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20 Workplace Positivity Quotes to Keep You Motivated

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Staying motivated while you are working is essential to performing well and accomplishing your tasks. Sometimes, however, negativity creeps in and interferes with your focus and motivation.

When this happens, these workplace positivity quotes can help.

When you are positive, those around you will be more positive, too. Between your positive thoughts and the positivity of others, you are sure to experience workplace positivity. Remember these workplace positivity quotes throughout your day to give you an extra boost.

Twenty Workplace Positivity Quotes

Don’t let workplace negativity hold you back and cause you to lose motivation. Instead, use these workplace positivity quotes to keep you motivated every day.

workplace positivity quotes1. “Do more than is required. What is the distance between someone who achieves their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following? The extra mile.” – Gary Ryan Blair

To stay motivated at work, do more than what you are expected to do. This will set you apart and give you an advantage over the others. As this occurs, you will only want to work even harder and more efficiently.

2. “Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost legendary. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Perseverance and determination alone are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge

As Coolidge explains, you must have the perseverance to stay motivated and become successful at work. Even with talent, genius, and education, you won’t make it far without diligence. Remember this quote to help you stay motivated in the workplace.

3. “Don’t be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one, it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.” – Dale Carnegie

Even the smallest jobs are essential to the overall situation. When you experience a task that seems easy, still do your best, just like you would with a more demanding job. If you give your all, you will grow as a person and learn more to help you in the future.

4. “Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.” – Albert Einstein

When you become a person of value, you will notice that people come to you more often. You will be trusted with more responsibility, and you will continue to develop into an even better version of yourself.

5. “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” – Alexander Graham Bell

By concentrating on what you are working on, you will get it done more quickly and efficiently. As Bell describes, you have to bring the essential things into focus. Otherwise, you will feel distracted and sense a lack of motivation.

6. “There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.” – Beverly Sills

You can’t take the easy route and expect to get to the place you want to be. Everything worthwhile takes time, hard work, and dedication. So, as you sit at work and wish you could take a shortcut, remember this quote to keep you motivated.

7. “Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” – Francis of Assisi

Take care of the inevitable things first, and then move on to the other things you can do. If you keep working even when things get hard, you will find you can do what you thought you couldn’t. The key is to get started and keep going.

8. “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” – Unknown

As explained in the last quote, you must get started if you want to achieve anything. If you’re going to get ahead, it is even more critical to get started right away. When your job seems overwhelming, break your tasks down into smaller tasks and then work your way through them.

9. “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” – Paulo Coelho

If you need some workplace positivity to keep you motivated, then you must remember this quote. When you are always working hard and growing, those around you will, too. It makes for a more positive and peaceful work environment, and it will keep you motivated.

10. “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” – Vince Lombardi

When you go to work with this mindset, you will stay motivated. The reminder to work hard, stay dedicated, and always do your best will keep you focused and determined.

workplace positivity quotes11. “Talent means nothing, while experience, acquired in humility and with hard work, means everything.” – Patrick Süskind

If you are talented but lack the experience described in this workplace positivity quote, you won’t get very fair. While talent gives you an advantage, you still have to work hard.

12. “Plenty of men can do good work for a spurt and with immediate promotion in mind, but for promotion, you want a man in whom good work has become a habit.” – Henry L. Doherty

Doing your best when you want something isn’t the same as always doing your best. It would be best if you gave your all even when a promotion isn’t on the line because that is when it matters the most. Your efforts will be noticed, and you will feel better about yourself, too.

13. “Developing a good work ethic is key. Apply yourself at whatever you do, whether you’re a janitor or taking your first summer job because that work ethic will be reflected in everything you do in life.” – Tyler Perry

With a good work ethic, you are sure to stay motivated. Do your best, no matter what your job title is. The habits you create early on or at lower-paying jobs will follow you throughout your life.

14. “Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely.” – Roy T. Bennett

Everything you do is a choice, so if you need workplace positivity, decide that you will create it. All of the things Bennett described are things that can help contribute to the environment around you. If you are positive, those around you will be, too.

15. “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” – Conrad Hilton

If a mistake is causing you to lack motivation, remember these workplace positivity quotes. Even when you make a mistake, you must keep moving forward, learning, and trying.

16. “Whatever you do, do it with all your might. Work at it, early and late, in season and out of season, not leaving a stone unturned, and never deferring for a single hour that which can be done just as well as now.” – P. T. Barnum

Do what must be done, and do it right away. Don’t let your work pile up, or you will quickly lose motivation. If you work this way all of the time, you will never lack inspiration.

17. “Success means doing the best we can with what we have. Success is the doing, not the getting; in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard, reaching for the highest that is in us, becoming all that we can be.” – Zig Ziglar

The obstacles and hardships you overcome to be successful are the things that matter most. Always give your all, and keep pushing even when you don’t want to. Doing this will get you where you want to be and help you become the person you are meant to be.

18. “If something is wrong, fix it now. But train yourself not to worry, worry fixes nothing.” – Ernest Hemingway

Worrying and stressing cause negativity, so if you want workplace positivity, refrain from worrying. Instead, focus on finding a solution to the problem and then seeing it through. You will think more clearly, stay positive, and gain motivation.

19. “Dreams can come true, but there is a secret. They’re realized through the magic of persistence, determination, commitment, passion, practice, focus, and hard work. They happen a step at a time, manifested over years, not weeks.” – Elbert Hubbard

Your dreams won’t come true all at once. It isn’t an instant process, but one that often takes a long time. Stay motivated and keep working toward your goals, even when you aren’t progressing as quickly as you’d like.

20. “Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they started.” – David Allen

You will likely experience workplace negativity if you start things and don’t finish them. It causes confusion, a lack of focus, and it can cause high amounts of stress.

pop memeFinal Thoughts on Workplace Positivity Quotes That Will Keep You Motivated

If your work environment is a negative one, you are likely experiencing a lack of motivation. Negativity can cause you to lose focus. If this is the case, these workplace positivity quotes can help keep you motivated.

Whether negativity is coming from your inner-thoughts, stress levels, or those around you, these workplace positivity quotes can help. As you become more positive, those around you will, too. Plus, you will be more successful and accomplish more throughout the day.

15 Things That Cause Muscle Fatigue and Soreness

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There’re few things as painful as muscle fatigue and soreness. Have you ever spent the day working out at the gym and feeling great, only to feel intense pain the next day from working your muscles too hard? Your musculoskeletal system controls things like your movements, posture, and balance, so it’s no wonder when you stretch or move them beyond their limits that they would be sore.

Common Causes of Muscle Lethargy

Many things in life can cause your muscles to become tightened or overworked. Here are the 15 most common things that can cause you to experience muscle pain or fatigue.

