Self Help Daily

Inspirational and Self Help Blog with a Save the World Complex...

You are here: Home / Archives for Self Help Daily / Articles by Various Authors

Articles by Various Authors

How to Really Live in the Moment

by Leave a Comment

by Adrian

You’ve got to live in the moment… it’s easy advice to give out and to hear, but is it quite so easy to put into practice? Living in the moment and paying attention to what is happening right now around you sounds wonderful, but with so much going on and everyone being so busy, it also might sound impossible.

The good news is that it’s not impossible. In fact, there are some simple ways to really live in the moment that you can start implementing today, and you’ll soon start to feel the benefits.

Conquer Your Addictions
Addictions can be the thing that is stopping you from enjoying your life to the fullest and really being able to live in the moment. If you are always looking for the next drink or fix of drugs, or the next chance to smoke a cigarette, for example, then you won’t be noticing what is happening around you. Get help with your addiction from The Recovery Village, not just so that you can live in the moment but because they can lead to all kinds of health issues including borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Remove What You Don’t Need
Living a more minimal life doesn’t mean you have to give up everything and live on just bread and water. It simply means that it’s time to clear away anything that you no longer need or that doesn’t make you happy. Older possessions are often linked to memories, and although some memories are good, others may not be so great, and it is these items that should be discarded.

If you really can’t bear to remove them entirely from your home, put them in a box and place them in the attic, basement, or into storage. That way, your home will be full of things that you love without causing clutter that can cause stress. Remember, living or sleeping in a room where piles are high can lead to poor sleeping patterns and added worry. Minimalism is a great means of keeping stress to a minimum.

Appreciate The Little Things
To start living in the moment, you need to appreciate the little things, no matter how small. If they cheer you up and make you stop and pause to think, then they are worth admiring. It might be a sunrise, a beautiful sky, a flower growing where nothing else can, a cat lounging in a front yard, or any number of little, day to day things that will keep you grounded and happy. Use all of your senses including sight, smell, and hearing, and enjoy everything.

Forgive
By walking around holding onto past hurts, you are never able to truly live in the moment and enjoy it for what it is. There will always be something holding you back from fully engaging with what is happening around you.

It is best, therefore, to choose to forgive those who have hurt you and move on with your life. If you don’t, you are missing out on the happiness you could be having, and they will have hurt you even more. Let go of grudges.

Author: Adrian is a lifelong thrill seeker and adrenaline junkie. A freelance sports writer, Adrian is passionate about health and fitness and pushing his body to limits. Whether he’s rambling in the beautiful Cotswolds or bunjy jumping in New Zealand, Adrian is a fervent believer in making the most of the great outdoors.

5 Ways Golf Can Improve Your Life in 2019

by Leave a Comment

By Adrian

If you are looking for a sporting activity that can improve your mental and physical health in 2019, while helping you to advance in your career, you should look no further than golf.

The fun sport offers a multitude of benefits, which can have a positive impact on both your personal and professional life. To find out how, take a look at the following five ways golf can improve your life.

Improved Overall Health for All Ages
After reviewing 5,000 studies, researchers found that golf improved the overall health for people of all ages, with the benefits greatly benefiting older players. It is believed the historic sport can improve a person’s:

  • Balance
  • Cholesterol levels
  • Self-esteem
  • Cardiovascular health
  • Metabolic rate
  • Respiratory health

Greater Life Expectancy
Recent research has found that regularly playing golf can lead to a greater life expectancy. The study found that golf players had an improved life expectancy compared to non-golfers of the same age. That’s because the more a person plays golf, the better their overall health will be.
In fact, golfers with the lower handicap also enjoyed a better life expectancy. As they are better golfers, it indicates they, in theory, spend more time on a golf course.

Build Strong Networks
The best business relationships aren’t developed inside a meeting room. They often flourish in more social situations, such as on the golf course. If you want to connect with a business associate, recommending a day on the golf course could be the ideal solution.

It will allow your associate to spend a little time outside of the workplace, and you’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other on a professional and personal level over 9 or 18 holes.

A Greater Work-Life Balance
As you might spend so much time in the workplace, you could find it difficult to achieve a good work-life balance. Golf could, however, help you to do so, as it can reportedly lower a person’s stress and anxiety levels, so it can counteract the stresses and strains of your professional life.

So, after a round of 18 holes at a golf club or an evening at the driving range getting to grips with different clubs, from a bat attack putter to PXG gen2 drivers, you’ll feel relaxed, re-energized and free from stress.

