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Doctors Share 15 Habits to Start Now to Avoid a Broken Hip Later

May 25, 2020 by Power of Positivity

doIn the past, a broken hip for a senior person usually led to an early death. Fortunately, advances in medical science and orthopedic surgery have reduced the mortality rate for such injuries. If you are among those at risk for breaking your hip, doctors recommend steps to take now to avoid it in the future.

Did you know that if you are 65 or older and have osteoporosis and have an 87-96 percent chance of fracturing your hip? Most broken hips are the result of trips and falls. What can you do to protect yourself?

You are at a higher risk of stumbling and breaking your hip if you are a female age 80 and beyond. In this risk group, studies show that only 10-15 percent of people survive after their injury. For those who do, 10 percent couldn’t go back home to their healthy lives.

Why are seniors more apt to stumble or fall? They are often unsteady on their feet, have slower reflexes, and have health issues that cause dizziness. Most hip fractures occur in the seniors’ homes.

While some minor hip fractures may heal without surgical intervention, others require a mechanical hip replacement. Although hip replacement surgery is now routine with a high level of success, it comes with risks, such as blood clots, infection, and abnormal bone growth beyond the replacement. These risks can be especially challenging for a senior who already has compromised health issues.

Best Practices for Preventing Hip Fractures

The good news is that you can observe healthy habits now to minimalize your chances of an accident later. Some of these steps may already be part of your lifestyle. Consider these fifteen habits doctors recommend to avoid accidents like a broken hip.

1. Make Regular Visits to Your Bone Care Specialist

When you are over 65, medical experts recommend that you see a bone care specialist regularly, especially if you are a woman. The doctor will probably conduct a bone density test to see how well your bones have aged, and if you are at risk for osteoporosis or broken hips.

2. Eat Right for Healthy Bones

Did you know that your bones were living organs in your body? To keep them optimally healthy, they need proper care and nourishment. Diets loaded with processed junk food also add extra pounds for your bones to carry.

Since your bones have a high calcium content, nutritionists recommend that you enjoy whole foods rich in calcium and Vitamin D. Try incorporating low-fat dairy products and dark green leafy veggies into each meal. It is a deliciously healthy habit that will nourish your bones and your whole body.

3. Keep Yourself Hydrated and Drink Water

You already know that cool, refreshing water benefits your kidneys, skin, and body, including your bones. If you drink a lot of coffee and soda, studies have shown that too much of these beverages may contribute to bone brittleness.

Give yourself a break from acidic beverages and have at least 6-8 glasses of water each day. If you don’t like to drink water plain, add some lemon for a boost of taste and Vitamin C. Keeping your body hydrated may keep a broken hip at bay.

4. Kick Your Cigarette Butts

As if you don’t have enough reasons to stop smoking, add harmful to your bones to the list. Tobacco smoke is laden with hazardous chemicals, including those that can cause cancer. Smoking eventually destroys each body system, including your bones.

Talk to your professional healthcare provider about the right smoking cessation therapy for you. Within hours of quitting, your body starts to heal. Learn how to stop smoking and give yourself a break, but you don’t want that break in your hip.

5. Get Those Bones in the Groove

Our skeleton is a fantastic system of bones, blood vessels, joints, and connective tissue. If you don’t get enough exercise, your joints can get stiff, and you can be at risk for arthritis. This condition weakens your bones and can increase your chances of falling and getting a broken hip.

Even if you are a senior, your health provider or a physical therapist can recommend beneficial exercise routines tailored to your needs. You may also consider ancient regimens like yoga or Tai Chi. They incorporate gentle, fluid motions that benefit your bones, joints, and muscles.

6. Limit Your Alcohol

While your healthcare provider may approve you drinking alcohol in moderation, realize that too much can hurt you. Did you know that chronic alcoholism can rob your bones of vital calcium, leading to brittle bones and osteoporosis? If you want healthy bones and fewer risks for a fractured hip, be careful with the alcohol consumption.

7. Minimize Your Trip & Falling Risks

The most common ways of getting a broken hip are tripping and falling. Be proactive and inspect each room of your home for these avoidable hazards. Clear clutter from the floors and stairs and ensure that power cords are adequately bound out of your way.

If you have throw rugs, secure them with slip-resistant tape. Bathrooms are notorious places for slips and falls, so be sure to install safety bars around the tub and shower. Use slip-resistant mats in the tub and around it.

8. Let There Be Light

How many times have you almost tripped and fell because of inadequate lighting? One bad fall could lead to a fractured hip, so be sure to have proper lighting in every room of your house. Consider using a nightlight in the bedroom, hallways, and bathrooms for a safe path during the night.

9. Get Started on the Right Foot

Have you noticed that when your feet hurt, it pains the rest of your body? Your bones and joints may already be paying the price for the years you wore those tight-fitting stilettos. You can be just as attractive and safer in lower heels and flats since you aren’t as apt to fall in them.

Wear comfortable shoes that support your feet, legs, and back. Did you know that you can also battle hip pain because of ill-fitting shoes? With the right fitting footwear, you can even walk more for exercise.

10. Keep Your Eyes on Good Health

Another fall hazard can be poor vision, which is typical as we age. Since our eyesight changes periodically, remember to keep regular visits with your optometrist. Always wear your corrective lenses to prevent stumbles and falls around the house and in public.

Get your balance back by trying these specific yoga poses.

11. Know Your Medications

Talk to your professional healthcare provider about the medications you are taking. Many prescriptions have dizziness and drowsiness as their main side effect. Be careful when standing suddenly, and sit down if you are feeling dizzy, to prevent a bone-breaking fall.

Some medications also leech bone-healthy vitamins and minerals from your bones. Talk to your healthcare provider about these medications. If you can’t make substitutions, at least be aware that you may need supplements.

12. Consider Taking Supplements

Some seniors have difficulty with vitamin and mineral absorption, so consult your healthcare provider or nutritionist about taking bone-healthy supplements. Your doctor might recommend prescription medication to build density and slow down bone loss.

13. Take A Lesson from History

Did you know that osteoporosis and brittle bone conditions are often inherited, especially in females? If your mother or other women in your family were diagnosed with osteoporosis, you could also be at risk. If any of these relatives had a broken hip, you need to be especially cautious about your health and safety.

Multiple studies suggest that your race may also be a factor in bone health. African American, Asian, and Hispanic females usually have higher incidences of osteoporosis and hip fractures than their White peers. However, Asian females statistically had fewer hip fractures and breaks.

14. Be Tested for Paget’s Disease

Certain disorders, such as Paget’s Disease, can affect bone density and make you prone to fractures and breaks. Paget’s Disease causes your bones to be enlarged and twisted, affecting the spine and hips. Some of the condition’s signs and symptoms are common in other disorders, so only medical tests could reveal you have it.

15. Keep Yourself Comfortable

As some people age, they lose a little padding in the hips and bottom. Keep your chairs, car seats, and beds cozy and comfortable with supportive padding. You will be less likely to have aching bones, which could make you less active.

Did you know that some hip fractures go undiagnosed? If you are experiencing constant pain and aches in your hip joints, consult your healthcare provider. It may be a small fracture that can worsen over time.

Final Thoughts on Avoiding a Broken Hip by Starting Healthy Habits Now

Nobody can stop the process of an aging body and bones. However, these and other healthy habits may slow the process down and minimalize bone loss. Just because you have risk factors doesn’t mean that a broken or fractured hip is inevitable.