1. Sleep Deprivation

muscle fatigueSleep isn’t an optional part of your life. It would be best if you got enough shut-eye so that your body has time to rest and recover from daily activities. Your brain also uses this time to relax a bit while it sorts and files countless bits of information.

A report from the Centers for Disease Control states that at least one in every three people in the United States are sleep deprived. When you don’t get the sleep you need, your muscles don’t have time to rest. Along with brain fog and other symptoms of sleep deprivation, you may notice muscle fatigue.

Be kind to your body and get enough sleep every night. The Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get between 7-9 hours of shut-eye nightly. As you snuggle and snore away, your tired muscles can rest and rejuvenate for the next day.

2. Dehydration

Do you realize how important water is to your well-being? A study published by the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that the human body comprises about 60 percent water. Of that percentage, your kidneys and muscles comprise most of it.

Your muscles need water to maintain healthy cells and activity. If you skimp on your water intake, you will experience muscle fatigue. An article published by Nutrition Facts recommends that you drink 10-15 cups of water daily if you’re a man and 8-11 cups daily if you’re a woman.

3. A Symptom of Common Cold or Flu

It’s not difficult to notice the symptoms of a cold or flu. You’re sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and feel miserable. Another tell-tell symptom of these dreaded viruses is muscle weakness. You may feel like an elephant is sitting on your chest, and your arms and legs have turned to lead.

To help your sore muscles when you have a cold or flu, rest maybe your best option. Drink plenty of fluids and try to relax your muscles. According to a study published by Chest Journal, a steaming bowl of chicken soup has anti-inflammatory properties that can ease your breathing and soothe sore muscles.

4. Vitamin D Deficiency

Your body depends on consuming enough Vitamin D to help absorb calcium. A Vitamin D insufficiency can also contribute to a calcium deficiency, also known as hypocalcemia. Not only do your bones and teeth need calcium for optimal health, but so do your muscles and other organs.

Do you feel chronic muscle fatigue and pain? Consult your primary healthcare provider for a simple blood test to show your calcium and Vitamin D levels. You can get more Vitamin D in your diet by enjoying dairy products, fatty fish, and getting a little sunlight daily.

5. Electrolyte Imbalance

If you’re a fitness enthusiast, you know about the importance of electrolytes in your body. These elements are vital for your nerves and muscles to function properly. When your electrolytes are out of balance, it can be life-threatening.

Electrolytes include sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, and phosphorus. A common symptom of electrolyte imbalance is cramps, spasms, and muscle weakness. Especially when your potassium is low, additionally, you might experience painful leg cramps, or Charley horses, at night.

Eating a balanced diet and drinking enough fluids will help you keep your electrolytes balanced. Your primary healthcare provider can also do a blood draw to check your levels. They may help you modify your diet or add supplements as needed.

6. Anemia

People who are anemic don’t have enough red blood cells that function correctly. Your blood vessels are the vehicles that transport fresh oxygen to all your body’s cells. When you have anemia, your sluggish red blood cells don’t do their job, and you feel tired and sore from the lack of oxygen.

A deficiency can cause anemia in iron, Vitamin B 12, or folate. While you usually get enough of these nutrients from your diet, you may need a supplement. Reversing your anemia may help the pain and muscle fatigue you’re experiencing.

pop meme7. Lupus

Lupus is an auto-immune disease that affects the whole body. While auto-immune conditions aren’t clearly understood, it’s known that the immune system malfunctions. Rather than attacking foreign invaders, the body turns and starts attacking healthy tissues.

In Lupus, there is widespread tissue damage as well as chronic inflammation. The inflammatory properties of this condition can directly affect not just your muscles but also your joints.

8. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

This syndrome feels exactly as it sounds. Its hallmark symptoms are chronic exhaustion and unexplained pain in your muscles and joints. According to an article published by the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 2.5 million Americans have chronic fatigue, and many more are probably undiagnosed.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a long-term, debilitating disorder that is not entirely understood. Since your body never feels refreshed, it’s common for patients to experience pain and muscle weakness. Diet, exercise, stress reduction, and healthy sleep habits may relieve some of the syndrome’s symptoms.

9. Fibromyalgia

Do you have unexplained pain and sensitivity throughout your body, especially your joints and muscles? You may have fibromyalgia, which medical experts still can’t explain. They know that the pain, itchiness, and exhaustion are real and can be exacerbated by stress or trauma.

Some individuals can manage their muscle fatigue and other symptoms with diet, exercise, stress management, and cognitive behavior therapy.

10. Arthritis

Since your muscles are attached to your bones and joints, it stands to reason that each affects the other one. Arthritis is a condition where cartilage is depleted, and the joints become stiff, inflamed, and painful. It’s not unusual for people who have arthritis to have sore muscles, too.

In addition to medication, many healthcare experts recommend an anti-inflammatory diet for arthritic patients. Exercise and stretching can also ease some of the stiffness and pain. These suggestions may also relieve the tension in your sore muscles.

11. Mononucleosis – Epstein Barr

Mononucleosis is often called the “kissing disease” because it’s so contagious. It’s caused by a virus that is notorious for causing weakness and muscle fatigue known as Epstein Barr. You may also experience a fever, swelling, or blisters in your throat.

The best way to ease mononucleosis symptoms is to get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Thankfully, this only lasts about two to four weeks. As you rest and rehydrate, your muscles will feel better.

12. Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a respiratory condition that can be quite serious, mostly if left untreated. Some of its symptoms include cough, fever, sweating, chills, shortness of breath, and muscle weakness. If you have pneumonia, the muscles in your chest and abdomen may be sore due to coughing.

Depending on the type of pneumonia you have, you will be treated accordingly by your healthcare provider. Resting and drinking plenty of fluids is essential to your recovery. The pain in your chest muscles will ease as the coughing and lung inflammation subside.

13. Lyme Disease

When you are wandering through the woods or even in your yard, one of your worst enemies is hard to detect. If you are bit by the tiny deer tick, it can infect you with a painful condition called Lyme Disease.

14. Strenuous Exercise

It stands to reason that after a good workout, you may experience muscle exhaustion. It’s especially true if you aren’t used to a particular activity or it’s been a while since you’ve exercised. Sometimes, you push your body past its limits, and your muscles may be sore and achy for a time.

To avoid exhausting your muscles, consider doing a stretch routine before you exercise. Also, know your body’s limits and increase the intensity of your workouts gradually. If you feel undue pain at any time while exercising, stop what you’re doing immediately and rest.

15. Hypnoplasmosis

Hypnoplasmosis is not a commonly known condition, but farmers and those who work in the landscaping field are more apt to get this infection. Birds and bat feces have spores of fungus in them that are toxic to humans, so breathing in this toxicity can cause the lungs to become inflamed as the infection takes over.

