Make Home Almost Like Heaven

Life is to be enjoyed, and you spend so much of it at home. Here are some tips to make it better.



Sound: Keep your voice down, as in, don't yell at the kids (this is a real challenge for me but I'm making up for it in other ways)--

Play music. This completely changes the mood in the house more than anything else. It adds joy, or melancholy, or whatever mood of the piece you're playing.

Dance in the livingroom, or wherever the tunes are. Enjoy your rhythm with your family and friends spontaneously, whenever you want.

Smells: Buy lilies, which are my personal favorite, because they will last at least a week and often more, and will fill your house with a beautiful smell. There are other options for other noses, but there is nothing like flowers.

Bake bread. Lest you keel over with this seemingly overwhelming idea, I guarantee you that if you read a couple of articles on easy breads like no-knead rustic or quick-rising white, & then experiment a couple of times, you'll be baking in no time. This will not only make your house smell wonderful, but you'll be able to eat it too.

Sight: You don't have to have fancy furniture, or hardly any furniture, to make a house nice. What you do have to have is light, color, air. Let your spirit inform you of what color a room needs to be and then paint it. Don't be afraid of white, or red, or any other color, since it's for you.

If you need something to sit on, an ugly piece covered with a cloth, in a white drape, will go with anything and it can be washed. Or a beanbag chair. It's not about the furniture. If your budget includes that Roche Bobois piece for $10,000 that I've been drooling over for the last 15 years, go for it. Can't hurt.

Remove heavy drapes or window blinds if you possibly can. Replace with obscured glass if you need privacy. Open the windows in the summer and let breezes waft through your rooms, if you have a breeze.

Paintings or art for your wall are personal choices and if they make you happy to look at them, they don't need to be expensive. You can make some yourself. You don't need frames.

Honor your kids by hanging their art in the livingroom.

Stuff: Organize. Okay I'll admit it: this is hard for me. But it really helps to create a wonderful atmosphere when you have a place to put things, and you do actually put things away. It's so much more pleasant when the coats are in the closet and not on the hall floor.

Adult bedrooms are really important. It's where you need the most tranquility. Don't trash it, don't let the kids trash it, don't let anyone trash it. Change the sheets at least once a week or more, make the bed every morning; it's not that hard and takes a second. Don't let the dog (at least my dog) sleep on the bed.

Self: It can be fun to dress up when you're cooking, a la June Cleaver. Pie-baking dresses look good and are funny. Apron collections are cool and practical if they have bib fronts. And there are lots of other costume options too, for other occasions. Glamor girl, for when you go out, perfect mom, for school meetings, etc. Use your imagination.courtesy:ehow.com

Not Forget The Most Important Things

Human ability to remember has caused more interest in ancient Greece, where she was honored Mnemosyne – Goddess of memory. In ancient philosophy memory is interpreted as a gift, people close to the divine world – Plato believed it essential for the ability of the soul.

Memory must treat carefully, experts advised today. It can be as capricious and helpful in charge now.



Acts of Memory:

* Memory should not be trained as train as muscles. Senseless “repeating” of the material does not lead to building a habit to learn easier and faster.
Systemic mental exercises can allow to understand more deeply into the substance of the facts easier to get acquainted. They contribute to the emergence of patterns of sound and to recall memorized. Even in mature and older age can achieve improvement of memory if used wisely its subjective.

* It is necessary to obtain quick, accurate and clear impression of what must be remembered.

* Since perceptions are directly related to imagination, it all ways, making it possible to develop imagination and figurative thinking may be useful for remembering.

* Relatively common events in life that make a particularly strong impression can be saved immediately, and stand in the mind very clearly and distinctly, even after many years. More complicated and less interesting events one can experience dozens of times, but they are not sealed in memory for a long time.

* In concentrating attention on the event, once experienced, later in the required sequence can be reproduced in memory of its major points.


* Lack of sufficient attention in the perception of information can not be compensated by increasing the number of its repetition.

* What a person likes, is remembered without any work. This clear pattern is evident especially in more mature years.

* Rare, strange and unusual experiences are remembered better than usual and often repetitive.

* Concentration on material studied in combination with the selective ability to allow people to focus their attention, ie to set the memory to the perception of potentially useful information.

* For best retention of the material recommended its recurrence just before bedtime.Information is better to rest in the memory and not mix with other impressions, which accumulate during the day and actually interfere with remembering.

* For situations left in our emotional memory trace bright, think more, rather than emotionally neutral situations. Positive emotions generally help remembering a negative hinder it.

* If at the time of remembering, a man is in high or low mood, it artificially restored to its emotional state helps remembering.

* Visual impression is strongest. But complex impression ie those obtained using more sensory organs, allowing the material to seal even better in the mind. Some such as read aloud so that perception is both visual and auditory.

* Attention and consideration only. If a man with eyes closed to indicate color and shape of the object that is seen many times, but his attention is turned, it will most likely wrong in many details.

Many people are mistaken if you need to answer what has figures on the face of their mechanical watches – Roman or Arabic. Often it appears that not even digits, and people not remember that fact.


Many can not say your own phone number and the explanation for this is simple – it is rarely used.

Repetition is indeed the mother of knowledge

Dale Carnegie repetition called “second law of memory” and gives the following example: “Thousands of Muslims know the Koran by heart – a book with almost the same volume as the New Testament and that they largely achieved through repetition. We can remember everything you have, within reasonable limits, if we repeat it often enough.

As greater volumes of information, the more repetition is required for its retention. Volume of material is remembered better if split into two or more parts.
courtesy:socyberty.com

Colors Affect Your Heart Rate / Life

Most people love color and want to paint every room in their house. Others don't care for it at all. If you are thinking of repainting you need to keep one thing in mind. Colors can effect out mood and make us sad or happy; they affect our eating habits and even our heart rate. Most people don't put this much though into color and what is does to us. It is proven that several colors actually raise our heart rates while others can lower it. Take into mind which color to paint a room with what you will be doing in that room.

If you are repainting a room that you are going to use to relax in you will want to use a color that will lower your heart rate.

If you are painting your home gym you will want one that will raise your heart rate. The color red.

The color yellow can actually raise your heart rate.

The color blue and purple lower it.



While yellow can raise your heart rate it can also improve your concentration which is why legal note pads are yellow. Yellow would be a very good color choice for a home office or a hobby room.

The color red is a tricky color; it can raise your heart rate and evoke passion and energy or is can make you frustrated or angry. This color is a popular choice in bedrooms or accent walls. If you use this as an accent wall you will be able to have a more muted reaction to it.

If you are looking to repaint a living room or dining room think about what you want the mood to be in there.

If you want an energetic and vibrant living room go with a bolder color like yellow.

But if you want a more relaxed casual living room to kick back in then think blues and greens and purples. It is very important to think about what mood you want for a room and what you do in that room before you repaint.

Keep in mind that colors can really change how you feel especially if you are looking at them on a daily basis.

Whichever you choose make sure to have a variety of rooms. You will want a relaxing room every once in a while and you will want a high energy room as well.
author:Jenny Dixie

Overcome Your Fear of Being Shy

If you feel extremely shy and self-conscious, you might be experiencing problems with your friends, family and colleagues. Not only does excessive shyness cause a struggle to build relationships, but it also forces you to avoid situations and opportunities that you might potentially enjoy. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome shyness, even if the feelings don't subside immediately.



* Make a list of everything you like about yourself. Include personality traits, abilities, skills and hobbies you excel in. If you feel self-conscious and shy, it might be because you feel inferior to people around you. Instead of comparing yourself to your peers, think about what you are good at and write down all of your strengths. When you start to feel shy in a situation, think about your achievements and how you would like to be perceived.

* Practice meditation, relaxation or deep-breathing techniques. Although you might feel shy or uncomfortable in social situations, you must force yourself into these conversations in order to overcome your fear. Take deep breaths and relax while telling yourself that you will be okay. Visualize a positive outcome of the situation and smile before you start a conversation. Smiling will cause a natural release of endorphins that will elevate your mood and also the perceptions of those around you.

* Condense the situation. If you are at a large party or gathering, avoid trying to take in the whole atmosphere. Focus on the individual you are conversing with so that you don't feel overwhelmed and that you are under scrutiny from other people.

* Show interest in the conversation, not the individual. Take the focus off of yourself and avoid using "I" as much as you can. Try to show as much interest in the other person as you can while asking numerous questions. Listen to what they say and take note of their body language. Relax yourself if they look comfortable talking to you. If you are asked questions, don't provide long answers and stories if you are not comfortable with the situation. Even if you are just making small talk, it will help you to overcome your shyness and help you to build longer, more intense conversations and relationships.

Good Foods for People Quitting Smoking

Most smokers worry about gaining weight when they quit smoking, and some may use it as an excuse to avoid quitting. Regardless of weight gain, quitting smoking will benefit your health in many ways. There are ways to reduce the chances of weight gain or at least reduce the amount of weight you may gain. Replacing cigarette breaks with a short walk and eating the right snacks can help to reduce cravings and weight gain. Eating foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and small portions of sweet and salty treats can help to curb cigarette cravings.



