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Doctors Explain 10 Ways Zumba Workouts Improve Health

May 1, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Streaming Zumba as part of your at-home exercise routine could be a smart move for you and your wallet.

Are you seeking new and creative ways to focus on fitness and physical exercise from your home? Many people are looking for ways to save money. This research includes opting to work out at home instead of spending money on gym memberships. This shift leaves many of us with gym memberships searching for a way to workout while also saving cash.

The benefits of exercise and regular physical activity are evident. Indeed, just about everyone benefits from physical activity. Whether it’s an increased heart rate or improved circulation, getting your body moving will help your mental, physical, and even emotional health as all systems work harmoniously toward a common goal of optimal wellness.

So many types of workouts, so little time!

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You’ll find so much to consider when adding physical exercise to your list of daily accomplishments. However, it can be quite daunting to choose an activity that meets your individual needs. From weight training to Pilates to yoga to spinning and swimming, the list of options seems overwhelming and endless.

So how do you know which activity is right for you? Consider the following questions as you ponder starting your new fitness regime:

What are my fitness goals?
What sounds enjoyable to me?
How can I incorporate this into my life and enjoy it for the long haul?
What is my age?
Do I need to lose weight?
Do I need to gain muscle?
What are my physical restrictions?

Finding a style of exercise or a program that works for you is essential to building a lasting healthy habit of physical activity. Talk to your doctor about suggestions for activities and exercises that you can incorporate daily for better health.

Have you considered Zumba?

Wouldn’t it be great if you could find an aerobic activity that not only improves and strengthens the heart but also helps to burn fat and build lean muscle as well? Consider Zumba!

What is Zumba?

Zumba is a Latin-dance inspired, heart-pumping group fitness activity that is gaining popularity around the world. In a typical class, you’ll find high-energy dance music and moves that seem more like choreographed dances than fitness moves, but you don’t have to be a dancing queen to enjoy yourself and the benefits of this aerobic activity. A famous tagline used by Zumba instructors is “ditch the workout, join the party,” and this philosophy is both seen and felt as thousands of joyful participants move and groove in joyful ways to get in better shape—no rhythm required.

Several subgroups of classes exist–from water versions to classes with weights, resistance bands, and classes for kids, there is likely to be a version that suits your tastes and needs ideally. An average 60-minute session will net a modest 370 calorie burn, with more vigorous versions of classes burning anywhere from 600-1000 calories per hour. It is genuinely one fitness sensation that gives you the most caloric bang for your buck.

It doesn’t take long even for a fitness skeptic to see the benefits that this sizzling exercise can afford. From boosting your mood to improving circulation to improving overall health and vitality, here is what you can expect from embarking on your Latin dance-inspired fitness journey.

Ten Fantastic Ways Zumba Will Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals

1. You’ll feel happier

Several studies link regular exercise to a feeling of happiness and improved mood. It will also help to reduce feelings of depression and anxiety by boosting the production of serotonin in the brain. Other feel-good chemicals that will be produced in abundance are called endorphins, known to enhance positive feelings and reduce the perception of physical and emotional pain.

Interestingly enough, the level of intensity has nothing to do with the production of these “happy chemicals” in the brain. The research cites shows that even the most modest levels of physical activity are known to ramp up production. Dancing people are happy people!

2. You’ll lose weight

There are clear links to increased activity and weight loss, and there is also conclusive research to suggest that inactivity leads to an increased risk of obesity and other health conditions that can adversely affect your health.

Regular exercise (including Zumba) increases your metabolic rate, allowing you to burn fat and build lean muscle more effectively than through dieting alone. Following the simple equation that calories expended must supersede calories ingested, you’ll find that your weight loss is rewarding and enjoyable all at the same time.

3. Your muscles and bones will benefit

Zumba plays a critical part in toning muscle and building bone density. This is especially important to offset the effects of aging, where bone density decreases and muscles tend to atrophy. A few 30-45 minute sessions each week is sufficient to turn back the aging clock a bit and help to tone and tighten your whole body.

4. You’ll be more energized before and after workouts

Nothing energizes the body more than a good sweaty session of dancing! You are likely to experience increased energy levels as a result of your new fitness pursuit.

Regular exercise proves effective in treating symptoms of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, two conditions that can rob you of the energy needed for daily living. The more you move, the more energy you’ll naturally be able to produce and use more efficiently, allowing you to experience greater vitality and endurance once more.

Check with your doctor before you give it a go.

5. You’ll experience better health

Lack of regular physical activity leads to the development of chronic health issues that can reduce your quality of life. With regular exercise, you are improving your insulin sensitivity, improving circulation and respiration, strengthening your cardiovascular system, and making detoxification processes of the body more efficient.

With exercise, your immune system will function optimally. Thus, you can retain vibrant health and stave off chronic illness and infection. If you do find yourself under the weather from time to time, you will find that recovery time is much faster, and symptoms are less severe than if you were to abstain from physical activity.

6. You’ll have healthier skin!

Believe it or not, the effects of regular exercise show themselves both outside and inside the body. Exercise like Zumba reduces the impact of oxidative stress on the body and improves circulation, giving your skin a natural, youthful glow.

Regular exercise sessions help to regulate the body’s production of natural antioxidants, which help to remove toxins in the blood and clear up the skin so that you look and feel great.

7. You’ll think more clearly

Who would have thought that a few dance moves and some hip shaking could help your brain function more efficiently?

Exercise increases your heart rate, which allows for better circulation of both blood and oxygen to the brain. Physical activity stimulates the production of hormones that are critical components in the growth and development of new neurological connections. The more you move, the more you boost your brain health!

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8. You’ll sleep better

Regular Zumba sessions can help you to relax and sleep better. The energy depletion processes in place during vigorous exercise help to release powerful triggers that help facilitate the therapeutic processes of muscles, tendons, and tissues during sleep.

Those with sleep disorders and insomnia would do well to incorporate more physical activity during daylight hours in hopes of restoring proper circadian rhythms within the body. You’ll feel better. Plus, you’ll feel more relaxed and well-rested after a full night’s sleep. Bring on more exercise!

9. You’ll feel less arthritis pain

The effects of chronic pain on the body are both physically and mentally debilitating. While most people who suffer from pain initially think that physical exercise can worsen their condition, many are surprised to find that regular activity lessens the experience of chronic pain.

Daily physical activities, such as dancing, can help to reduce the exposure of low back pain, chronic pain associated with arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. A more flexible, fluid body can simply move better, and this type of exercise helps to facilitate just that.

Visit your doctor before you sign up for class. And, look for a beginner’s session, so you may start off slowly.

10. Your libido might improve!

Shhhh…..don’t tell anyone! Your libido may increase as a result of some sweaty sessions on the dance floor. Exercise proves to boost sex drive by promoting the release of hormones that govern your cycle. Not only will it get you in the mood, but it may just improve your endurance and your performance as a result of toning the body, improving circulation, and increasing your flexibility. The mood-boosting benefits of enhancing your libido is an added benefit.

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Final thoughts on trying Zumba for better fitness

Zumba is a style of exercise that is fit for almost anyone. It boosts your mood, improves your physical endurance, and provides you a fun pathway to better health. Check with your doctor, of course, before beginning this or any other exercise program. And then, get ready to reap the benefits of some serious moving and grooving!

12 Signs That Reveal It’s Time for a Career Change

May 1, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Do you feel like you’re in a career slump? Even if you’re in a job field that you’ve always loved, it may be time for a career change. Wouldn’t it be great if you lived every day pursuing your passion rather than just punching a time clock?

Did you know that the average person will change their job five to seven times during their lifetime? If you’ve only had three jobs by the time you retire, then you are in the minority. Going to the same company day in and day out can be tiring.

You may find that you’re becoming burnt out with the monotony of it all. In many cases, a career change will do you good.