With proper diet, weight-bearing workouts, and a healthy lifestyle, you can continue to do the things you love long into your golden years. Take care of your body, and it will take care of you. Practicing good bone and joint health is an ideal way to start.

6 Tips to Help You Avoid Being a Victim of Email Spoofing

May 24, 2020 by Deborah Tayloe

Forgery is one of the oldest white-collar crimes in history. In ancient times, rogue artists studied genuine signatures, manuscripts, and works of art to reproduce them. Then, they could sometimes pass these fakes as the real thing, often selling them for small fortunes.

Email Spoofing A New Forgery Style

Throughout the centuries, methods of forgery have changed, but the motives behind them haven’t altered. Internet crime, like email spoofing, affects everyone at one time or another. Email spoofing is a surprisingly simple way criminals use to forge email addresses for unethical reasons.

Some of the most notorious forgeries in history were discovered because someone was familiar enough with the genuine article. Likewise, it takes a careful eye to detect when someone is sending you a fake email. Just one small change in the address can create one that can easily fool people.

In most states and local governments, email spoofing, also called phishing, is illegal. Some unscrupulous people use e-spoofing to harass others or to make false claims against individuals or organizations. The most detrimental spoofs are those that extort money or personal information from unsuspecting recipients.

How to Email Spoofing

How can you tell if someone is spoofing you? Do you have enough Internet security to protect your private information? Consider these six tips to help prevent you from being the next email, spoof victim.

1. Carefully Examine the Sender’s Email Address

One of the best ways to fool you is to use familiar email addresses. For example, you might think you are receiving an email from a well-known legitimate business. However, the criminal makes a slight change in the address or domain that is easily overlooked.

Check out the sender’s email provider for signs of foul play. Would your life insurance company send you an official email by Outlook, Hotmail, or Gmail? Even if the cybercrook was smart enough to use .com, .org, or .net, these aren’t always proof of the email’s legitimacy.

Before you click on anything or disclose any personal information, scrutinize the sender’s address. You will often see one letter changed, added, or omitted. The letterhead and trademarks look real, but the address is fake.

To avoid getting phished in the future, be sure that your account is protected by a sender’s policy framework or SPF. This program helps to prevent cybercriminals from using your email address without your consent. It also minimizes spoofs that can come through your server to your inbox.

2. Examine the Subject of the Email

Even if the subject line seems legitimate, but you still have suspicions, do some prodding into it. If you use Gmail, go to the right corner of the email, click the three dots, called an ellipse. Scroll down the box and click on show original sender, which should match the entered sender address exactly.

For other email programs, find the return-path function to compare the addresses. You can also look up the sender’s IP address, which is the fingerprint of any computer or mobile device. Use your program’s IP lookup tool and compare it.

3. Trust Your Instincts

You’ve heard the saying that things that sound too good to be true usually are. Some spam that slides through your mail filters is such obvious scams that they are laughable. Others are a little more subtle with their deceptions.

The content of an email is often a tell-tale sign of a spoof. Why would the IRS send you a threatening email and then ask for your Social Security number and banking information? If you receive a debt collection notice from a company you have never owed, wouldn’t they already have your account information?

These heartless cybercriminals are hoping that you don’t recognize their scam and will offer any personal information they request. Adamantly protect your financial and personal information and never give them out to suspicious emailers. Remember that legitimate financial institutions and businesses will never request usernames, passwords, and other private information by email.

Another clue for detecting probable email spoofing is the graphics, grammar, and spelling. Many cybercrooks don’t have the equipment to forge official-looking letterheads and trademark graphics. The pixeled image may be distorted or faded.

As you scan through the content, notice if the grammar is awkward or incorrect. Non-English- speaking phishers often rely on rudimentary translation apps that are rarely precise, and you may see glaring misspellings. These unprofessional errors wouldn’t be found in a letter from a real company or organization.

Other phishing scams to beware of are those who are soliciting charitable donations. Often, these are fake organizations, or they are impersonating legitimate ones. One notorious scam involves email spoofs claiming that you have won a lottery fortune, and they need your banking information to deposit your winnings. Don’t click on anything or give out your private information.

4. They Misspell Your Name

They entered your email address correctly, but how did they spell your name? If this were an actual letter from your company or an organization with which you regularly correspond, wouldn’t they know how to spell your name correctly? An automatic red flag should go up if the email is vaguely addressed to whom it may concern or dear recipient.

5. Be Wary of Foreign Emails

If you receive a strange email from an individual you’ve never met, it’s almost sure to be an email spoof. At least one time or another, you’ve probably received an urgent email from someone supposedly living in a foreign country. As luck would have it, this fake foreigner has selected you to solve a personal crisis.

It’s a perennial phishing scam that uses different scenarios. The sender claims to have an unbelievably large check that is being held up in US customs. To get the funds released, he must have an American-side bank account. If you would send him your banking information, he will reward your kindness with a hefty sum of money.

Be assured that there is no check, and this isn’t a real person. If he gets your financial information, the only cash he is going to get is yours. Don’t be duped by these cunning cybercriminals.

6. Increase Your Email Security with a Difficult Name

Most people make their email addresses using their names, birthdays, or other relevant information. You are making it extremely easy on email hackers when you use your name as your address. When you use numbers, underscores, or numerical characters, then you are going to increase the chances that your email won’t be hacked.

Cybercriminals look for their next victim by their lack of internet security. For instance, if your email is [email protected], then it’s pretty easy to see that the recipient’s name, and determine that he was likely born in 1982. Using this information, the criminal can quickly compile up your data.

Do you know how easy it would be to get information about that specific person?

A simple internet search can give phone numbers, addresses, and even data about who lives in the household. So it’s easy to see that making the email address something more randomized, like [email protected] would make it much more challenging to get any valid data about this person.

Don’t make things easy for the intelligent internet criminals of today. When you put your personal information on social media outlets, then you are giving them all the ammunition they need to make you their next target. Be careful what email address you use and what you post on the internet.

Organize Your Email Account

Even when you are an individual and not a business, you’ll find your email flooded with junk from unknown senders. Depending on your email provider, most of this unwanted e-litter goes into a spam file to be deleted. Sometimes, you may be so overwhelmed and agitated with junk mail that you aren’t so careful to read the senders’ URL.

Study the help guide from your email provider and see how you can organize your account to recognize possible email spoofing better. You can also download free programs that allow you to keep your mail organized. These programs will also unsubscribe you to unwanted subscriptions automatically. Use tools for smarter email handling for better email performance.

If you get a suspicious email, then you need to report it as spam through your email server. The only way to stop these attacks is to be proactive.

Final Thoughts on Being Cyber Safe to Avoid Email Spoofing

The internet has brought about many opportunities for people to work from home, stay connected to people across the globe with ease, and to have the power of information at the touch of a button. However, with all the good things that the world wide web has done for society, there are also some downfalls.

Hacking your email and other accounts have become quite easy, primarily when you feed information to hackers unknowingly. Thankfully, there are ways that you can be proactive and stop or reduce the threat to your email and other aspects of your life. Do you have the protection you need against email spoofing?

Psychology Explains Why Loving Yourself Helps You Be Happy

May 24, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Robert A. Heinlein wrote in his book Stranger in a Strange Land, “Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” This phrase may have been a line in a fictional book, but we will demonstrate that it is true. Loving yourself is the condition which is essential to being happy.

In other words, you cannot be happy until you learn self-love.