Fruit: Fresh fruit is healthy and usually an easy-to-grab snack. Bite-sized fruit such as grapes, strawberries, cherries and raisins can be eaten at room temperature and do not require utensils. Having bite-sized fruit available when you have a craving can be helpful. In addition, you can select dehydrated fruits as well such as mangos, banana chips, apple chips and apricots. Dehydrated fruit lasts longer and is a handy and tasty snack to have on your desk at work.

Vegetables: Fresh vegetables such as celery sticks, carrot sticks, green beans, mushrooms, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes and broccoli are tasty raw and healthy for you. If you are craving a cigarette, grab a small dish of some fresh vegetables to help pass the urge and reduce weight gain. Most grocery stores sell vegetables already cut up for an added convenience.

Nuts: Raw nuts such as almonds, walnuts and hazelnuts are packed full of important nutrients and even help lower your cholesterol and reduce the chances of heart disease. Nuts are bite-size, and they last a long time. Carrying a sandwich bag of mixed nuts around will help with any on-the-go cravings you may have, and they will also provide your body with fiber and vitamin E.

Sweet and Salty Snacks: If you are craving a sweet or salty snack, consider eating rye crackers, pretzels, dry cereal, rice cakes, unbuttered popcorn or low-fat baked potato chips. Since some of these snacks may not be as healthy, try to stick to the serving size by pre-portioning the snacks into small sandwich bags. It will add to the convenience as well, you will be able to grab a little snack when you are on the go.

Make A Boring Job Interesting

Many of us may find ourselves strapped to a boring job. What's worse is we can't live without it because it's our main bread and butter. This is true not only for those who have menial jobs but also to white collar job holders as well.



How we look at our job affects how we work. If you find it boring chances are that you will be making less an effort doing it and before you know it, even the task of looking for a record would go on the "to do list" for tomorrow, creating backlog after backlog when you could have done it today. Instead of whining about how boring the job is, ever thought of making it more fun and interesting? If you can't change the situation, change you attitude towards it. You can't do this, however, if you look down on your job. Try looking up to it. Think of ways you can improve and leave your best mark on the job. Here are a few tips on how:

Challenge Your Self. Set a target, not only try to reach it but beat you record as well. Your job may be the most menial job in a world of menial jobs, like the burger flipper. You can make it more challenging by recording how fast you can flip a burger or take an order, then try to beat your record. Before you know it, you have not only enjoyed your job, you have delivered satisfaction to customers by your timely delivery of orders. Or are you the book keeper with lots of figures to tally? You can challenge yourself with how fast you can punch the calculator or number pad without looking at it. You will have done your job at half the time it usually takes, and have time for something else that you enjoy doing.

On a recent season of a reality game show of a race around the world, two teams were up against each other at the airport trying to book their flights. One team who arrived there five minutes later than the other, got on the flight because of how the desk clerk typed her way through it. The other team? They didn't get on the flight: the flight was fully booked. If you are the one behind that desk, you have not only gotten through the menial task of data processing, you have given a team an edge to winning that one million dollars. The day ended with a praise from the team: "Wow! She's fast!"

Improve Your Work Flow/Work Place. Does your work include looking for data that goes a long way as a few months back? You either have to look through a stack of papers or browse through your PC's documents folder. This takes up too much time is a very menial thing to do that you put it off for as long as it takes. You can however shorten the time it takes to find records by creating a database that will make data access faster. Browse through your personal computer's office applications, there is usually a user-friendly database application. If you do not know how to use it, educate yourself. There are a lot of tutorial e-books available online. This may take a few weeks or even months to do and would require a lot of time and work, but doing something is better than brooding about how boring your job is. Creating a database would improve your analytical skills as well. After the database is made, looking for data would be as easy as typing the date of the data your looking for and pressing the ENTER key.

Organizing your workplace may not be as fancy as creating a database. Have you noticed how messy your message board at work is? You keep missing shift schedules because you can't seem to find the right messages. Take it upon yourself to organize it. It may just be a matter of labelling as to General Info, Shift Schedules etc.

Create Competition. If you are bored with your job, chances are, your colleagues are too. Try to create or suggest competition in your work place. Tell your boss that the job is making you bored and is affecting your performance at work. Suggest a reward system; he would be happy to oblige since it would involve the performance of his employees. High performance would mean high production/sales. Rewards may not come in terms of money or compensation. It could be an award for "Best Employee of the Month/Week", "Best Burger Flip Record", "Best Encoder", the list is endless. Competition is competition and there is nothing sweeter than winning. Soon, you and your colleagues will be busy doing the best at your work, forgetting that it was ever boring.

Whatever your job is, show your best side. Leave your mark on it. Think of ways you can improve yourself and the job. By doing so, you improve and acquire skills that may come in handy when you land on your dream job.

How to Avoid Computer Addiction

Computer addiction can be devastating to a person's life. Relationships can be destroyed, grades can slip, and careers can be lost all due to computer addiction. Computer addiction is striking all kinds of people, adhering to no boundaries of age, race, gender, or income. Computer addicts spend an excessive amount of time on the computer. Some computer addicts spend their time playing video games while others will gamble, chat online, surf the internet, or frequent social networking sites and forums. These activities are generally unobtrusive in moderation, but a computer addict will perform these activities for hours a day, neglecting all or most responsibilities. As with any other type of addiction, prevention of computer addiction is the best medicine.



Some of the steps to prevent it:

* Take some time away from your daily computer routine to go shopping, get a cup of coffee, or call an old friend. I'm sure they miss you! It's great to get out and see the world.

* Place reasonable limits on computer usage. Nearly all activities are healthy in moderation. Decide what a reasonable time based upon your daily schedule. In the case of children, an hour on school days and two hours on weekends are reasonable limits.

* Adhere to your imposed computer usage limits. Computer addiction starts by pushing the proverbial envelope and spending longer than originally intended on the computer. Soon enough, a few extra minutes on the computer transforms to a few extra hours.

* Consider why you are using the computer if your usage becomes excessive. Boredom, anxiety, and depression are common reasons to overuse the computer. Work through these emotions if this is true in your case.

* Seek assistance as soon as you realize that you are unable to properly control your computer usage. Early intervention can prevent a serious addiction from developing.

* Finally, Take a moment to realize that a few short years ago, only a small fraction of people even had computers and we all lived very well without them. Technology is a wonderful thing to be sure, and it often helps us make our daily lives easier, but it can be very addictive and we often forget that it is life that is important, not the things we own.

Best Tips to Avoid Eyestrain While Working at a Computer

If you work at a computer for more then three hours a day you are likely to have symptoms of eye strain. Here are a quick tips to save your eyes:



Position screen so light doesn't bounce off and create a glare. You can also put an antiglare shield on the screen.

Turn up the contrast to minimize strain on your eyes.

Light your work area well. Use full spectrum bulbs. They duplicate natural sunlight and are easier on the eyes.

Keep brightest lights over to the side if possible. Turn off overhead lighting. Close blinds so that sunlight doesn't glare on your screen.

Don't forget to blink. Blinking keeps eyes moistened.

Position your monitor 18 to 30 inches from your eyes.

Keep screen clean and properly focused.

Take frequent "eye breaks". Take a 20 second break every 20 minutes and just stare into the distance. Keep your eyes off the screen.

Rest your eyes by covering them with your palms. Keep them in complete darkness for a minute.

Keep frequently used paper documents in a holder that attaches to the monitor. This keeps your eyes from having to move up and down.

Adjust your glasses or contacts for the computer. Sometimes your prescription may not be suitable for computer work.

Keep your keyboard positioned directly in front of monitor.

Get up and move around at least every two hours. It gives your eyes a break, as well as the rest of your body.

How to Stop Hair Loss Naturally

Using natural products to help prevent hair loss is cheaper than trying to replace lost hair once it's already gone. Consider the power of these natural ingredients to stave off thinning hair.



Saw Palmetto: This herb is sometimes used to treat enlargement of the prostate. This is because Saw Palmetto blocks the production of DHT (a metabolite of testosterone), a contributing factor to enlarging of the prostate. Because DHT production also causes hair loss, Saw Palmetto has been shown in some small studies to be effective for preventing hair loss in some men. It was first used by the American Indians to treat and maintain healthy hair and skin.

Nettle root: Those little plants with the big sting are good for something after all. Nettle root is another treatment which blocks the production of chemicals which enlarge the prostate

They are the same ones that can cause hair loss. Evidence suggests that nettle root may not only stave off baldness, but may actually regenerate hair growth.

Vitamins: Your mother told you they were good for you, but you may not know they're good for your hair too. Vitamin A is an anti-oxidant which promotes healthy production of sebum in the scalp.

Vitamin E stimulates circulation. Good blood circulation in the scalp is important in keeping hair follicles productive. The 'B' vitamins contribute to melanin, which gives hair its healthy color and also stimulates blood circulation.

In addition to these ingredients, which help stop hair loss naturally, massage is also beneficial. Massage stimulates circulation. As already noted, good circulation in the scalp keeps hair follicles active. Experts suggest a few minutes of daily head massage by hand. Circulation through massage may be improved by using a few drops of lavender or bay essential oil in an almond or sesame oil base with massage.

