5 Contributing Factors and Causes of Drug Addiction

Across the world, drug addiction is a problem that affects many people, with effects extending to their families and the community. The impacts of addiction are not only on the physical and mental health and relationships of the addicts but also their financial wellbeing. Drug use and addiction are progressive, and there are contributing factors and causes that you should know about. Understanding these factors and causes also influences the decisions and steps an addict or family takes to seek help. 

Mental Health Disorder

People with existing mental disorders have higher chances of engaging in abuse of drugs and developing an addiction. Mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression are more likely to push and turn an individual into an addict. In most cases, an individual with existing mental issues will opt for self-medication and, with time, develop a tolerance leading to addiction. People with existing mental health problems must seek help, especially in the early stages of drug use, before developing an addiction.

Peer pressure

While having friends and loved ones around you is beneficial, some companies can prove harmful to you. If your friends or loved ones engage in drug use, the likelihood of engaging in such activities is higher. With peer pressure, the habits become progressive, meaning that you get hooked and develop an addiction with time. Peer pressure is a significant factor among teens and youth. Individuals who use drugs will also choose to spend time and associate with others with the same behavior. This makes it hard to stop as the pressure and influence are strong. It also becomes hard to seek help when the peer pressure is strong and the need to quit lower.

Prescription Drugs

The risk factor for drug addiction is much higher on prescription drugs because, in most cases, they are addictive. Painkillers, antidepressants, and sedatives are among the prescribed drugs that people use and lead to addiction. Doctors and healthcare practitioners must provide control measures when prescribing addictive drugs to their patients. You should note that when the body develops tolerance to some of these drugs, it becomes easier for an individual to develop an addiction. Prescription drugs can also lead to physical and mental dependence, making it hard for an addict to stop or seek professional help.

Loneliness and Solitude

The relationship you have with your family, friends, and loved ones influences the likelihood of using drugs and developing an addiction. People with reservations and who prefer solitude will consider seeking solace from drugs. If you have a broken relationship with your family or loved ones, the temptation to look for other means of solace, hence engaging in drugs, is there. When you are lonely and out of touch with the social and active world, drugs become your companion, leading to addiction in the process. 

Family and Environment

There is a correlation between family history and drug use. An individual brought up and raised in a family with drug users has a higher chance of emulating that behavior. This is the same when you reside in an environment with drug users. The risk factor is higher in children with drug-addicted parents. If the environment only allows for drug abuse, it is hard for children to see beyond drug use, especially when they don’t go to school or have proper adult guidance. Learn how family and the environment can contribute to drug abuse and addiction and the effective mitigation measures you can take to avoid such cases here https://www.ascendantny.com/.

Drug abuse and addiction is a progressive habit and disease that takes time to exhibit. It also takes time before an individual sees the need to seek help and work towards recovery. Understanding the contributing factors and causes of drug addiction makes it easier to identify, seek, or offer help to individuals struggling with drug addiction.

The Link Between Anxiety and Addiction

The link between anxiety and addiction is clear for addiction experts like http://oceansrecovery.com/ and others across the nation. There are millions of Americans suffering from both issues. It is estimated that 20 percent of Americans have anxiety, and only 36.9 percent of them will seek treatment for it. Of that 20 percent, many are turning to addiction to cope. Anxiety leads to addiction, and it also leads to relapse after recovery. Learn more about the link between anxiety and addiction here.

The Link Between Anxiety and Addiction

The link between anxiety and addiction is clear. There are millions of addicts in the country, and millions of Americans with addiction, some of those numbers are going to cross over. Anxiety and addiction does not discriminate by age, race, or socioeconomic status. 

There is a difference between general everyday worrying, and clinical anxiety. Clinical anxiety happens when you are worried all the time, even when there is nothing in front of you to worry about. When you reach this level of anxiety, you will have interferences with work, love, social lives, and your overall health.

You may try to take something to calm down or feel better or just ease your nerves a little. When that happens, you are being given an indicator that your anxiety has reached a point of overwhelming you. It may be time to seek help or coping mechanisms for your anxiety.

Coping With Anxiety and Addiction

Coping with both anxiety and addiction to overcome feelings of being overwhelmed will only lead to more feelings of being overwhelmed. The problems become bigger. In a treatment center, you will not only have your addiction and anxiety treated, but you will also develop skills to take home with you.

The biggest sign that you are dealing with anxiety is overall irritability, an inability to sleep, and low levels of concentration. If this happens for over two weeks, and the feelings don't generalize or dissipate, seek coping mechanisms that are healthy.

Sometimes it's just a matter of talking your way through anxiety. An advanced method of this coping tool is called cognitive behavioral therapy. Walk yourself through the end of your worry with the question, what is the worst thing that could happen. You are worried about something, what could happen? In many cases, this exercise shows us that we are worried about fears and not something real that could actually happen.

When you are feeling anxiety and are worried about addiction or relapse, seek coping mechanisms that include support or treatment. Attend a meeting, get involved with your social circle, or seek support methods from your doctor when you are feeling overwhelmed.

Seek Support

If you struggle with anxiety, you are at a higher risk of struggling with addiction. It's happening to millions of Americans right now. You are not alone. There are tools and resources available to help you through this time. Seeking support will minimize your anxiety, and your desire to drink or use drugs that you hope will make the negative feelings and worry go away. You don't have to worry about living alone. It's healthy, and it feels better, to go towards where the support is.

Tips For Fitting Daily Exercise Into Your Schedule

Do you have a hectic schedule that makes it challenging to find time to work out? When you’re stuck at work for hours upon hours each day, fight traffic to get home, all you want to do is relax and rest. However, men like Michael Canzian know the importance of getting daily exercise. Here are tips to help you find time to add some activity to each day.

Change Your Perspective

How you think of exercise makes a significant impact on your overall attitude towards doing it. Think of it as something you want to do, not something you have to do. Think of it as a good choice knowing that you are benefiting your long-term health. When you view it this way, it gives you an internal motivation to get it done. 