Signs It’s Time to Change

How do you know whether you should bite the bullet and make a career change or stay and reap the benefits of tenure? There is something to be said for people that hang on to a job until their retirement years, but few make it that far.

Pursuing your passion is not always financially the best decision. However, your mental and physical health can take a toll on you if you’re doing a job you don’t like. Here are some signs that it’s time for you to make a change.

1. You Dread Going to Work

The adage says that if you find a job that you like that you will never work a day in your life. So if you love your career, then you won’t dread going to work, right? Well, work is not always fun, but you should have friends and things about the position that is redeemable.

Now, keep in mind that there will be stress and some days are going to be better than others. However, if you find yourself continually dreading going to work, then it could be a sign that you need to make a change.

2. You’re Always in A Bad Mood at Work

Do you notice that your mood and behaviors are subpar when you’re at work? If every little thing irritates you and you find that the smallest thing sets you off, then it could be a sign that you need a career change.

While there may be certain situations that are irritating, you need to weigh if the circumstances warrant how you feel. In many instances, you may find that you are overreacting out of stress and ongoing angst from the situation. However, a bad situation can take a drastic toll on your overall mood.

3. You’re Apathetic to Change

Do you lack desire? When there is a special project, do you try to hide in the back of the crowd to avoid being picked? If your innovation is lacking, then it may be a sign you need to start packing.

You need to be at a job where your talents can be recognized. If you don’t even care to participate because of past failures or a lack of motivation, then it might be time to move on.

4. Your Focus is Poor

Unless you have a medical condition like ADHD, you shouldn’t have a hard time focusing. However, your focus can be directly linked to your interest. Have you ever tried to get your child to do homework when all they wanted to do was play?

Some parents have described getting their kids to work on an assignment is like nailing Jello to a tree. Can you relate? If you try but cannot seem to focus on the tasks at hand, then it’s time to reevaluate your job.

5. You’re Unproductive

Were you a star player, but you’ve fallen in the ranks? Do you no longer care if you get recognition or make the top seller list anymore? You may find that you are just totally unproductive.

When your focus is off, and you don’t want to be there, then you will find that doing your job is impossible. Are you missing deadlines, or have you had reprimands because you’re not meeting quotas?

Sometimes people become burned out. No matter how hard you try to push yourself, you may not be able to give the company the productivity you once did. It’s just another indication that a change would do you good.

6. Your Self-Esteem is Suffering

Does your job make you feel lackluster and subpar? A career that once made you feel fulfilled is now making you miserable. Your self-esteem can suffer when you’re not hitting your goals, and your performance much less than that of your colleagues.

If a position doesn’t make you feel better about yourself, but it makes you doubt your abilities, then it can cause damage to your psyche. A person who thinks they can’t do something will not perform near as well as someone who believes they can do anything.

7. Your Heart is Not in It

Many people find that their heart is not in their job anymore, but how can you tell? Well, do you not return calls to customers that you would have answered right away before?

Do you let customer service issues slide or handle a situation in ways that you would have never dreamed of when you first started? Do you drag into work late, take more extended lunches, and are the first one out the door? When you can’t wait to get out of the workplace, you’re just there to collect a paycheck.

When your heart is not in your job, your performance and everything else will suffer. If it pains you to drag yourself out of bed to go to a job that makes you feel miserable, then you might want to change careers.

8. You’re Eternally Bored

Are you twiddling your thumbs rather than doing any real work? The only thing worse than being overworked is having little to do. Maybe your company doesn’t need you or business is slow.

Work shouldn’t be entertaining, but you don’t need to be bored out of your mind either. If the days drag on and there are spaces of time when you feel like climbing the walls, then you need to reevaluate your situation. The day can seem like years when you have nothing to do.

9. You Daydream of Another Job

Do you sit at your desk and daydream? Are you jealous of a friend that is traveling the world and seeing exciting places while you’re stuck in the same old job? A career change is inevitable if you’re daydreaming about a way out.

It’s common to think the grass is greener on the other side. However, if you find yourself dreaming about a new job and doing something else, then it may be a sign, it’s time to start the job hunt.

10. You’re Looking for Ways Out

Have you already begun sending your resume out to potential companies looking to hire? Are you networking with other businesses about the possibility of a career change? Some people start searching even though they may not be serious about the job hunt.

However, if you are miserable enough to scroll the help wanted section or join a job search engine, then it’s a sign that you need to pick up the pace and find something.

11. You Don’t Get Along with Management

Are you having problems getting along with people on the job? Do you have an issue with management and their leadership styles? Do you have write-ups and marks against you for insubordination or other offenses because you just can’t get along?

Management issues can be troublesome to anyone who is trying to make a living. While you can expect a certain degree of employee/management disagreements, you should look up to and respect your leaders. If the powers that be at your company don’t support their employees or seem to have a problem with you, then it’s time for a career change.

12. You’re Disconnected from Your Passions

Sometimes the need for a career change has nothing to do with the job and more about you as a person. Do you feel like the passion and drive has been sucked out of you at the end of the day?

If you would rather be feeding the hungry and building houses for the homeless, yet you’re stuck behind a machine in a warehouse, you could say that you are disconnected from your passions.

Final Thoughts on Deciding It’s Time for a Career Change

A job can make you so miserable that you will become unnoticeable to those around you. It can make you anxious, depressed, and put a damper on your life. Rather than living under the dark cloud, why not make a change?

If you’re only there for the money, you don’t have any connections with employees or management; then you need to go. If you’ve started dreaming up sicknesses to avoid going into work, then it’s time for a career change.

When you’re unhappy, your entire body can feel the stress from a life out of balance. What is your passion? Where do you see yourself? Many people have found that they wanted to work for themselves and never punch a time clock again. Maybe you’re done with the career stress and have an entrepreneurial side that is trying to burst out.

10 Quiet Games for Kids to Play While You Work From Home

May 1, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Do you need to come up with some games for kids that keep them quiet while you’re working? Do you dread hearing your youngsters whine about being bored? What’s a busy work-at-home parent like you to do?

In the past, children found creative ways to keep themselves occupied when the weather was terrible. Many of today’s kids just want to vegetate in front of the tv or play video games for hours. Is that a familiar scenario at your place?

Statistics are alarming for the average number of hours most American children play on technology. While limited tv and gaming has its place, you probably want your children to spend more time without it. Besides, your home job may require Internet work, and your connection speed can be slowed down with the whole family using it at once.

Children need structure, so consider making a daily schedule to help balance the needs of your home. Use a poster or whiteboard, write each child’s name on it, and block out the time they each get for technology. Fill the rest of the spaces with exciting games, activities, lunch hour, and rest time.

Before school is out and the battle against boredom begins, you must be prepared. Your little ones can have fun, and you can get your work done in peace.

Here are ten games for kids that they will love to play while you are “at work.”

1. Puzzle Time

Children of all ages enjoy a challenge, especially riddles and puzzles. These can be done individually or as a group. The good news is that these fun past times don’t require a lot of noise, which is good for you.

You can find beautiful jigsaw styles inexpensively for any age level. Set up a small table in a quiet space of the house where the kids can work on them. It can stay in place, and they can work on it a little bit each day.

Dollar stores usually have plenty of word searches, crosswords, and other gamebooks for children if they don’t have a phone to play Angry Birds or try to figure out is solitaire cash legit. Provide crayons, colored pencils, and markers, and store them in plastic containers. The Internet is a free source of free printable games and color sheets to copy.

2. Scavenger Hunt

When it’s raining and blustery outside, your youngsters can still have an adventure. Remember the scavenger hunts you enjoyed as a kid? This treasure hunting game can be just as thrilling indoors.

Beforehand, gather several unusual items and make a list of them. Hide each item in a creative place, considering your children’s age level. Give each child a list of things to find and a pencil to check them during the hunt.