Social Benefits
If you regularly like to connect with new people or want to form new friends, golf could help you to do so. You’re bound to meet many different people from all walks of life at a golf club, who will be happy to chat with you both on and off the green. Plus, as it is a quiet sport, it provides players with more quality time to talk, laugh and share stories.
As you can see, golf offers a variety of benefits to both your mental and physical health, and it can also improve your social life while helping you to advance in your career.

Author Bio: Adrian is a lifelong thrill seeker and adrenaline junkie. A freelance sports writer, Adrian is passionate about health and fitness and pushing his body to limits. Whether he’s rambling in the beautiful Cotswolds or bunjy jumping in New Zealand, Adrian is a fervent believer in making the most of the great outdoors.

Tips for Modeling Good Mental Health for Children

by Leave a Comment

As a parent, you want to teach your children as many things as possible. While you might feel this means tangible lessons like helping them learn their ABCs when they are preschoolers and teaching them to drive when they are teens, it’s important to remember that your kids will also learn by simply watching what you are doing.

For instance, when it comes to having good mental health, how you act, the decisions that you make and the way you treat yourself and others can all help your children learn what this important concept means. In order to model good mental health for your kids, please consider the following tips:

Be Mindful of How and Where You Spend Money
While you might not equate solid mental health with spending money, the two are linked together. If your kids see you constantly stressing about bills and fighting with your spouse about money, it can lead to negative associations with money in their future. Strive to live within your means and if money is tight, take proactive steps like trimming back expenses rather than putting everything on your Visa.

Also, to show your kids how to be smart with money, make a point of shopping for brands that you can trust and believe in. Explain how you don’t want to waste money and research the best companies before making purchases. For example, if you are looking for high quality health, beauty and lifestyle products, a company like Amway is a great place to start. If your kids bring up the Amway scam rumor, show them how the company refuted the accusations on their site, and assure them that you only spend your money on products from reputable and reliable companies.

Take Care of Yourself Too
Parents often put their own self care last while their children get the lion’s share of time and attention. You probably make sure your kids get enough sleep, yet you are sleep deprived. Your kids see the dentist twice a year on schedule, but you keep cancelling your own appointments because of your huge number of commitments. While it is definitely important to take good care of your children, you need and deserve the same treatment. Being a parent who handles the needs of his or her kids while still modeling good self-care is a wise choice that your children will definitely notice. Mention that you are going in for a physical with your doctor, go out for walks as a family and establish a family bedtime—these are all ways to take care of yourself and your kids at the same time.

Show Compassion for Yourself and for Others
Another effective way to model good mental health habits for your kids is by being compassionate. As The Washington Post notes, being gentle with yourself and others can help you and your children learn to navigate difficult feelings. On the flip side, poor emotional regulation, including being really hard on yourself, can result in headaches and stomachaches and other physical symptoms. So, when life is stressful and you make an error in your checking account or accidentally burn dinner, instead of blurting out “I’m such an idiot!” try to remain as calm as possible and avoid making self-deprecating remarks.

Remember, Your Kids Are Always Watching
On those days where you have to remind your children 100 times to take out the trash, it may be difficult to believe that your kids actually listen to you. But children really do watch what you are doing and what is coming out of your mouth, as well as your daily habits. By striving to model good mental health, you will not only feel better yourself, but your kids should also grow up to be mentally healthy and happy adults.

Being Positive and Staying Positive: Recuperating From Surgery

by Leave a Comment

by Amanda Green

Some of us have experienced the unfortunate event when a loved one has been suddenly rushed to the hospital. We worry and anxiously pace as we wait in the waiting room for any news from the doctor. Moments pass and a plethora of thoughts bombard our mind, but we remain optimistic. We think about how the bright surgical lights will focus on our loved one. We think about how long it may take before we talk with them again.

Post-Op

The surgeon makes their way towards you and gives the good news that surgery was successful. You breathe a sigh of relief. You head over to your loved one’s recovery room and watch them sleep. As you stand there, you’re wondering what to say first when they wake up and wonder how they are feeling. Hours pass and your loved one wakes up. You rush over to their side and ask if they need anything. You wonder if they want an extra pillow, some water, or perhaps some food. You call the nurse and they indicate that everything is fine and that a meal will be scheduled later on the day. As the nurse leaves the room, your loved one reaches out to you.