Try rubbing your scalp with garlic juice, Onion Juice or Ginger Juice(you can either of one out of three, Do not mix any of two or three).( but if your head gets wet you will be able to smell it )

Try rubbing your hair with rangoli henna.

Practise Meditation. Most of the times, the root cause for hair loss is stress. Meditation can help in reducing that and restore hormonal balance.

relax the GALEA using the techniques of the MALINIAK METHOD

How Addiction Works

Stories about how addiction has ruined lives are common in our society today. Reports of the lengths addicts will go to and the dark acts they will commit to get drugs, like crack cocaine, heroin and even alcohol, abound -- serving as cautionary tales to keep others from following the same path.

There are many questions about the nature of addiction. Is denial a good indicator of addiction? Are some drugs as addictive as people say? There are even questions when it comes to drug- and alcohol-use prevention tactics. In order to persuade a person not to use a substance, the pitfalls of addiction are sometimes overstated. Overexaggeration can cause feelings of distrust.



Perhaps the best approach to the prevention of substance abuse is a clear, concise understanding of the process of addiction and the effects it can have on the user. To that end, researchers have arrived at a trim and science-based view of addiction. We have learned much in the last few decades, including the idea that addiction can come not only from abusing substances, but also with behaviors like sex and eating.

Though we've come far in the study of addiction, it's still a relatively new concept. Just a few hundred years ago, and for centuries before that, the general attitude toward alcohol was that it was consumed because people wanted to consume it, not because of any internal or external necessity [source: Levine]. But as reports and confessions came in from people who felt an irresistible urge to consume alcohol and drugs (once they became more accessible), our idea about some substances changed, and we developed the concept of addiction.

It was originally believed that some substances, like alcohol and, later, opium, possessed addictive properties, meaning their contents were to blame. That idea later shifted, and addiction was believed to be part of the addict's character. Dependence on drugs and alcohol was seen as a personality flaw -- that the person couldn't behave himself. Later, addiction came to be seen as something from which a person suffered, like a disease.

Although we know that certain substances act on the brain in ways that make the individual want to use more, drug addicts and alcoholics are still widely considered by society to be depraved; after all, they chose to use drugs in the first place. And with all of the data available and medical advances achieved in identifying the different aspects of alcohol and substance abuse, science is still struggling with some key questions, like whether it's ultimately substances that are addictive or people who are addicted to substances -- or both.

In this article, we'll examine the current ideas about addiction and look at the ways science is continuing its research to understand, once and for all, the mystery of addiction.

Symptoms

Through extensive study of addicts and what makes them tick, science has narrowed down behaviors and traits that are symptoms of addiction. These symptoms are divided into two types: physical and behavioral.

Compulsive behavior, like a sex or gambling addiction, relate only to behavioral symptoms. But substance abuse can include both types:

Physical: In an addicted person, tolerance for a substance will increase (meaning he will need more of a substance to get the "high" he seeks), or it will decrease (meaning it will take less of the substance to obtain the high). The addict will also display withdrawal symptoms when he discontinues use of the substance. These symptoms include sweating, hand tremors, trouble sleeping, nausea, physical agitation, anxiety, hallucinations and seizures. Or, the addict will use more of the substance (or another substance) to reduce or eliminate these symptoms.

Behavioral: The addicted person will most likely have a history of attempting to stop using the substance (or engaging in the behavior) without much success. He will also use more of the substance or spend more time using the substance than he intends to, and will also spend a lot of his time getting, using and recovering from the substance. Another symptom is discontinuing other activities that once brought him pleasure (like walking in the park), or are his personal responsibility (like going to school or work). Lastly, the addicted person will continue taking the substance or engaging in the activity even though he knows that it's having a harmful impact on him.

Taken together, these symptoms constitute addiction. In conjunction with the "brain disease" model, these symptoms of addiction have created the view that addiction is a chronic disease, just like asthma. Based on this, researchers have determined that addicted people, like asthma sufferers, may experience relapses and that rehab programs for addiction should include "booster sessions."

While these are the symptoms of addiction, it has been shown that some people are more susceptible than others to falling prey to it. It has been long-held that initial drug use is a voluntary act, but behavioral psychologists point out that isn't necessarily the case. There are a variety of risk factors that have been identified which can lead a person into addiction. Variables like genetics (more on that coming up), peer pressure, existing psychological disorders, anxiety and depression and the quality of a person's home life can all lead him to becoming addicted to a substance or behavior.

A person who is depressed, for example, may try drugs in an attempt to self-medicate, or he may engage in sexual behavior to try to improve his sense of self-worth. Both of these behaviors can lead to an addiction to the substance or behavior. In the next section, we'll look at a few of the substances and behaviors people can become addicted to.

Types of Substance



Methamphetamines: prolonged use of this stimulant can lead to psychotic-like symptoms such as strong hallucinations and violent behavior. Studies of the brain patterns of some long-term meth users have shown that up to 50 percent of their dopamine-producing cells have been damaged. Use of meth has declined from 2001 to today [source: DEA].

Prescription medications: this is one of the rapidly growing substances of abuse in the United States. Between 1980 and 1998, abuse of prescription drugs increased 400 percent. It has about the same amount of usage in America as cocaine [source: NIDA].

Heroin: In 2005, 2.4 percent of the American population said they had tried heroin at least once [source: Department of Health]. Heroin withdrawal symptoms are particularly painful and can come on just a few hours after a dose wears off. Because of this, users have a high chance for relapse; in 2004, the entrance rate for heroin treatment for the fifth time or more was higher than the entrance rate for first-time heroin treatment [source: NIDA].

Alcohol: physicians consider alcohol more dangerous to suddenly withdraw from than even heroin, due to the physical symptoms that come along with alcohol withdrawal. In 2003, there was an estimated 18 million alcoholics in the United States [source: NIAAA]. Alcoholics are also prone to relapse; in 2004, 22 percent of alcoholics in the United States who sought treatment had been in rehab for alcohol at least one other time [source: NIDA].

It's not just substances that a person can become addicted to. Behaviors like eating and sex can become compulsive in some people. Although someone addicted to a behavior experiences the same flux of dopamine, when the compulsive behavior is stopped, he will not experience physical symptoms like a substance abuser. Still, the effects compulsive addictions can have on a person's life can be just as devastating. Some of the most common compulsive behaviors are:

Sex addiction: characterized by an overly intense sex drive or an obsession with sex. A sex addict will engage in risky sexual behavior, even at the cost of his relationships or health. He may have a number of affairs, but will have trouble forming bonds or even enjoying the act. When treating sexual addiction, the goal is not abstinence, but a return to non-harmful sexual behavior.

Food: food addiction is called binge-eating disorder. It's much like bulimia, but rather than binging on and purging food compulsively, the food addict only binges. An estimated 2 percent of people in the United States had a binge eating disorder in 2005 [source: Anred].

Gambling: there were an estimated 2-million-plus gambling addicts in the United States in 2002. Just as with a drug, a gambling addict gets a rush from the act of betting. He will also lose control of his ability to not bet. Unlike treatment for sex or food addictions, abstinence is considered the goal of rehab for gambling addiction [source: Biotie].

Addiction Treatments

Research continues to investigate ways to break the addictive cycle. Genetics is among the most cutting-edge investigation being carried out today into the nature of addiction. So far, this research has yielded lots of information on addiction on the genetic level and in brain processes. Researchers have managed to isolate a number of genes, hormones and chemicals in the brain that are directly related to certain types of addictions. By identifying these aspects of addiction, researchers have formed the basis that could lead to the creation of drugs that treat specific addiction.



However, geneticists aren't betting that they will find a single gene that leads to addiction in people. Research so far has shown that genetic predisposition is most likely caused by a combination of genes working together. Interestingly, research has shown that genes also play a role in making people less susceptible to addiction. Rather than simply not having genes that would make them more likely to become addicted to a substance, some people actually have genes that can keep them from ever becoming addicted.

There are already some medications in use that can treat addiction or alleviate symptoms. For many years, methadone has been used to treat heroin addiction. This drug affects the opiate receptors, and can alleviate both the physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal. Another drug that has shown promise for treating heroin addiction, LAAM (levo-alpha-acetyl methadol), acts as an opioid antagonist, keeping opiate receptors in the brain from being stimulated, thus degrading the effect heroin has on the user.

Another prescription medication, Nalmefene, has been shown to curb gambling addiction. It's also being tested to see if it can cure alcoholism, but has shown weaker results than it has in treating gambling addiction.

The most widespread medications used to treat addiction are antidepressants. These drugs address the feelings of despair that can result from psychological dependency. They can also help treat any preexisting condition, like depression, that may have led to the addiction in the first place.

This is a good example of the holistic approach that science is currently undertaking to treat addiction. This holistic approach identifies the need to address not only the brain disease of addiction, but also the internal factors (such as genetics) and the external risk factors that lead to and enable addiction. Addiction is a multifaceted chronic disease, and it takes multifaceted treatment to restore the life of the addict to normalcy.

Best Muscle Building Foods

It is very important to build your muscle strong. It is possible only if you are taking healthy foods and necessary nutrients. The below listed are some of the best muscle building foods that will help you.



Protein

Protein is the most important muscle building food, because most of the muscles are packed with water and proteins. So it is very important to have food contains lot of protein supplements such as cottage cheese, lean beef, fish particularly salmon and tuna, eggs (only white), lean chicken or turkey.