Although healthy competition is suitable for children, you don’t want your scavenger hunt to turn into a noisy brawl. Give each kid a little prize after the game for a job well done. For even more exciting adventures, consider giving your hunt themes, like beach items or beauty stuff.

3. I Spy

Here is a game that kids have loved for generations that is quiet and doesn’t require anything. There’s no age limit, and they can play the game inside, outside, or even while traveling. I Spy encourages kids to use their imagination, guessing skills, and color memory.

To play, one child is chosen to be the spy. He will look around the room and will pick any object to keep in his mind. Then, he will say, “I spy with my little eyes, and the color of it is…” and will say what color the secret object is.

Each child gets a turn to guess one object. The guessing continues around the circle until someone guesses it correctly. The winner becomes the new spy for the next game.

4. Fun Challenges on Paper

If you have a pile of scrap paper and some pencils, you can keep your youngsters busy for hours. The rules for tic-tac-toe are simple for even the youngest children as they battle to see if X, O, or the kitty wins.

Your little ones can also improve their spelling and vocabulary by playing the classic Hangman. Who will guess the mystery word before the gallows are drawn? How about a game for kids of Dots and Squares, where players vie for squares to write their initials?

Another fun game with paper is making a classic fortune teller. The paper is folded into triangles that you work back and forth with your fingers and open for a funny fortune. Use bright colored paper and find an easy template online to make them.

5. Hand Games

Many adults still play Rock, Paper, and Scissors to choose someone for a dreaded task. Teach the kids the hand sign for rock, paper, and scissors and how to clap with their fist. Then, teach the rules about what item trumps the other.

Your kids can also learn amazing tricks using a length of string tied into a circle and arranged into designs on their fingers. If you don’t remember how to make the classic designs like Jacob’s Ladder, Eiffel Tower, or Spider’s Web, look for online tutorials under games for kids.

The iconic yo-yo is making its way back to toy departments across America. These little toys on a string are easy to work, and your kids can learn to make them do amazing tricks. When your kids play with their yo-yos, be sure they have enough space away from breakables.

6. Home Bingo

Bingo can be played with numbers, letters, shapes, or even objects. Home Bingo is a hybrid of a scavenger hunt and Bingo and can be made age-appropriate. It can be played in one room or around the house.

Create a simple 5 X 5 square grid on the computer and print them out. For each card, write the names of different household items in each square, making each card different. An older child can call out random things that the others can mark off of their card.

The winner calls Bingo when she has marked off five items vertically or horizontally. Then, she becomes the next Bingo caller. Print out several cards for multiple games.

7. Quiet as a Mouse

Fortunately for parents who work from home, the object of some games for kids is silence. When your kids play a game of Mouse, you may wonder if they are even in the house. It’s a fun game that you don’t have to hear.

Players get in a circle, and the chosen leader says, “One, two, three, mouse!” Everyone must stay quiet or be eliminated. The last person to keep the silence is the winner, and the game restarts. After a good game of Mouse, your busy mice may be ready for a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches.

8. Classic Games for Kids

Two of the classic games for kids that are enjoying a revival are jacks and marbles. You may have heard your parents talk about it or have played the games yourself. These were favorite playground toys that are just as fun indoors.

You can purchase a set of jacks or marbles in most department stores or online. Vintage metal jacks and glass marbles are collectible and can be quite expensive. Today’s finds are cheap and easy to find.

For either game, your kids will need some space to make a circle. If you don’t know or remember the rules for the game, find and print them out from your computer. Explain the rules for younger children.

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9. Using Play Money for Games

Do you have play money left from old board games? Create games for kids, so they learn how to count money and shop. Help your youngsters set up a store or a bank, and they will be counting cash all day.

For the store, give each child some play money and set out a few canned goods or other small things for them to purchase. You can also let them play bank and cash paper checks. These fun games, just like slot27 login, are good ways to teach your kids about money management, business and home economics.

10. Thumb Wrestling

Arm wrestling can be a challenging sport, so thumb wrestling is the next best thing. To make the game fair, pair up kids that are around the same age and ability. While the game is usually quiet, you may hear a little giggling.

The kids pair up and clasp one of each other’s hands, thumbs up. Then, they use only their thumbs to wrestle and hold their opponent’s thumb down for the count of three. Winners can challenge each other for a final championship.

Final Thoughts: Mastering Quiet Games at Home

It’s not an easy task to work at home and keep your children quiet and occupied. When you plan games for kids that are creative and exciting, you are less likely to hear them whine about boredom.

So, the kids get to have fun playing quiet games, and you can get your work done. Even something as simple as a word search can make a big difference in your day.

Science Explains: Reading 6 Minutes A Day Helps Reduce Stress And Increase Happiness

April 30, 2020 by Deborah Tayloe

It’s safe to say that most of us have pretty busy schedules. However, we could probably all find time for reading at least six minutes daily. Perhaps at the end of the day, when you’ve completed all our work and can finally get cozy in bed, you can read for a few minutes before dozing off.

Reading offers so many cognitive and physiological benefits. But according to Pew Research, about a quarter of Americans haven’t read a book in the past year. At least the majority of us have opened a book (even if we’ve only read a few pages!)

You’ll find so many topics and genres to choose from. Indeed, you could probably read your whole life and still have thousands or even millions of books left to discover. No matter your interest, you can find plenty of traditional books or E-books about the topic. With a quick Google search, you can find books to choose from, whether you like self-help, fantasy, romance, books about finance, or something else.

“Reading is essential for those who seek to rise above the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn

Below, we will go over how reading can improve your health, not to mention give you more wisdom. Who doesn’t want to increase their knowledge and understand our complex world a little bit better?!

Study on how reading reduces stress

In fact, most people feel overwhelmed and stressed most of the time. Our stress comes from work, family, responsibilities, relationships, and the fast pace of life. We don’t give ourselves nearly enough leisure time anymore. That rapid pace may explain the sharp increases in mental illness today. With so many stimuli to sift through, how can we know what we need to pay attention to and what we can ignore?

However, we can find ways to turn everything off for a while and relax our minds. Perhaps we should look no further than our bookshelves to find ways to reduce our stress and increase happiness. According to a study by the University of Sussex, reading just six minutes daily can reduce life’s pressures by 68 percent. This can help people have more mental clarity and reduce stress build-up in the body.

The Mindlab Study

Researchers from Mindlab International at the University of Sussex analyzed participants’ cortisol levels and heart rates before observing how they responded to different tasks. Reading books lowered their stress levels more than participants’ other activities.

This included listening to music (61 percent), having a cup of tea or coffee (54 percent), and taking a walk (42 percent). They also found that playing video games lowered stress levels by 21 percent but increased heart rate.

“Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate relaxation,” Dr. David Lewis, researcher and cognitive neuropsychologist, said. “It really doesn’t matter what book you read, by losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book, you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author’s imagination.”

“This is more than merely a distraction,” he added, “but an active engaging of the imagination as the words on the printed page stimulate your creativity and cause you to enter what is essentially an altered state of consciousness.”

Of course, it all depends on what you choose to read. If you mostly read the news, you will likely feel even more stressed or depressed due to the harmful content. However, if you read about light-hearted, positive topics such as how to start a garden or how the planets affect our moods, you will notice a decrease in stress.

Seven other health benefits of reading:

Why else should you pick up a book and read? Here are some other considerations

1 – Reading improves brain health.

Did you know that books can rewire your brain? Researchers have found that when you read books, your mind gives off specific signals to move along a complex network of circuits. As you improve, the systems and circuits strengthen and become more complex.

In a 2013 study, researchers studied how reading a novel would affect the brain using MRI scans. Over 9 days, participants read the story “Pompeii.” As readers reached the novel’s climax, more areas of their brains lit up as the circuitry improved. Researchers found that as participants read the book, their brain connectivity improved for a few days afterward. Especially in the part of the brain that responds to physical sensations such as movement and pain, the somatosensory cortex, scientists saw an increase in electrical activity.