The condition can cause widespread muscle exhaustion, fever, chills, chest cough, and other symptoms. While most cases are mild, it can be life-threatening to those who have compromised breathing issues, like COPD.

muscle fatigueFinal Thoughts on Muscle Fatigue

If you wake up with muscular pains, there can be numerous reasons. The pain can be localized to one area, or it can be throughout your entire body. Most muscle fatigue will subside on its own in a short time, but if you have a non-curable condition like Lupus, then it can be an ongoing battle to find relief.

A natural way to take care of such pains is by using hot and cold compresses and alternating between the two.

Scientists Reveal Device That Helps People Lose Weight Without Surgery

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Scientists have recently developed a wireless device to help people struggling with obesity or other weight-related health issues. Oftentimes, those who can’t lose weight naturally resort to gastric bypass surgery. But scientists wanted to come up with a less invasive solution. Although most people who have this surgery don’t experience severe side effects, it does come with a few risks.

Risks of weight loss surgery

According to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, here are commonly seen short and long-term risks:

wireless device

  • Breakage
  • Dumping syndrome
  • Gallstones (risk increases with rapid or substantial weight loss)
  • Hernia
  • Internal bleeding or profuse bleeding of the surgical wound
  • Leakage
  • Perforation of stomach or intestines
  • Pouch/anastomotic obstruction or bowel obstruction
  • Protein or calorie malnutrition
  • Pulmonary and/or cardiac problems
  • Skin separation
  • Spleen or another organ injury
  • Stomach or intestine ulceration
  • Stricture
  • Vitamin or iron deficiency

How weight loss surgery works

This surgery involves making a small pouch in the stomach and redirecting the digestive tract. The stomach normally can hold around 3 pints of food, but gastric bypass reduces the stomach to roughly the size of a walnut. Because this surgery involves permanently changing the digestive system, many people have second thoughts about going under the knife.

However, a new study from Texas A&M University published in the journal Nature Communications revealed a medical device that involves a simpler operation. This may help people with obesity lose weight without the harmful side effects and dangers of gastric bypass. The researchers said their device helps people feel full by stimulating vagus nerve endings with light. Controlled externally using a remote radio-frequency source, the device is just a centimeter wide.

“We wanted to create a device that not only requires minimal surgery for implantation but also allows us to stimulate specific nerve endings in the stomach,” said Dr. Sung II Park, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Our device has the potential to do both of these things in the harsh gastric conditions, which, in the future, can be hugely beneficial to people needing dramatic weight-loss surgeries.”

Advantages of the new wireless device technology

Advantages of the revolutionary wireless device compared to other weight loss technology

Scientists and doctors around the world have been sounding the alarm about the growing obesity epidemic. The health problems stemming from obesity cost the U.S. healthcare system around $147 billion per year. Not to mention, obesity increases the risk of developing heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic, serious illnesses.

For those with obesity, surgery allows patients to lose much of their excess weight and maintain it over time. However, as we discussed above, the surgeries don’t come without risks. Therefore, scientists have begun to study alternatives to these invasive methods of reducing body weight. Many researchers have turned their attention to the vagus nerve since it sends hunger signals from the stomach to the brain.

While some medical devices stimulate the vagus nerve endings and help reduce appetite, most of them still have wires. Just like a pacemaker, the wires connect to a source of electricity and provide electric jolts to stimulate the vagus nerve. The new wireless device, however, will provide patients with a more comfortable, convenient method to beat obesity. The researchers will also employ complex genetic and optical tools to make the device functional.

Researchers say this:

“Despite the clinical benefit of having a wireless system, no device, as of yet, has the capability to do chronic and durable cell-type specific manipulation of neuron activity inside of any other organ other than the brain.”

So, Park and the other researchers used genetic tools to express genes that respond to light into certain vagus nerve endings. Next, they created a small, paddle-shaped device and put tiny LEDs near the tip of its shaft. They fastened this to the stomach and placed microchips near the head of the device to enable wireless communication. The harvester (head of the device) also produced small currents to power the LEDs. When they turned the radio frequency source on, they found that the light from the LEDs reduced hunger.

Key findings from the study and future applications

The team didn’t expect their experiments to show that the body’s methods of coordinating hunger suppression didn’t align with previous wisdom. Common knowledge says that when the stomach reaches maximum capacity, it expands, and this information gets sent to the brain via the vagus nerve. However, scientists found that the body responded to fullness signals differently than previously thought

“Our findings suggest that stimulating the non-stretch receptors, the ones that respond to chemicals in the food, could also give the feeling of satiety even when the stomach was not distended,” said Park.

In future applications, the researchers believe the wireless device could stimulate nerve endings in other parts of the digestive tract.

“Wireless optogenetics and identifying peripheral neural pathways that control appetite and other behaviors are all of great interest to researchers in both the applied and basic fields of study in electronics, material science, and neuroscience,” said Park. “Our novel tool now enables interrogation of neuronal function in the peripheral nervous systems in a way that was impossible with existing approaches.”

wireless deviceFinal thoughts: a new wireless device to treat obesity could reduce the need for invasive surgery

Gastric bypass and other weight-loss surgeries are still the most popular way of treating severe obesity. However, a new study from Texas A&M revealed a revolutionary wireless device that can effectively suppress hunger cues. This could change the way doctors treat obesity in the future, as implantation of the device would require minimal surgery. Therefore, it would pose less of a risk for patients and doesn’t involve altering the digestive tract in any way.

Scientists hope that in the future, doctors will be able to employ the device in other areas of the gastrointestinal system. Obesity is an ever-growing problem, especially in Westernized countries, and this device could help reverse it. Diet and exercise don’t work for everyone looking to lose weight, so this technology shows promise in the battle against obesity.

Luckily, these experiences are not singular, and you are not alone in overcoming them, so there is information on common patterns from these types of childhoods.

Psychology Explains The Signs of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (And Why It Happens)

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Body dysmorphic disorder or BDD is a psychiatric disorder that causes an obsessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw in your appearance.  Delusions about a defect in your appearance may motivate you to pursue various treatments to change your appearance. Here is what psychologists are saying about the causes and symptoms of BDD.

What is body dysmorphic disorder?

A recent study in August 2020 stated that 2% of the American adult population struggle with body dysmorphic disorder. Psychologists recently classified BDD as an obsessive-compulsive disorder since it involves repetitive acts and behaviors. The person may have rituals such as constantly gazing in the mirror, skin picking, excessive grooming, and constantly comparing themselves with others. There are also pathological fears of being ugly based on some part of your body.

