reflecting in solitude and silence. I cannot adequately describe the positive impact of spending that time on myself. Suffice it to say that I’m in the best place I’ve ever been.

BREAKFAST (20-30 minutes)

I get my breakfast ready. The rules for breakfast are pretty simple. No screens, no business, no distractions and no rushing the event. It marks a turning point in the day, take this time to be present to each other and the environment.

BUSINESS STRATEGY MEETING (30 minutes)

After coffee, I have a business strategy meeting with myself. I spend time getting a helicopter view of the business and the things that I want to achieve today. It’s focused on today because I’ve made my plans for the year (and even the month) a long time ago. I am really just getting up to date, seeing which activity is happening when and how I can do better. 

Practically speaking, I look at what needs to be produced, created, filmed, or written gets mapped out. This keeps me focused on business building and development as the single most important of all entrepreneurial-related activities I could possibly undertake. It also reinforces the helicopter view and allows me to modify my plans as I move forward. I limit this time to half an hour (sometimes less) because I have discovered it’s important to keep it fun. It takes discipline and commitment to keep things moving quickly so that I don’t get bogged down in details.

WORK ON BUSINESS (2-3 hours)

This is the time I implement my plans as if our lives depend on it. For that reason, we delay actions with clients, answering emails, finances, tax, compliance, education, or anything we could consider product delivery until after lunch. That’s several hours of doing things that will have a fundamental impact on the business in an enormously positive way.

That’s it in a nutshell!

I know not everyone can manage three hours every morning and that’s fine, you don’t have to. Even if you can only spare thirty minutes a day, it’s still critically important you design and implement your own version of this routine.

Read: COMMON RISKS THAT CAN THREATEN THE SUCCESS OF YOUR BUSINESS

Some Homework (Creating Your Own Personal Success Routine):

In the spaces below, outline ideas for each of the key elements of your personal success routine.

1. I can help myself with rising early by:

2. My favourite types of exercise are:

3. Ideas for creating space and introspection:

4. Ideas for Inspiration:

5. Options that would allow me to combine the ideas above into a streamlined routine:

6. I can seek out Connection by:

To get into a 2-hour deep dive session with Gagan Gupta, use the link below:

https://calendly.com/accountabilitycoachgagan/tipsfromtia/

All Tips from Tia Customers get 1 Hour Free upon booking the above 2-hour deep dive session, so 3 hours in total for the price of 2.

​Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

Creative Activities To Enhance Your Well-being (That Don’t Involve The Gym)

Creative Activities To Enhance Your Well-being (That Don’t Involve The Gym)

Unsplash – CC0 License

If going to the gym to enhance your well-being is not your thing, you’re not alone. Many people force themselves to spend hours on the treadmill or do sets of squats in the squat rack, but is it all really necessary? 

Well, probably not. Humans managed for thousands of years before the invention of the gym. And in that time, they found all sorts of ways to keep themselves healthy and happy. 

Today, there are even more things you can do to improve your well-being. Humans have developed all sorts of methods for making themselves feel better, from self-care to DIY projects. Here’s what to do:-

Read: AMAZING TIPS FOR STRESS REDUCTION THROUGH MASSAGE

Listen To Music

Music has an uncanny ability to exert its influence directly on the core parts of the brain, bypassing some of our outer defenses and speaking to us on a more personal level. The sound of music has been shown to switch off our fight or flight mechanisms and enable us to relax or feel better than mere silence allows. (Perhaps that’s why the human mind invented music in the first place). Whack on some binaural beats or simply listen to meditative chimes and gongs. It can all make a tremendous difference in how you feel. 

Mindful Coloring

Another cool approach to well-being that doesn’t involve any grunting under heavy weights is mindful coloring. Many adults find concentrating on paint-by-numbers puzzles to be a helpful way to remain in the present moment.

Mindful coloring is also something that produces pretty good results every time. Once you have the outline in place, it is easier to create a beautiful and structured work of art. 

Self-Care Rituals

Unsplash – CC0 License

Another way to get out of the gym mentality and enhance your well-being is through various self-care rituals. Having something in your life that makes you immediately feel better is an excellent way to enhance your well-being and get on the track to health. 

The great thing about self-care rituals is that you decide what they are. Soothing baths, skincare routines; it doesn’t matter, as long as you believe it is helping you. 

Creative Dancing

You could also try a spot of creative dancing, one of the most interesting ways to enhance well-being without hitting the gym. The practice involves dancing freestyle and expressing yourself without judgment. You don’t have to do it in front of anyone and, these days, you can get instructions streamed to your living room over the internet. 

How you creatively dance is up to you. That’s the whole point. 

Ice Baths

Ice baths are another trendy way to support your well-being with Wim Hof Method workshops popping up all over the place. The idea is to reset your nervous system with the power of cold water, fundamentally changing how you feel and relate to the world. 

Of course, this sort of thing isn’t for the faint-hearted. You want to be in good physical shape to attempt it. But once you get the hang of it, it can be a liberating and fascinating experience. Just remember, if it’s your first time, get an instructor to help you.

Read: 5 TIPS FOR STRESS MANAGEMENT

Nature Walks

You might also want to try going on nature walks to improve your well-being. Being in forests or by lakes can change your mindset and perspective, and help you feel like an entirely different person. 

Nature has a certain calmness about it. Being in the mountains or alone in a wilderness is a serene experience and something we rarely encounter in the modern world. Many of us remain in our houses or apartments all week, except to travel to the office. As such, we don’t come into contact with nature or experience the psychological benefits it offers us. 

Photography

Interestingly, photography is another tool you can use to improve your well-being. Taking pictures and exploring your creativity is an outlet you can use to escape the challenges you face in your personal life. 

Photography is also the sort of activity that’s easy to get lost in. The more you explore it, the deeper it seems to go. There’s always something new and exciting waiting for you around the corner or over the next horizon. And with today’s lens, you can take photographs up close and really capture the detail present in everything you see. 

Yoga At Home


Finally, you might want to try yoga at home, one of the best ways to build your flexibility and enhance your connection to your body. Yoga frees up the hips and taxes all your muscles, giving you a full-body workout.

​Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.