Category Archives: ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

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ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

5 Simple Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Projects

By Guest Blogger by Diana S.

5 Simple Eco-Friendly Home Improvement Projects

 

Every home needs a change every once in a while. And since today it’s all about going green, you can use this opportunity to make your home greener. This way, you won’t only aid in saving the environment, but you’ll also be able to save a lot of money on your bills. Even though some of these projects may seem costly now, when thinking long-term, these home improvement projects will save you tons of money in the future. But with so many things you can do to green up your home, choosing the upgrades you’ll go for can be quite challenging. That’s why we came up with a list of five simple eco-friendly home improvement projects that might just be what you were looking for.

Add more insulation

Having a high-quality insulation means you’ll have to spend way less money on keeping your home cool during summer and warm during winter. Many older homes aren’t as insulated as new ones, so depending on when your home was built, you might want to think about adding more insulation to it. Luckily, this is a project you can do yourself and avoid calling in professionals. If you decide to add a layer of fiberglass, which is the easiest way to make your home more energy efficient, all you’re going to need is a utility knife, a straightedge and a little bit of effort.

Let natural light in

Another great way to make your home more eco-friendly is to start relying on natural light more than you do now. Think about the rooms in your home where the light is always on and see if they’re able to fit a new window or two. By relying on natural light, you’ll be guaranteed to save a lot of money on your electricity bill. Also, it has been shown that natural light has a positive effect on your productivity. So, if there’s an office or study room in your home, installing more windows there is definitely a good idea.

Buy at antique shops

Antique shops are great places to visit when you want to make your home more environmentally friendly. That’s where you can find tons of different doorknobs, lighting fixtures, and coffee tables which might just be what you need in order to give your home a fresh look. Moreover, when shopping in antique stores, you’ll be investing in repurposed items, which is always a good thing to do when trying to save the environment. Make sure you visit all the local antique stores, and you’ll be guaranteed to find items that will match the style in your home perfectly.

Ventilate your roof

Most of the homes have heat trapped in the roof. If this is the case with your home, this heat is going to make things uncomfortably warm during the summer and make you use your air conditioner more often. And in order to make sure this doesn’t happen, you should think about ventilating your roof. There are Whirlybird vents which are powered by wind and are guaranteed to keep the air in your roof fresh. So, if you want to green up your home, make sure you get one of these and contact experts who offer Whirlybird installation services and can have it set up for you.

Use low-flow showerheads

We all tend to use large amounts of water when taking a shower. Still, most of that water goes to waste and when going green, reducing the amount of wasted water should be one of your most important goals. Luckily, you can now get low-flow showerheads that will help you reduce the volume of water used when taking a shower to a mere fraction of the water that was wasted before. Some of these even come with a timer which can alert you when it’s time to wrap it up.

All the projects we mentioned above are going to help you aid in saving the environment and save money. Still, make sure you always keep looking for new ways to make your home greener.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is 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 or Instagram

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

Coping With The Fallout Of Trauma

Coping With The Fallout Of Trauma

If you haven’t heard of it, PTSD is one of the leading debilitating disorders in life for those who have been through a trauma. Trauma is defined as a deeply distressing experience, and PTSD – or post-traumatic stress disorder – is the fallout of that traumatic event. You may have come across PTSD when people speak of the military, and it’s very common in soldiers because of the events they are exposed to on a daily basis. The thing is, PTSD can be triggered in everyday events in life if they take a sinister turn.

When you go through a traumatic event, your body shuts down mentally to protect your emotions and help you to cope with the feelings more slowly. When you go through a horrific event that puts your body’s stress to the limit, you can be left feeling like you have to pick up the pieces of your shattered self-esteem. Coping with the aftermath of a traumatic event in life takes a lot of time and sometimes, compensation. If you have been through a vehicular accident, the resultant shock and stress on your brain can cause flashbacks that can make you feel weak, shaky and afraid. Your body goes into shock after a trauma because it needs to allow you to heal physically before it can work on your mind.

There are those out there who cope with a traumatic event by looking into the legal side. When something horrible happens, the feeling of needing justice to help move past the event is one that is overwhelming. Companies like http://nealefhima.com/riverside/lemon-law/ specialise in helping others to get the compensation they need to help them to get through the loss they incur as a result of an accident. This type of closure can go toward the coping with PTSD and other feelings after an injury. There is no right way to cope when a stressful event happens, there is only the best way. The coping mechanisms you choose to use to gain closure and heal your mind are just as important as the physiotherapies and hospital time spent getting over the physical side of an accident.

Recovery is a process, and it’s so important for people to understand that before they can move on mentally. The stress reactions that you feel may not just happen once, and may continue over a period of time. For some, this is debilitating and can prevent them from working. For others, the resultant trauma following the stress is as bad as the accident or event itself, as it can make you feel helpless and scared. One of the best ways anyone who has survived a traumatic event can cope is through talk therapy. Support is critical in the aftermath of fear and so group therapies, one on one counselling and cognitive behavioural techniques like these are going to help toward that recovery that is so necessary. Relaxation methods like yoga, meditation and exercise can also go a long way to helping your recovery.

 Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is 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 or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

Top Self-Care Strategies For Your Mental Health

Top Self-Care Strategies For Your Mental Health

With so many suffering each year from one mental illness or another (around 20% of all men, women, and children), it’s important to remember to care for your mind, body, and soul. Embarking on a Psychotherapy journey can help alleviate a lot of mental anguish and stress. For example, Counselling Kingston believes everyone can benefit from talking to a therapist or clinical counselor.

In addition to any professional help that you may require for your mental illness, such as medication or therapy, living healthily is an important part of managing your illness. Your diet, lifestyle, recreational activities, friends, and routine can all have a major impact on how you feel, physically and emotionally, and so can also have a huge impact on your treatment plan. Here is a short list of self-care strategies that can help you to ensure that your lifestyle has no negative impact on your mental health or treatment plan.

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  1. Express Yourself

Whether it be through drawings, diary entries, or dance sequences, it is always beneficial to express your feelings and not bottle things up. If you find it hard to explain how you feel in words, you could show your drawings and paintings to your therapist as a form of art therapy.

Expressing yourself artistically is also a great way to keep your mind and body active and not dwell on negative feelings and emotions.

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  1. Get Active

As above, being active is a great way to escape from negative feelings as you generally will focus on the physical activity you’re partaking in, rather than anything else. It’s also proven to reduce stress, as it pumps your body full of endorphins, which trigger a positive response in the body. Scientists have proved that endorphins are very useful at elevating your overall mood, decreasing levels of tension, and improving your self-esteem. In fact, a simple five-minute aerobic session has been shown to stimulate anti-anxiety effects

Read: NEW BEAUTY ROUTINE: FOCUS ON YOUR HEALTH AND WELLBEING

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  1. Be Social

Talking through your feelings with someone you can trust may be a great help in managing your mental illness. Regardless of whether the person is a family member, a friend, or a therapist, just having someone listen to what it is you have to say and showing that they care about you and your feeling can really heighten your self-esteem. They may have also encountered similar problems to you or have had similar feelings to you and so may be able to provide advice, as well as emotional support.

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  1. Learn About Your Illness

Learning as much about your mental illness as possible may help you to feel more in control of it, which will reduce your levels of stress and anxiety. Having a read of some blog posts and websites or even taking a psychology degree online will all provide you will masses of information, all of which could help you better manage your illness. They could provide you will information on different types of treatments, as well as information that you could give to your friends and family so that you know that they, too will always know what to expect.

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  1. Eat Healthily

Evidence has indicated that the foods you eat have a big impact on the development and management of certain mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. Those who have some level of mental health issue report eating fewer healthy foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables, and more unhealthy foods, such as chocolate and chips, whereas over two-thirds of mentally healthy people report that they eat much more healthily. Stimulants such as alcohol and coffee, as well as many drugs, also have links to the development of certain mental illnesses. This shows that a healthy meal plan is an incredibly important factor in managing many different mental illnesses.

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  1. Have A Routine

For mental illnesses such as anxiety, having a routine or a plan for the day can help to reduce stress, as you always know where you have to be and what you have to do next. Just be careful not to make the routine too strict; otherwise, you may get panicky if you have to deviate from the plan for any reason.

Read: GETTING INTO A GOOD HEALTH ROUTINE

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  1. Get Plenty Of Sleep

Getting too much or too little sleep can result in a range of negative emotions, such as stress, anxiety, and feeling depressed, and you will obviously feel very tired, even with too much sleep, which can make it difficult to cope with everyday life. You may also end up feeling lonely and isolated, as your tiredness may make you feel like you don’t want to be sociable. In extremely serious cases, if you already have a psychotic disorder, tiredness may even trigger a psychotic episode. For someone suffering from a mental illness, it is very easy to under or oversleep, which isn’t very good when all of these negative repercussions come with it, so getting into a regular sleeping pattern would be incredibly beneficial.

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  1. Know When To See A Professional

Managing your own illness through self-care strategies can provide many people living with mental illness a sense of control over their life and their illness, which in itself can help lower levels of stress and anxiety, raise your levels of self-esteem, and reduce the symptoms of your mental illness. However, this isn’t always the case, sometimes things can go out of your control, and sometimes you may need the help of a professional, whether that be a therapist, a psychologist, or a doctor. If you start to feel as though things are getting out of your control or that you can’t cope with everyday life, it is always best to contact a professional, just to be on the safe side.

Hopefully, these self-care strategies will provide you a sense of control over your life and your mental illness. However, you must always remember that you can’t always do everything on your own. Sometimes the best strategy for self-care is knowing when you can’t completely care for yourself on your own anymore, and when that is the case, there is always someone that you can contact, whether it be family, a friend, or a healthcare professional, that will be more than happy to help you.