Sadly, BDD disorder is easily misunderstood and minimized. Those who suffer from this disorder may feel disapproval and even reproach from others.

body dysmorphic disorderSymptoms of BDD

BDD patients struggle most often with the appearance of their head and face. They may obsess over scars, acne, wrinkles, facial symmetry, hair thinning, or facial hair. Other concerns the BDD patients obsess about include their

  • Nose shape and size
  • Eyes, eyelids, and eyebrows
  • Ears size and shape
  • Cheeks
  • Teeth
  • Lips
  • Mouth
  • Jaw

Orthodontists, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons see a huge number of these patients come through their offices. Dermatologists are often the first doctors to recognize a body dysmorphic disorder in their patients.

Approximately 26% to 40% of people with BDD seek out cosmetic surgery. BDD patients are obsessed with their appearance, and most BDD patients are unhappy once they’re received dermatological treatments. In fact, dermatologists say that these patients are some of the most difficult patients to work with due to their obsession with perfection. Today, dermatologists are working with psychiatrists to identify patients with BDD and help them get treatment. Cosmetic treatments rarely resolve BDD patients’ appearance desires. In fact, plastic surgery can often make a BDD person’s appearance obsession worse, resulting in suicide.

There are a growing number of BDD patients seeking out orthodontic treatments to improve their looks. Braces, teeth whitening, and jaw surgery, as well as spacing, tooth size, and adjustments to their smile. Approximately 5.2% of orthodontist patients have BDD.

Diagnosis of BDD

Diagnosis of this disorder focuses on the obsessive nature and repetitive behaviors of the patient. These behaviors can take 3 to 8 hours of their day.

These include:

  • Camouflaging with makeup to hide flaws
  • Excessive weight lifting or exercising
  • Skin picking to the point of bleeding
  • Over attention to clothing
  • Excessive grooming

On average, a person who suffers from BDD can be preoccupied with the skin, hair, nose, or a body part, but they can be obsessed with 5 to 7 different body parts during their life. Men perceived their muscles or penis is too small. Women obsess over their nose or thin lips.

What causes body dysmorphic disorder?

BDD is a growing problem in Western countries. This section provides some of the most alarming stats from the Body Dysmorphic Foundation.

  • Anyone can get BDD.
  • Around 40% of those who suffer from BDD are men, with 60% being women.

Other characteristics of those who get BDD include the following:

  • BDD occurs in kids as young as 4 to 5 years old
  • Most of the time, BDD begins at the age of 12 or 13
  • In 2/3 of kids suffering from BDD, it started before they were 18 years of age.
  • BDD occurs in every ethnic group and race
  • It’s a global problem but more common in Western nations.
  • Affects all socioeconomic levels

It’s not totally understood why people get BDD. Many people with BDD say they remember being bullied or had mean comments about their appearance, even young kids. Unfortunately, this disorder is often unrecognized and underdiagnosed until there is a crisis for the person suffering from it. Mental health professionals are often unfamiliar with BDD than other disorders. Plus, people with BDD don’t seek help, either denying they have a problem or how to get help for the body image obsessions. Others may neglect to tell their doctors about their obsessions due to

  • Embarrassment
  • Fear of being judged
  • Feeling like the doctor won’t understand
  • Assuming their body image issues aren’t a problem.
  • Or they don’t want to know their body image issues are a problem.
  • Assume they’re the only ones who have this kind of problem
  • The doctor doesn’t ask them about body image problems, so they don’t mention it.
  • Not knowing there’s a treatment for their body image problems.

BDD’s causes are unclear, but there is some thinking that biological or environmental issues could contribute, such as genetic disposition, personality traits, life experiences such as parental mistreatment, or sexual trauma.

bddCould you have BDD?

Do you have BDD? It’s a worthwhile question to ask yourself. See if any of these symptoms are something you are struggling with.

  1. Do you constantly feel ugly or abnormal, or disfigured compared to other people?
  2. Are you obsessed about a body part and spend up to 1 hour a day or more thinking about it?
  3. Are you convinced that you are different from other people and don’t struggle with the same things you do regarding your physical appearance?
  4. Do you have repetitive behaviors to hide, fix, inspect, or find reassurance about your body part?
  5. Do you find yourself repeatedly:
  • Comparing yourself to others
  • Trying to hide your imperfections with makeup or other things? (one person adding padding to their clothing to look more “normal.”
  • Constantly checking the mirror, windows, and cell phone screen to see if you look okay.
  • Look for approval about your looks.
  • Pick your skin to get rid of perceived skin flaws.
  • Changing clothing a lot during the day
  • Extreme tanning
  • Extreme exercising or weight lifting
  • Constant shopping
  • Have you sought out a dermatologist, orthodontist, or plastic surgeon to fix your imperfections only to feel like it didn’t make you as perfect as you wanted?
  1. Do you avoid social settings because of how you look?
  2. Do you feel sad, anxious, irritable, or angry about your appearance?
  3. Have your struggles interfered with your work, school?
  4. Have you thought about self-harm because of your struggles?

Check out the International OCD Foundation’s website to take a self-test for BDD. If you think you have BDD, you must get help. Visit your doctor or seek out a counselor for treatment. Many good treatments can relieve you of these difficult feelings and struggles.

BDD treatments

Behavior modification therapies are beneficial to treat BDD. These include:

  • Cognitive behavior therapy: This therapy helps you deal with the symptoms through personal counseling and group therapy.
  •  Medication: Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRI’s) are often the first line of treatment for BDD.

Most BDD patients participate in both treatments simultaneously.  They’ve been very effective in treating this disorder.

Do you know someone who could have Body Dysmorphic Disorder?

You may know someone who has symptoms of BDD. Men and women both suffer from this condition, but symptoms can show up in elementary or teen years. Check this list of BDD symptoms and behaviors that could characterize a friend or family member.

The following behaviors might indicate this disorder:

  • Preoccupied with their physical flaws
  • They think they’re ugly or deformed.
  • They think others are looking at their flaws and mock and gossip about those people.
  • Wearing lots of makeup to hide flaws
  • Need lots of reassurance from you and others
  • A perfectionist about their appearance
  • They may have already undergone surgery to correct their “flaws,” and they still aren’t happy.
  • Anxious about people’s opinions of their appearance
  • They may have an eating disorder: bulimia or anorexia.
  • Substance abuse problem
  • Cutting or suicide attempts

body dysmorphic disorderFinal Thoughts on Identifying Body Dysmorphic Disorder

If you know a friend or family member who struggles with these symptoms, encourage them to get help. BDD is a manageable disorder, and they can find freedom from their obsessions to enjoy life without fears about their look or don’t look.

Body dysmorphic disorder is a common problem, especially in today’s body image-obsessed culture. Although social media and celebrity blogs don’t cause BDD, these unrealistic images can make it worse. Indeed, they may amplify the BDD suffers obsessive fears and struggles. If you or someone you know is struggling with BDD, don’t hesitate to seek out help. Treatment is available and effective. You are worth more than your appearance. Find relief and happiness in being you in your appearance and personality.

