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Simple Things to Do When You’re Feeling Lonely During the pandemic, loneliness has spread almost as fast as the virus. Maybe you’re cut off from family and friends. Maybe you miss the daily interactions at your office or neighbourhood coffee shop. While recent events have created new challenges, loneliness has long been a part of daily life. It’s natural to need a community and a sense of belonging. However, these feelings are manageable. Learn how to deal with loneliness when you’re alone or in a crowd. Try these simple things that will help you to feel more content and connected. Connecting with Others The quality of your relationships matters more than the quantity. Build a network of support where you can feel loved and cared for and when it matters those will be the ones who rally around to help! Try these techniques for coping ⚡️ 1. Stay in touch. Make your family and friends a top priority. Block out time to spend together on a regular basis. Take the initiative to plan outings and parties. Set up weekly coffee dates (when covid regulations allow for this) and phone calls or have a skype coffee date instead. Think outside of the box! Be inventive. 2. Open up. Allow yourself to be vulnerable. Express your thoughts and feelings. Talk about sensitive subjects. Pick a quiet time and place. Slow down and listen to each other. 3. Maintain boundaries. Healthy relationships are based on respect and trust. Understand your limits when it comes to personal space and making commitments. Let others know how you expect to be treated. 4. Express appreciation. Strengthen your relationships by showing gratitude and affection. Thank others for their kindness. Recognize their talents and accomplishments. Be polite too, it costs nothing to say please and thank you or to take the time to ask how someone is? 5. Volunteer your services. Helping others puts your own troubles into perspective and makes you feel more connected. Sort cans at a local food bank or go grocery shopping for an elderly neighbour. Look out for one another, this is the basis of community! 6. Join a club. Find others who share your interests. Start a running group or browse through your local "Meetup" for events that interest you. 7. Prepare for transitions. There are times in life when you’re more likely to feel lonely. If you're moving to a new city or getting divorced, be proactive about staying engaged. Surround yourself with positive people and vibes especially during times of upheaval. Appreciating Your Own Company Do you enjoy spending time alone? Treating yourself like a beloved friend will help you to see solitude as a positive experience and relate more successfully to others. Keep these ideas in mind: 1. Accept yourself. There’s a difference between being alone and being lonely. Value yourself for who you are. Let go of judgements and embrace your feelings. 2. Build your confidence. Think about the purpose of your life. Clarify your values and use them to set meaningful goals. Give yourself credit for making an effort. 3. Limit screen time. Do you use your devices to distract you from your thoughts? Put your phone away for a few hours a day. Turn your TV off unless you want to watch something specific. 4. Continue learning. Devote your extra free time to acquiring new knowledge and skills. Take courses online or attend classes at a local university. Read books and listen to podcasts. 5. Find a hobby. Fill your leisure time with challenging and enriching activities. There are hobbies to match any kind of interests or budget. Browse through magazines or ask your loved ones what they enjoy doing. 6. Seek balance. Most adults need some time to socialize and some quiet time for themselves. Find the schedule that works for you. 7. Consider counselling. If you have these feelings much of the time, it could be a sign of more serious issues such as depression, and professional help may greatly benefit you. Loneliness can have serious consequences for your physical and mental health. If you feel empty and isolated, reach out to friends and family or talk with a therapist. You deserve to have positive relationships with yourself and others! We would love to hear some of your coping mechanisms, drop us a message in the comments or if you prefer send us a private message. 🌷

Everyone has a little brain fog on occasion. But, if you’re regularly suffering from a serious case of brain fog, there are steps you can take. Brain fog can be frustrating and greatly limit your productivity and creativity. There are steps you can take to reduce or even eliminate brain fog. Try these tips and see just how clear-headed you can actually be. Practice these techniques to maximize your mental clarity and boost your productivity: 1. Exercise your body and your brain. Your brain and your body need a workout each day. Have you ever noticed that you feel better and think more clearly after a moderate bout of exercise? Plan some mental and physical exercise into your daily schedule. ● Mental exercise can be as simple as working a few brain puzzles or math problems. ● Physical exercise doesn’t have to be demanding, but it can be helpful to push yourself enough that you’re breathing hard. 2. Deal with stress. Stress is distracting. Stress also results in abnormal levels of hormones and neurotransmitters that can affect your thinking. Stress is hard on your body and your brain. Lower your stress levels if you want to do your best thinking. Invest in hobbies, take up activities or interests that will provide you with an outlet to focus your energy on. For some this may be gentle exercise, meditation, yoga, massage, for others it may be artistic interests such as taking up painting, or drawing, it can be going to the gym, gardening, taking walks, reading a book……whatever works for you as long as you find the activity enjoyable and it helps you relax and de-stress! 3. Get a checkup. See your doctor if you’re having issues with brain fog and nothing else seems to be working. It might be that you have an underlying medical condition that’s contributing to your brain fog. You might also be taking medication that’s creating challenges for you. 4. Eat healthy food. Unhealthy food can leave you with brain fog. Also, there are foods that are often considered to be healthy that just might not sit well with your system. It’s important to notice how you feel after eating different foods and use that information to your benefit. Experiment and see what you discover. 5. Sleep the right number of hours for you. If you’ve ever missed out on a few hours of sleep, you know how compromised your ability to think clearly can be. A lack of sleep is a major cause of brain fog. ● Interestingly, many people also suffer from brain fog if they sleep too long. An hour or more of sleep beyond what you require can greatly reduce your alertness. It’s not easy to reach 100% alertness if you sleep too long. ● Even if you think you do just fine with 5-6 hours of sleep, try sleeping longer and see if it helps. 6. Avoid stimulants and depressants. Too much caffeine can leave your brain racing. The same goes for other stimulants as well. Stimulants can also interfere with your sleep. ● Obviously, depressants can leave you feeling groggy and cloud your thinking. It’s best to avoid both if you want to minimize brain fog. 7. Drink some water. One of the early signs of dehydration is brain fog. If you just can’t seem to concentrate or to think clearly, have a glass of water and see if that helps. A tall glass of water every few hours isn’t a bad idea. Drink according to your levels of thirst. Conclusion Brain fog doesn't have to be a regular occurrence in your life. Take the necessary steps to minimize the amount of brain fog you experience each day. If you try all of these tips and aren’t satisfied with your progress, schedule an appointment with your physician. Brain fog can potentially be a serious issue, but it’s harmless in origin the vast majority of the time, however it can have a negative impact on one’s quality of life. Give these tips a try and let us know if this helped you!