It is a must to consume lot of protein rich foods to get the entire benefits of amino acids, which are the major supplements to build the muscle. Proteins are fully packed with amino acids and most of the muscles are packed with proteins. It is better to change your diet plan frequently, so that you can get a chance to consume different basis of proteins and amino acids, because there are more than 20 different types of amino acids. Each type of protein will help you to gain your muscles in a different way.

Water

You have to drink at least one-liter water every day to make your muscles stronger. The content of water and protein in muscle are 75% and 25% respectively. So it is very important to drink plenty of water to your muscle. Drinking water not only helps you to make the muscle lean but also helps to maintain the digestive system properly.

Multi-Vitamins

You should be very careful on the foods, which you are having regularly. The foods must contain all the necessary nutrients like vitamins, minerals, calcium and carbohydrates. Sometimes you may go down from the level of regular vitamins and minerals because of the diet plan and workouts. So to compensate the level of vitamins and minerals you have to take multi vitamins in your regular diet. You can get the sufficient vitamins and minerals through perfect diet, protein shakes and meal replacements.

Carbohydrates and Healthy Fats

You are not able to gain weight without the help of carbohydrates and fats. It is fact that nearly 65% of the food, which you are having regularly, is packed with carbohydrates and fats and the rest is by proteins. To reduce the risk of breakdown and losing muscle it is important to have ample carbohydrates and fats. You are not able to gain muscle without sufficient healthy fats in your regular diet such as Omega 3 and monounsaturated fats. These are the major factors to manufacture the important muscle-building hormone called testosterone. You must eat plenty of carbohydrates to make your workouts longer and to lift heavy weights during workouts to make the muscle bigger and stronger.

Glutamine

Glutamine is an amino acid. You know that amino acids are very important to the muscle. Glutamine creates more than 60% of the amino acids that can be useful to build your muscle stronger and bigger. To get the necessary Glutamine it is better to have high protein foods along with Meal Replacements and Protein shakes. It is advised to take 10-20 grams of L-Glutamine powder daily to improve your body.

Increase Your Immunity Power

A weakened immune system leaves the body vulnerable to virtually every type of illness and disease, especially when there is a seasonal shift from cold winters to warm summers. Properly caring your immune system can boost its power to fight off those pesky viral diseases that bring you down.



Here are the top immune boosting tips to incorporate into your routine to help you stay healthy

Exercise regularly

Rather unsurprisingly for a sports fitness blog, I am going to recommend regular exercise as a great way to increase your immunity and overall health. Not only can exercise improve your immunity, but it can also reduce stress and make you feel much more positive about life in general. I’m sure that most of the readers here exercise regularly anyway so I won’t say much more on this one.

Reduce Stress

We all know that stress is bad and best avoided but most people don’t realize that it can have a negative effect on our immune systems. When we are stressed our body releases a variety of chemicals including cytokines, cortisol and adrenaline that affect our immune function and overall health. You should always try and find ways to eliminate as much stress as possible from your daily life if you want to improve your immunity and general wellbeing. Regular exercise is often one of the best ways to reduce stress.

Stay positive

As crazy as it sounds, your attitude and outlook on life can actually have a profound effect on your body’s immunity. Various studies have indicated that people who have a more positive attitude to life tend to live longer and have better immune functions than people who are pessimistic and easily stressed. Take some time to work though some well written positive thinking books and you will soon realize that the power of the mind is truly incredible.

Eat Well

Your diet will have a drastic effect on your body’s immune system and you should always think carefully about the food you eat. Make sure you eat a well balanced diet with plenty of vegetables, proteins and healthy fats.

Have Fun

Laughter is good for the body and soul. Try and have fun, laugh and get out there and enjoy life. Laughter will boost your immune system and make you feel great.

Zinc

Studies have shown that even a mild zinc deficiency can reduce your immunity. You can find zinc in red meat, nuts and chicken. If you do a lot of exercise then you might well be slightly deficient in zinc. You could try a zinc or ZMA supplement to boost your levels of zinc.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is needed by the immune system but it can be hard to get from most foods. Vitamin D is commonly known as the sunshine vitamin because the body can synthesize it in the presence of sunlight. Taking a Vitamin D supplement could be a wise move for athletes.

Drink Green Tea

Green tea contains alkylamines which have been shown in studies to increase your body’s immunity to infections. There are many great health benefits that you can gain from green tea and it is a rich source of antioxidants. Try drinking 2 to 3 cups of green tea a day or alternatively you should be able to pick up a green tea supplement from most health shops.

Get Clear, Smooth Skin

Ever struggled with rough, dry skin? Luckily, you found this page. This page will help you find a cure.



* Be healthy! Exercising regularly gives you a beautiful healthy glow, and can actually improve the condition of your skin. Drink lots of water, 8 cups a day, to help your skin to be healthy, and try to eat healthy, too. For example, don't eat loads of fatty, greasy foods like fries and burgers.

* Go to a chemist, supermarket, or beauty shop, and buy make-up removing wipes, cleansing lotion, toner, moisturizer, and facial scrub or antibacterial soap. Make sure you get them for your skin type, eg. sensitive skin, dry skin. As long as it is a reputable store, their own brand should be cheaper, but the same quality as expensive brands.

* Wash your face twice a day In the morning, splash your face with cold water for about 10 seconds. Then pat dry with a washcloth or facial sponge. This helps stimulate blood flow and is really good for the skin. Then get hot steamy water in a cup or bowl and place your face above the water. This will open up your pores. Then wash your face with a oil-free cleanser. Apply toner or lemon juice then moisturize. It is also good to moisturize before you go to bed.

* Take off your make up with the wipes every night before you go to sleep. Wash your face with warm water again, use toner, and moisturizer.

* Make an emergency zit kit including a zit cream that has salicylic acid and/or benzoyl peroxide, a cream that reduces redness, a concealer stick, and translucent powder (the powder should absorb excess oils on your face). Of course, this is completely optional, but very useful.

* Wait a few weeks; you should notice that your skin becomes smoother and clearer.

* Remember if all else fails, go see a dermatologist.

* Three words. Virgin Coconut Oil. Make sure your face is clean before you apply it on. Massage your face for 2-3 minutes. A little goes a long way. You only want to use one or two drops. What you don't want to happen is to make your face shiny. If you put too much on, gently remove the excess with a soft, clean towel.

Stop Worrying and Start Living

Everyone worries to various extents. It could be about something little, like what you think you got on a test, or something big, like getting a major surgery.

Do you worry so much that you worry about worrying too much? In the end, if you just worry about what's going to happen tomorrow, when will you have the time to live today? These simple steps could make you relax.



Live in the moment, most of the time. Worrying is something we do when we think about bad things that might happen in the future. So the less you think about the future, the less you'll worry. Immediately stop the thought as soon as you recognise that you are worrying. The more you worry, the more worried you'll feel. Take out time for yourself. Take a shower and fix yourself up for the next day of school or work. You'll feel better about youself and you'll stop worrying. Still, it's impractical to not think about the future at all, if you have any sort of responsibilities. The next few steps will address that.

Tackle your worries head-on, and swiftly. You can still anticipate problems and plan for them without necessarily worrying. The key is that when the worry enters your head, you immediately address or resolve it somehow, and then let it go. See How to Be Proactive. Let's say you worry a lot about a house fire. Sit down as soon as you can and make a plan to implement all the steps in How to Prevent a House Fire, maybe one or two steps a week.

      If a worry enters your head at an inconvenient time, designate another time to address it. If you start thinking about house fires during your child's school play, for example, you might think to yourself "I'll go home and make a plan at 10p.m. when the kids are in bed. There's no use in thinking about it until then."Another approach is to make a list of all the fears that worry you. Go through them, one by one, and make plans. Then...

Move on. Once you develop a reasonable plan, and commit to following it, there's no need to dwell on the worry anymore. Let it go. The danger in worrying is when a scenario that you dread lingers in your head. Sure, you could always do more, like anticipating every possible outcome and taking every possible step to prevent each unwanted outcome from happening, but you'll spend your life preventing bad things from happening rather than enjoying the good things that have already happened. And you won't even be able to stop all bad things from happening, anyway!

      Maybe you need to learn to be comfortable with risk. If you believe you've done enough to decrease the chances of something happening by, say, 85%, accept that as good enough. There are simply no guarantees in life.

Don't recycle the past. Many of the worries we have about the future are fears that the past will repeat itself. Whether it was heartbreak, or an injury, or a natural disaster, it haunts us and we want to do everything in our power from preventing it from happening again.

Stop trying to save the world. If you feel like it's your job or responsibility to stop bad things from happening (perhaps to your family, your business, or at all) you're placing too much pressure on yourself. There is such a thing as a hero complex, and you might have it. The thing is, you're only human, and to set yourself an unattainable standard will only cause pain and disappointment.

Keep Yourself Busy When Your Bored

This article is for those of you who have a few extra hours a day or during the week that you are looking to fill. Sometimes its hard to find the motivation to do something or get involved, but once you start and get into a rythymn its a lot of fun.



* If you find yourself bored with extra time during the week follow a few of these steps. It might give you a new hobbie or just something to keep your mind going, especially during the cold winter months.