Create a Schedule

Sometimes the only way to get in your daily workout is to plan. Figure out a time that works best for you and pencil it into your planner. Whether that means before work, during lunch or after dinner, choose how long you want to exercise and pick a time. When you know that you will do it ahead of time, you can adjust the rest of your day to fit that timing. 

Run When Your Kids Run

If your kids’ activities take up your free time after work, use that opportunity to work out. For example, if they participate in sports at a local park, run or walk the perimeter. If they attend dance or martial arts classes, take a walk around the block. Since your kids are occupied during this time, it’s an excellent way for you to focus on your health and get some steps into your day.

Find a Gym That’s Nearby

If you prefer to work out in a weight room or by taking group classes, then find a gym that is convenient to your location. When it’s close to your home or your job, it makes it much easier to get there for a short sweat each day. 

Keep Extra Clothes Handy

Having a set of workout clothes stashed in your car’s trunk or office locker makes it easy to participate in your scheduled activity. When you provide yourself with all the tools to get it done, there are fewer reasons not to make it happen. 

Getting exercise each day is a priority for long-term health. Follow these tips to help you find a way to get some activity into your daily routine.

Understanding Vascular Dementia and Stroke

Vascular dementia is called vascular dementia because it occurs after a cardiovascular event called a stroke. It is not the most common kind of dementia, but it is still a serious disease that often requires an assisted living facility or home care. In one study, between 9.6 percent and 14.4 percent of people with one stroke suffered from vascular dementia. 

After a recurrent stroke, approximately 29.6 percent to 53.1 percent of people suffered from dementia. This kind of dementia is not any different from other kinds of dementia, other than how it is caused. Learn more about this kind of dementia here.

What Causes Vascular Dementia

Vascular dementia occurs most commonly after the age of 65, with the risk increasing significantly by the age of 90. This disease is caused by a vascular event where blood does not reach the brain in a timely manner. It is an irreversible problem caused by stroke. When a blood vessel has a blockage, blood can not reach the brain. That blockage is often caused by a disease or internal bleeding.

The blood provides important nutrients and oxygen to the brain. When the brain can't get those things, there may be some brain cells that expire. This will cause vascular conditions such as stroke, which will lead to dementia. 

Types of Vascular Dementia

There are two kinds of vascular dementia. They are called cerebral amyloid angiopathy and subcortical dementia. Subcortical dementia is marked by a small vessel problem. In this condition, the small vessels are damaged by stroke and are twisted. This is the problem that will result in less blood flow to the brain.

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is a kind of dementia that is caused by a protein problem. The protein is called amyloid. When that protein blocks vessels in the brain, this results in a plaque buildup which slows down brain activity. This can lead to dementia, and is also seen in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Symptoms of Vascular Dementia

The symptoms of vascular dementia are very similar to the symptoms of other kinds of dementia. The patient has a difficulty in making decisions, with planning and organizing being among the most difficult decisions to make. They may also have large motor movement impairment. Their walk or gait may be impacted, and they have a poor balance.

It is impossible to diagnose vascular dementia on its face. A doctor will perform a variety of tests to determine if brain function is different than what it would normally look like after a stroke. However, if you or a loved one have suffered a stroke, and are experiencing vascular dementia symptoms, it could be very possible that there is vascular dementia.

How to Treat Vascular Dementia

There is no one treatment for vascular dementia. It is treated very much the same as other types of dementia. There are slightly more symptoms of vascular dementia than there are in many other kinds of dementia. An assisted living facility may be the best solution for someone with this disease.

Because there may be mobility issues, exercise is not advised unless a doctor has given the okay. Sitting activities such as entertainment, games, and puzzles can help a vascular dementia client.

Get Information on Vascular Dementia Today

Vascular dementia is a disease that impacts those that have had a stroke. It is irreversible, and a tragedy, every time. Contact someone for support if you or a loved one is suffering from vascular dementia.

How to Increase Your Appetite Today

Getting adequate nutrition is essential for every person. A decrease or loss of appetite can be linked to various medical problems, psychological conditions, and aging. It is necessary to consume enough calories and protein to help maintain energy and muscle mass. Losing too much weight too quickly can impact a person’s quality of life and increase their risk of illness. 

If you or someone you care for are underweight, the goal for healthy weight gain is 0.5-2 pounds per week. Consuming 250-500 more calories per day than you usually do can help accomplish this goal. If a medical professional has told you that weight gain is appropriate for you, the tips listed below can help you increase your appetite and achieve a healthy weight. 

1. Eat smaller but more frequent meals

Eating smaller and more frequent meals is an easy way to increase your caloric intake. If you are having trouble remembering to eat, set alarms to remind you of mealtimes. Make sure to stock up on your favorite snacks; it is easier and more enjoyable to eat something you prefer eating. Fruit smoothies or protein shakes are the perfect snacks or small meals that can help give you those nutrients you need because sometimes it is easier to drink than eat. 

2. Eat less fiber

It is commonly known that fiber fills you up quickly due to the fiber digesting slowly. When learning how to increase appetite, it is good to avoid high fiber and low-calorie foods. Look for foods that have no more than 1-2 grams of fiber per serving. Low-fiber foods include peanut butter, eggs, oatmeal, bananas, meats, and tofu. 

3. Eat energy-dense foods

Including more energy-dense food in your diet is a sure-fire way to get the nutrients and calories you need healthily. Foods such as nuts, avocados, hummus, and eggs are high-calorie and nutritious. Eating foods high in fat provides a lot of calories in small quantities. Eating and drinking full-fat foods like whole milk, mayo, and butter can help you add calories without filling up too quickly. 

4. Limit beverages during mealtime 

Limiting beverages to outside mealtime helps prevent you from feeling too full too quickly while eating. Limit drinking to one hour before eating for maximum effect. If you are feeling thirsty at mealtime, skip water and make sure that what you are drinking is high calorie and preferably with nutrients. Smoothies or protein shakes are perfect drinks for adding those extra calories. 