12 Things Curiosity Reveals About Your Personality

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Curiosity may have killed the cat but before he died, the other cats knew a lot of things about his character.

People who are curious may not be aware that their snooping reveals things about their personalities. Curious people tend to have a lot of outstanding qualities that scientists have yet to understand fully, but that doesn’t stop people from noticing these qualities. In most cases, the qualities lead to positive outcomes.

If you’re a curious person, it may be of interest to you to know what your inquisitive character is revealing to the world, especially if you don’t want to reveal anything. Here are 12 things that curiosity reveals about your personality.

1. You’re a social butterfly when you need to be.

curiositySnooping on your own can get you a lot of information, but at some point, you would have to communicate with people to connect some final dots. This means that you’ll figure out how to socialize well in order to get the information you desire. Even if the socialization isn’t genuine, people will think it is and will be more likely to open up to you.

You may not be the life of the party, but you certainly know how to strike up a conversation with strangers. You know how to make people comfortable, how to make people laugh, and how to read people. You’re the epitome of a people person.

2. You’re a great listener.

You can’t absorb information well if you don’t listen. This is something you probably figured out at an early age. You need to listen so you can get the correct information, read between the lines, and interpret things that are both said and unsaid.

People notice that you’re a great listener, so when they need to talk, they know exactly who to go to. They feel they can tell you anything and, if you are good at keeping your mouth shut, they may even reveal juicy secrets. Listening more than talking can be extremely rewarding for someone with such a high level of curiosity.

3. Your word is trustworthy.

The good thing about being curious is that you will find the answers to almost everything. This means that when you give an opinion or an answer to a question, you are going to be right. You might not know everything, but you know a lot more than most people in the room.

You may be the most likely candidate to win Jeopardy and everyone knows it. To them, you might be like a walking encyclopedia. Do not be surprised if people want you to weigh in on every situation.

There may be a few people who get annoyed by the fact that you know everything. Unfortunately, you can’t please everyone.

4. You are attentive to small details.

According to the American Psychological Association, curious people are naturally gifted at noticing things others may not notice. Small details won’t get away no matter how. An inquisitive person can sniff out small details like a hound dog sniffs out evidence.

People who are curious are also great at interpreting small details. They can put these details together and connect them to the big picture. With curious people, there will be no rock or stone unturned when it comes to minor details.

5. You aren’t ashamed when you don’t know anything.

Curious people are not ashamed to say they don’t know something. In fact, you may get slightly excited when you don’t know anything because this gives you something to inquire about. Anything that leads to a mystery piques your interest – after all, if you knew everything, there wouldn’t be anything to be curious about.

Anyone would bet that you won’t leave the mystery unsolved. Your curiosity will drive you to find the answer to whatever bit of information is evading you. Then you’ll be as solid as a rock the next time someone asks you about the topic.

6. You don’t live in the past.

socially intelligentMany people get caught up with situations that happened in the past. They are incapable of letting things roll off their shoulders. Their emotions get the best of them.

Psychology says that people who can’t let go of the past seem to be stuck in quicksand. This is in direct contradiction to the nature of curious people.

Curious people like you don’t have that problem. You have emotions – you’re human after all – but your curiosity is much stronger than your emotions. Your innate need to discover new situations and new information is what helps you to move on and focus on your future. It’s an excellent trait to have, one that will take you far in life.

7. You are a brave individual.

In order to satisfy your curiosity, sometimes you must put yourself in uncomfortable positions or face your fears. You don’t back down from intimidating circumstances if it means getting the answers you seek. It takes bravery for a person to be able to do that.

Being brave doesn’t mean you aren’t afraid of the consequences of being nosy. It simply means that your need to know certain things is strong enough to overcome your fears. In some situations, this can be good. However, there are certain instances where this bravery could get you into trouble. With practice and life experience, you’ll be able to tell the difference before you get yourself into hot water.

8. You can be irritatingly persistent.

You are skilled at wearing people down. When you want to know something, you’ll find out the information at almost any cost. If a person is holding back from you, they’re fair game.

You are good at getting people to a point where they’ll just tell you what you want to know so you’ll leave them alone. Be careful with this skill – it could cause you to lose friends, lovers, and even co-workers. No one likes to be badgered, so make sure you read signs and body language when you’re trying to drag information out of someone.

9. You’re patient.

You can’t rush curiosity. It takes time to discover all the juicy information you’re after. Being a curious person has taught you to be patient when it comes to getting what you want, but the skill of being patient spills over into the rest of your life also.

People likely take notice of your patience. However, when you get what you want, you may suddenly exit with haste depending on the rest of your personality. You may not even be aware of this behavior, but you can be sure that others are aware.

10. You focus well when you want to.

Your inquisitive nature allows you to focus on a subject fully so you can gather every detail you can. Distractions don’t seem to affect you unless you want them to. Your focus is like a laser – strong, accurate, and intense.

This laser focus that you have likely allowed you to be very efficient in your career and your co-workers and your boss have likely noticed. This focus is also what makes you a great listener. However, don’t be too intense because it can make people feel a bit uncomfortable around you.

11. You’re very intelligent.

All that information you’re collecting in that beautiful brain of yours likely gets put to good use often. You’re much more intelligent than most people because you absorb information like a sponge. You are likely one of the best problem solvers in your circle.

You can be sure that the people around you notice how intelligent you are. Intelligence stands out in a crowd. In fact, your intelligence may be what encourages you to be curious. After all, that’s how you learn even more.

12. You’re healthy and/or have healthy habits.

It may sound strange, but scientists have made a connection between health and social connections. The more socially connected a person is, the fewer health problems they have. Luckily, curious people like you are very socially connected as suggested in number one.

The study, published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, states that socially connected people have healthy body mass indexes, controlled blood sugar, better cardiovascular health, less stress, a lower risk of cancer, and so much more. The researchers even went as far as comparing a healthy social life to taking vitamins. This means your snooping around can ultimately lead to a longer, healthier life and people will notice this.

curiosityFinal Thoughts on How Curiosity Reveals Who You Are

Despite that old cat quip, being curious isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It makes you smarter, braver, bolder, and a better friend or lover. Curiosity helps to round out your personality.

People around you may notice your inquisitive nature, but they’ll also notice all of these other things about your personality. You’ll connect well with people while still standing out from the crowd. Every now and then, too much snooping may get you in trouble. However, it will be balanced out by all the other positive benefits you gain from being curious, so keep up the good detective work.

Researchers Reveal Most Men Desire Curvy Women More Than They Think

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The battle of skinny versus fat is been going on for centuries. Women think that men want the skinny model who starves herself to be a size zero. So thin may be a preference for some men. But it seems that curvy women, nice and thick, is where it’s at for most males.