Many people are unaware of how much they don’t appreciate themselves, and they’re left wondering why they can’t just be happy. It’s a topic worth looking into so many psychologists have weighed in on the subject. In this article, we’ll cover areas such as:

The definition of love
The definition of being happy
How to respect yourself
How to be happy
Allowing others to appreciate you
The dangers of overindulging

By the end, you’ll have read a complete guide about loving yourself and being happy, and the answer to why you need to love yourself to be happy should be clear.

Self Love & Being Happy

Before understanding why self-love must come before being happy, it’s helpful to put some type of definition to both conditions.

The definition of self-love, as many psychologists and life coaches define it, is putting your well-being and happiness in life first. From this definition, it’s easy to see why you can’t be happy if you don’t love yourself – because self-love is the act of making yourself comfortable.

You can apply this thought process to anything, whether it’s ideas or tangible things. For example, you can love yourself enough to improve your education, or you could love yourself enough to lose weight, so your body is healthy. It’s more about feeling like you deserve to be loved (which we discuss more further along in the article).

However, what does it mean to be happy?

According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, being happy can be defined in two ways. It can be a state of mind that is purely psychological, or it could be how well you’re doing in life, which is based on value.

That said, many psychologists would argue that the latter definition of being happy isn’t the real definition. After all, many wealthy, successful business people and celebrities struggle with depression.

How to Start Loving Yourself

Loving yourself isn’t a switch – you can’t just start doing it on a whim if you haven’t been doing it before. The process is like any other process you’d learn to do. Start from the beginning, start slow, work your way into it, get good at it, then excel at it.

Here are three tips that will help you get started on a journey of self-kindness.

1 – Open your mind

First, drop the notion that the phrase “love yourself” is some modern, hippie-mantra that everyone is saying to fit in. Many people think of the saying “love yourself” as a mantra or vinyl word art. It’s so much more than that.

To love yourself is just as concrete as loving someone else – not in a romantic sense but a sense of well-being. You want the people you like to be healthy, happy, and fulfilled. And, of course, you desire the same outcome for yourself. You have to know, deep in your core, that you are worth it.

2 – Acknowledge negative self-talk

Next, realize that you’re going to have negative thoughts about yourself. It’s completely normal – it’s human. In fact, Stanford psychologist Emma Seppälä states in her book “The Happiness Track, “As far as our minds are concerned, bad is stronger than good…in this day and age, our negativity bias, both as it relates to the environment and our self-judgments, is harmful.”

The key is to dismiss these thoughts just as you would reject someone who is gossiping about you. It’s hard – it will not be a walk in the park, but the more you practice dismissing these thoughts, the better you’ll get at it. Do it with positive thinking and compassion for yourself. For example, the negative thought would be, “I’m a loser. I can never do anything right.” Instead, be kind to yourself and change it to something like a pep talk. “I’ve made mistakes in the past, but I will do better.” Be compassionate. Compassion is essential because you can be your own worst critic.

3 – Learn to love yourself without conditions

As you get more compassionate with yourself, teach yourself that you are worth loving unconditionally. Many times, people put so many conditions on themselves, which puts them in a catch-22 situation.

For example, look at this statement: “I’m not going to buy myself new clothes until I lose weight.” This is an excellent notion, but you are not going to lose weight until you love yourself enough to do it.

Rethink the situation. Then, buy new clothes because, well, why not? You deserve to wear beautiful clothes no matter what size you are. Thinking of it in this way removes the conditional love. Suddenly, you love yourself so much that you want to lose weight to fit in other cute clothes. Be compassionate and remove the conditions.

Once you’ve gotten the hang of being compassionate and letting go of conditions, you are ready to love yourself.

Be Happy as You Grow More in Love with Yourself

After you get good at self-love, you will begin to see that there is a whole world out there full of things, feelings, people, activities, and more that can make you happy. However, don’t rely only on material things to make you happy. Remember, there are two parts to being happy, and the first part is psychological. At this point, you’ve done the hardest part, which is loving yourself. Here are a few tips that will push you the rest of the way:

Get regular sleep. Science proves that sleeping well improves your mood.
Spend more time with people who make you happy.
Go outside. Taking in the sunshine and fresh air plays a part in boosting your mood.
Meditation makes people happier–give it a try.

The value part of being happy is easy. Do things that make you happy! Go on trips, buy yourself gifts, do your favorite activities. The idea is to love yourself so much that you consistently make yourself happy.

When You Love Yourself, Others Can Love You

Being loved by others also increases your sense of being happy. After all, humans are social creatures. Everyone wants to be loved by someone. However, you must be open to being loved.

If you want to be loved by others, you must love yourself first. If you don’t show kindness yourself, it gets in the way of other people being kind to you. The problem with trying to love someone who doesn’t love themselves is that they don’t think they deserve to be loved. Therefore, they reject it. This makes them even more unhappy, which makes for a terrible relationship.

Another point to this is that when you love yourself, this sets the precedent of what it takes for someone else to become devoted to you. It helps you to discriminate between those who genuinely love you and those who are faking it, because, since you love yourself, you know what true love is.

Don’t Overindulge the Pampering, Though!

Just as the pendulum swings one way, it can swing an equal distance in the other direction. It’s great to care for yourself and make yourself happy, but you must be careful not to overdo it. In an earlier section, we mentioned falling in love yourself with no conditions. This is true – that is not what we’re referring to when speaking of overindulging.

Make sure that you maintain a healthy balance. Don’t spoil yourself to the point that you’re doing things to make yourself happy despite any harmful consequences that might occur.

For example, don’t go on a shopping spree if you have not paid your monthly rent. You are guaranteed that getting evicted will cancel out any short-term pleasure that your shopping spree gave you. Being happy should never be put above responsibilities.

You should also not gain your peaceful state of mind at the expense of others’ happy state of mind. Doing this could cause you to end up alone. Being alone can kill your newfound happy state of mind faster than you were able to obtain it.

Final Thoughts on Loving Yourself and Finding Happiness

There is no doubt that you need to love yourself first before you can truly be happy. If you are not unable to respect yourself or unaccustomed to being happy, it can be a challenge to get there.

To get started, you must overcome one of the biggest obstacles you will face in your lifetime – you. You must believe you’re worth everything. You must think you’re worthy of devotion and be happy in your life.

Once you have overcome yourself, the rest is the easy part. Continue on a path of doing things that make you happy. And most of all, enjoy every minute of it.

The Truth About Positive Thinking (and how to get there)

May 24, 2020 by Power of Positivity

On my path from a negative place in my life to positive thinking, I must thank the bad times. Those challenges spurred me into a transformation.

The truth about my path to positive thinking and living is this: I wouldn’t be where I am without the bad times. By accepting the negative, not rejecting it, by understanding the negative, not being ignorant of it, and by growing from the negative, not being stunted by it, I have changed for the better. As a result of this shift, I’ve been able to experience the real Power of Positivity in my life.

“There is nothing either good or bad, but our thinking makes it so.” – William Shakespeare, Hamlet

Correcting Course: Shifting from a Negative Place into a Life of Positive Thinking

Accepting the “Negative”

“Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” – Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher, Founder of Taoism

First, I had to accept the negative and not reject or ignore it. The fact is my life was, and is, imperfect, and our lives are imperfect. The key is accepting these thoughts, feelings, and events without judgment and self-criticism.

When I experience loss, I allow my heart to ache and the tears to flow.
I feel the anxiety and frustration when I experience disappointment.
When someone upsets me, I feel the anger and the resentment.

It’s human – we feel these things.

The key is not holding onto these emotions. Just feel them, allow them to pass, and move on. If you don’t give too much credence to any given feeling, they cannot grab ahold of you. Again, just move on.