5. Take an appetite stimulant

Sometimes it is not possible to increase appetite through natural means. Appetite stimulants, known as orexigenics, are medications or supplements that help increase appetite. The FDA has approved three medications for appetite stimulants: Megestrol acetate, Oxandrolone, and Dronabinol. Supplements that can increase appetite naturally are zinc for people with a zinc deficiency, vitamin B-1, Omega-3 fatty acids, and bitter herbs like gentian and wormwood.  
Developing healthy ways to increase appetite is vital to avoid the risk of illness and other health complications. It is important to see a medical professional if a loss of appetite persists for more than a couple of days. Diets are extremely individualized, and a medical professional such as a nutritionist or doctor can help develop a tailored plan to fit your lifestyle and needs. 

Meditation And Recovery: Why Consider Meditation

During the recovery journey, there are many types of treatment that may be suggested to you. It is important to remember that in recovery, one size does not fit all. Different types of treatment work for different people. In addition to mainstream addiction recovery services, such as those you'll find for detox in Phoenix Arizona,  there are also complementary and alternative approaches. These types of approaches are sometimes referred to as CAM (complementary and alternative approaches to mainstream). Meditation is one such CAM approach to recovery.

What is Meditation?

Many people have a huge misconception about meditation. When you say meditation they automatically think of monks chanting in a temple. Having a good understanding of meditation is the first step in utilizing this tool in your recovery.

Meditation is simply an exercise that helps you focus on connecting your mind and your body. Many people who struggle with addiction also struggle with disconnectedness. There is often a disconnection between their mind, their thoughts, their ideas, and their actions. Taking time each day to focus on better connecting your mind to your body and your actions can have a  tremendous effect on your choices and your life.

During most meditation practices you will find a quiet place free of distractions. You will sit comfortably and simply focus on your breathing, a sound, or even an idea for a certain amount of time. During this time you should focus on not judging yourself. Let thoughts arrive and leave as they like, always returning your focus to your breath. In its most simple form, this is meditation.

How Will Meditation Help Me?

This type of practice helps the individual to focus on their feelings and thoughts of the present moment. You release yourself from the regret of the past. You release yourself from anxiety over the future and you simply sit at this moment with your breath. Over time this practice can help you to accept feelings and thoughts without judgment.

Meditation can help you create a sense of peace and calm in your life. Addiction can sometimes be a result of feelings of loss of control and of pervading chaos. Substance abuse gives individuals a feeling of having a safe place to go to escape. Meditation provides this as well, but without the damaging effects of drugs. Through meditation, you begin to learn that your own inner world is a safe place to be.

In addition to these benefits, meditation has also been shown to have several physical benefits as well.

Additional Benefits of Mediation

Habits and Cravings- A daily meditation practice will give you the opportunity to connect with yourself each day and evaluate the choices you want to make. This is vastly different from the way most people enter their days mindlessly without ever giving their actions and choices real thought. Adding this examination time to your day will, over time, have a dramatic effect on the choices you make concerning habits and cravings.

Sleep- Many people who meditate report having better more restful sleep. This is because you are slowing your thought processes down, which reduces anxiety. Many sleep problems are linked to anxiety.

Improved Mood- As you continue your meditation practice each day, you will begin to feel a sense of being grounded and in better control of your mood and choices. This feeling will affect your mood in general, increasing feelings of confidence and hope.

The road to recovery can be filled with challenges. The best way to overcome these challenges is to have an array of tools you can use. Meditation is one such tool you can add to your recovery process.

Could Bad Posture Be Holding You Back In Business?

There is no easy route to success in business and there are so many things that affect your ability to lead and run a company. Being able to identify the things that hold you back is important, but there are some things that people just don’t consider, like their posture.

You might not think that your posture has anything to do with your success as a business person, but it actually impacts you in a number of ways. Here’s how your posture could be holding you back in business. 

It Affects Productivity 

Bad posture is a productivity killer but a lot of people don’t even realize it. If you sit at a desk all day long with terrible posture, you’ll probably end up with serious back and neck pain on a daily basis. Over time, this becomes a huge distraction from work and productivity takes a big hit. If you look for quality office chairs for sale online and get some furniture that provides more support, you will be far more comfortable while working and you won’t be distracted by back and neck pain anymore. 

It Makes You Sick 

The odd sick day is unavoidable but if you get sick all the time, this has a big effect on your output. It’s worth speaking to your doctor if you are concerned, but you should consider the role that posture has to play. Things like poor circulation and digestive issues, for example, have been linked to poor posture. Although posture alone isn’t likely to cause serious illness, you will feel healthier overall if you focus on fixing your posture. When you are in good health, you will be the best business owner you can be.

You Appear Less Confident 

Confidence is so important in business. If you are pitching to investors or meeting with clients, a confident demeanor gives them more faith in the business as a whole. But if you appear reserved and apprehensive, you give out the wrong impression and that can be a detriment to your business. People that are confident stand tall and proud, so even if you are confident, poor posture makes you look as if you aren’t. If you want people to take you seriously, it’s important that you fix your posture right away. 

How Can You Improve Your Posture?

If you are concerned about your posture and how it could be affecting your business, there are a few things you can try. Firstly, set up your desk properly with an ergonomic chair and desk.  

Secondly, you should be more aware of your posture throughout the day and make an effort to correct it if you feel yourself slouching. It feels a bit unnatural at first if you are used to sitting with bad posture but, eventually, your posture will improve. You can also try out these simple stretches to loosen up the muscles and straighten the spine. 

Your posture makes more difference than you think, so if you want to be a better business leader, you should pay attention to it. 

How Entrepreneurs Can Reduce Their Stress Levels

There’s much to love about being an entrepreneur, but there’s no denying that it’s far from a walk in the park. Nobody gets into the entrepreneurial game because it’s relaxing. While a little bit of stress can be a good thing because it can help push your business forward, too much stress can have a negative effect -- on your company, your health, and your loved ones. As such, it’s important that you’re taking steps to keep your stress levels to a minimum. Easier said than done? Sure, but there are things you can do that’ll help. We take a look at some of the best tips below.