Men are programmed to believe that they must have the petite girl that looks good dangling on their arms, but do most guys crave such a small, framed woman? You would be surprised at the results of a group of studies that show men like curves.

It’s incredibly stressful for a guy who wants to choose a partner for life. They take a girl of interest to eat only to hear about everything they can’t have on their restrictive diet. Women are always looking for diet plans that can enhance their figure.

However, it can be frustrating to work that into a date when all a guy wants to do is eat a good meal. Now, he doesn’t want a woman to eat more than he does, but he wants her to have a healthy relationship with food and not starve herself.

This does not mean that skinny model bodies are also not beautiful. But it should reinforce the idea that curvy women are attractive, too.

The Hollywood Actress and Model Crowd Adds to Improper Social Perceptions

modelWomen feel that if they eat less, they will appear more attractive to the opposite sex, but studies have shown that men prefer a woman with a fuller, hourglass type of figure. It’s not comfortable to snuggle with someone who is bony.

Part of the reason why women think that men want model type body is the misperceptions given by Hollywood’s elite. Consider some of the super skinny stars like Paris Hilton or Kelly Ripa. These women are so small that their bodies have nothing to fill out their clothes.

A woman should indeed be the size that makes her feel most comfortable, but what women think a guy wants and desires is quite diverse. Why is it that a man likes a little meat on the bones, and could these preferences come from his home life and his mother’s body composition?

Curves indeed help a lady look better in her attire, and nothing looks more voluptuous to a guy than a large, busted lady. Look at the bodies of Adele and Kate Winslet. They both are beautiful women who don’t conform to social norms to be pencil-thin, and they feel comfortable with their size.

If these ladies are healthy, and they appear to be, there’s no reason for them to starve themselves to get or keep a spouse. The average woman was once a size 12-14, but now it’s a size 16-18, which means it’s becoming more acceptable to be larger.

The Weight Debate Throughout History

Things have certainly changed over time. Back during the Renaissance Era, women were considered to have more money and be sexier when they were heavier. Their curves equated to beauty, sophistication, and wealth.

Look at some of the paintings done during this time frame, and you will be surprised. The famous painter Leonardo da Vinci rose to fame during this period. His portrait of The Mona Lisa depicts that a larger woman was undoubtedly more desirable.

What’s uncanny about many of the paintings during this era was that the women weren’t just curvy but quite large. To be big and beautiful meant that a woman was at the height of sexiness. Back then, women were treasured for their God-given bodies, and no one dared use harsh labels to shame them.

While being “plump as a partridge” was socially acceptable, things changed around 1840. Sylvester Graham, a Presbyterian minister, sowed that women should be thinner for better health. By 1860, the first diet plan made it on the scene, which was the Banting diet.

Consequently, he’s the one who invented graham crackers, which were first considered a diet food. This low carbohydrate strategy was remarkably like the Keto or Atkins plans, and many women lost weight. This started a trend that women should have a lower target weight to keep them in good health. However, nothing was said about the men.

Research Proves Men Like Curvy Women

The Journal of Perception recently published an article from a study done at St. Andrew’s University. The participants were given photographs that looked at several women’s facial features. Shockingly, the guys unanimously chose the women who were in a healthy weight range more than the skinnier ladies.

The study sends a strong message that being underweight isn’t necessarily attractive like many women think. The 1,200 male participants were between the ages of 25-55. To the amazement of the research team, over 81 percent of these gentlemen like curves and lots of them.

When inquired further, the men stated across the board that curvy women are more seductive and sexier. Could men be tired of the growing trend to make women figureless just to fit into society’s demands? This study shows that the average guy likes a little meat on his lady’s bones, and if she’s healthy, there’s nothing wrong with it.

body shamingCurvy Women are Gorgeous, Attractive, and Ladylike

Women think guys are attracted to the ultra-thin woman with little to no shape. However, it’s the curvaceousness of a female that turns their crank. When a lady has curves, it gives her a shapely appearance, and she emerges as more natural and even graceful.

Why is it that the voluptuous woman tends to radiate sensuality, and men love to see a nice round booty and hips that shift when a lady walks? Some think that a man sees the potential for a woman to have children when they have larger hips and bigger breasts. This is all a subconscious thing, but some women carry babies effortlessly while others have difficulty with pregnancy and childbirth.

Do you know that some scientists believe that curvy women will live longer? It sounds bizarre as you would think that someone with less weight would have a longer life expectancy. The Institute of Preventative Medicine in Copenhagen found that women who have hips more extensive than 40 inches have protection against heart disease.

This layer of hip fat is offering more protection than harm. According to this study, a woman around a size 14 is perfect, and the little bit of fat that she carries is healthy. What’s sad is most women think that they need to be a size two  model on average to be desirable.

To Some Men, Thinness Blights the Perfect Lines of Femininity

Women think that guys only like one type of lady, but you should remember that variety is the spice of life. Everyone has a taste and a preference when it comes to their partner.

Is there any truth to the theories that a man will marry someone like his mother and a girl will marry someone like her father? If a guy is raised in a home where the woman is larger or even classified as a big, beautiful lady, he will likely not develop stereotypes that are harmful against people of size.

If this gentleman had a good relationship with his mother, he would likely be attracted to a similar caliber. Keep in mind that physical traits aren’t the only thing that reminds you of your parents. Some guys see a lady with a few extra pounds and assume she’s a good cook, and in many cases, this assumption is correct.

However, a skinny person can be just as good of a cook. Metabolism and genetics can play a massive part in the weight equation as it’s not always about what you eat. The bone structure is also another factor that weighs into the whole package.

A woman who weighs 120 lbs. on a small frame will look much different than the same weight on a larger bone structure. Genes tend to help with the overall look a lady has, and if guys want a glimpse into the future, they should consider their mothers.

Society Doesn’t View Body Types the Same.

Something that completely goes against the original study is that skinny women tend to have more successful careers. While men may prefer curvy women, the business place prefers a smaller female. An article was published in the Journal of Applied Psychology that reviewed a study done by the University of Florida.

They found that a woman with fewer curves made $22,000 more a year than a heavier woman. A more petite lady’s sharp and angular lines may not be appealing in the dating world, but it’s a preference for the business one. Many heavier ladies swear this is why employers pass them over–and this seems to confirm that suspicion.

model

Final Thoughts: Curvy Women Are Actually More Attractive to Many Males

Above all else, a man prefers a woman who knows how to care for herself. Being skinny as a model can be just as detrimental to your health as being too heavy. There’s a fine line between being thick and obese that you should respect because of health implications.

Still, when it comes to sexual attraction and desirability, it seems that what women think and what men genuinely like are not even in the same range. It’s okay to have a healthy appetite, and it’s okay if you’re not a size two. You are beautiful, just as you are, model thin or not!