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2 – Increases empathy

Studies have shown that people who read more literary fiction, which involves the lives of different made-up characters, have an increased ability to relate to the feelings of others. This can help people build and maintain social relationships. Of course, reading one fiction novel probably won’t increase empathetic abilities much, but research shows that people who read many fiction books have heightened empathy.

3 – Expands vocabulary

Researchers have found that students who begin reading at a young age typically have large vocabularies by the time they become adults. Vocabulary size can actually impact many aspects of your life, from scores on standardized tests to college acceptance and job placements. Many companies want to hire people with “soft” skills, including the ability to communicate effectively. Reading books can help you do this by expanding your vocabulary. You can carry over these phrases into your real-world conversations as well.

4 – Helps prevent age-related cognitive decline

The National Institute on Aging recommends reading books to keep your mind active as you get older. Studies have actually shown that elderly people who keep their minds engaged by reading or solving math problems every day can improve or maintain their brain health. However, no studies have shown definitively that reading can prevent Alzheimer’s or dementia.

If you’ve been keeping your mind active your whole life, this further improves your cognitive ability. A 2013 study by Rush University Medical Center found that people who have stimulated their minds their entire lives had much less chance of developing dementia.

5 – Helps you sleep better

Instead of being on your smartphone before bed, why not pick up an old dusty book? Smartphones and other lights from screens can disrupt your sleep because of the blue lights, but reading can help you prepare for sleep. Make sure you choose something relaxing instead of topics that might increase cortisol, such as action books or the news.

6 – Decreases depressive symptoms

Many people suffer from depression today, but reading can temporarily help take your mind off rumination and shift your focus to a different activity. Reading allows you to escape into your world, away from all the dramas and problems of this one. You can quickly get wrapped up in the story with the characters and take a bit of a break from your real-life story.

Plus, some books can give you techniques and tips on reducing depression. Self-help books have a lot of good advice on how to improve your mental health. Plus, they also improve your life overall. You might also consider spiritual texts, as these typically talk about mindfulness and meditation, which might decrease depression.

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7 – Reading may increase life span

A health and retirement study followed 3,635 adult participants over 12 years. They found that people who read books regularly lived 2 years longer on average than those who didn’t read or read primarily magazines and other media types. Researchers also found that the participants who read more than 3.5 hours per week had a 23 percent higher chance of living longer than those who didn’t read at all.

Along with reading books, you can do other things to decrease your stress and increase happiness as well.

Three other lifestyle tips to reduce stress

Eat a clean, balanced diet. Try to avoid processed foods as much as possible and stick to a whole-food, plant-based diet. What you eat impacts every function in your body, and eating clean helps everything run more efficiently.
Exercise more often. Our bodies were designed to move. And working out has been proven to alleviate anxiety and stress, perhaps more than any other activity.
Get enough sleep. Studies have shown that many people have chronic insomnia, which can impact other areas of health. Set the alarm for the same time each day, and only go to sleep when you feel exhausted.

Final thoughts on how reading can reduce stress and boost happiness

You may not think reading books can change your life that much. However, the studies cited show that this small activity can significantly affect our health. Reading can do more than reduce stress and make us happier. Indeed, it can also give us life-changing advice depending on the books we read. Who knows how different the world might look if we spend more time reading than we do on our phones or social media?

15 Things to Never Do After a Breakup

April 30, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Breakups are hard. It matters not whether you’re the one who broke it off or the one who was left emotionally broken in the aftermath. Your mental state after a breakup is likely clouded by a furious storm of conflicting thoughts and emotions. Those emotions make it even more important to try to keep a level head while coping. And, you must avoid making any rash decisions.

We all cope with loss and pain differently. However, there are 15 things you should never do after a breakup. These are common pitfalls people tend to fall into way too frequently.

Never Do These 15 Things After a Breakup

1 – Don’t Beg To Save The Relationship

Once you have a broken relationship, very little can be done to fix it. Relationships can end for a variety of reasons. But the most common is that both people are just romantically incompatible.

For one reason or another, you did not share a secure romantic connection. Or, you found some absolute deal breakers that keep the relationship from ever really happening.

It’s essential to identify whether you’re missing your ex specifically. Or, are you merely missing the idea of being in a relationship? These scenarios are two different things. Furthermore, longing for that familiarity can lead to a lot of problems if mishandled.

2 – Never Rush Right Back Into Dating

If you just got out of a relationship, the last thing you want to do is simply look for someone on the rebound. Whether you realize it or not, your standards are much lower in the moments after things end since you are looking for some familiarity or some way to return to what your mind recognizes as usual and routine.

Getting right back into the dating pool will likely end with you just latching on to the first friendly person you meet without really considering if they’re a good fit for you or even what you’re looking for.

This recklessness will just lead to a fundamentally broken relationship doomed to inevitably fail since you’re not in it for the right reasons. Give yourself time to adjust to being single and fully move on before going back out to look for Mr. Right.

3 – Don’t Call or Text Your Ex

While it isn’t unheard of for people to remain friends after a breakup, it is scarce and only happens if they both properly move on from the relationship. If you’re looking to get over your ex, it is essential to avoid contact with them as best as possible, both physically and digitally.

Talking or texting with them only reinforces your attachment, making it harder to move on emotionally.

4 – Never Seek Revenge

Tensions may be high, and you might be feeling a lot of pain and anger during an ended relationship. However, it is vital not to try to go out of your way for revenge. Seeking revenge often leads to feelings of shame or regret rather than a sense of calm or closure that most people assume it will.

If you are considering taking revenge on your ex, just ask yourself how it might affect you. Does retribution reflect who you want to be as a person? Or is it just the anger and emotional turmoil talking?

The worst behaviors in people often come out during a breakup. And while it might feel wholly justified, revenge rarely works out to anyone’s benefit.

5 – Don’t Try to Become the Life of the Party

While it might be tempting to go out and party to drown your sorrows, you’re just running from your emotional problems and aren’t dealing with the loss.

The more you ignore it, the worse you’ll feel when you’re not out distracting yourself. This behavior leads to a dangerous cycle where you never truly get over your ex or the pain of your ended relationship. Thus, you are possibly dooming your next relationship by bringing negative baggage with you from the previous one.

6 – Don’t Forget That It’s Not the End of the World

It’s easy to fall into a very negative place, using words like ‘never’ when it comes to your self-worth and the possibility of finding love in the future. While it can be easy to fall into this negative place and want to throw a pity party for yourself, its not healthy, and it may end up reinforcing ideas of worthlessness or self-doubt, which can stay with you as you look for a new partner.

7 – Don’t Avoid The Pain of the Breakup

Experiencing and processing your emotions through your pain is all part of the grieving process. Avoiding your grief will only delay the grieving, leaving unresolved emotions that could flare up if triggered. Don’t be afraid to face your pain head-on. You’ll be able to move on with a clearer mind and with more closure if you do.

8 – Don’t Talk About or Spread Gossip About Your Ex

When it comes to talking about your ex, especially complaining about all the negatives or bad-mouthing him, it’s best just to keep quiet. It’s not the right move when it comes to getting over your ex, as it reflects more on you than it does on them.

Rather than dragging yourself through the mud by complaining about your ex, try to take the high road and just keep it to yourself. The exception to this is venting or discussing with family or very close friends, where what is said stays between you and them.

9 – Don’t Be Down On Yourself

You’re already hurting, and your self-esteem is probably already feeling like it is at an all-time low, so don’t beat yourself up even further. Don’t try to blame yourself for the way things ended, or try to come up with how you could have been better or done things differently. It’s over. There probably wasn’t much you could have done to prevent it. So try to focus on moving forward, and if you did make some kind of mistake that leads to the end of the relationship, learn from it for the next time.