Clear Vision

Stress levels typically rise when it feels like you’re not in control. When it’s your business, you’d think that you’d always have a grip on things, but this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, it can feel like you’re just clutching at straws, and hoping that something will stick. This approach, of course, is far too loose -- and it won’t be any surprise if you begin to feel a little intimidated by your business venture. Instead, look at developing a clear vision, an idea of where you want to take your company. While the day to day operations might feel random at times, at least you’ll know that you’re working on reaching a specific spot. It’s a much better approach than just working and hoping that things somehow come together!

Simplify Offerings

As well as figuring out where you want to get to, think about the products and services you’ll be selling that’ll get you there. When we’re just getting our business started, we will usually have more ideas than we can handle -- yet we put them into practice anyway, because a good idea is a good idea! But the more you offer, the more you’ll have to do, and the more stressful things will be. Instead, it can sometimes be better to simplify your offerings so that, rather than offering plenty of different products and services, you’re just offering a couple of things. You’ll find that it’s much easier to do one or two things extremely well, rather than ten things just kind of well.

Hiring Help

One problem that many entrepreneurs have is that they want to do everything themselves. There are reasons for doing so, such as saving money and feeling in control. However, it often turns out to be not as good an approach as they thought, because if you’re doing everything yourself, then...you’re doing everything!

It can pay to bring a couple of staff members on board. They’ll help to lighten your load and bring their own ideas to the table. If you’re going to do this, then it’s important that you’re, first, hiring correctly, and second, letting them get on with their job. The benefits of hiring an employee will be severely reduced if you’re micromanaging them every step of the way. 

Outsourcing Tasks

Of course, it’s not as if you’ll be able to hire a person for every task that you’ve got to complete. Far from it. And what’s more, is that the tasks you don’t hire for can often be the ones that induce the most number of headaches. Take your IT systems for example. You need them to work well if you’re going to run your business efficiently, yet if you don’t have the expertise needed to handle it, then you’ll likely find that your IT infrastructure just adds to your stress levels. As such, it can be worthwhile looking at outsourcing the task. A company like Xamin Managed IT Services can ensure that all your tech needs are being met, which will allow you to simply get on with your all-important tasks. There’s no reason to wrestle with cables and network systems when there are other companies out there that can help you. 

Managing the Day

It’ll be normal for stress levels to rise if it feels like you’re continually overwhelmed by tasks all day, every day. But this is always going to happen unless you’ve taken the time to structure your day effectively. It sounds simple (because it is), but just having a list of the things you want to achieve throughout the day can help to keep your stress levels manageable. And there’s no doubt that it can be highly satisfying to cross things off your list! 

Hit the Ground Running

If you’re prone to procrastinate (and many people are), then you’ll know just how stressful it can be to feel as if you’re wasting time when you should really be getting things done. While there are many causes of procrastination, one of the more common causes is that the person isn’t quite in the right mindset to get back.

If you’re feeling a little tired and unfocused, then you’ll move slowly, and fail to get as much work done as you’d like. One way to get around this issue is to hit the ground running. Wouldn’t be it less stressful if you knew you were going to get into the groove of work as soon as you hit the office? It sounds like a pipedream, but it is possible. It’s all about starting the day right. If you have a morning where you rise early, eat well, and perhaps go for a short run and take a cold shower, then you’ll feel a level of alertness that can be worth its weight in gold. 

Daily Relaxation

Even those people who think that they’ve got their stress levels under control can find themselves with high levels of stress, over time. Little moments of stress can creep up on us and create a pretty big problem if they’re not taken care of. One way to handle this issue is to look at ways to build relaxation into your day, even if you don’t feel like you need it. You’ll find that a focused approach to relaxation can help to keep things manageable and keep stress at a distance over a long period.

How to Work from Home without Losing Your Mind

Before the days of COVID-19, some entrepreneurs may have worked from home and some may have been working from home full-time. But now for most, working from home has become the norm.

Beyond the obvious necessities like a reliable computer, stable internet connection, and access to IT support using app discovery for technical hiccups, mastering the art of working from home demands a deeper understanding of productivity, mental well-being, and work-life balance.

How we can navigate this new way of working? Here are a handful of tips from some of today’s most successful entrepreneurs who have mastered it.

“A routine you can stick to is absolutely vital in the remote workspace. However, having a routine doesn’t mean you have to be chained to your desk—or that you have to stick to the same nine to five schedule you may have followed in an office. Celebrate the freedom that comes from working from home. Schedule breaks to work on a hobby, or go for a run in the middle of the day. You might not have chosen to work from home, but the transition (even if it’s temporary) will be easier if you can see the benefits that come from a home office and not just the challenges.”

Teresa Douglas, co-author of "Working Remotely: Secrets to Success for Employees on Distributed Teams"

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“My best work from home tip is to leave your phone out of your space. I used to keep my phone right next to me in my home office and it didn't seem like it was affecting me. However, one day I counted how many times I looked at the phone and it was about 75 times. I was blown away to think that the phone was affecting my day soo much. Now, I leave my phone in the front room, and while I feel cut off from the
world, the truth is that I have become about 50% more productive and can get things done much faster.”

 Sa El, Co-Founder of Simply Insurance 

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“Keep an eye on the culture—by understanding that culture is not tied to a place but, instead, to your people, you can focus your efforts to ensuring that whatever defined your company before this crisis will continue to carry you through it. For us at Epperly Travel, even though we were already a virtual company, we have used this time to turn back toward our mission statement and lean into the values we embody even more, which gives us purpose and fulfillment to work toward even when our products and services are temporarily on hold.”

Lindsey Epperly Sulek, Founder + CEO, http://www.entretravel.com

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“Have a definite start and stop time. This is really important so you don't end up working from the minute you wake up until the minute you go to bed. This was really hard for me to implement at first (as I'm very much a workaholic), but setting these boundaries where I no longer to any work after a certain time has really helped.”

AmyFoley, Co-founder, Inbound Back Office, inboundbackoffice.com

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“A simple, and important practice when working from home is to get up and stretch on a regular basis. We are all practicing social distancing and safety/shelter in place at our homes, but we need to be able to get up and move in order to get our blood flowing and boost endorphins. Go for a short walk around the neighborhood, sprint up and down the stairs in your home, stretch to a yoga video on YouTube, and throw on some fun songs on Spotify for a dance party. Move to alter your mood and get in a quick workout!”