* Make a list of things that need to get done around the house or even start a small project in your house.

* Join a gym. Many gyms have low rates and also classes that you can sign up for during the week. Working out definitly makes you feel better about yourself and helps relieve any stress or anger you build up during the work week.

* Join a sports league at your local YMCA or sports club. There are always softball, basketball and volleyball leagues forming. If its the bar scene you prefer, join a dart or poker league. They usually play once or twice during the week.

* Lastly, read more articles at howw-to.blogspot.com

Foods That Gives You Instant Energy

"I need more energy and I'm tired."

Does this sound like you?

If so, I bet when you feel like this, you normally grab a soda or a candy bar to give yourself a quick boost of energy. Hey, you're busy, I know. We all do it. That's why there's a vending machine in many office buildings and workplace break rooms. They know we are going to run out of energy and need a quick pick me up.



We know that we probably shouldn't be selecting that small bag of potato chips and a chocolate almond bar, but we tell ourselves we need something to tide us over until dinner. In fact, food does provide energy, it's just that junk food doesn't give us the best source of food energy.

What should I eat to have more energy?

Here's a list of natural foods that will provide your body with energy and stamina:

* Grapes: Grapes have lots of magnesium, which converts into energy. Grapes are easy to carry around and make great snacks.

* Oats: Oats are loaded with nutrients that aid in alertness and concentration. A bowl of oatmeal in the morning is a good start to the day.

* Mung Beans: These crunchy sprouts are good on salads, in soups or eaten right out of the bag.

* Yams/Squash: Yams are packed with vitamin C. They also help balance hormones and blood sugar levels. Squash promotes healthy circulation and good digestion.

* Grains: Grains like millet, buckwheat, rye, barley and wheat contain healthy B vitamins and contribute to a steady flow of energy.

* Sprouts: Any type of sprout that has been germinated is good for revitalizing the body. They also contain antioxidants, protein, trace minerals and fiber.

* Peaches: Peaches are great for a quick boost of energy, as well as, helping the body eliminate toxins and regulate bowel movements.

* Vegetables: Fresh vegetables (especially green ones) contain a range of energizing B vitamins, iron and magnesium. The best of these are: broccoli, spinach, and asparagus.

* Wheat Grass: Wheatgrass is chock full of nutrients, in fact, it contains 25 times the nutrients of vegetables. Many people drink shots of wheatgrass juice as a general health booster. You can also find it in powder form.

* Sunflower Seeds: Crunchy, nutty and plentiful, sunflower seeds are rich in protein, iron, vitamin B, zinc and magnesium.

Simple ways to live a life you love

The quickest way to living a life you love is through learning to love the life you live.



You’re waiting for something to change in your life before you can be happy. You might think if only you had a different partner (or one at all), a better job, or kids that did their homework then surely you’d be happy. Surely then you’d wake each morning with the glow of one living a life worth loving. Enough! Here are 5 ways to get started:

* Be present: You must be aware of your current existence and that you have control over your perspective. Whether you’re willing away early morning grouchiness or seeing a messy house as a chance to teach teamwork, your choice of perspective will make all the difference between just living and loving.

* Practice gratefulness: Every day, no excuses. Pretend to be grateful if you must. It’s one of those things that catches up to you quickly as life reciprocates your emotional generosity. Seeing the good in your life will allow you to keep your heart fed while you work to change the more unsavory parts. Try it. Live it. You’ll love it.

* Pursue balance: As a person given to extremes this has always been a tough one for me. I’ll go from taking great care of myself and communicating well to abandonment and silence as I let work consume me. The pursuit of balance requires constant adjustment as your life shifts but every time I really try for the middle I end up happier about my life. And that’s truly the point.

* Nurture friendships: You know the people who for some reason or other welcome you into their lives? Treasure them. Make time to spend with them. It is those relationships that you’ll look back on with satisfaction when you get old and begin to wonder what your life was worth. Many of us spend far too much time thinking about how some material possession will improve our lives. An iMac would be nice. A good friend is worth just about everything though!

* Embrace simplicity: You don’t need to have all your gold-plated ducks in a row in order to love the life you’re living. You don’t need lots of stuff and relationships so driven by drama that you often wish just to be left alone in silence. Instead you might try for a simpler approach and enjoy things because they are useful and not because they are expensive. You might join a friend just to talk and not worry about all the expensive trappings we so often heap on get-together’s. Try for simplicity and if complexity sneaks up on you, so be it. In learning to love the basics you’ll find a wondrous appreciation for the nicer things that come along.

Simple Ways To Be Happier

Would you like to be happier? I’ve gathered 7 tips you can put into practice immediately for more happiness in your life. The trick is to take what you believe will work for you right now, put it into practice, and build on your successes. You needn’t always be grins but I’m hopeful that you’ll get a few more with the following insights. Enjoy!
courtesy:lifehack.org



Listen to your inner child
I wonder sometimes what would happen if we all pursued the art of being a goofball. If both sides of a debate dropped their pickets and traded knock-knock jokes instead, what would change? Would we see each other differently? As opportunities, rather than problems?

Be grateful for something every day
One benefit of being grateful and expressing your appreciation to others is the reciprocal nature of such things. The natural response to somebody saying, “thank you” or “wow, I really appreciate you” is the discovery of reasons to respond in-kind. If you’re constantly finding things to be grateful for and sharing your discoveries with others, be assured that they’ll begin to notice things you do and express their gratefulness to you before long!

Let some plans go
Giving up goals works in any area of your life. Take health and fitness: I used to have specific fitness goals, from losing weight or body fat to running a marathon to increasing my squat. Not anymore: now I just do it because I love it, and I have no idea where that will take me. It works brilliantly, because I always enjoy myself.

Reduce your exposure to negative media
If information isn’t helping you make decisions and only makes you feel miserable, why are you consuming it? Surrounding yourself with celebrity magazines and television shows featuring spoiled rich kids can fuel that urge to compare. Read more

Learn to say “NO!”
At the end of the day, it’s about how you say “no”, rather than the fact you’re saying no, that affects the outcome. After all, you have your own priorities and needs, just like everyone has his/her own needs. Saying no is about respecting and valuing your time and space. Say no is your prerogative.

Nurture happiness where you find it
Be grateful for your joy, every day. Be in the moment with that activity, instead of having your mind drift elsewhere. Refresh your joy often, by starting over or approaching things from a new angle or doing something a bit differently. Find new people to share this joy with, people who love it as much as you.

Get and stay organized
The National Association of Professional Organizers estimates that a huge percentage of work days are lost to people looking for things they have misplaced. Disorganization is the enemy of productivity, and it may even fuel procrastination. A few minutes spent every night organizing papers, assignments, long-term deadlines and goals can pay off handsomely in higher well-being and accomplishments.

Drink More Water Every Day

There are a variety of reasons to drink plenty of water each day. Adequate water intake prevents dehydration, cleans out the body, and promotes healing processes. Substituting water for beverages high in calories can also help control weight. Follow the steps below to make sure you're getting enough of this most basic necessity.



Drink water before, with and after every meal; it will help you to prevent overeating and obesity. Eat slowly, drink water and you will get satisfied with less food. But as with everything, be careful and don't overdo it. Drinking too much water can be toxic, so exercise moderation. Water is not a substitute for food, and you can indeed cause severe health issues if you drink too much water daily, including severe heart and endocrine system problems. And make sure that you consult your physician before you make any radical lifestyle changes!


* Determine how much water you need.at least 3 litres of water one adult should intake - but the amount of water a person needs varies depending on his or her weight, activity level and climate. Another way to determine your specific recommended water intake is to divide your weight (in pounds) by two. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you need each day. For example, if you weigh 150 lbs., strive to drink 75 ounces of water daily. For those who use the Metric system, divide your weight (in kilograms) by 30 (ex. somebody weighing 70 kg is going to need 2.3 liters per day). Keep in mind that these recommended intake numbers are controversial and some experts believe they are a gross exaggeration. See "warnings" below for more information.

* Measure your daily intake of water. Do this for a few days. If you find that you're drinking less than the recommended quantity, try some of the following tips:
Learn to acquire a taste for water.Carry water with you everywhere put it in a bottle or other container.Keep a glass or cup of water next to you whenever you'll be sitting down for a long time, such as when you're at your desk at work. Drink from it regularly as you're working.

* Try wearing a digital watch that beeps at the beginning of each hour. Use that as a reminder to pour yourself a glass of water. Vow to drink that water before the next beep. If you drink only one small (6 ounce or 180 ml) cup per hour, you'll have consumed 48 ounces (1.4 liters) by the end of an 8-hour workday.

* Get a water purification system. Purified water tastes very good and may help make drinking water more appealing to you. Be aware, though, that as you grow accustomed to purified water, you may find that tap water leaves a bad taste in your mouth, even though it may be better for your teeth.[1] Keep in mind that fluoride, found in small quantities in tap water, is necessary for strong, healthy teeth. [2] Fortunately, no water filter removes the fluoride. You'd have to use reverse osmosis, distillation, or an expensive filter specific to removing fluoride. But don't do any of that. Fluoride in the saliva bathes the teeth and prevents dental decay!