10 – Don’t Isolate Yourself After a Breakup

When feeling depressed, it’s tempting to just hole yourself up at home and wallow in your own negative emotions. The best way to combat those feelings is to push through them and try to stay active. The more you get out and go about your business, the more you’ll realize that you can manage just fine without your ex, and life will go on despite everything that has happened.

11 – Don’t Forget Yourself

It’s essential to consider your wants and needs, as well as care for your mental health when feeling down. Use the time productively to do things that interest you or work on talents that help you emotionally.

Creative hobbies like art and writing are great for this, as they’ll let you work through your emotions while being productive at the same time. Take some time for yourself if you need it.

12 – Don’t Turn To Alcohol To Ease The Pain

Turning to alcohol, or even your favorite comfort food is not going to help you cope or get over the pain. All it does is temporarily numb you. Later, it makes the pain that much worse when the alcohol wears off. Using alcohol can also lead to other issues as well, like high-risk behavior, criminal charges, substance dependence, and victimization.

13 – Never Treat Yourself As A Failure

Relationships can end for a variety of reasons, and sometimes it’s just due to incompatibility or that spark not being there. People like to think that if you work at it hard enough, relationships are guaranteed to work, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Rather than treat your relationship or your part in it as a failure, use it as a learning experience on what to look for in your next partner.

14 – Don’t Put Your Ex On A Pedestal

Much like how seeking revenge or hating your ex can be a mistake, the opposite is just as valid. All relationships have their ups and downs, and nobody is perfect. This idolizing of your ex can prevent you from adequately healing, making you feel unworthy of love or second guess if you’re good enough when someone new comes along. While your ex might not have been a bad person, realize they weren’t perfect either.

15 – Don’t Rush Things

When going through the grieving process, understand that it’s called a ‘process’ for a reason. Things can take time, so don’t try to rush yourself through and back to normal. Don’t set time limits for yourself where you should be over your ex by the 20-day mark, or you should start dating this many weeks after. Everyone deals with grief differently, and you should take; however, as long as you need to fully move on from your previous relationship.

Final Thought on the Things to Avoid Doing Post Breakup

Breakups are always going to be hard to deal with, whether it’s your first relationship or you’ve been dating for a long time and through the wringer a few times. It’s important to grieve and cope on your terms. But you should do it in a way that promotes positivity and healing by the end of the process.

By avoiding these mistakes, you’ll be able to move on with a healthy sense of self-worth after the breakup. Plus, you will bring the best you to the field when you’re ready to start dating again.

10 At-Home Science Experiments to Do With the Kids

April 30, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Remember the fascinating things you learned in science class at school? When you have science experiments to do with kids at home, you can share amazing facts about our world. These fun activities and science projects are ideal for weekend enrichment or homeschooling assignments.

Children are intrinsically curious about their environment and how things work, so science is often their favorite subject. Doing science experiments at home appeal to all learning styles and can be tailored by age and learning levels. You may also choose experiments for your children according to their scientific interests.

You needn’t be Einstein or conduct experiments in a state-of-the-art laboratory. Many science experiments to do with kids can be done with everyday objects at home. Be sure that your science experiments are age-appropriate and performed with adult supervision.

Your children may have a science project due for school or as a homeschooling project. Maybe you want to learn something while having fun on a rainy day. Either way, you will be spending quality time with your gang while imparting valuable knowledge.

Perhaps you can make these experiments an exciting family hobby. Put on your lab coats, don your goggles, and light up the Bunsen burners. It’s time to discover the world with these ten science experiments to do with your kids that they will enjoy.

10 Fun Science Experiments for the Kids

1. Potato Power Battery

Who would have guessed that the humble potato could generate enough electricity to power a small clock? This enlightening experiment uses things you probably have around the house. Your kids will need two large fresh potatoes, two zinc nails, a tiny battery LED clock, and two bulky copper wires 6-8 inches long attached to alligator clips.

On a clean counter space, arrange the potatoes and push a nail into one side of each potato. Now, push one end of copper wire into the opposite end of the potato. Take the battery out of the clock and set it aside.

Place one alligator clip on the positive pole of the clock and the other clip on the negative. Watch your kids’ amazement when the clock lights up and works. Explain to them the basic principles of electricity and how the potato’s acid and the copper conduct it.

2. Weather Watcher: Tornado in a Bottle

Science experiments to do with kids at home can be perfect tools for learning about the weather. Natural disasters such as tornadoes are just as fascinating for children as they are frightening. Learning the science behind it helps kids process their fears better.

Science experiments with kids need not be messy. Give each child two clean 2-liter bottles with a connector you can find inexpensively online. Fill one of the bottles with water, a few drops of food coloring, and some glitter. Spin the mixture in the top bottle and set it upright on a flat surface.

The whirling motion creates a miniature tornado as air moves upward, and the liquid splashes into the bottom bottle. This experiment demonstrates how the collision of warm air and cold air creates an angry vortex in a thunderstorm.

3. Slime Time

What is it about neon-colored gooey slime that appeals to kids of all ages? Are you struggling to find science experiments to do with kids? This project is one of the science experiments to do with kids that teaches a lesson and makes a fun toy. You could buy a pricey container of slime in the store or make it for pennies at home.

You can find countless recipes for homemade slime online. However, most of them will include school glue, water, borax, and a little food coloring. You can glam your slime up a little with glitter and Styrofoam pellets. Make a big batch to divide between the kids and explain how the borax makes the glue’s molecules cling into one blob.

4. Germ Buster

How many times have you reminded your children to wash their hands? How about conducting a zany science experiment to illustrate the germ buster principle? Your kids will get a visual of how soap can repel germs.

Fill a small bowl with water and sprinkle the surface with a little black pepper. Now, place a bit of hand soap on the tip of your index finger and lightly touch the water’s surface. The pepper will instantly be repelled to the sides of the bowl because of the dense soap breaking surface tension.

Explain how washing your hands with soap and water repel microscopic bacteria and viruses. Reiterate the importance of when their hands should be washed and how to wash them. Scrubbing their hands to the tune of Happy Birthday completes the necessary 20-second rule.

Learn a song to teach children about proper handwashing techniques.

5. Tasty Science: Homemade Ice Cream

Did you realize that we need scientific reactions to make some of our favorite foods? This idea is a yummy science experiment to do with kids that they will want to do often. They will be amazed to find out the process that creates ice cream.

Instead of purchasing a pricey ice cream maker, all you need is simple ingredients, ice, rock salt, a pint-sized resealable plastic bag, and a gallon-sized one. Use your favorite ice cream recipe and modify it for about two servings.

Fill the gallon bag halfway with ice and about six tablespoons of rock salt. Mix the ice cream ingredients in a measuring cup, pour it in the small bag, and bury it in the ice. Churn it in your hands for a few minutes, and you will have an amazing mixture that tastes great.

6. Freeze Water Instantly

Your children know that it takes time for water to freeze. However, there is a neat trick that you can do to speed up that process. You need some purified water, and you cool it to where it’s just below 32 degrees, or the freezing point. Then, all you need to do is place an ice cube in the water or shake the water a bit, and it will flash freeze.

Your children will think they have superpowers when they can turn water into a frozen mixture with a quick maneuver. There are so many science experiments to do with kids and so little time.

7. Make a Lava Lamp

One of the best science experiments to do with kids is making a lava lamp. Lava lamps are amazing to watch, but you can make them in the comfort of your home. All you need is a 2-liter bottle, some cooking oil, food coloring, water, and Alka Seltzer tablets.

Start by filling the bottle to about three-fourths of the way full of vegetable or canola oil. Next, you want to finish filling the bottle with water from your tap. Add a few drops of food coloring to the mixture. The oil and water constantly battle inside the container, which makes it dance.