In truly accepting the situation, I subsequently got rid of one of the most significant sources of unhappiness–the inability to accept things as they are. This inability is the crux of sadness for many people. But I realized that I could change my outlook by merely recognizing that the present is the only thing that exists.

By embracing the present situation, we steel our minds and bodies for action. We take on a warrior’s mentality – ready to take our blows, but never conceding defeat.
By accepting the negative things that happen, we can now begin to understand why they happen and how we can experience incredible growth and power as a result.

Allow and accept the bad things to happen. It’s not easy, but it’s a part of life and a crucial component to your growth as a human being.

Understanding the “Negative”

“Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there’s got to be a way through it.” – Michael J. Fox

Understanding the bad things that happen to us is a crucial element in accepting them. Also, without understanding the negative, we could never take advantage of the situation and become a better person.

I began to understand the negative situation as temporary. In time, bad things that brought on negativity would pass. Even if it were a massive, looming problem, it would end soon.

Next, I began to understand how to deal with these adverse events in my life. I learned that to understand situations wholly. I had to deal with them without judgment or criticism of myself. Self-deprecation does nothing but add to the stress in making the situation more complicated.

Also, I began to understand that what I was experiencing had to be truly resolved. As humans, our nature immediately desires to either get rid of or ignore bad feelings and thoughts. However, by ignoring the negative, we are making it worse. The stress grows and takes its place within our subconscious, darkening our disposition.

I began to understand the bad thoughts and feelings as the energy that needed to be released. We were not created to be negative beings with darkness in our hearts. We must release this negative energy and allow goodness to fill its void. By releasing this negative energy, I eventually understood and appreciated the gratification of positive energy taking its place.

Flipping the Mindset from Negative to Positive

I began to understand that my frame of mind determines just how detrimental a situation is, and what I’m going to gain as a result. Instead of thinking of the situation as a problem, I began to think of it as an opportunity; an opportunity to become stronger, wiser, and more resilient.

In addition, I began to understand the power of reframing. This process explained how I could reprogram my mind to switch negative words into positive words, and a negative situation into a more favorable situation. If you can transform your thoughts and language, you will see the scenario differently and experience dramatically different results.

Finally, I understand that in order to experience and appreciate the positives, there have to be negatives. I’ve been through the struggle, turned problems into opportunities, and became a better person. I continue to be mindful of this fact every day.

Growing from the “Negative”

“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but rising every time we fall.” – Nelson Mandela

Through my trials and tribulations, I have grown into a better version of myself. I have transformed in literally every area, all from first changing my thoughts and then taking action.

And this opportunity for growth is where the exquisite nature of our human mind and spirit culminates into something so positive and powerful that it causes the negative forces of our universe to shudder.

Sure… we’ll get hurt, disappointed, even shattered… but we can resolve to become better, stronger, more powerful, more loving, more appreciative, more positive people. In other words, we can take a hurtful situation and grow into a better version of ourselves.

Human beings are the only creatures on the face of the Earth that can consciously take a negative, harmful situation and mold it into something that benefits themselves and their world.

Through acceptance of the negative elements as they become present (even prevalent) in our lives, and by understanding that through the experience of the negative, we can grow into a better people, Furthermore, we learn that we have the capability and the courage to handle any situation.

Final Thoughts on Adopting a Mindset of Positive Thinking

We each have the power to handle the situation. Indeed, each of us can grow emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually every time.

So here’s to acceptance, understanding, and growth in becoming a more positive version of ourselves.

20 Loving Texts to Send Your Partner When Dating Long Distance

May 23, 2020 by Power of Positivity

When you’re dating long distance, communication is everything. Since you are far apart, you can’t get a lot of in-person quality time to build the relationship. You must find other ways to bond.

Cute, fun, engaging, and romantic text messages can go a long way when it comes to bonding in a long-distance relationship. You don’t always have to explicitly type, “I love you,” to express your love. As long as you let your significant other know that they’re on your mind, the distance may not seem so bad.

While text messages aren’t a substitute for in-person interaction, they’re enough to keep the bond secure between you and your significant other when you have distance between you. Here are 20 loving texts that are perfect for sending your significant other when you’re in a long-distance relationship.

20 Fun Texts to Send Your Love While Dating Long Distance

1. Simple “Good Morning” Texts

It’s nice to know that you’re the first thing on someone’s mind during the day. You’re partner likely feels the same way. A quick good morning text is an excellent way to show your partner that they are one of your priorities since you’re thinking of them before getting your day going. It’s also great if you know you’re going to have a busy day – text them early, so they don’t feel forgotten.

2. Simple “Good Night” Texts

Just as a good morning text lets your partner know you’re thinking of them first thing in the morning, a good night text can let them know that you’re thinking of them, even after the long events of the day. Plus, being in a good mood can lead to a better quality of sleep.

3. Jokes

Everyone loves a good laugh every once in a while. However, even if your jokes aren’t that great, your significant other would appreciate the effort. Unless your significant other is a stick-in-the-mud, a few well-timed jokes can put a smile on your significant other’s face. One great idea is “relationship jokes” – having a good laugh at the quirks of a relationship is great for bonding.

4. Selfies

When you’re in a long-distance relationship, you don’t get the opportunity to be near each other a lot. Selfies are a great way to bridge that gap. Your significant other can see you every day if you choose to. They can see your new hairstyles, outfits, jewelry, and more. Let’s face it – your partner is attracted to you, so it’s understandable that they’d want to see you, even if it’s just your face. Selfies are the closest you two can get without getting intimate in a long-distance relationship.

5. Good News

It’s nice to be romantic, but you could mix the content of your texts up a little to keep the conversations dynamic. Your significant other could be as stoked as you are about your good news. After all, they care about you, so when good things happen to you, it makes them happy. Plus, it’s nice to hear good news no matter who it comes from.

6. Interesting Events

Being able to have conversations about real-life events makes you friends with your significant other in addition to being lovers. When you’re in a long-distance relationship, you can’t always have those conversations face to face, so texting about exciting topics and events can keep the friendship alive.

7. Random Caring Texts

Of course, sending loving texts about…well…love is a great way to let your significant other know that you still care. Dating long distance can sometimes make people feel insecure about their relationship. However, regular loving texts can ease that insecurity and remind your significant other that you genuinely care about them.

8. Travel Plans to See Them

When you’re dating long distance, any opportunity to see each other is a gift. Therefore, texting travel plans to link up with your significant other is always an incredibly welcome text message. This communication is especially true if you have suddenly found time out of a busy schedule, and you’re surprising your partner with the visit (i.e., you’re en route).

9. Interesting Details of Your Day

If you’ve heard of oversharing, you don’t have to worry about this being a problem when you are dating long distance. Sharing interesting detail of your day are great texts to send to your partner. By being able to keep up with what is happening in each other’s lives, it can make you feel like you never miss a day with that person.

10. Quirky Texts

Sending texts that show your personality, especially your quirky side, is loving because it shows that you trust your partner to love every side of you. It indicates a level of comfort that you have with them. It can also give your partner the confidence to show you different sides of them, too. Plus, your partner will probably fall in love with little weird things you do.

11. Pet Photos

It is no secret that people love their pets just like they’re children. Therefore, sharing pet selfies can be considered as a loving because you’re sharing an important part of your life with your partner. It’s very special if your partner also shares pet selfies with you also.

12. You Miss Them

Letting your partner know that you really miss them is a great way to let them know how special they are to you. This indicates that the absence isn’t making your bond weaker. Simple texts saying that you miss them helps to keep your partner confident and, ultimately, into the relationship.