Deborah Sweeney, CEO, mycorporation.com

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“Be clear about your availability with your managers. If you have a small child at home and your shift is 10am—6pm, then let your boss in on it. If you are caring for a sick parent and your availability is 5am—2pm, share that with your manager. We are all juggling multiple responsibilities now more than ever.”

Marika Andersson, Operations Manager, Ax3 Studios, http://www.Ax3Studios.com

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“Make sure your chair and desk height are congruent. If you sit in an uncomfortable position for too long, you will end up with back and neck problems that will only get worse over time. This is especially a problem when working at a kitchen counter or somewhere not designed for desk work.”

Nika Lawrie, Health + Wellness Advocate, Coach, Business Strategist, and Founder + CEO, Insurgo Creative, LLC, nikalawrie.com

How to Stay Mentally Strong When You’re Physically Unwell

Coping with a physical illness or injury can be emotionally draining, particularly if you’re running a business and dealing with a chronic condition at the same time. As well as accessing treatment for your physical ailments, it’s essential to focus on your mental health too. From taking back control to legal advice from auto accident lawyers, with these handy tips, you can stay strong mentally while you enhance your physical health and avoid burnout in your business.

Try meditation

Meditation and mindfulness can be a great way to cope with whatever life throws at you. Proven to relieve stress and anxiety, engaging in daily meditation or mindfulness sessions can help you to feel stronger and more optimistic. Even if you have a long road to recovery ahead of you, maintaining a positive attitude can help you to cope with the symptoms of illness or injury, and juggle your business life at the same time.

Take control of your recovery

When you’re dealing with physical health issues, it’s easy to feel out of control. When you’re waiting for doctor’s appointments or test results, for example, you may feel at the mercy of the medical profession. By taking charge of your recovery, however, you can arm yourself with knowledge and feel more empowered than ever before. 

Learning more about your condition or injury will enable you to access the best treatment. What’s more – researching the medical options available could lead you to the best doctors and clinicians. Being your own advocate can be time-consuming and tiring, so ask a trusted family member or friend to provide support. 

Being your own advocate can be time-consuming and tiring, so ask a trusted family member or friend to provide support.  While doing this, remember to factor in other crucial elements like health insurance. This empowers you to take control of your recovery by providing financial support and access to necessary medical services. However, it’s equally vital to make an informed decision when selecting a plan, and reading some recent PHP agency reviews can be instrumental in this process. These reviews offer insights into the experiences of individuals who have used or evaluated health insurance offerings. 

Seek legal advice

If you’ve suffered harm because of an incident that wasn’t your fault, it can be difficult to cope with the feelings of frustration you’ll experience. When accidents occur because of someone else’s negligence or recklessness, it can be even harder to adjust to long-term health problems or lengthy recovery plans. 

By seeking legal advice, you can determine whether you’re eligible to take action following an injury or illness. As well as obtaining financial compensation, making a successful claim will ensure you get the justice you deserve. For many people, this validation helps them to stay mentally strong while they’re dealing with the aftermath and gives them something to focus on while they are receiving medical treatment. 

Find natural forms of pain relief

When you’re physically unwell, you can experience a significant amount of pain and discomfort. Often, people rely on pharmaceuticals to alleviate their symptoms and these can be extremely effective. However, strong painkillers and other medications can leave you feeling sluggish or lethargic, which can make it harder for you to do the important day to say stuff like running your business. 

If you want to try and avoid taking high doses of medication, talk to your clinical team about natural alternatives. With physical therapy or yoga, for example, you may be able to speed up your recovery and decrease your reliance on prescription medication. 

Strengthening Your Mind

Keeping your mind active when your body needs rest isn’t always easy but it’s certainly worthwhile. If you feel able to focus on hobbies or develop new interests, you’ll find it easier to cope with long periods of inaction while you recover from your physical injuries or illnesses. 

Keeping Yourself Happy, Healthy and Sane When Homeschooling Your Kids

Small business owners, freelance journalists, nail technicians, graphic designers, hairdressers, titans of industry; many of you have something in common. Yes, apart from the fact that you’re all talented, vigorous, and go-getting self-starters. Many of you are also temporary teachers.

As tens of millions of households all over the world go into self-isolation, many schools are either closing their doors completely or admitting only the children of key workers like healthcare workers (and, of course, teachers). As a result, many of you may find yourself educating your kids from home as well as keeping them safe, well, happy and healthy. What’s more, many are coming to realize just what a challenge that is. 

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The coming weeks or months may prove one of the biggest and most stressful challenges you’ve ever faced, especially since the current international climate of fear and panic is likely to impact on the kids’ behavior. With that in mind, here are some tips to help keep you happy, healthy and in full possession of your sanity while you home-parent-school your little ones...  

Treat this as your job

You’re a professional. So now’s the time to bring all the professionalism you can muster to your new calling. Who knows, you might realize that you’re actually really good at it, and start looking into a masters of leadership in education to propel yourself to new career heights. As you spend more time homeschooling, you’ll learn the planning, time management, behavior management, and coping strategies that are the teacher’s arsenal. However invested you are in your current career or your business, you might find that this new opportunity takes you on a new and unforeseen but incredibly rewarding career path. 

Even if you decide that you’d much rather return to your career or business once this is all over, the task of educating your kids still requires the kind of professional and considered approach with which you treat all your endeavors. As such;

• Assign a space in your home that will serve as your temporary classroom.

• Gather whatever online resources you need from your kids’ teachers as well as general learning resources. Don’t go overboard! You don’t want to drown in information. Just make sure that you have everything you need to plan your lessons week by week.

• Establish set hours for each school day. 

• Familiarize yourself with any visual aids like PowerPoint presentations, videos, etc. which will help you to deliver information effectively in your teaching.

• Come up with an idea for a rewards system that your kids will find meaningful. Rewarding achievement is imperative to keep the kids motivated. Just make sure you reserve treats for special achievements rather than particularly adorable smiles.