The food coloring will gravitate to the oil, so the movements are colored. Lastly, add the Alka Seltzer tablets. If you want to make the show even more spectacular, then you can add some glitter of any color. Also, putting a flashlight behind it can make it look like a real lava lamp. You can do this at home without spending a dime.

8. Create Elephant Toothpaste

Have you ever heard of elephant toothpaste? The foaming reaction that this science experiment gives is as fascinating as watching a rocket shoot from a cannon. All you need is to take dish soap, food coloring, warm water, yeast, and hydrogen peroxide.

Take three tablespoons of water, a few squirts of dish soap, and some food coloring into a bottle. Then, add one-half of a cup of hydrogen peroxide to the mixture. Mix everything thoroughly. Last, you want to pour the yeast into the bottle.

It’s best to use a funnel to ensure the yeast doesn’t get everywhere. Then, wait for the chemical reaction to begin. The foaming wonder makes a spectacular sight that your children will enjoy.

9. Soap Clouds

Ivory is one of the purest soaps out there. Put the soap in the microwave oven and set it on the popcorn setting. The soap will begin to burst and make puffy clouds. The chemical reaction the soap has from the heat is spectacular.

Children will love watching the soap explode into a puffy mixture they can play with for hours. Plus, they can take it in the shower and wash with this uniquely created soap mass too.

10. Magic Mud

If your children always want to play in the mud, then you might want to consider making a cleaner version for them to explore. Magic mud is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. To do this project, you will need some food coloring, one cup of water, and two cups of cornstarch.

You can use whatever food coloring you want to get the color you desire. If you want it to resemble mud, indeed, then you should use brown or black. Make sure to let your kids mix it with their hands and make several colored batches to have all sorts of fun.

It’s very similar to play dough, and they will enjoy designed amazing creations.

Final Thoughts: These Science Experiments Are Fun and Educational for Your Children on a Rainy Day

Whether you’re stuck inside because it’s raining or you are sheltering-in-place, then these activities will be a fun way for you and your child to explore many fabulous science projects. There are so many science experiments to do with kids that you can fill all those long days with plenty of fun.

Counselor Explains the Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

April 30, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Homeschooling might be the wave of the future, and nearly two million children learn in the comfort of their homes every day. Many students are delving into home learning for safety reasons, while others have chosen this lifestyle for their family. While there are certainly some benefits to homeschooling, there are also some cons that need to be considered.

Counting the Cost of School Versus Homeschooling

Every day, millions of Americans get their kids up and send them off to school. Your local education system works hard to provide learning opportunities for your child. These parents sent their children into a world where things are quite scary.

Not only can these children be infected with viruses and diseases that can be harmful if not deadly, but they can experience violence and bullying. No wonder so many parents are rearranging their lives to homeschool their children.

If you’re on the fence about going back to an old-fashioned style of learning, then you must consider the effects this education system has on the child and the entire family.

Pros of Homeschooling

There are many advantages to taking your child’s education into your hands. When you’re the teacher, then you get to call the shots. You can teach them what you think is appropriate if it falls within the curriculum requirements for your district. Here are some other pros to consider:

1. Quality Time

Many families struggle with the ability to spend quality time with their families. With hectic work, school, and sports schedules, it seems the family only has time to pass at times. When you homeschool, quality time is not an issue. Your child will have your full, undivided attention, as they rely on you for instruction.

2. Your Curriculum – Your Way

Each school system has different guidelines that are set forth for homeschooling. However, most authorities only require a plan of action and to know that the child learns the required skills. Some parents feel it’s foolish to teach subjects like calculus and trigonometry.

Many parents take a pragmatic approach to their child’s education. They teach them real-world things they need to use. It does someone no good if they can solve a calculus problem, but they cannot cook a meal. Fractions and elements that apply to life are the best subjects.

There are hundreds of programs for you to choose from, including online learning applications. Many school districts even have an online version of their educational program that costs little to nothing to use. The options to bring the classroom to the home are vast.

3. Fit the Education Plan to Your Child’s Needs

Each child has unique learning abilities. Parents with children who have disabilities often love homeschooling because the curriculum can be concentrated on their child’s specific learning needs. If a child requires one-on-one type learning, then who is better than their parent to teach them? You know your child better than anyone.

Some children require medications or a revised schedule due to physical or mental limitations. A homeschool parent can create a schedule that focuses on those needs. You don’t have to take into consideration 20 other children and their demands.

4. Small Class Size – Better Learning

Class size is always a big issue when it comes to schools. The board of education puts out mandates on how many can be in a classroom with one teacher. Teachers have a stressful job trying to attend to and teach so many at once.

However, when it’s just a child and their siblings, the smaller class size allows you to help them when needed directly. Some children are self-starters and won’t need much assistance. Sadly, some cannot answer one or two questions without direction.

Having the small class size allows the child to feel that they aren’t left behind, so they don’t need to be confused about a subject. You simply don’t move on until they master it. There are no stringent deadlines when you homeschool.

5. You Set Your Schedule

Some people are early birds, and others prefer the night owl lifestyle. When you are the teacher, you can say if school starts at 8 am or noon. Since everyone’s schedule is different, and you have work and other activities, you can set your timetable based on the needs of the home.

Additionally, if you want to call off school one day for a doctors’ appointment or other meetings, it’s not an issue. You don’t need to show proof or call the school when your child is too sick or can’t do school that day. You just need to meet an hourly requirement that you can prove to the board.

6. You Can Travel

Many movie and television stars have their children in homeschool programs so that they can travel with them. If you have a computer, and some quiet time, then a child can turn any area into a learning center. If your family is on the road a lot or you long to take vacations, there’s nothing in the rules that says your child must learn in your home.

You have the freedom to take their studies on the road. What kid wouldn’t want to do their work beachside?

7. Better Teaching Materials

Teachers are limited to the materials that are purchased for them through the board of education. Sadly, many educators must pay for supplies out of their pockets due to funding cuts. When you homeschool, you get to say what materials you want to use.

Some programs even provide learning devices and workbooks for you. The internet is full of all sorts of resources for those who want to homeschool and need materials. The support for this style of learning is overwhelming, as it’s certainly grown in popularity.

The Cons of Homeschooling

It’s easy to see that there are numerous advantages to homeschool. However, there are also several cons that you should also consider. Before making such a choice, you need to evaluate the downsides to this type of learning.

1. Some Children Are Hard to Motivate

Some children are challenging to motivate to do their work. If they see the television, video games, and other distractions in the home, it may be impossible for them to do their job.

Setting up a dedicated classroom or workspace can help, but some children need to be sent to a place about learning to focus on schoolwork.

2. Parent’s Aren’t Always the Best Teachers

To be a homeschool teacher, you must have a solid background and be educated. You must know the stuff you are teaching your child. Additionally, you are making a long-term commitment that is going to impact the future of your kid.

Some people find that they just can’t get their children to listen to them or cooperate. Consequently, some children will do things for other people that they would never do for their parents, including learning.

3. It’s Easy to Get Off Schedule with Homeschooling

When your child must report to the school, it’s easy to stay on a schedule. However, when you are teaching from home, it takes discipline. It’s so easy to get off track and procrastinate.

Why do schooling when you can go to the mall instead? Though that statement sounds extreme, it becomes challenging to keep up with school if you are not disciplined enough to stick with a schedule. The school must be the priority of the day, and everything else takes a back seat.

4. It Can Impede Social Skills

Children are in desperate need of developing social skills. The only people in their life cannot be family. If they don’t mingle and play with other children, then they can soon develop social inadequacies that will haunt them for life.

Many programs encourage homeschool children to socialize. However, parents must take an active part in ensuring the social needs are met. Sadly, many don’t have the time for such activities.

Children cannot be expected to stay behind four walls every day. There must be social activities, and it costs money and time.