13. GIFs

Sometimes pictures (in this case, animations) can speak a thousand words. GIFs are a fun way to express your love for your partner. Plus, they’re a lot easier to send if you aren’t good with words. They’re also great texts to send if you’re too busy to type out a whole message. You can have a whole conversation with GIFs.

14. Poetry

If you are good with words, a few lines of poetry can be one of the most loving, romantic, and unique texts that you can send to your partner. It doesn’t matter whether you wrote it or someone else did, the gesture is what matters. Good poetry could melt your partner’s heart.

16. Flirty Texts

If you want to be loving but playful, flirty texts are the way to go. They’re fun, and they can stimulate conversation. This is especially important when you are texting and talking over the phone so much more than in person. It’s also a great way to get your partner’s attention if you’ve been missing them all day.

17. Spiritual or Religious Texts

If you, your partner, or both of you are spiritual or religious people, it can be nice to send texts of a spiritual or religious nature. For one, it shows respect for your partner’s beliefs. Sharing in your partner’s beliefs can also build an incredibly strong bond that can stand up to any distance between you two.

18. Updates on Favorite Shows

If there are shows or movies that you both like but can’t watch together because you’re dating long distance, texting about your favorite moments can be loving in a certain light. You won’t feel like you’re alone while watching. You’ll still have someone there to laugh or cry at the good moments. These types of text messages are great for “spending time together” while apart.

19. Safety Texts

Sending texts to make sure your partner made it home safely or to make sure they’re okay in other situations that may arise shows how much you love and/or care about them. There is no doubt that they appreciate and welcome your concern for them. This is one of the ultimate types of loving text messages that you can send your significant other.

20. “I Love You” Texts

There is no better way to say you love someone than to say that you love them. A simple, three-word message can make a huge difference in someone’s day. You’d be surprised at how often a text like this lands at just the right time.

Final Thoughts on Dating Long Distance

Dating long distance takes a lot of effort. With so much time apart, it can sometimes make a relationship seem as if it’s standing in place. Sure, you can talk on the phone, but both of you are probably busy. Loving text messages are the perfect way to stay in touch without interrupting so much.

Text messages don’t always have to be straightforward. After all, you don’t want them to read like an essay. By using ideas from the twenty types of text messages above, you can keep the conversation interesting, keep your bond strong, and, most importantly, let your partner know how much you are. Try a few out to find your favorites!

Nurses Share How to Wear a Face Mask to Avoid Germs + What Not to Do

May 23, 2020 by Power of Positivity

The choice to wear a face mask could be a valuable tool in preventing the spread of germs and viruses.

A recent study shows that face coverings reduce up to a threefold the spread of viruses. Respiratory diseases are most commonly spread through coughing, sneezing, or talking when tiny droplets from the mouth or nose land on another person.

But even as they help in reducing the spread of viruses, coverings could lead to more reinfections if you do not adhere to proper safety guidelines.

What are face masks? Can they help?

Masks are coverings made from different materials with ties or elastic bands that help cover your nose and mouth, hence preventing the spread of viruses. Surgical masks are the most common and effective ones.

If you wear them correctly, masks help reduce the transmission of relatively large microorganisms splashes and droplets.

Surgical three-layered masks feature the following:

Outer layer to repel body fluids such as blood
Middle layer which filters pathogens
Inner layer for the absorption of moisture in exhaled air

Some face masks may not be able to help against some particles, given the edges don’t fit tightly around the mouth and nose.

Here are some ways to protect yourself from germs when you go out.

Who Should Wear Face Masks?

Anyone getting out in public, or where the risk of contracting respiratory-related viruses are high, should wear a face mask to avoid contracting or spreading the same.

However, the Centers for Disease Control recommends that people wear face masks during a viral outbreak, especially:

Those who are suffering from specific respiratory illness
Those showing signs and symptoms of the illness
Those taking care of patients suffering from respiratory illnesses.

For health workers, however, WHO recommends that they use surgical masks and take strict safety measures since they are at higher risk.

Surgical masks include the N95 mask and FFP3, which help to offer protection against tiny particles and to filter out 95% particles.

The masks also have a tight-fitting to prevent possible leakage on the edges.

Surgical masks are also fluid-resistant and offer protection against larger airborne particles.

Home-made masks, on the other hand, helps to reduce significantly the chances of virus spread among those not showing symptoms of the illness.

Between 24 and 48 hours of infection are mainly the most critical as you won’t even know you are infected, hence spreading it unknowingly. Wearing face-covering reduces such.

Despite their crucial role, there is little scientific backing for the use of masks for members of the public. They can easily get contaminated when people sneeze or cough around the person wearing it.

Further, they could give a false sense of security to people wearing them, making them ignore other essential measures such as proper hand hygiene and the need for social distance, which are the most effective preventive measures.

Learn how a telehealth appointment can get you the care you need–while skipping the germs of the doctor’s office.

When to Wear a Face Mask

According to the World Health Organization, only wear a mask when experiencing the symptoms of respiratory infections such as cough.

WHO also recommends that you wear a mask when offering care for a respiratory-illness patient, more specifically when you’re 6 feet close to the patient.

Surgical masks, for instance, effectively trap bigger respiratory illness droplets. However, the case could be different with some viruses such as the coronavirus because;

They have tiny particles.
There can be a possible leakage through the areas not adequately covered by the mask given it doesn’t fit tightly on the edges.

The Center for Disease Control also recommends that the public use masks when in public gatherings, even teaching people how to make them.

Bottom-line is, masks act as a spread barrier between the caregiver and the patient and not a shield. Hence, CDC does not declare them bullet-proof for viral safety since they’re not sealed and could allow in small particles.

Whether or not you’re sick, wearing a mask when in public or gathering is a simple show of care to the people around you.

Putting On a Mask – The Dos

While face masks can be useful in preventing the spread of larger virus particles, they also present many risks.

The outer part of the mask is more likely to be contaminated. When it so happens, touching it and touching your face without taking proper measures such as hand hygiene could lead to contamination. If you have to wear a mask, observe the following;

First, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to reach all the parts of the hand, including the nails, palm, and the back of the hand. Alternatively, you can rub your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Next, check the covering to see if you can spot such defects as tearing.
If there’s no damage, wear the mask by placing the colored part outward. Carefully position the mask to cover your nose and mouth.
If it has ear loops, carefully place them on each ear. For the ones with strings, use them to hold the mask, nicely tying the upper and lower strings at the back of your head. The ones with bands should be easier to manage. Roll the band to the back of your head.
Further, ensure the upper strip of the mask takes the shape of your nose. To do this, pinch it as you press it down with your fingers.
Ensure the bottom of the mouse covers both your mouse and chin. If not, pull it down to position it well until it fits.
Ensure the mask fits, giving you a comfortable, well-protected, and cozy feeling.
Resist the temptation of touching the mask once its in position. If you have to, be sure to properly clean your hands using alcohol-based sanitizer or soap and water.
Dispose of face masks when you notice any signs of damage, when it gets dirty or when overly moist. If it’s reusable, wash and dry it properly as regularly as possible. Alternatively, you can keep the mask in a plastic bag until you’re able to clean it. On both occasions, thoroughly cleanse your hands after that.
Dispose of the mask properly in a closed bin for extra safety. Wash your hands with hot water and soap for at least twenty seconds.

Surgical masks and home-made coverings don’t offer the same level of protection. However, if you use them properly as outlined above, you can save the community. Following these guidelines will significantly reduce the spread of viruses.