Understand their learning and emotional needs

These are scary and stressful times for all of us. And your children will pick up on your stress and anxiety. Because children don’t know how to process complex emotions, they may manifest in behavioral issues like acting out or fighting/arguing with their siblings. As important as it is to be familiar with how your kids learn, the information they struggle to retain, and subjects that they find it easy or hard to engage with, you also need to consider their emotional needs at this very difficult time. You’ll need to manage a tricky balance between providing a teacher’s discipline and professionalism and a parent’s love.

Make sure you’re a good student

A good teacher also needs to be a good student. As tempting as it may be to tailor your child’s curriculum to your areas of knowledge and expertise, you’ll need to become a true autodidact if you’re to deliver the kind of holistic and well-rounded education your little ones deserve. Thank goodness we live in the online age where there’s so much information out there to support your learning.  

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Split the “school day” into 35-45 minute lessons

Pacing is extremely important. Young minds will quickly fatigue if faced with 6 straight hours of learning. Their day needs to be compartmentalized so that they come to each subject covered with a fresh and rested mind. As such, you should consider splitting your learning day into 35-45 minute lessons with a 5-10 minute break in between. During this time they can go to the bathroom or get their equipment ready for their new lesson  According to the Times Educational Supplement, 35 minutes is the optimal lesson time to help kids absorb information without their minds becoming overtaxed or exhausted. Teaching a tired mind is a waste of your time and theirs. 

Incidentally, make sure that one of your daily lessons is some form of physical education or sport. No, letting them run riot in the garden doesn’t count. Fear not, however, there are lots of great YouTube videos that give your kids a great PE lesson while also affording you the chance to enjoy a coffee while you shout encouragement. 

Plan at least two breaks every day

As well as short breaks between lessons, you should also include two meaningful breaks. Here, kids can take a few minutes in the garden, play video games or do whatever helps them to relax and unwind. While discipline is important when homeschooling, stressed and overworked minds can create a wealth of problems for homeschooling parents. 

Healthy meals… they’re non-negotiable!

A healthy diet is absolutely essential to keep the body and mind fueled, reduce behavioural issues caused by an overload of sugar, and help keep your kids (and yourself) healthy and happy. That means more plants and less processed foods, especially since many of us are likely to get a lot more sedentary over the coming weeks. Fresh fruit and veggies are the gold standards, but if supply chains near you are problematic, canned or frozen foods should also be fine. Just try and limit processed foods, take out and anything that might contain hidden sugars. 

Tailor learning and resources to your kids’ needs

Finally, you’ll no doubt have already received more resources, lesson plans, and fact sheets from your kids’ school than you know what to do with. Take a little time to make sure they’re tailored to your kids’ needs. If you know your kids are visual learners, try and jazz up resources to make them more visually dynamic and interesting. If they learn better from kinaesthetic activity, try to plan movements or physical activities that will help them to consolidate their learning.

You know your kids better than anyone. With a little hard work and planning, you might just be the best teacher they ever had!

Workplace Loneliness: What to Do When It Becomes Too Much

Being alone in a home office or working in a physically-isolated position at a company can get lonely. While social interaction might not be something that you desire every moment of every day, being isolated at work can be problematic to your health, increasing the chances of a heart attack or stroke by a shocking 30 percent.

For your best health, here’s what to do when feeling overwhelmed by feelings of loneliness.

Start by Saying Hello

If you’re in an office where everyone keeps to themselves, it can sometimes feel like no one likes you. But look around, and that’s probably not the case; instead, it’s far more likely that no one says hello or makes small talk, no matter who it is.

To start being part of a positive change, say hello in the morning to those whom you pass in the hallway or within your department. While it might seem unnatural at first, it will get easier the more you do so. Plus, they’ll likely start to say hi too, and soon it becomes commonplace. That small interaction can help you feel less isolated.

Work from an Office Away from Home

While home-based offices are convenient as there’s no morning commute and you can set your hours, working at a hot desk can provide you with social opportunities and chances to network that might not otherwise be available to you.

It could be that a person you come across in the new environment is someone who can help you to solve a problem you’re having with a project, for example. Or, they might end up being your partner in a new organization one day if you get along well.

Join in Activities

Find out if your company offers any recreational activities, such as a sports team. If so, you could participate, and that’s a great way to get to know others who are in your office, but you haven’t spoken to yet.

Alternatively, if you work alone at home, why not see if there are community groups for entrepreneurs like yourself? Meeting monthly with others who have a similar job environment can stave off feelings of loneliness and provide a common conversational topic as you grow new friendships too.

Add Noise

Finally, if you work on your own, then why not add some background noise to make it feel less alone? There are many options here.

Perhaps you put on a TV show in the background. Alternatively, some music from YouTube. Choose songs with positive messages or fast tempos to energize your workspace.

Social Media Time

Schedule in some social media time too. Sending a message on Facebook or looking at what’s trending at Twitter helps you keep a connection to the outside world.

If you make plans through social media for later that same day, then you have something to look forward to later. And that can help motivate you during the day.

Dealing with Workplace Loneliness

Rather than thinking that you must sit in silence, make the job more interactive by reaching out to coworkers with a “hello” or joining in social activities. If you don’t have coworkers, then get on social media now and then or add background noise. Loneliness doesn’t have to be a constant in your life.

Why Emotions Are Important For Business

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Some people believe that business has no place for emotions, but this couldn’t be more wrong. Emotions play a huge role in business and in the success of your business. Emotions have an effect on teamwork, customer satisfaction, manager-employee relationships, and employee retention. Plus, the brain’s emotional state affects decision making, planning and negotiating, and creative thinking. More so than this, emotions have a huge impact on the amount of sales you make, the amount of money you make and overall whether your business makes it or breaks it. 

It probably comes as no surprise that customers report a higher satisfaction rate when a staff member really seems to understand their problem. But more than customer service, this is also the same for colleagues working together as when people feel that other people understand them, they work better together and create a longer-lasting and stronger team.

It is important in business for managers and leaders to develop a higher degree of emotional granularity in their own lives, as this would give them a better command over situations and their employees. It is important to get to the heart of someone’s emotional state, as this helps avoid offering the wrong solution. Instead of fearing unpleasant emotional states at work or fearing emotions altogether, if you can accurately identify these emotions, and get to the cause, it is a significant first step to using the emotional brain to work better together.