Words of Encouragement

Recuperating from surgery is not easy for a patient. Sometimes it can get overwhelming for them and may hinder a quick recovery. We want to encourage them to stay optimistic during their treatment. Reading a book together, bringing in letters of encouragement, or by simply just spending time with your loved one can be a positive distraction. The hospital takes care of the physical recovery and we take care of the mental fitness. Words of inspiration can boost positivity. “To succeed, we must have the will to succeed, we must have stamina, determination, backbone, perseverance, self-reliance, and faith.” – B.C. Forbes

Musical Healing

An article states that “There’s a belief that music and pain are processed along the same [nerve] pathways.” Music therapy is slowly being integrated into recovery rooms of hospitals. It is said that music therapy can help alleviate stress, anxiety, and the “perception of pain.” Music can even decrease the need for medications that aid patients in dealing with fear and pain. Having a personalized playlist for your loved one can inspire and also relieve them of stress and tension associated with recovery.

Laughter

Doesn’t laughing feel good? Laughter can break a bad mood. Most importantly, it can reduce anger and frustration associated with the path to recovery. Your loved one may feel depressed or angry because they feel pain. We want to lighten up their mood and distract them from the pain they feel. Most recovery rooms have television sets; tune in to something that’s humorous. Laughter can be a powerful painkiller but can also help along the healing process. Laughing can also help avoid depression.

Emotional Support

It’s not always fun bearing the brunt of your loved one’s frustrations. We have to put our minds in a state where we can support both our emotions and the emotions of our loved one that’s recovering from surgery. At times it can get so overwhelming it can lead to an environment that can halt treatment progression. It is recommended to take time for yourself. Take time to relax and rejuvenate. Take a stroll in a park or grab a bite to eat; change your surroundings for a while. By doing so, you will find that it will improve your mood and also gives you time to breathe in some fresh air.

Exercise

A good exercise routine will help maintain a positive attitude. Not only are you the guiding light for your loved one, but they also depend on you to keep things positive when they are feeling down. Exercising can promote circulation and help prepare for the day ahead. Whether you’re assisting them with their physical recovery or encouraging them to stay optimistic during treatment, it is important to always stay positive.

From words of encouragement, healing through music, laughter, and everything in between, always remember to remain optimistic and reassuring for your loved one. Remember, they are recuperating from surgery and feeling tremendous amounts of pain. When you feel overwhelmed and fatigued, take time for yourself. Taking the time will help improve your mood and help you refresh, and in turn, promote a favorable environment for quick recovery.

 

Late Start: How to Build Your Dream Career

by Leave a Comment

by Maggie Hammond

Even if you have a job you love, it may be a good idea to focus on evolving. “Reinvention is different later in your career. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible,” says Dorie Clark, author of Reinventing You. “In fact, it’s increasingly essential for any professional who aspires to remain in the workforce for any length of time.”

The reality is that you have to reinvent yourself professionally in order to remain relevant and valuable to your employer. Whether you are already in a job you love, or you want to work your way there, here are some tips for building your dream career — even when you are starting late.

Have a Plan
One of the advantages of being older is that you realize the value of time and just how much time you have. Use that fact to your advantage and develop a game plan to get you to where you want to go. Take the time to research a path for your career and map out how you could get there.

Invest in Yourself
You may also have more disposable income that you can use to invest in yourself — be it earning a PhD or getting braces. Use that. You may be able to take advantage of opportunities in your later years that you never even dreamed about when you were younger, like moving to a new country, relocating to a city center, or earning professional certifications.

Acquire Skills
John Tarnoff, author of Boomer Reinvention: How to Create Your Dream Career Over 50, says that acquiring new skills is one of your best opportunities to build your dream career. “The word ‘reinvention’ generally stops me cold,” writes Tarnoff. “I believe that with a little soul-searching about what you have to offer and opening up your mind to the possibilities, you have the capacity to redeploy your skills in a new direction, to a new field and type of job. You will, though, need to learn new skills and ramp up the ones you have.”

Get Hip
While in some cases learning new skills will involve bolstering the knowledge you already have, you may also need to “get hip” and educate yourself about the trends happening around you. Social media is a good example of this. To compete in the modern world of business, you will need to have a profile and a presence on social media. You will also need to monitor and manage your “shadow resume” on Google. Reputation is the new resume.

Leverage Networks
Finally, spend some time leveraging your networks. You may only be a single degree of separation from your dream job or the connection that gets you there. The ability to do this is something author Joshua Cooper Ramo calls “The Seventh Sense” for how critical it is in business. The idea is that by activating your network — reaching out to people you’ve met or with whom you’ve worked — you can become a player in the ever moving cog that is your industry and ultimately level up into a new and better position.
Building your dream career is not a goal for the young — or at least not exclusively. No matter how old you are, there are things you can do to reinvent yourself and redefine your professional goals.