The Don’ts

Putting on a mask may not be precisely applicable to everyone. Children under 2 years shouldn’t wear masks.

Similarly, those having difficulties in breathing should also avoid such coverings as they tend to do more damage than good.

To avoid contamination, take the following measures when the mask is in position:

Avoid touching the mask unnecessarily once you have it on. The outer parts of the mask trap pathogens when someone sneezes or coughs close to you. Some viruses can stay for days on the clothe. Touching it and touching your face could be disastrous.
Don’t leave the mask hanging from one ear. This carelessness could lead to contamination.
Don’t leave the mask hanging on your neck. If you no longer need it, safely remove and dispose of it appropriately.
Tempting as it may seem, do not reuse a disposable mask. Reusing masks meant for single-use, such as surgical masks, puts you and others in grave danger.
Do not crisscross ties. Ensure each tie is on the right ear. This will ensure the mask fits well, leaving no space for pathogens to enter.
Don’t wear a mask that is worn out, damaged, or dump. Dispose of it immediately in a closed bin
Remove the mask as soon as you are away from patients or public gatherings.

Cloth coverings or face masks?

Both cloth coverings and face masks can help prevent viruses in public gatherings or when in close contact with infected persons.

Though their level of protection is lower compared to respirators and surgical masks, cloth coverings still offer protection against respiratory droplets, which might contain pathogens. Here are tips on proper usage:

When using them, choose one that fits perfectly for maximum protection.
Avoid face coverings made of polyester, synthetic, or spandex. Most viruses can stay longer on these materials.
Instead, go for ones made of 100% cotton. If you make the masks on your own, the Johns Hopkins Medicine’s sample design can come in handy.
To avoid shrinking, wash, and dry the fabric two or three times before using it.
Scarfs could work in some instances. However, they’re not very effective, especially for highly infectious pathogens.

Final Thoughts on How to Wear a Face Mass to Stop Spreading Germs

Though not as efficient as surgical masks and respirators, face masks protect against pathogens. While respirators protect against smaller particle pathogens, masks help with larger airborne particles.

However, you must adhere to the above safety measures to avoid putting yourself and those around you in danger. Learning how to correctly choose, make, wear, and dispose of your mask will help lower transmission rates.

For maximum protection, couple up wearing masks with other safety measures such as maintaining high levels of hygiene, keeping social distance, and seeking medication early. Be sure also to follow the right guidelines for making home-made masks.

Therapists Explain 10 Ways to Cope With Heartbreak (+ 10 things to avoid)

May 23, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Everyone has their unique coping methods for getting over a breakup. However, some may be much more effective than others. It’s essential to go through your grief in the right way to get you back on your feet again. We share ten ways to cope with heartbreak (and ten behaviors to avoid). You can also learn more by checking this blog post named what to do when a heart breaks.

10 “Dos” When You Must Cope with Heartbreak

1. Do Seek Support

It’s perfectly natural to want to talk to someone about your breakup. You probably have a lot of feelings festering up inside of you. Look for opportunities to express your emotions in an appropriate setting. Go to the people who are closest to you first. Of course, you want to avoid anyone who may be caught in the middle of the breakup. Venting to them could make them feel uncomfortable.

In the case of life-altering breakups or leaving an abusive relationship, you may want to go to a therapist or support group. The damage inflicted may be more serious than a gab session with your mom or best friend can manage.

2. Do Focus on Your Physical Health

When you treat your body well, you will notice a positive change in your mental health as well. Eat well and exercise. Focus on foods filled with nutrition and not empty calories. Stay away from fried foods and processed foods. You should also make a point to get out and exercise throughout the week. A body in motion stays in motion, so your body will continue to move correctly as long as you work it out.

3. Do Stay Busy

The last thing you need is too much time on your hands. You may end up dwelling on the breakup, causing you to feel bad about yourself. Instead, fill up your calendar with different events to keep you busy. When you are out doing things every night, you won’t have time to think about the person who hurt you.

4. Do Help Others

Breakups tend to bring out the selfish side of us. We wallow in self-pity and talk about ourselves a lot. Instead, it might be more beneficial to go out and help others. Spend time with family members or volunteer at a charitable organization. You will not only be helping others, but it can also make you feel good about yourself.

5. Do Examine Your Dating Practices

While you shouldn’t place blame on anyone (especially yourself), you should take time to think about some of your dating habits. You may be able to make some changes that will help you in your future dating ventures. Do you tend to fall for bad boys? Are you too clingy? Do you flirt with other people outside of the relationship? Look at some things you can change to help yourself succeed in love the next time around.

6. Do Cry

Some people try their hardest not to cry or feel angry about the end of their relationship. However, it’s a natural reaction to feel a certain way. You should not feel bad about your emotions. In fact, it is best to take some time to explore how you are feeling.

Otherwise, you only bottle up your feelings inside of you. Take a night to listen to sad breakup songs with a scoop of ice cream to let it out. When it’s finally all out there, you’ll feel a lot better. Just don’t make it a habit.

7. Do Get a Pet

You may have a lot of love you want to share. Get a cute pet to focus your love on. You can dote on your new cat, dog, or lizard (whatever pet you’re into). Just remember a pet is a big responsibility and commitment.

8. Do Focus on Other Relationships

Your romantic relationship wasn’t the only relationship in your life. Consider all of the family relationships in your life– your parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, etc. Spend some time developing those relationships.

9. Do Find a Creative Outlet

You need to find a way to express yourself in a safe, creative way after heartbreak. Some people choose to start painting, singing, or writing. You can talk about the breakup or a variety of other topics affecting you at the moment.

10. Do Date

You should go out and start dating again–when you are ready. You may want to give it a couple of weeks or months before going on your first date. Only you know the best timeframe for you, as confirmed by research. But you shouldn’t get too used to staying inside every day. When a new dating opportunity comes up, take it. Take things slowly and casually before you fall in love headfirst again, though.

10 Don’ts When You Suffer from Heartbreak

1. Don’t Overindulge

Some people choose to make themselves feel better by overindulging in certain activities, such as drinking or casual sex. It may make you feel better at the moment, but it won’t lead to long-term happiness. Watch how much you engage in reckless behavior.

2. Don’t Contact Your Ex

Your ex was a large part of your life. It’s hard to entirely and suddenly stop talking to a person who was once so important in your life. When something good or bad happens in your life, your instinct may be to pick up the phone and give your ex a call. You may also want to call just to see how they are doing. Avoid all temptations. Contacting your ex will only lead to a complicated relationship that can prevent you from moving on and even more heartbreak. It’s over. Only talk to your ex when you need to.

Never send these text messages to your former love.

3. Don’t Talk About the Breakup on Social Media

Social media is an excellent place for people to express themselves. However, you don’t want to tell everyone about what’s going on in your life. Rants about your ex may be entertaining to other people, but it will only make you look crazy and unprofessional.

4. Don’t Stoop to Their Level

Breakups can bring out the worst in people. When someone is emotional, they may do something mean. When your ex starts making your life difficult, you may be tempted to stoop down to their level and retaliate. Don’t do it. You may only make yourself look bad or even get yourself in trouble. Even when your ex goes low, you need to stay high.

5. Don’t Let Yourself Go

After a breakup, you may not shave or do your regular skincare routine. However, you need to keep up on these things more than ever in the case of a new prospect coming along. You don’t want a new potential significant other to see you in your pajamas with no makeup during the day.