12 Tricks to Control Your Appetite If You’re Trying to Lose Weight

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Is it a significant problem for you to control your appetite? Could it be because there’s nothing better than a heaping bowl of mashed potatoes, noodles, rolls, and macaroni and cheese? While these may be comfort foods, they are not foods that you can eat every day and maintain a healthy weight.

Everyone has cravings that will dictate what they eat daily, but how does someone get their urges under control to eat nutritious foods rather than those laden with carbs and sugars? How can you push yourself away from the table and say it’s enough before you reach for seconds or even thirds?

Many people don’t have a good relationship with food. You must understand that the hunger pangs you feel are a survival mechanism. Appetite is a different thing as it’s cravings and a desire to eat foods that you want. However, it would be best if you learned how to control your appetite to be healthy.

Twelve Simple Ways to Control Your Appetite

If you are one of the millions of people around this country that have problems exhibiting self-control when it comes to food, then you shouldn’t beat yourself up too badly. It’s nearly impossible to be perfect all the time, but here are some easy tricks that will help you eat less and control your appetite.

control your appetite1. Try Yoga

Yoga is good for you in many ways. First, it can help with your digestion, and second, it can put you in a frame of mind where you want to take care of your body more. Yoga gives you self-discipline, which is at the core of many appetite problems.

During the exercises, you will learn to breathe in positive and expel all negativity around you.

2. Drink Water

When you drink water, you’re expanding your stomach to allow less room for food. You should drink enough based on your weight to sustain your body, which most people are lacking. Sorry but Flavored waters don’t count. You need fresh H20 that has nothing in it but perhaps a bit of lemon.

3. Fill Up on Fiber

Your body needs fiber to aid in digestion and to fill you up. It’s easy to control your appetite when your belly is full. Fiber-filled foods include grains, nuts, legumes, as well as fruits, and vegetables. Even if you practice Keto or other low carb eating plans, make sure you get in plenty of fiber.

4. Eat Slower to Control Your Appetite

Why is it that some people think it’s a race when they sit down to dinner to see who can finish first? There must be a happy medium in the speed at which you eat. To eat less, try chewing each bite ten times.

This little trick will make you feel fuller faster, and it will stop the signal to the brain that tells you that you’re hungry.

5. Replace Poor Habits with Good Ones

It’s not easy to turn over a new leaf. When you want to replace poor habits with good ones, you need to give yourself a pep talk and choose foods you like. It’s impossible to think that you’re going to replace that delicious pizza with a bowl of turnips, but you can find small adjustments that can make skipping that Italian pie easier.

There are healthier versions of pizza, like the veggie style, that are better for you, and you won’t feel like you’re missing out.

6. Don’t Fill up On Sugary Drinks

While 100 percent juice is good for you, it must be consumed in moderation. You can quickly drink your allotment of calories in a few hours by drinking soda, fruit juice, and other sugary drinks. Energy drinks are one of the worst culprits because they have coffee or another base that is not usually bad, but the additives make it terribly unhealthy.

Unfortunately, these drinks use caffeine and sugar to give users a buzz, and the sugar content may surprise you. An eight-ounce of a popular energy drink has a whopping 124 grams of sugar and 330 milligrams of caffeine. The recommended amount of sugar on a 2,500-calorie diet is no more than 62 grams.

Now you see how easy it is to get a teeth-rotting amount of sugar with just one drink, so you must be careful when filling up on anything other than water. The average can of cola style soda has about 39 grams of sugar. While it’s better than an energy drink, one will nearly put you at your limit for sugar intake for the day.

dietitians

Dietitians refuse to eat these thirty foods.

7. Have A Cup Of Joe

There’s nothing better on a cold day than a piping hot cup of coffee. If you use spices like cinnamon and vanilla instead of cream and sugar, coffee can be quite helpful. Like soup, coffee warms the stomach to give you a feeling of fullness.

Plus, coffee can help suppress your appetite, and the antioxidants in the beans are good for your body. It can help to give your metabolism a healthy boost as well as make you feel fuller faster. Some people find that drinking coffee with a meal allows them to consume less and still feel satisfied.

Be careful about the additives. There are plenty of sugar-free options to help flavor your java if you can’t take it black. You may find that by adding more coffee to your day that you’re eating less and not as hungry.

8. Use An 8” Plate

Do you subconsciously feel that you must fill your dinner plate at every sitting? The standard plate size should be no more than ten inches, but many manufacturing companies have extended the size and will go up to an incredible 14” plate. You don’t need that much food!

If you put the appropriate portions of food on that 14” plate, you will consume 3-4 times more than you need. The bigger saucer, the more you feel compelled to fill it up. Now, if you switch to a small eight-inch plate, then you will think that you’re still getting a good portion, but you will eat significantly less.

There are many little tricks that you can utilize, as the smaller plate tip, that will help to curb your appetite. Once you adapt to these new ways of life, your stomach will begin to shrink. When you gorge on a plate of food at every meal, your stomach will grow to meet the demands.

9. Get Rid of Junk Food in Your Home

If you want to suppress your appetite, you need to watch what you bring into your home. When you’re making your grocery list, make sure it doesn’t have sugary things that can tempt you later. If you have a pantry filled with potato chips, snack cakes, and pies, get rid of them.

The more you eat these sugary snacks, the more your body will crave them. If you want to get your appetite under control, you need to eat the right things and not tempt your body. Once you have a laden diet laden with sugars, you will find it difficult to break this habit.

10. Distract Yourself to Control Your Appetite

Do you tend to be an emotional eater? Many people use food to soothe their emotions. Why is it that nothing makes you feel as good as a chocolate bar when life is going awry? Instead of reaching for that chocolate bar, why not try journaling instead.

When you distract yourself from thinking about food, you can develop new habits to replace the old unhealthy ones. If you absolutely cannot live without chocolate, then switch to a dark variety instead.

11. Eat on A Schedule

Did you know that you can put yourself on a food schedule? Instead of eating around the clock whenever you feel hungry, you can control your appetite by putting yourself into a routine. Babies quickly learn the importance of a schedule, and you can accomplish the same thing by giving yourself a food routine.

Try having breakfast at 7 am, lunch at 11:30 am, and dinner sharply at 6 pm. You can also incorporate your snack times into this arrangement. When you have your body on an eating schedule, then it will become expectant on nourishment at those times, and it should reduce your cravings.

12. Practice Mindfulness

Don’t let the mistakes of yesterday’s food diary dictate what happens today. Make a mental note of what you’ve eaten today and consider each bite you put into your mouth. Mindfulness is simply being present in the moment and being aware of everything around you.