* Add lemons or limes to your water. This makes it taste better and makes you want to drink more of it. Be careful not to make it too sour; just a splash of sourness should do the trick. Cucumber slices can also be added to a glass of water. Some mint leaves can be added to a pitcher of water which should be allowed to sit overnight. These are cheap alternatives to the bottled flavored water. If you do choose bottled flavored water, check the ingredients, as these are likely closer in form to lemon- or limeade than they are to water.

* Eat water rich foods, such as fruits like watermelon, which is 92% water by weight. Blend up some seedless fresh watermelon flesh with some ice and place a few sprigs of mint (optional) - one of the most refreshing drinks, especially for the summertime. Cranberry juice is also another option, and has a bitter taste. Patients suffering from urinary infection caused by insufficient intake of water should drink cranberry juice and eat watermelon if not plain water everyday. A tomato is 95% water. An egg is about 74% water. Always drink water before, with and after your meals; it will help you to eat slowly and prevent overeating

* Keep water cold if it tastes better for you. Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator at home. Add ice or freeze water in a sports bottle before taking it with you, it will eventually melt and stay cold. Bear in mind that cold water takes energy for your body to regulate the temperature, and does burn some calories. Room temperature water is better if you're dehydrated. Your body can absorb the room temperature water immediately, instead of the body having to raise the temperature of the water first in order to process it.

* Climate can drastically change how much water you need. On hot days that require you to be outside, you should drink more water to counteract the fluids you lose when you sweat. This not only keeps your body hydrated, it can prevent heat-related illness. Just as important (but often overlooked) is consuming enough fluids in cold & wet conditions. The human body works much more efficiently (including heating and cooling) when properly hydrated. Inadequate water intake affects the brain's function first, which can become very dangerous (especially in extreme conditions).

* Purchase a bottle the size of your water goal. Purchase a water bottle that holds the amount of water you wish to drink each day. Try to drink the water slowly through out the day. If you don't drink it all, don't try to chug it at the end of the day. This will allow you to easily see how much water you are consuming.

Make Your Heart and Your Mind Work Together

The same voice in your mind that told you to act, is the same voice that ridicules you later for making that choice.



Am I the only one that thinks this is ridiculous?

I want to show you how I’ve learned to make my heart and mind get along.

Because unfortunately…

It’s typical in our society to feel a conflict between what we want to do (our heart) and what we feel is practical (our mind).

We end up living 1/3 of our lives in a cubicle for the “benefits.” We stay friends with people we only kind of like. We do and say things to fit in and seem cool that really go against what we feel is right in our hearts.

Because it’s caused so much heartache in my life, I’ve spend a lot of time trying to diagnose the source of this problem.

Is my heart at fault? Are my feelings just silly and frivolous? Or maybe it’s my mind that’s to blame. It seems like it’s always coming up with conflicting messages anyway.

And on it goes and we never really seem to get to it. There’s a lot of social conditioning that covers up and obscures things too. Even if you really feel like that’s the right choice, how do you know for sure? How do you know it’s not just what you think you should do?

All of this might sound a little over the top, but it’s a real problem. It ruins lives because people can’t make up their minds about whether or not the path of their heart is valid or not. They end up living a shadow of the possibility that they could. All because they couldn’t make up their mind.

There’s a simple answer to this problem. It might seem even a little too simple. But most things are. Bruce Lee once said “The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity.” I believe this.

First… let’s take a look at where this problem starts.

Confusing the purpose of the heart and mind

The main reason we suffer from this illness of indecision, is that we’ve mistaken the purpose of heart and mind. The heart is like a compass, it’s purpose is to guide the direction our lives should take. Our heart takes a birds eye view on our life and says “this is where you’re at and this is the direction you need to go.”

Our mind on the other hand isn’t made for making purpose driven decisions. The nature of the mind is that it conceptualizes, organizes and compares information. It does this as best it can and says “here are the facts, here’s both sides of the story.”

If we compare our mind and heart to a courtroom, our mind would be the defendant and the plaintiff (both stories) and our heart would be justice or the judge (the right direction).

The reason we’re so troubled by this conflict of head vs heart is that the mind is not only playing the prosecutor and the defense, but has take over the role of the judge as well.

The mind should never be the judge. The minds job is to compare and contrast. To sort things out and say “this is what I’ve got, do what you want with it.”

But more often than not, our mind isn’t doing that. Our mind is making our choices. What’s worse, is even when we don’t need our mind to be at work, it’s still going. Comparing and contrasting everything. Brooding, mostly.

Have you ever noticed that even when it’s completely unnecessary to think about anything, your mind is still going? Have noticed that when this is happening, your mind is getting in the way of your experience? Just a few examples of this that come to mind for me are; sex, watching a sunset, or taking a shower. My mind really doesn’t need to be thinking while doing these things. There’s no point. At all.

Taming the mind

Before we can get the mind to take a break when we don’t need to be incessantly thinking, we have to make friends with it first. If we try to tell our mind to go away, or that we don’t need it, we’ll just encourage it all the more. Instead of a retreat we’ll get a resurgence. We don’t want that.

So if we want to end the conflict of head and heart, we’ve got to figure out a way to marry this disparate pair.

Remember when I told you the answer to this problem is simple? Well, it is. But it won’t be easy at first, because we’ve been doing it all wrong for so long.

What we have to do is only use our mind to go with ourselves. The Latin root for sin means “to go against.” So we have to learn to be without sin.

We have to learn to constantly realigning our decisions to be “with ourselves.”

Have you ever wondered how to tell whether a decision is right? It seems so difficult, doesn’t it? But it becomes so easy when you think “Is this choice going with me, or against me?” You’ll find that the right choice is immediately evident.

If you can learn to practice this every time you make a choice, you’ll start to regain your personal power.

You’ll create a marriage of your heart and mind. Maybe then their child (you) won’t have permanent emotional damage from the divorce it’s been suffering from for so long.

Make the choice today. Just try it out. I think you’ll like it.
courtesy:zenhabits.net

Cooking Healthy Foods in a Hurry

The task of cooking a big meal after a full day of work might seem kind of daunting. You might be tempted to make a side trip to the closest fast food restaurant or maybe order a pizza. While that might be OK once a month or so, don't make it a habit. Those fast foods are loaded with saturated fats, sodium, sugar and calories.



Does that mean you are doomed to spend an hour and a half in the kitchen every night if you want to feed your family healthy meals? Nope. Not at all. Some tasty and healthy shortcuts can make cooking easy and delicious. All that is required is the right kitchen equipment and a little smart shopping at your grocery store to make healthy choices.

Here are some tips for healthy, quick and tasty meals:

Need dinner now because you are in a big hurry? Don't go the fast food route; stop at your grocery store instead. Most grocery stores have deli sections with lots of dishes that are ready to heat and serve. Be sure to choose foods that aren’t loaded with creamy sauces or gravies, and don't buy the fried chicken and greasy potato wedges. Instead, pick up a hot fresh rotisserie chicken. These chickens are low in fat, often nicely seasoned and all you have to do is carve the bird and serve it with vegetables and a salad.

The freezer section of your store has several varieties of healthy vegetables. There are blends of vegetables with their own sauces (watch for fat and sodium) as well as brands that steam right in your microwave. My favorite is Birds Eye Steamfresh vegetables.

Make your own salad at the grocery store's salad bar or grab some greens and pre-cut vegetables. Wash the greens and fresh vegetables, toss and serve. Serve with low-fat salad dressing on the side.

What if you have a little more time to prepare dinner?

Choose fresh meats that are ready to cook in your oven. Go to the meat department of the grocery store and look for skinless seasoned chicken breasts or healthy salmon fillets. Place them in a baking dish and pop it in the oven. There is virtually no prep time and little clean up so you have plenty of time to make your side dishes.

Use a vegetable steamer/rice cooker (buy direct) that can prepare two healthy side dishes at once. The steamer does the work while you relax or get your other errands done. Get a steamer with a built-in timer so your vegetables will be ready when you get home.

Buy a slow cooker (buy direct). Make your own hearty soup with some low-sodium broth, chunks of lean beef or chicken, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic and celery or try an easy slow cooker recipe. You can also buy dinner mixes meant for your crock pot. But read the labels; they usually are high in fat and sodium.

Do you have a bread maker (buy direct) hiding on the back shelf of your pantry? Bring it out and make your own fresh bread. Set a timer so that when you get home the bread will be warm and ready to serve with a meal or a simple bowl of soup. There are boxes of bread mixes all ready to go; just add a bit of water and some canola oil and press the start button. Have fun with your bread mixes by adding extra ingredients such as a quarter cup of chopped nuts or shredded cheese. You can also substitute a cup of room-temperature beer for the water and maybe some chopped chili peppers for a little kick. My favorite bread mixes are Hodgson Mill’s Nine Grain Bread mix, and Honey Whole Wheat.

What about buying frozen meals?

When you go to the freezer section of your grocery store, you will find lots of frozen meals. Some are small and low in calories, others are huge with lots of calories and fat and high in sodium. Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers and Healthy Choice offer frozen foods that are healthier than most other brands. Make them even healthier by adding some extra vegetables or salad and a slice of whole grain bread.