6. Don’t Hold onto Gifts/Items

You and your former partner may have gifted each other things throughout the relationship. The items will become a reminder of your relationship when they are gone. You may enjoy a certain pair of shoes or piece of jewelry, but you shouldn’t wear those items if it’s going to be a constant reminder of a failed relationship.

7. Don’t Become a Shut-in

After a breakup, the world may look scary and unfriendly. You may not want to go out and socialize with people. However, you need to overcome these feelings. Some people want some time to themselves after a breakup, but you may start to be depressed staying inside all of the time. You need to go out and experience fresh air. You should also go do things you enjoy and see people in your life. These things will put your life back on track.

8. Don’t Portray Yourself as a Victim

It can be easy to make yourself look like a victim without even trying. This would be especially true if you were cheated on or abused during the relationship. However, you need to make a point to remain strong. You should not lie about what happened, but you do not need to tell your story without provocation.

9. Don’t Stick to Old Negative Patterns

Many people who are unlucky in love may notice that they tend to make the same mistakes over and over again. You need to examine these mistakes and do what you can to make a change. In some cases, you may want to get professional help to assist you through your issues.

10. Don’t Rush Into the Next Relationship

Some people cure heartbreak by rushing into the next committed relationship. While you want to go out and date, you don’t want to jump a long-term commitment with another person right away. Take the time to get to know somebody. Allow things to happen organically. Otherwise, you’ve just headed toward heartbreak again.

Final Thoughts on Coping With Heartbreak So You Can Move On

These tips make it clear for people to make the right decisions for their emotional and romantic health after heartbreak. A breakup isn’t the end- it’s the start of something new and exciting. You just need to see it that way.

10 Ways to Make Zoom Calls with Friends More Fun

May 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

With more people staying home than ever, many people are turning to Zoom to stay connected with family and friends as well as working from home. If your social life seems to have taken a turn and is a bit mundane, then you may be looking for ways to spice up your social interactions.

Thankfully, there are some easy things that you can do to add some variety to these calls since it’s the best way to stay connected right now.

Four Zoom Keyboard Shortcuts

Many quick short cuts can easily make your sessions easier on this conferencing app. Here are some of the best ones to use on Zoom calls with your friends:

• Record Your Sessions

By merely using Cmd+Shift+R, you can easily record your sessions with ease. (PC: Alt+P)

• Screen Sharing

One of the best features of this video conferencing platform is the ability to screen share. To start page sharing, type Cmd+Shift+S. If you need to pause this feature, type Cmd+Shift+T. (PC: Alt+Shift+S) (PC: Alt+T)

• Mute Your Voice

It’s advisable to keep your mute button going if you’re in a video conference. Use Cmd+Shift+A to mute your voice on this platform. Use Cmd+Ctrl+M to mute everyone in the video conference. (PC: Alt+A)

• Quickly Invite Someone

Cmd+I will allow you to invite someone to your conference quickly. (PC: Alt+I)

Learn how using telemedicine can help you avoid the germs of a doctor’s office.

Making Virtual Calls More Fun

When you’re stuck at home with nothing do to the Zoom, virtual parties may be just what you need. If you lack the creativity to enhance these web-based connections, there here are six tips for you.

1. Add Pizzazz with Special Effects

Did you read the story on the internet of the lady from Washington, DC, who turned herself into a virtual potato? The hilarious part is that she had to face her colleagues in an online meeting while being a spud. There are so many special effects on these video apps that can enhance your experience.

While you may not want to be a potato, the sky is the limit when it comes to virtual choices. A few options to consider include giving yourself frog eyes or becoming an extra-terrestrial. You can go to a black and white or sepia tone, or you can even become a ghost. What could be more fun than that?

Do you want to hide the clutter of your home? Then you can put a new background on your screen so that it appears that your sitting beachside rather than in your home office. Another option that you have is to distort your image.

The options are limitless and easy to do with the click of a button. You should play around offline to see what kind of effects you can add. Remember, you must turn these effects off when you switch from personal to business roles. You don’t want to be a spud like the lady from the capital city.

2. Send Super-Imposed Videos

It can be quite annoying to send video links when you copy and paste them into a taskbar. Then, your friend must follow the link and open it in a new window.

Using Zoom or another popular app, you can send videos in real-time. Add a bit more to your videos, and you can super-impose your body over the ones in the production.

What would your friends think if they see you on an underwater diving adventure in a foreign land, or you can saddle up a horse and ride in the Wild West?

You can immerse yourself in all the video chat options that are available to you on this app. The Intel® RealSense™ technologies are changing the way people communicate with one another, and it’s all for the better.

3. Make It a Virtual Game Night

Children and adults alike have become bored with social distancing and not being allowed to venture far from home. However, why not use Zoom to bring your friends in on your virtual world? You can create game nights right from the comforts of home.

You can play video games together, or you can opt for other fun classics like Charades or Win, Lose or Draw. The key to making this a success is to get as many people together as you can. Since you are connecting via an internet server, you can see and hear them.

These new game playing sessions can become so real that you might have to remind yourself that you don’t have a house full of friends. Sure, it’s not going to be just as fun as having them in your home, but think of the mess that you won’t have to clean up when the night is through.

4. Take a Trip Down Memory Lane

Do you have boxes of old photographs stored in your closets? Are there are old films that have family gatherings recorded for the later generation to see? Zoom is the perfect way to put on a display and have the family take a walk down memory lane.

Since you are connecting with them in a manner where they can see and share videos and photographs, you can all bring your offerings to the table. Years of generational pictures can be shared with ease. Plus, you will learn a few remarkable things about the family you probably didn’t know.

Today’s generation uses digital platforms for their photos. However, back a decade or so ago, there weren’t the options that we have now. Make sure to record these sessions so that you can hear the stories time and again.

While the present seems to be wavering, why not look to the history of your family to bring you comfort. Plus, the elderly members of your clan would probably enjoy a stroll down memory lane with you and their loved ones.

5. Have an Old-Fashioned Bake Off

There is nothing better than the smell of freshly baked goodies wafting throughout your home. Do you love to cook? Do your friends, or family members also enjoy this past time? Why not have a virtual baking contest?

You can show off your culinary skills when you whip up a few fantastic dishes to entice everyone in your meeting. Teach some tips and tricks that you’ve learned over your cooking career, as well as take advice from those who’ve been baking up goodies for decades.

There are so many things that you can do with this tip if you only let your mind wander. You can charge a small fee and teach cooking classes, or you can have a hang out on Zoom for fun. Your perception only limits the options.

Just think you can show everyone what a great cook you are, and you won’t feel the pressure of having people breathing down your neck. Additionally, you can hide the mess when you’re on camera too.

Have you ever wanted to run a cooking show? Do you see yourself as one of the great chefs of our day like Rachael Ray, Julia Child, or the Frugal Gourmet? Since you’re already on camera, you might as well record these sessions. Who knows, you could be what one of those popular food networks is looking for as the next big thing in cooking.

6. Have a Virtual Dinner Date

Why talk when you can eat? Virtual parties should always begin with food. While going on a traditional date when restaurants are closed may make dating difficult, there’s nothing that says you can’t sit and dine with someone on the world wide web.

The best part about virtual dating and having these online dating sessions is that you can log off if things aren’t going as you planned. With the touch of a button, you can disconnect from Zoom.

Grab a glass of your favorite wine, a plate of delicious food, and sit in front of your computer ready to chat the night away. Thankfully, Zoom has a mute feature where you can mute your side of the conversation should you need to burp or have some other gaseous explosion. You may find that you like internet dating way better than doing them in person.