5. Can Make College More Difficult

Many kids that have been homeschooled have problems when they go back to public school or off to college. Learning in a classroom setting is so different than learning at home. Some people may not be able to adjust from a small group to a large group without issues.

6. Puts a Big Burden on Parents

Parents have a significant responsibility to teach their children the things they need for the future. Many try to do this while working from home. It can be quite a considerable undertaking to try to juggle many things at once.

However, if you’re forced into a situation where you have no choice but to homeschool, then you must make it work. Though, it will probably stress you to the max.

7. You Need A Dedicated Space

One of the most important parts of homeschooling is having a dedicated space that you can allow your children to work. Working at the kitchen table may be suitable for a few days, but you don’t want that mess in your dining room long term.

Children need a desk, places to hang their artwork and papers, and a site that is dedicated to learning. It will make the entire process more manageable when there is a space designated just for their school needs.

Final Thought: Is Homeschooling Right for Your Children?

Finally, consider some of the greatest minds in our time who studied through homeschooling. Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb and many other things, but the traditional school didn’t work for him. He was sent home as his teacher said that he was unteachable.

The harmful statement infuriated his mother. She knew how bright her son was, and she was determined to give him the education he needed. The rest is history. Other big names like Miley Cyrus, Dakota Fanning, Christian Aguilera, and Ryan Gosling also received homeschooling.

No one else knows what works for your child like you. When you’re in the driver’s seat, your child’s education can be a fun and memorable time in their formative years. Are you ready for the challenge?

Science Explains How Virtual Reality Improves Life for Alzheimer’s Patients

April 30, 2020 by Power of Positivity

According to recent medical studies, science is revealing how virtual reality, or VR, can improve the lives of Alzheimer’s patients. Although the statistics are preliminary and the technology has been around since 1957, the results are promising. Perhaps VR can be the treatment that you or a loved one who battles dementia needs.

Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease or regaining the cognitive functions it erodes from the brain. It’s a devastating neurological disease that slowly robs people of their memories until they no longer recognize loved ones or themselves. The medical community has sadly dubbed it as “The Long Goodbye.”

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, you may feel like there’s no hope. Fortunately, some positive strides have been made to at least slow down the process, like virtual reality therapy. Many patients and caregivers have reported positive results.

Besides medication, what are some other therapies to help patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia? Medical experts recommend both medication and treatment for optimal treatment. Here are some therapy options to discuss with your professional healthcare provider.

What is Virtual Reality Therapy?

If your kids or grandkids are into video gaming, they can tell you all about virtual reality. What was once the fantasy of science fiction writers has become a real technology. Visit any theme park in America, and you will probably experience some attractions that use VR. The best bachelor parties in Toronto use VR.

Virtual reality uses sights and sounds to make you feel like you are in the setting. Participants wear special goggles equipped with electronic sensors. The three- dimensional images and surround sound are stunningly realistic.

Alzheimer’s and dementia patients eventually lose cognitive function and much of their memory. The sensory experiences of virtual reality stimulate patients’ brains and may bring out remaining memories. In VR therapy, the patients choose their environments, like being on a beach or out in the woods listening to songbirds.

While this therapy can’t revive memories gone with decayed brain cells, it may prompt patients to re-live pleasant memories still stored. In controlled tests, many patients taking VR therapy can always choose their favorite scenarios on their own.

Patients can visit the seashore or any setting in the world from the comfort of the therapist’s office. They can see the places they once loved and can no longer visit due to their health conditions. VR therapy can take them to scenes in their mind that bring joy and comfort to them.

Eight Other Useful Ways to Stimulate Cognitive Function in Alzheimer’s Patients

1 – Music Therapy

Music has long been associated with brain stimulation and mood enhancement, so it is a viable therapy for Alzheimer patients. Some virtual reality therapists combine music with VR sessions for a total sensory experience.

Perhaps you have visited a nursing home or an assisted living facility and heard therapists playing music and singing with the residents. Often, people who have Alzheimer’s or dementia still have enough long-term memory to remember songs from their past. Hearing the upbeat music takes them to a happy place in their mind.

Does your loved one still play a musical instrument, like the piano or guitar? Keep his/her favorite instrument available each day, along with sheet music, if they play by note. You can have memorable times playing and singing together.

As a caregiver, you may consider playing music for your loved one that they have always enjoyed. Even non-verbal patients seem to perk up when hearing familiar tunes. You may be surprised that some patients in the early stages of the disease may sing along with you.

Science shows us that music can alter our reality.

2 – Basic Organizational Tasks

Was your family member a person who enjoyed organizing or housekeeping? Everyone likes to stay busy and feel needed, even with Alzheimer’s or dementia. When you offer your loved one a small task to do, it can stimulate his/her cognitive functions and feelings of belonging.

When you do laundry, let your loved one match socks or fold towels. Keeping them busy may ease anxiety and boredom. If you are working in the kitchen, let your loved one help with simple recipes, like stirring cookie batter or buttering toast.

Patients who are still ambulatory may enjoy helping you dust furniture or clear the dinner table. If your loved one was an avid gardener, let him/her assist you in planting seeds or pulling weeds. Let him/her re-live the pleasures they had.

3 – Encourage Your Loved One’s Creativity

Even when someone’s mind is affected by the ravages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, they can still appreciate art and beauty. It is part of them and is embedded in the soul. Instead of your loved one just wasting away in a recliner, you can be part of enriching their remaining life.

They don’t need to be Rembrandt to delight in creating a lovely picture with whatever art mediums you choose, even if it’s coloring books. Perhaps your loved one liked to draw, knit, crochet, or do any number of handcrafts. Encourage them to do any creative art they want.

4 – Make Reading Part of Everyday Activities

Reading is a passion for life that stays with one’s heart even when you no longer comprehend the words. Alzheimer’s and dementia patients who are ardent readers usually continue this favorite pastime. Encourage your loved one’s passion for books and keep several within reach.

What do you do when your family member can no longer read or understand? Holding a book or magazine can be familiar and comforting. Sometimes, just looking at the pictures together can be a rewarding activity. Don’t forget the impact of reading aloud. Try to read a chapter or a short story together daily.

5 – Pet Therapy

The medical community has long recognized the benefits loving animals offer to people, including those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. There’s something about cuddling a gentle dog, cat, or another therapy animal that goes beyond words or cognition. Pets give acceptance and unconditional love that resonates in everyone’s spirit.

Do you have a beloved family pet to spend time with you and your loved one? Petting and caring for an animal can brighten both of your spirits and may trigger some fond memories. You may need to help your loved one understand how to hold a smaller animal.

6 – Spend Time with Kids

Parental love stays with us regardless of who or what we can remember. Encourage your children and grandchildren to spend time with their loved ones with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The happiness and laughter of youth are contagious, and you can feel the bond connecting both generations.

7 – Planting and Caring for a Garden

You know that plants purify the air and provide nutritious food for the animals and us. Did you also know that tending to houseplants or a garden can boost your mood? No wonder so many people around the world love plants.

Perhaps your loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia has a lifelong green thumb. While they can’t care for a large-scale garden, miniature style, and container gardens are ideal. Watch the smiles of joy and satisfaction as you both dig into the fertile earth, plant seeds, and watch them grow.

Colorful flower gardens envelop the senses with color, texture, and delightful fragrance. Maybe you both would enjoy planting a small vegetable patch and harvesting the ripe veggies. Tailor your gardening activities to your loved one’s ambulatory, energy, and cognitive levels.

8 – Browse Through Family Photo Albums

They say a picture paints a thousand words, especially when these images of long ago are painted on our hearts. Surround your loved one with family photos to inspire memories and joy. Try not to be discouraged when they have confused faces and names. Sometimes, engaging in shared activities, like looking through a list of the best crypto casinos together online, can spark a surprising connection, as the familiarity with certain routines or topics might bring a sense of comfort. Since many Alzheimer’s and dementia patients’ fragile memories are often frozen in the past, they often recall old family photos, but not recent ones. Browse through the pictures together and cue him/her by identifying people and talking about some of your favorite memories with each.