You have the power to control the thoughts coming into your head, which can control your appetite. Other options include using an online app that you can enter the foods you eat to ensure you stay within your calorie allotment for the day.

control your appetiteThe Takeaway on Ways to Control Your Appetite

Weight loss and being healthy all stems from the ability to control your appetite. There are so many tempting foods out there that can lead you astray, so you must develop the proper mindset to control what you put in your mouth.

10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Worry About Not Having Kids

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Are your family and society pressuring you because you chose not having kids for your life? You can rest easy that you’re not alone in this decision.

Indeed, an article in Time Magazine found that more than 47 percent of women now choose to live kid-free lives.

The trend is growing as more women hold careers and look to their professional lives, and it doesn’t leave much time for children. Additionally, people can look to other methods to find happiness. The old theory that having a baby brings happiness has been unproven.

Raising children is a difficult task, and it’s not a job for the faint of heart. While a child does bring lots of joy into a person’s life, they also bring a lot of responsibility and tie you down. It’s not easy to travel the world, move up the corporate ladder, and live a carefree lifestyle when you have a toddler in tote.

So what about all the family members that pressure you for grandchildren to add to their growing brood? You can let them know that you are not singled out as this growing trend has fewer people looking to grow their family and instead focus on their own health and happiness.

Reasons Why You Should Avoid Growing Your Family

You know the reasons why not having kids works for you. You want your freedom and don’t want anyone or anything interfering with your lifestyle. Remember, nearly 50 percent of women in this country feel the same, so it’s obvious the tide is shifting on whether having children is acceptable. Here are some reasons why you should feel justified in your decision.

not having kids1. You’ll Be Healthier Mentally and Physically

You’re in it for the long haul when you choose to be a parent. Think of the journey to motherhood as a sprint and not a marathon. There’s no real defining moment when the responsibility ends.

When your child turns 18, they still need a parent and support. There is no magic number when you stop worrying about your children. A study was conducted in the Journal of Child and Family Studies.

A mother’s health is affected by the moment she brings a child into this world. Relationships are messy, and the association between a parent and their child is often complicated. You will worry, pace the floors, cry your eyes out, and stress about the child’s choices. Indeed, all this strain can take a toll on your health.

To say there is a great deal of energy, dedication, obligation, and accountability when you have a child is an understatement. According to the study, women who don’t bring this stress into their lives are healthier. So the next time someone pressures you to have a family, remind them you will be much healthier without one.

2. You’ll Get More Sleep

Parents lose a lot of sleep over their children, and it’s not just in the first year that you will be sleep-deprived. On average, a mother gets about 1.5 fewer hours of sleep each night, according to a recent study.

Dads are also in the same boat, as sleeping with a crying infant nearby is hard. While some people try to compensate by napping whenever possible, parents regularly complain about fatigue problems. When you have issues with sleep deprivation, it can impact many areas of your life.

Did you know sleep deprivation can cause hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease?

3. You Won’t Have As Much Exposure to Germs and Illness

Many parents rely on daycare centers to watch their children while they work. Sadly, children are germy little creatures as they wipe their noses frequently, lick things, and pass the germs from toy to toy. Daycare centers are cesspools of germs, and it’s not uncommon for things like the stomach flu or other illnesses to spread like wildfire in these establishments.

You will, no doubt, miss fewer days of work over trivial illnesses spread by your children. Not having kids will allow you to accumulate those sick days for personal use.

4. Intimacy Won’t Be An Issue

Having a kid certainly takes a toll on your relationships. If you can’t get your child to sleep at night or in their bed, it can cause intimacy problems. A tired person that is stressed out and worried their child doesn’t feel like being romantic.

You would be sadly mistaken if you think the trouble ends when they become teenagers. A survey conducted found that parents of teenagers have 45 percent less sex than parents with no kids. So no matter your child’s age, it seems they will impact your romantic life.

5. Your Back Might Be Healthier

Hippokratia notes that many women develop lower back pain during pregnancy.

But after you give birth, you might not get the rest you need for your aching back. It takes some real muscle to lift a baby in and out of a car seat as well as carrying them on your hip wherever you go. All these muscles will become strained, and this pressure can lead to continued back pain.

Though the pain isn’t often immediate, over time, you will notice that your body creates ways to compensate for the unevenly distributed weight of carrying a toddler.

6. You’ll Have More Money

It costs a lot of money to raise children in today’s world. A U.S. Department of Agriculture report estimates that it costs around $245,340.00 to raise a child from birth to age 18.

You’re responsible for feeding, clothing, and education, and you can’t forget about all those other little expenses that come into the mix. No wonder you will have more money if not having kids is your choice.

aunts7. You’ll Eat Healthier

It’s challenging to eat and live a healthy lifestyle when you have children around. They want finger foods, and of course, you must give them the occasional cookie to keep them well-rounded. However, if you’re going to eat a plant-based diet like is observed in a vegan lifestyle, it’s almost impossible with a child.

Children have different nutritional needs than that of an adult. It’s more difficult for parents to maintain a healthy body as they don’t have the energy to cook two different meals.

8.Your Stress Will Be Less

Stress is inevitable in life. However, when you have children, you are faced with things like economic and emotional strains and your job tensions. Constant stress plays a big part in your mental and physical health. It’s no fun to go to bed at night and worry about how you’ll pay bills and make it for another month.

Not having kids is a wise choice if you want financial freedom and less stress. You won’t have to worry about how you’ll pay for little Susie’s piano lessons or Johnny’s football team requirements. When you stress less, you live a more healthy and happy life.

9. You’ll Have Plenty of Alone Time

One of the parents’ chief complaints is that they don’t have enough time to be alone or care for themselves. While you don’t need much solo time, taking a bubble bath and listening to music occasionally is nice. Sadly, a parent would like to use the restroom in peace.

Children are time hogs as their needs are always pressing. In the younger years, they’re very clingy as the need to be close is ever-present. Not having kids will allow you to spend time pampering yourself and enjoying a quiet evening without interruptions.

10. Your Relationships Have A Better Chance of Lasting

You know that children strain finances, health, and intimacy, so it’s no wonder that people with kids often have problems keeping a relationship. Trying to juggle work, home, and the kids leave little time for romantic interests. Even those who manage to have relationships will struggle when the needs of the children come first.

While some people stay together for the kids, many walk away because of the children too. A relationship doesn’t need youngsters in it to survive. If anything, the ones without children seem to last longer and are healthier.

not having kidsFinal Thoughts on Not Having Kids, Despite the Pressure

While many people have a clear picture that a woman must marry and have children in their heads, social norms change to incorporate a different view. Not having kids is an option you can make, and no one can force you to think otherwise.

Whether you have children or not is a very personal topic, and you don’t owe anyone an explanation for your decisions. If you want to focus on your career and experiences in this life, you might be better off without children. Some people are not the parenting kind, and that’s okay. The world needs aunts and uncles as well as good cousins too.

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