Use some of the other techniques talked about in this article to jazz up your date. Change the background to a tropical scene, or you can become an avatar with a made-up persona. It’s utterly amazing what the power of the internet allows you to do and grow when you feel that your options are limited.

While nothing is as enjoyable as holding hands, snuggling, or kissing under the moonlight, internet dating can be made possible with online apps.

Final Thoughts on How to Make Virtual Calls on Zoom More Fun

Video calls can be fun, especially if you’re both working and socializing from home. However, you can make things better using the power of technology. When you use your creative side and explore all the possibilities the internet offers, then you can see how much enjoyable the virtual world has become.

12 Ways to Live a Sustainable Lifestyle (and save money)

May 22, 2020 by Power of Positivity

We live in a modern world where most people consume and pollute. Instead of wasting at such vast degrees, we should make a point to be as sustainable and self-reliant as possible. This effort is an excellent way to both help the earth and saves money. Here are 12 ways to live a sustainable lifestyle (and save money in the long run).

12 Tips for a More Sustainable Lifestyle

1. Grow Your Own Food

Instead of getting into the car to go to the store and putting toxins in the air and buying food that needed to be transported and possibly packaged, grow your fruits and vegetables at home.

Do your research to learn what foods grow best in your area and how to grow them. When the time comes, you’ll have the freshest vegetables possible. Plus, you will know exactly how they were raised and what they were treated with since you were the one who grew them.

Are you planting a victory garden to live more sustainably? Here are 15 plants to try.

2. Recycle

Recycling is the process of taking used material and repurposing it instead of adding to the already overfilled landfills in the world. Not everything can be recycled, but the items that can go to a recycling center which helps bring it to a new, reusable form.

Place plastic, paper, and glass in a separate container specifically for recyclable materials. In many cases, the city will provide a recyclables bin for you. In some cases, you may even be able to make money off of your recyclable materials. The following states offer money for bottles and cans:

California
Connecticut
Delaware
Iowa
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
New York
Oregon
Vermont

If you live in one of these states, collect your cans and bottles. The recycling center will typically offer a nickel per item. You can help the environment while also earning some extra money. Talk to an employee at the center to learn about any other materials they would pay you for.

3. Ditch Your Car

Cars are a significant source of air pollution, especially in metropolitan areas. Many people drive to work or the store when they could easily take an alternative method of transportation. If you can take one car off the road every day by walking or biking to work, you are making a significant difference.

However, you should consider public transportation if walking or biking is not a reasonable method for you. If that also doesn’t work for your commute, create a carpool at your work. You can save gas money by taking turns driving with other people at the office. It will reduce the number of pollutants in the air, too.

Read the benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle.

4. Install Solar Panels

One of the most exciting new sustainable inventions in recent years is the solar panel. You can place these on your home to generate your electricity. Of course, you still have backup power from the electric company. However, since you are producing your electricity most of the time, your electric bill will be significantly reduced or even nothing.

The solar panels collect the sun’s rays and turn it into electricity. When you need to use it, it’s distributed throughout your house. Since this method requires the sun, it works best in sunny locations.

The solar panels generally go on top of your current roof. However, Tesla has invented a roof made of solar panels. It’s expensive, but it’s attractive and saves you money in utilities.

5. Shop From Environmentally Responsible Companies

You have a lot of options as a consumer. It’s your job to make responsible decisions about who you buy from. You shouldn’t only focus on price. You need to pay attention to the way the company packages its products and their manufacturing practices. There may be a reason that a particular product is cheaper than the competition.

These items probably won’t last as long as other options, meaning you’ll spend more when you need to be a second product. Also, specific packaging and manufacturing processes are bad for the apartment.

6. Shop With Reusable Bags

Think of all of the plastic bags used when people go out grocery shopping or shopping at the local pharmacy. Even though they are plastic, these bags can not be recycled. In fact, some countries are even banning the use of plastic bags when shopping. Think ahead and bring your reusable bags.

There are sustainable bags designed to use over and over again. This habit will eliminate the need to use plastic bags. Just don’t forget to bring them with you when you head out to shop.

7. Drive an Electric Car

If you can’t possibly get rid of your car, that doesn’t mean you can’t make responsible decisions about the vehicle you drive. Some vehicles are known for being “gas guzzlers.” They consume a lot of gas. This moniker means you’ll be stuck going to the gas station more often and spending more money. Common gas guzzlers include Hummers and large trucks. Compare vehicles before buying.

Luckily, there are electric vehicles and hybrids now that don’t require as much gas. These vehicles rely on electricity or a combination of both electricity and gas. You won’t be stopping for gas as often or putting the same amount of pollution into the air. You can look for an electrical service to help you with the Installation of your Ev Charger.

8. Buy Energy Star Appliances

Most modern homes utilize refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, and other appliances to help complete chores. It’s almost unheard of not to have these appliances around the house. However, these appliances use up a lot of electricity and water. As they get older, they may even require more to complete the same amount of work. Specific machines are designed to use less water and electricity than usual.

These appliances will have an Energy Star sticker on them. This designation lets you know they adhere to a certain standard of efficiency. You will save money on your utility bills. Plus, you will be more sustainable.

9. Eat Local

Think about how food gets from where it was made to your plate. In some cases, this involves an extensive long-distance journey. The journey means putting pollution into the air. Plus, the food isn’t as fresh as it once was when it finally arrives at its destination.

Instead of eating at places that require the food to come from all over the country, eat at restaurants and shop at farmer’s markets who only use food from local farmers and butchers. This food is likely less expensive since it doesn’t require travel costs.

Plus, it will be some of the freshest food you can eat. In these types of establishments, the food probably wasn’t frozen at any point. Finally, it was perhaps picked off of the vine that same day!

10. Use HVAC System Wisely

It’s completely unreasonable to assume that people will live in hot summers and cold winters without an HVAC system. This fact is especially relevant if you live in a location with an extreme climate. However, you should use your HVAC system wisely.

First, you should get a unit with the Energy Star sticker we mentioned before. Also, you don’t need to set the unit to extreme temperatures. Instead of setting it at 68 degrees in the summer, try setting it at 78. You want to make yourself comfortable, but you don’t need to overdo it. You should also consider using a smart thermometer.

The smart thermometer can change the temperature when no one is in the home. It can even set it back when people come home for the day. Finally, make sure that your ac unit gets regular maintenance from a professional ac repair technician. You may contact local hvac companies like Omni Heating & Air company to hire one. Or consider visiting the expert from Suffolk County HVAC Service to maintain your HVAC system.

11. Vote

It’s your job as a citizen to vote about the things that matter to you. Since we can’t vote on particular legislation, we need to vote for people who put environmental issues at the forefront. Research local, state-wide, and national politicians to learn who will support you and others who want to live a sustainable lifestyle.

When it’s time to vote, you should stop by the polls and cast your ballot. Some people only vote during national elections, but it’s important to vote in every election if you expect to see a change in your area. These changes can even result in significant savings for the government.

12. Volunteer

There are a vast number of organizations that work to help environmental issues and help sustainability efforts. Make a point to support and volunteer with these organizations. You may learn things during your volunteer service. You may also be able to make a difference in your community. Look for organizations that make an effort to clean up nature and plant trees. There are also organizations designed to help animals.

Final Thoughts on Achieving a Sustainable Life That Saves the Planet (and your wallet)

The world needs our help. We tend to make more from the planet than we give. It also doesn’t hurt that being more sustainable can save us a lot of money, too. These tips are a great place to start, but keep looking for new ways to help.

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