What are the signs that could indicate our bodies are aging faster than our biological age? Slow Walking If your walking pace slows while you're in your 40s, it may be a sign you're aging faster than is typical. Walking is one of the easiest and best exercises you can do. To start a walking program, begin with 5 minutes a day and build up to 30 minutes. Try to work up to 100 steps a minute. (To track this, count your steps for 10 seconds and multiply by six.) To make it easier, wear supportive walking shoes and walk with a buddy. Sun Spots Brown sun spots most often appear on your face, hands, and arms. They’re common, especially for people over 50. Most are harmless and are caused by years of being in the sun. See your doctor if they: • Are black • Change shape • Bleed • Have a rough border Wear sunscreen and cover up in the sun to help prevent them. Avoid being outdoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun is strongest. Memory Problems Mild memory changes go along with aging and can start as early as your 40s. It might take you longer to recall names or facts or remember why you went upstairs. But most cases of Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia don’t happen until after age 65. And dementia is not a normal part of aging. To help keep your mind sharp: • Eat healthy • Stay socially active • Exercise Achy Joints Not everyone gets stiff joints when they get older. But your chances of getting osteoarthritis go up as you age. Men tend to get symptoms after age 45, and women after 55. There’s no cure, but you can slow its progress. As little as an hour of exercise a week might help. Do flexibility, strength-training, and aerobic exercises. If you're new to exercise, see your doctor first. Dry Skin Your skin makes less oil as you age. It can become dry and dull, especially if you're over 40. But dryness can also be caused by things you do (or don’t do). To prevent it: • Take short baths or showers using warm -- not hot -- water. • Clean your skin gently and moisturize well. • Drink plenty of liquids. • Don’t spend a lot of time in dry air. If your skin is still very dry and itchy, see a dermatologist to rule out medical issues. Easy Bruising This gets more common once you pass 60. Your skin gets thinner and loses fat as you get older. Your blood vessels also get more fragile. Even some medicines can lead to more bruising. Most bruises are harmless and go away on their own. See your doctor if: • You often have lots of large bruises, especially on your chest, back, or face. • You started bruising after beginning a new drug. Problems Climbing Stairs It’s normal to sometimes have trouble with steps. But if it happens often as you get older, it could mean you'll struggle with other daily activities. Maybe it's because you don’t exercise regularly. If that's the case, check with your doctor, then slowly add stair-climbing to your routine. You could also have pain or balance issues, or medication could be to blame. See your doctor to rule out things like heart problems or arthritis. Thick Waistline Body fat tends to shift to your belly as you get older. This is especially true for women after menopause. No matter what your age, a thick waist can come with health problems like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Risks go up when your waist is more than 35 inches if you're a woman or more than 40 if you're a man. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are the best ways to keep your waist in line. Hand Strength You might find your hands have to work harder opening a jar, or your hold on the steering wheel isn’t as firm. Your grip strength usually starts to drop in your 50s. You can keep your hands strong by playing with clay, squishing a stress ball, or wringing water out of a washcloth. If you lose your grip strength early or suddenly, it could be a sign of arthritis, nerve damage, or another health issue. Vision Issues After you hit your 40s, you'll likely have trouble seeing things close-up, like reading a menu. It’s called presbyopia. Sometimes, aging brings more serious issues like glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration. To cut your risk: • Wear sunglasses that protect against UVA and UVB light • Stop smoking • Eat healthy • Exercise • See your eye doctor for annual checkups Irregular Period Your periods usually become less regular in your late 30s or early 40s. That’s perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause. Your body makes less estrogen. That means your periods may be lighter and shorter, or come less often. Check with your doctor if your periods suddenly become very different or painful, especially in your 30s. It could be a sign of early menopause. Source - WebMD https://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/ss/slideshow-body-aging-faster?ecd=wnl_spr_050621_remail&ctr=wnl-spr-050621-remail_s