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

Red Flag Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Red Flag Symptoms You Should Never Ignore

Often, when you feel under the weather, or you’re a bit out of sorts, there’s no need to rush to a clinic and see a doctor. Most of the symptoms we experience and illnesses we develop are minor, and often, there’s no need for treatment. Sometimes, however, the situation is different, and you may come across red flag signs that you really shouldn’t ignore. It’s highly likely that there will be nothing to worry about, but seeing your doctor will give you peace of mind.

Frequent dizzy spells

It’s normal to feel dizzy or lightheaded if you’ve had a hectic day and it’s 4pm and you haven’t had lunch yet, but it’s not normal to experience dizzy spells on a regular basis. If you feel faint, it’s a good idea to seek medical advice. It’s particularly important to visit an urgent care center if you’ve developed dizziness after an accident. If you banged your head, for example, dizziness could be a delayed symptom of concussion. Feeling lightheaded may also be linked to low sugar levels, low blood pressure, and anemia.

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Lumps and bumps

It’s very common to find lumps and bumps on or underneath your skin. In the vast majority of cases, these masses are nothing sinister, but occasionally, they can be a sign of potentially life-threatening illnesses. If you do find a lump, no matter how big or small, it’s best to get it checked out.

Unexplained weight loss

Many people try to lose weight for weeks or even months of the year. If you’re dropping dress sizes and you’ve been making an effort to eat a healthier diet and do more exercise, the tumbling numbers on the scale shouldn’t cause concern. However, if you’re losing weight and you haven’t been trying to, this could be a sign of underlying illness. If your clothes feel much baggier or your body weight has dropped significantly, and you haven’t changed your eating habits, book an appointment with your doctor.

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Traces of blood in urine or feces

If you spot traces of blood in your urine or feces, arrange to see your doctor as soon as possible. There are lots of possible causes, many of which are minor, but there is a risk that these symptoms are linked to more serious illnesses. Common causes may include urinary tract infections or hemorrhoids, but bleeding can also be symptomatic of some forms of cancer.

Chest pain

You may experience chest pain if you’ve been involved in an accident, but if there doesn’t appear to be an obvious cause of pain, seek advice from your doctor. Chest pain can be a sign of cardiac problems, but there are lots of other causes. If you’ve been getting recurrent bouts of pain or you feel pain come on very suddenly, see a doctor urgently.

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Usually, when you don’t feel 100 percent, you recover and bounce back very quickly. In the vast majority of cases, we’re struck down by minor illnesses, but sometimes, spotting red flag symptoms can lead to a diagnosis of more severe health problems. If you do notice any of these signs, don’t hesitate to contact your doctor. It’s best to get symptoms checked sooner rather than later.

 Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is 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 or Instagram.

BEAUTY, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

5 Easy Ways To Achieve Radiant Looking Skin

5 Easy Ways To Achieve Radiant Looking Skin

For those of us who aren’t blessed with the complexion of Cate Blanchett, it can be hard to achieve anything close to the radiant skin look. You may have blotches and blemishes that you don’t merely want to cover up but that you want to get rid of. You’ve heard hundreds of random old wives tales, like carrying an acorn around in your pocket will leave you wrinkle-free, and you just don’t buy it. Take a look at these more sensible ways to achieve healthy, glowing skin.

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Exfoliate

It’s vital that if exfoliating your grubby pores isn’t a key part of your skincare routine, it needs to be added immediately. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells that can appear dry, flaky and blotchy from your face. This should leave a smoother surface on which to carry out the next stage of your skincare regimen. Ensure that you add the all important face toner to your skincare routine to remove oil build-up, unclogging your pores and allowing your skin to feel refreshed.

Cleansing

You could, of course, apply a bit of generic soap on a flannel and scrub away, but this won’t get you any closer to your goal of a glowing complexion. You need to rub your skin in gentle circles with whatever cleanser you choose. Look for products for sensitive skin containing natural ingredients. This way, your skin has less of a chance to react adversely to anything that may be synthetic.

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Drink Well

To keep your skin healthy, just like any other organ of the body it needs to be hydrated at all times. Drink plenty of water, and if you want to go one step further when using H2O, try sucking on an ice cube. By doing this, you are cooling down your facial skin cells, resulting in a rosier cheeked complexion.

Boost Your Vitamins

Both Vitamins B and D can aid the regeneration of the skin’s cells and prevent you from looking red and having breakouts. Being deficient in either one of these vitamins could see your skin having a tendency to encounter spottiness and sweatier pores. Vitamin C has long been added to moisturisers as it is a powerful antioxidant that promotes healthy collagen. Sun damaged skin is also known to improve if a Vitamin C serum is used regularly.

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Sleep

If you don’t want the dreaded grey, puffy bags under your eyes, it’s vital that you are getting a good night’s sleep. It isn’t necessarily about the quantity of your sleep, but the quality. Try and go to bed at a similar time each night to allow your body to fall into a healthy sleep routine. By getting some quality rest, you’ll wake up feeling refreshed, and this will be echoed in your complexion.

Achieving a radiant look isn’t easy, but if you look beyond your facial skin routine and also consider what you put into your body and how much rest you get, you’ll be able to strive for the healthy, glowing look.

 Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is 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 or Instagram.