Emotions are essential when it comes to customer service and important for teams working together, but they are also imperative when it comes to sales and marketing and ultimately making money in your business, as the more people feel, the more people buy. You only have to look at your own purchasing habits and what triggers you, to see that this is true. So, how can companies apply this to their marketing techniques to boost sales and grow profits? 

When it comes to identity building, it doesn’t matter how creative and entertaining your brand campaigns are, if you miss adding an emotional connection, your marketing strategy will likely miss the mark. According to research by Binet and Field, emotion is the key to successful marketing and campaigns that can tap into people’s emotions are almost twice as likely to result in very large business effects. Because of this study, many marketers are now interested in emotion and see it as a driver of business success. For conversion, retention, and brand building, people are coming round to the idea that seduction beats persuasion, every time.

According to a behavioral scientist, Gerd Gigerenzer, human beings like “fast and frugal” decisions. He says that they like decisions that don’t take too much time or energy, so creating positive emotion is one surefire way that a business can make itself easy to choose. Positive emotion could be as simple as using brighter colors or more smiling faces on your marketing materials because if people come away feeling good about you and your business, that will be more helpful than any single product feature.

The importance of emotion is nothing new. If you look back at human history, we mainly communicated by emotion, for example, we used grunts and grimaces which were designed to warn, scare, or win over our fellow primates. So it makes sense that emotion is still the core of marketing effectiveness.

According to Psychologist Paul Ekman who has traveled the world studying and looking for universal emotions, which are ones which every culture has in common, emotions that show up in the same way on the face, this shared emotional DNA comes down to seven core feelings which are happiness, surprise, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, and contempt.

Translating all the research into simple terms and into sales and marketing terms essentially means that the ads which are most effective, the ones who get the most click-throughs, likes, shares, and immediate purchases, are the ones which take the customer on an emotional journey—the ones that mix positivity, a few negative emotions, and even a big dose of surprise.

While the psychology of emotion is deep and complex as there are differences between types of happiness, and the way different negative emotions work are the subject of many psychological studies, it still comes down to the fact that any business can tap into the power of emotion, by remembering that the more people feel, the more people buy.

Wellness and Working From Home: 5 Tips to Live By

More of us than ever now work from home in some capacity, but it’s a relatively new thing and we’re all learning as we go. One particular thing to be aware of as a home based worker is how it can impact your health—while research shows that those of us working from home tend to be happier and have less sick days, there can be drawbacks in other areas. Here are five rules to live by. 

Keep your environment clean and organised

Keeping your home clean and organised can be fairly easy when your job is at a standard workplace—as when you’re not at home for much of the day, you can clean it and it will stay that way. When you work from home, you’re using this space much more and it can get messy. and cluttered much more easily. Staying organised keeps you in control, ensures you stay productive and on top of things. The last thing you want is to be running around like a headless chicken because you can't find what you’re looking for.

Our homes might feel like the safest places in the world, but there are lots of ways they can be bad for health—and it’s especially worth bearing in mind when your home is also your workplace as you’re there for most of the day. Keep it clean and tidy to avoid contamination, open windows to remove build ups of toxins and pollutants. Things like cooking, heating, candles, cleaning products and more can all release fumes that are bad for health which can accumulate over time. Open windows, use an extractor fan, and wash things like soft furnishings to get rid of nasties. Steamaster products can kill bacteria on things like carpets and rugs which are known to be hotspots for dirt and germs. It makes sense for all of us to keep our homes clean and tidy, but especially so when your home is also your work. 

Take regular breaks

Many people working from home work for themselves. It could be running a home business, blogging, or freelancing. While being your own boss is great, the downside is that you aren’t guaranteed a wage—your earnings can fluctuate and you need to do more than just sit at your desk to get paid. For this reason, it’s easy for home-based workers to become workaholics; you end up putting in the extra hours because you want (or need) to be earning that extra cash. The problem comes when hours and hours pass by and you’ve not moved from your desk. This can be bad for your eyesight, your posture, and your overall physique, taking regular breaks is important. 

Get some exercise

Combine taking breaks with activity—how about going to the gym or walking your dog midday? That way you get to burn some calories and clear your mind of work while strengthening your body and giving your brain a boost. At the very least, take breaks from your computer to move around and stretch but get your heart rate up if you can. Home-based work tends to be sedentary, so regular exercise can help to balance things out a little. 

Eat well

When you work away from the home, it becomes habit to put together a packed lunch. This saves you time and money compared with having to leave the premises every day, and research has actually shown that eating the same lunch each day at work can reduce stress. However, when you’re working from home, there's a lot less structure.

It’s easy to find yourself picking out of the fridge, making endless cups of tea with biscuits just because you can, and generally not sticking to a good routine. If you find it easier, meal prep during the weekend and keep things like pasta salad, rice, and other make ahead lunches in Tupperware in the fridge. Fill your home with healthy snacks like fruit and yogurt and stop buying naughty treats if you find you can’t stop eating them!

Find the work/ life balance

Finding the balance between work and life can be hard when your home is also your work. For this reason, it’s important to set boundaries. Decide which times of the day you’ll be working and stick to them. Having flexibility is a bonus and you always have the option to move your days around as needed—but for the most part, staying in a routine will help you to be as productive as possible.

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Mindfulness For The Entrepreneur

When you’re responsible for everything within your business, and there are a million and one responsibilities on your shoulders, there is a certain amount of stress that comes with the territory. But if you’re working with a glass half empty view, you’re really not going to be getting the best out of the time you spend working. It’s essential to take care of yourself first, and then your business will thrive naturally.

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What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is basically the art of being mindful, present in the moment, and sometimes even being in a meditative state. Small doses of mindfulness can have huge benefits, and there are plenty of studies that show that mindfulness improves your mental health, if practiced regularly, it can even lower your blood pressure. 

So how can you add mindfulness to your day without spending a lot of time that you really don’t have? 