The best frozen meals are ones you make yourself. If you can devote a whole weekend in your kitchen (and you have a big freezer), you can try once a month cooking. As always, choose healthy recipes that are low in calories and high in nutrition. Look for recipes that use lean meats, poultry or fish and lots of vegetables.

If you don't have a whole weekend to prepare meals, but you do have a few hours, find a meal preparation store. These stores offer delicious recipes, high quality ingredients, helpful staff, and best of all, someone else cleans up. Look for a meal preparation store near you (if your city has any).

Think Positively

In order to think positively, you have to change your emotional and mental approach towards yourself, other people and situations.



* Make a decision to do your own thinking and have control over your attitude. That means deciding to conquer the negativity that is going on around you. Think of what you can do today and how you will react that will make a difference to your life instead of allowing people and situations to dictate.

* Associate or mix around with people who can provide something of value. Avoid those who sap your energy and motivation. If you can't avoid them, or don't want to, learn how not to let them get you down.

* Start saying positive things especially about yourself. How you communicate to yourself affects your thinking and your emotions, as well as your self-esteem.

* Try new things. Experiencing a wide variety of life in a positive light will do wonders. Something as simple as trying the mussels in a restaurant can lead to new tastes and different sensations.

* Read more. Read about how those people who fought fear with courage and succeeded in life. Through reading, you will gain new knowledge and understanding and it will help you clear whatever is blocking your thinking and create more ideas.

* Set goals no matter how impossible it may seem at the moment. Keep yourself busy working on them. Once you reach one, you will get inspired. With each goals achieved no matter how small, you will gain confidence and your self-esteem will increase.

* Change your mental pictures. What and how you see yourself and your surroundings make a difference to your thinking. You are visualizing or imagining something at every waking hour. Start to change your old internal dis-empowering pictures with images of something that you wish to experience.

* Start questioning yourself on your behavior and attitude. Ask yourself why you are resisting or producing the habits or attitudes that you dislike. Stop each time you catch yourself in a circumstance that brings about negativity and doubts.

3 Ways To Live A Happy and Great Life

If you are like most people you want to live a happy life. The problem is that you were never really taught how to live a happy life. Happiness is possible to have but you have to know how to bring it into your life. There are many ways to do this but here are 3 of them to help you get started.



* Define what happiness is to you.

I hear people all the time say that they want to be happy but when I ask them what happiness is to them they have a hard to explaining it to me. You see I if you don't know what happiness is to you than the most it will ever be is a thought or an idea. As soon as you define what it is then you have something to work towards in your life.

* Set goals.

If you know what makes you happy than you need to set goals to reach those things. Don't just say that you will be happy if certain things happen in your life; begin to set goals that will help you bring it into your life. Nothing comes to those that want, only to those that make it come.

* Don't do things that make you unhappy.

This may seem very obvious but you would be surprised how many people choose jobs, relationships, and things that make them unhappy. If you want happiness in your life than you have to choose to bring things into your life that will make you happy. If you hate your job, go out and find one that is a great fit for you and will make you happy doing it. courtesy:ezinearticles.com

Overcome the Most Hated day of the week - Monday

As the weekend comes to an end, there is a feeling of disappointment. Getting out of the weekend mood can sometimes be hard. As Monday morning approaches, you know that the fun ends, and you have to get back to work. Well Mondays don't have to be a drag anymore.



Follow these tips and chase those lazy Monday mornings

* Sketch a to-do list for the coming week so that you can enjoy your weekend without being stressed out about work.

* Set in a little more time on Friday evenings and finish everything that needs to get done don’t be lazy and put things off till Monday. You may hate doing it then, but it’ll make Mondays a little easier to deal with.

* Don’t jam your weekend with activities like weddings; birthdays, drinking sessions, and a visit to the movies make select plans instead of committing to anything and everything that comes your way.

* Stop working over the weekend unless you absolutely have to.

* On Sunday sleep at a decent hour confirm your body gets enough sleep.

* You should plan following things on Sunday to get rid of those blues.

      - You should do this by planning your ensemble, preparing your lunch etc. on Sunday evening and sleep in for longer time on Monday morning.

      - Keep a picture of your boss in your room and practice throwing darts at it, it's a great stress-buster and you’ll feel much more cheery at work, trust me it works!

      - Take a nice hot shower and pamper yourself with some nice bath crop while listening to your favorite music.

* Keep some effort into dressing up and looking good. Dress in something that makes you look and feel good, use your favorite make-up and spritz or your most expensive perfume. If not anything else, the compliments you’re bound to receive will have you running to work :)

Please feel free to comment if you know any more ways. Help us to make our Monday better :)

Gain Healthy Weight for Athletes

Gaining healthy weight for Athletes -- can help prevent injury and provide a strength advantage. Athletes usually have a difficult time gaining weight due to the energy required while working out. Balancing the right food with a workout plan can be difficult. Eating the right foods will provide the body with the energy to compete and the nutrients to gain weight.



Instructions:

* Determine your daily calorie intake necessary to gain weight using a Calorie intake calculator. An athlete's calorie intake will be much more than most individuals and vary based on your current weight. Establish the necessary weight that you need while considering the position you will be playing in football.

* Identify the foods that will provide the calorie levels necessary to reach your daily goals. It will take a combination of foods to get to the correct calorie level daily. Balance the calorie levels between carbohydrates, fat and protein with 55-60% coming from carbohydrates, 30% or less from fat and 10-15% from protein.

* Build muscle, which weighs more than fat, to keep your body healthy and primed for competition. Choose the right sources for fat, protein and carbohydrates. Eat more vegetables, fruits and dairy while supplementing the body with a good multivitamin. Consuming the right types of calories and training hard will allow your body to gain the right weight.

* Stay hydrated to ensure the body maintains the right balance between fluids and nutrients. This allows the body to process food correctly and generate the necessary energy to complete workouts. Depending on the extent of the workout, sports drinks may provide additional nutrients lost that water can't replenish.

Food That Makes You Look Young

Did you know that changing your diet can extend your life and make you feel and look younger than your physical age? Find out what an anti-aging diet is and how it can help you defeat the aging process.



What happens to your body as you age?

Our body consists of millions of sells, as the sells are dying they are being replaced with new ones. The quality of new sells is directly linked to your diet, because to be regenerated properly sells need good nutrition. As we grow older, the process of sell regeneration doesn't as smoothly as before, it is called sell degeneration. When the replacement sells are weaker than original sells. By eating certain anti-aging foods we can help the new sells to be strong and healthy.

Foods to avoid in anti-aging diet

First, you should decrease the intake of saturated fats. American Heart Association recommends that fat should not to exceed 30 percent of your total energy. For a real anti-aging nutrition the number is about 10 percent. That means that for protein it is better to consume lean fish rather than meat.

Some anti-aging doctors suggest a completely vegetarian diet. However, it has not been scientifically proved that avoiding meat all together leads to longer and healthier life. However, when you eat meat, go for lean varieties.

And do I even have to mention avoiding junk food? Everybody knows that it is bad for you, but most people keep eating it anyway. If you seriously want to keep nutritious diet, you should restrict yourself from chips and other "empty-calories" stuff.

Saturated fats are not the only thing to avoid. Some studies have shown that foods high in carbohydrates also lead to sell degeneration. These include sugar, chocolate, chips, and pasta and soy products. High concentration of heavy metals in your food also leads to premature aging.

Anti-aging food - what is it?

There are several foods that help with sell regeneration. These are products high in antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids. These are elements known as antioxidants Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, Beta carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium and Folic acid.

Here is a list of foods important for anti-aging nutrition:

raw nuts and seeds
green leafy vegetables
seaweed
barley greens
olive oil
berries

Recently there has been a lot of talk about anti-aging Goji berries and Goji berries juice. These berries grow in Himalaya, and studies have shown that people who live there and consume the berries on regular basis live long and healthy lives. Goji berries and their juice are very high in antioxidants.

You may also need, because pollution in the cities and stress of everyday working life speed up the aging process, so you may need additional nutrients and vitamins to combat it. You can look online for anti-aging supplements to add to your diet. These are vitamin and mineral complexes with high percentage of antioxidants. Alternatively, take a good brand name multivitamin every day.

The most important about anti-aging diet is that you have to be persistent and consume healthy foods every day. Eating nutritious food for several days and then returning to usual fast food lifestyle wouldn't work. And, of course you will have to do some exercise to help your body feel young.courtesy:ezinearticles.com

Anti-Aging Diet - How Food Can Keep You Young

Did you know that changing your diet can extend your life and make you feel and look younger than your physical age? Find out what an anti-aging diet is and how it can help you defeat the aging process.



What happens to your body as you age?

Our body consists of millions of sells, as the sells are dying they are being replaced with new ones. The quality of new sells is directly linked to your diet, because to be regenerated properly sells need good nutrition. As we grow older, the process of sell regeneration doesn't as smoothly as before, it is called sell degeneration. When the replacement sells are weaker than original sells. By eating certain anti-aging foods we can help the new sells to be strong and healthy.

Foods to avoid in anti-aging diet

First, you should decrease the intake of saturated fats. American Heart Association recommends that fat should not to exceed 30 percent of your total energy. For a real anti-aging nutrition the number is about 10 percent. That means that for protein it is better to consume lean fish rather than meat.