Do you have vintage family home movies or videos? Watching these can take your loved one to the moment to re-live weddings, reunions, and family vacations. Your loved one may want to talk about it, or silently relish the memories.

Final Thoughts on Virtual Reality and Other Therapies for Alzheimer’s Patients

As you lovingly care for a parent, spouse, or another precious person with Alzheimer’s or dementia, it is important to also care for yourself. Caregiving can be exhausting physically, mentally, and spiritually. Get the rest you need, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you are overwhelmed and need a break.

While implementing virtual reality or other therapy ideas into your daily caregiving activities, enjoy each special moment. If your loved one doesn’t want to participate one day, set the activity aside for later. Even when your loved one no longer recognizes you, you still know him/her and can still spend quality time together.

Thanks to the fascinating science of VR and other useful therapies, you can bring life and joy to a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Talk to your doctor about how to incorporate VR therapy into the patient’s care plan. You’ll never regret spending quality moments with your dear family member.

15 Signs Your Partner Has a Wandering Eye

April 30, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Sometimes, a man or woman’s wandering eye is not necessarily a sign of disrespect. Instead, a short glance toward the opposite sex is more often than not a sign of curiosity from your partner. Or, they could simply not help but notice someone’s attractiveness.

Much as we might admire a beautiful sculpture or painting, it makes sense that we would continue to appreciate beautiful people after the honeymoon stage of a relationship fades, and the bond matures.

Sometimes, however, wandering eyes could be a sign that your partner is or is considering cheating. So what are some other signs you can look for to tell the difference between the two?

Here are 15 signs your partner has a wandering eye:

1 – Does your partner criticize you, incessantly?

Constant criticism is considered by experts to be one of the four horsemen. Sometimes as people settle into a relationship, they find their partner’s quirks and habits to become less endearing and more of an annoyance. If your partner happens to be less emotionally mature, they may seek out another partner behind your back instead of ending the relationship.

If someone is suddenly finding every opportunity to find something wrong with not just your actions, but who you are as a person, they may be trying to deflect some internal shame about not being forthcoming with you. Even if your partner isn’t cheating, this is a sign of a strained relationship.

2 – Has your partner made accusations of you being the cheating partner?

Along the same lines as deflecting shame, if your partner makes accusations about you cheating, they may do so because the fact that they are cheating makes them feel insecure. Some people want to have their cake and eat it too. They want loyalty and a hot new fling.

Be careful, though, as some people have simply been burned in the past, and that accusation might not have any relation to current behavior. Therefore, your significant other may not be a cheater.

3 – Has your intimacy suddenly changed?

When someone is cheating on you or has a wandering eye, their sexual behavior can change. They may retreat from the bedroom due to guilt over their actions. Conversely, they may ramp up the volume in the bedroom with some new techniques their side-lover introduced to them. Be careful with this one. Indeed, he or she may merely be trying to spice things up in the bedroom to get you excited.

4 – Have strange expenses showed up in your bank account?

When a woman acquires a new lover, she may suddenly have a new income that is unexplained. If the man in the relationship is cheating, you can expect to see that bank balance decrease as he woos his fling. Finances are a significant point of contention between couples. Therefore, both parties should be transparent.

If there is a lack of transparency when it comes to money, this may indicate you both have a strained relationship.

5 – Do you have an intuition that something is off?

Sometimes nothing does a better job of tipping you off to cheating better than your gut. You do not consciously realize this, but your gut picks up on thousands of micro bits of data as you go about your day. When something is off, your gut or intuition will undoubtedly tip you off. Indeed, because you are reading this article right now, your intuition is probably already on full alert!

6 – Has their schedule suddenly changed?

Another sign that a partner is participating in an affair is if their schedule shifts to make time for steamy romp sessions, rather than to bury their heads in more work or a suddenly sick family member. Make sure that your partner gives other signs of cheating before accusing them of being a cheater, however.

7 – Are your friends treating you differently?

Friends may start acting more courteous or try to avoid you altogether. That is because they are often the first ones to find out about an affair. The same applies to your partner’s friends. They, too, may start to avoid you or act exceptionally nicely around you.

One way you can check to make sure that your partner doesn’t have a wandering eye is by telling your friends that you’ve noticed the change in their behavior and want to know what that’s all about. Who knows, they may be planning a surprise party for you and your spouse. Otherwise, your partner may already be cheating on you.

8 – Have technology habits changed?

If your spouse suddenly has their eyes glued to their phone most of the day, they may be having an affair. Of course, if your spouse needs to be on their phone often for work-related reasons, that is one thing, but if their habits change, that might signal a strained relationship.

Technology habits can include anything from checking their phone once before bed to suddenly checking their phone more often for “emails.” If they suddenly change up their technology habits, this is a reliable indicator that your partner has wandering eyes.

9 – Do they have a new phone?

Unless your significant other has recently dropped their phone in the toilet, your partner buying a new phone without explanation is a major red flag that they are cheating on you. Many people who are seeing other people on the side will keep a burner phone or small flip phone, away from your vision so they can hold conversations you won’t be privy to.

10 – Do they have a secret cloud account?

Along with a new phone or new technology habits, most information these days gets stored in “the cloud,” or an online data storage service. This data can include work-related documents, videos, and yep, you guessed it—racy photos from an affair. If your significant other is secretive about showing you his laptop or other electronics, he or she may be a cheater.

11 – Have they stopped making plans for the future with you?

Someone who is cheating may stop making plans for upcoming birthdays or celebrations because they want to keep the calendar open for both you and the person they are keeping the affair with.

12 – Have you effectively discussed your boundaries with your partner?

Cheating isn’t always as cut and dry as going out and hooking up with a stranger. For some couples, cheating can range from watching a man walk by a few seconds too long to creating emotional intimacy with someone else beyond what they have taken the time to develop with their spouse. You will want to discuss some of your boundaries with your partner so that they don’t unintentionally hurt you.

13 – Has the emotional intimacy between you two changed?

Speaking of emotional intimacy, have you noticed your partner sharing less meaningful information with you? As relationships grow and mature emotional intimacy, ebbs and flows as life becomes more complicated and less complicated. However, there should always be an open pathway for communication. If one party shuts down, that person may be participating in an affair.

Perhaps you can suggest to your partner to have a weekly discussion about life and your feelings towards each other.

14 – Have their clothing preferences changed?

If your partner generally wears a pair of jeans and a regular t-shirt, and suddenly go out and purchase more formal clothes, this can indicate that they are making an effort to impress someone else.

The same can be said if they have been keeping roughly the same style of hair for the past few years and suddenly come home with a bold new haircut. The best way to handle this situation is to ask your partner what they intend to use their new clothes for or why they decided to get a new haircut.

You never know, they might want to take you on a lovely date!

15 – Is your partner happy overall with life?

Your partner should be content with his/her life. Discontentment can lead to poor behavior, so it is wise to discuss life paths together to find out how to improve the relationship. This will help your partner to keep their eyes from wandering.

Final Thoughts on Having a Partner with a Wandering Eye

If you suspect that your partner is a cheater, it is essential to have an open and honest conversation about if cheating is the actual issue or if it is related to a stressful life circumstance the both of you are going through. What is the reason behind the deception? Is there a work schedule issue where both of your paths are failing to align often?

Do you both have enough interests together to keep the relationship interesting? Is one partner addicted to adrenaline rushes? There’s never an excuse for cheating. However, depending on the reasons for cheating, you can decide where to go from there. It will depend on if your partner is remorseful for his or her actions. It will also depend upon your morals and feelings.

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