Wake up and meditate

When you wake up, the first thing to do is NOT pick up your phone and check your emails. It’s tempting, but leave the phone out of reach, meditate for a little while and clear your mind. Starting the day in a calm, relaxed, and peaceful state will guarantee you an excellent start to the day!

When it comes to when exactly you can use mindfulness during your morning routine brushing your teeth is a good start. You can count while brushing, clear your mind, focus on the minute details, and think about nothing else. See? It doesn’t even need to take you extra time, just focus on what you’re doing and you’ll have some more space in your mind for the rest of the day’s activities. 

One step at a time

It’s advisable to start the whole mindfulness journey a small step at a time. Take the pressure off yourself at first, and if you find it tricky to focus to begin with, that’s normal. The beauty of mindfulness is that you can practice at your own speed and in your own time; there are apps you can get that will help you build-up to the right level for you, so utilise them and start benefiting from the many positives this practice will bring to your personal and working life!

Make space

Once you’ve started adding mindfulness into your day in small doses, you will start considering a regular time to sit and practice mindfulness. Maybe leave the office behind with yourvirtualofficelondon.co.uk virtual office address, and go for a walk once a week?

Take a co-worker or friend with you and work on being mindful together, breathing techniques and ensuring you work towards clearing your mind will give you much more space and time to build your business. 

That’s it, there’s not a lot more to it than taking a little time and learning some simple techniques, just a small act which will have fantastic results on your overall happiness and success! Don’t forget that when you find yourself a little more stressed than usual mindfulness is always an option, take five minutes and reset yourself, any time of the day!

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How To Stay Healthy At Your Computer Desk

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In business, we spend so much of our time sitting in offices staring at screens. With so much of our day spent working on computers, there are risks to our health. Several factors can contribute to this. Firstly, sitting all day, every day can mean that you are not moving about enough. This can lead to developing heart problems, as well as a risk of obesity and diabetes. Secondly, having poor posture while using a computer can lead to back and neck problems, as well as repetitive strain injuries. Thirdly, your eyesight can be affected by the use of a computer screen, and this in turn can cause headaches and migraines. Lastly, your mental health can suffer as a result of spending too much time on a computer. 

Employers and employees alike should work to diminish the risks involved in working on computers. Often issues may develop gradually over a few years, so a proactive approach is required. Waiting until you see the effects of this on yourself will mean that you have left it too long. 

Get Active

If you spend the majority of your working day sitting down, you need to think of ways to add exercise into your daily routine. If you can walk to work, do so. If you drive, try to park as far away as possible so that you need to walk to and from the car. 

Go out on your lunch break and take a stroll. Time away from the computer will be healthy for you, and you will get fresh air and exercise.  If you can walk around your office during the day, do so. Any time spent moving about is going to benefit your health. 

Posture

When you are using a computer, you need to keep your back and neck straight. Often, when you sit, there may be a tendency to slouch and let your head stoop and drag your shoulders down. Try to stretch your neck regularly, and readjust your posture if you slip. Have a look for the best standing desk. Working standing up can help to improve your posture, stretch your muscles, as well as to make your more mentally alert. 

EyeSight 

Your eyes are important. You may not notice slight changes in your eyes. However, your eyesight can deteriorate gradually over time. Get your eyes tested regularly, and if you need to wear glasses when working on a computer, you should do so. Your company may have a scheme to help with the cost of eye tests, and if they do, you should use this. 

Mental Health

Often, working at a computer can get mundane and tedious. Find ways to break up your day and look for opportunities to engage with other people, either through face-to-face meetings or on the phone. If you notice that you are feeling bored, stressed, or restless, take some time to refocus—a great way of doing this is with some mindful breathing exercises at your desk. 

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Looking After Your Employee's Health Is A Daily Battle

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No self-respecting business owner should ever pay less than the most possible attention to the wellbeing of their employees. Of course, as a business leader with many responsibilities to take care of, this can bring up strange images of walking around the office checking anyone isn’t too stressed out, worried, or has any personal difficulty in their lives. This would not be feasible, and likely not effective.

The best thing any business owner can do is understand that this is a daily battle, often helped with the systems put in place to prevent and cure issues when or if they occur. For example, a human resources department, well invested in, can help air the grievances of your staff, and allow them to manage their personal difficulties alongside their work. This truly matters, and in some respects is perhaps one of the most important elements of your departmental management.

If you’re even reading this article, it shows that you care about your employees, or perhaps the future people you may hire. So let us help you to that end:

Consider Office Safety

It’s very easy to view the smaller health risks and consider them over-the-top and worrying. For example, a rucksack in the walkway might signify a trip hazard, and should be removed as soon as possible. That’s normal. Many of these issues will occur like this, and so long as you and your team keep an eye on them, they can often become resolved very quickly.

Long-term rules, such as no open-top beverages near the computing equipment, can be a worthwhile policy to keep. But office safety hardly stops there. It might be that an uneven or cracked floor could lead to some nasty falls and injuries, meaning that using excellent flooring companies to gain a solid, even, level flooring is an essential investment from time to time.

Perhaps a door handle is known for coming off in the hands of your employees, and must be held in just the right way to gain access. Yet the trouble is, this is a fire door, which needs to be moved through quickly in the case of an emergency. Looking around and implementing changes like these can help you avoid any long-term statistical increase in injuries, which are just as essential to root out quickly.

Mental Health Awareness

The physical health of your staff is important, but mental health issues are often much harder to see or identify. This is why a mental health awareness day, or perhaps routine training can help your team identify issues if they occur, or at least have a safe and confidential outlet to talk about their troubles. This might also give you pause when needing to force overtime to complete an order, or coming down too harshly on someone who tried their best yet failed. Your team member aren’t wrapped in cotton wool, of course, but it’s important to ensure that everyone is on the same page regarding mental health, and all feel that they can approach you about this if needed.

A Favorable Working Environment

A solid lunch break, a relaxing and ventilated office environment, anti-bacterial hand gel stations, and a separate room to relax and eat can all lead to a favorable working environment, both in hygiene and working comfort. This can prevent your staff from burning out.

With these tips, you are certain to care for your employee’s health correctly.

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