Some anti-aging doctors suggest a completely vegetarian diet. However, it has not been scientifically proved that avoiding meat all together leads to longer and healthier life. However, when you eat meat, go for lean varieties.

And do I even have to mention avoiding junk food? Everybody knows that it is bad for you, but most people keep eating it anyway. If you seriously want to keep nutritious diet, you should restrict yourself from chips and other "empty-calories" stuff.

Saturated fats are not the only thing to avoid. Some studies have shown that foods high in carbohydrates also lead to sell degeneration. These include sugar, chocolate, chips, and pasta and soy products. High concentration of heavy metals in your food also leads to premature aging.

Anti-aging food - what is it?

There are several foods that help with sell regeneration. These are products high in antioxidants and omega 3 fatty acids. These are elements known as antioxidants Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, Beta carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium and Folic acid.

Here is a list of foods important for anti-aging nutrition:

raw nuts and seeds
green leafy vegetables
seaweed
barley greens
olive oil
berries

Recently there has been a lot of talk about anti-aging Goji berries and Goji berries juice. These berries grow in Himalaya, and studies have shown that people who live there and consume the berries on regular basis live long and healthy lives. Goji berries and their juice are very high in antioxidants.

You may also need, because pollution in the cities and stress of everyday working life speed up the aging process, so you may need additional nutrients and vitamins to combat it. You can look online for anti-aging supplements to add to your diet. These are vitamin and mineral complexes with high percentage of antioxidants. Alternatively, take a good brand name multivitamin every day.

The most important about anti-aging diet is that you have to be persistent and consume healthy foods every day. Eating nutritious food for several days and then returning to usual fast food lifestyle wouldn't work. And, of course you will have to do some exercise to help your body feel young.courtesy:ezinearticles.com

Deal With an Arrogant Boss

Arrogance is defined as conceit, self-loving and egotistic. In general, arrogance is self-confidence on drugs. Many employers do not know the distinction between supervising and controlling. Arrogant bosses never gain employees' respect. Arrogant bosses are viewed as dictators, insensitive, rulers and tyrants. Working with this type of boss can have negative effects on the quantity and quality of work generated by employees.



Things to keep in mind:

* Understand that an arrogant boss will not be a team player. Therefore, suspicion of everything and everyone will consume the arrogant boss' work day.

* Be prepared for constant changes in office rules. Arrogant bosses do not play by the company rules. The most minuscule problem will be blown into something colossal. Always meet deadlines. Be professional and punctual.

* Look for another job or transfer. Be sure to ask for references from a trustworthy source. Be careful. An arrogant boss will view a job search as a betrayal.

* Play to win. Learn the likes and dislikes of the boss. Become knowledgeable. Take classes if necessary to become an invaluable asset to the department.

* Elude confrontation. Avoid doing things that will cause negative reactions. Always keep detail written notes of negative situations.

* Contact the human resources department. It has trained personnel to deal and advise on employment issues.

Whatever happens just keep in mind, your boss is not the last person on earth. Keep enjoying the work and opportunities will come up.

Learn To Say No Without Feeling Guilty

7 Simple Ways To Say “No”

Do you have difficulty saying “no”? Are you always trying to be nice to others at the expense of yourself?

Well, you’re not alone. In the past, I was not good at saying “no”, because I didn’t want to hurt the other person’s feelings.

For example, whenever I get requests for help, I would attend to them even though I had important work to do. Sometimes the requests would drag to 2-3 hours or even beyond. At the end of the day, I would forgo sleep to catch up on my work. This problem of not knowing how to say “no” also extended to my clients, business associates and even sales people.

After a while, I realized all these times of not saying “no” (when I should) were not helping me at all. I was spending a lot of time and energy for other people and not spending nearly as much time for myself. It was frustrating especially since I brought it upon myself. I slowly realized if I wanted personal time, I needed to learn to say “no”.



Why We Find It Hard To Say “No”

To learn to say “No”, we have to first understand what’s resisting us about it. Below are common reasons why people find it hard to say no:

1. You want to help: You are a kind soul at heart. You don’t want to turn the person away and you want to help where possible, even if it may eat into your time.
2. Afraid of being rude: I was brought up under the notion that saying “No”, especially to people who are more senior, is rude. This thinking is common in Asia culture, where face-saving is important. Face-saving means not making others look bad (a.k.a losing face).
3. Wanting to be agreeable: You don’t want to alienate yourself from the group because you’re not in agreement. So you confirm to others’ requests.
4. Fear of conflict: You are afraid the person might be angry if you reject him/her. This might lead to an ugly confrontation. Even if there isn’t, there might be dissent created which might lead to negative consequences in the future.
5. Fear of lost opportunities: Perhaps you are worried saying no means closing doors. For example, one of my clients’ wife was asked to transfer to another department in her company. Since she liked her team, she didn’t want to shift. However, she didn’t want to say no as she felt it would affect her promotion opportunities in the future.
6. Not burning bridges: Some people take “no” as a sign of rejection. It might lead to bridges being burned and relationships severed.

If you nodded to any of the reasons, I’m with you. They applied to me at one point or another. However, in my experience dealing with people at work and in life, I realized these reasons are more misconceptions than anything. Saying “No” doesn’t mean you are being rude; neither does it mean you are being disagreeable. Saying “No” doesn’t mean there will be conflict nor that you’ll lose opportunities in the future. And saying no most definitely doesn’t mean you’re burning bridges. These are all false beliefs in our mind.

At the end of the day, it’s about how you say “no”, rather than the fact you’re saying no, that affects the outcome. After all, you have your own priorities and needs, just like everyone has his/her own needs. Saying no is about respecting and valuing your time and space. Say no is your prerogative.

7 Simple Ways To Say “No”

Rather than avoid it altogether, it’s all about learning the right way to say no. After I began to say no to others, I realized it’s really not as bad as I thought. The other people were very understanding and didn’t put up any resistance. Really, the fears of saying no are just in our mind.

If you are not sure how to do so, here are 7 simple ways for you to say no. Use the method that best meets your needs in the situation.

1. “I can’t commit to this as I have other priorities at the moment.”

If you are too busy to engage in the request/offer, this will be applicable. This lets the person know your plate is full at the moment, so he/she should hold off on this as well as future requests. If it makes it easier, you can also share what you’re working on so the person can understand better. I use this when I have too many commitments to attend to.

2. “Now’s not a good time as I’m in the middle of something. How about we reconnect at X time?”

It’s common to get sudden requests for help when you are in the middle of something. Sometimes I get phone calls from friends or associates when I’m in a meeting or doing important work. This method is a great way to (temporarily) hold off the request. First, you let the person know it’s not a good time as you are doing something. Secondly, you make known your desire to help by suggesting another time (at your convenience). This way, the person doesn’t feel blown off.

3. “I’d love to do this, but …”

I often use this as it’s a gentle way of breaking no to the other party. It’s encouraging as it lets the person know you like the idea (of course, only say this if you do like it) and there’s nothing wrong about it. I often get collaboration proposals from fellow bloggers and business associates which I can’t participate in and I use this method to gently say no. Their ideas are absolutely great, but I can’t take part due to other reasons such as prior commitments (#1) or different needs (#5).

4. “Let me think about it first and I’ll get back to you.”

This is more like a “Maybe” than a straight out “No”. If you are interested but you don’t want to say ‘yes’ just yet, use this. Sometimes I’m pitched a great idea which meets my needs, but I want to hold off on committing as I want some time to think first. There are times when new considerations pop in and I want to be certain of the decision before committing myself. If the person is sincere about the request, he/she will be more than happy to wait a short while. Specify a date / time-range (say, in 1-2 weeks) where the person can expect a reply.

If you’re not interested in what the person has to offer at all, don’t lead him/her on. Use methods #5, #6 or #7 which are definitive.

5. “This doesn’t meet my needs now but I’ll be sure to keep you in mind.”

If someone is pitching a deal/opportunity which isn’t what you are looking for, let him/her know straight-out that it doesn’t meet your needs. Otherwise, the discussion can drag on longer than it should. It helps as the person know it’s nothing wrong about what he/she is offering, but that you are looking for something else. At the same time, by saying you’ll keep him/her in mind, it signals you are open to future opportunities.

6. “I’m not the best person to help on this. Why don’t you try X?”

If you are being asked for help in something which you (i) can’t contribute much to (ii) don’t have resources to help, let it be known they are looking at the wrong person. If possible, refer them to a lead they can follow-up on – whether it’s someone you know, someone who might know someone else, or even a department. I always make it a point to offer an alternate contact so the person doesn’t end up in a dead end. This way you help steer the person in the right place.

7. “No, I can’t.”

The simplest and most direct way to say no. We build up too many barriers in our mind to saying no. As I shared earlier in this article, these barriers are self-created and they are not true at all. Don’t think so much about saying no and just say it outright. You’ll be surprised when the reception isn’t half as bad as what you imagined it to be.

Learn to say no to requests that don’t meet your needs, and once you do that you’ll find how easy it actually is. You’ll get more time for yourself, your work and things that are most important to you. I know I do and I’m happy I started doing that.
courtesy:zenhabits.net