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You are here: Home / Archives for Self Help / Health

Health

How to Keep From Getting Drowsy or Falling Asleep While Driving

March 7, 2022 by Joi Leave a Comment

Don't Fall Asleep Behind the Wheel

It’s only in the 40s today here in Kentucky, but the buds on the trees and the daffodils along the highway promise me spring is just around the corner! That means many of us will soon be taking trips – whether they’re “daycations” or full-fledged “vacations,” that’ll mean more time in the car. This brings up a problem that many people face – falling asleep behind the wheel or getting drowsy while driving.

I don’t  have to tell you how dangerous this is! Accidents happen when people are wide awake and alert, so it only makes sense that they are FAR more likely to happen when a driver is drowsy.

Sometimes the tendency to get drowsy while driving is a simple matter of not getting enough sleep but other times it can signal a health problem. People with sleep apnea, for example, often don’t get “quality” sleep and are prone to get drowsy during the day. Sometimes it’s as much from sitting still as it is from anything else… and most of us are most definitely sitting still when we drive!

Until Motown comes on the radio, that is… then, personally, I’m anything but still. If car seat dancing were an Olympic sport, trust me, I’d medal.

I’d like to point you to a great article all about preventing falling asleep behind the wheel of a car: How to Prevent Drowsy Driving. I hope you’ll read the article and, by all means, share it with anyone you know with a knack for dozing off when they’re driving.

This spring and summer, I hope you buckle up, stay safe, and have an outrageous amount of fun!

~ Joi

Filed Under: General, Health, Improve Your Sleep

Nutrition Instead of Drugs (Thomas Edison Was So Far Ahead of His Time!)

January 6, 2022 by Joi Leave a Comment

"The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition." ~ Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison Quote About Nutrition

While “You are what you eat” is one of the best known quotes about healthy eating, I personally love this one from Thomas Edison a lot more.

“The doctor of the future will no longer treat the human frame with drugs, but rather will cure and prevent disease with nutrition.” ~ Thomas Edison

I would love to see more doctors discussing food with their patients – not necessarily more than medications that could be helpful but at leas as much as.  Whether it’s to prevent problems, help problems, or even alleviate them… the truth is the foods we eat can be incredibly helpful.

Problem is, not all doctors dive into nutrition (to be fair, lately, when would they find time do do any extra research?!) as a preventive measure let alone a cure. It’s often up to us to do our due diligence and research (from highly reputable sources, of course)…. then bring them up to our doctor and see what he/she says.

I asked one of my doctors, years ago, about an herb I’d read about being helpful for asthma. She actually wrote the name of the herb down and said she was going to look it up and research it. She apparently believed strongly in herbs and natural healing and simply hadn’t read enough about this particular one yet. She said she’d let me know what she’d found on my next visit and she did.

If you don’t have a doctor as cool as this particular doctor… find one!

Make each moment count double! ~ Joi (“Joy”)

Filed Under: Daily Quote, Health Tagged With: healthy eating, nutrition, quote graphics, quote of the day

The Secret to (LASTING) Change: Quote of the Day by Socrates

December 30, 2021 by Joi Leave a Comment

Quote About the Secret to Change by Socrates

Quote Graphic About Change

What better time to focus our thoughts and energy on change than New Years Eve?! The thing I always try to tell myself is that I’m looking for “lasting” change instead of just change. I mean, I can MAKE myself drink more water for a day… possibly even a week, but what good does that actually do?

What I’m looking for is a way to make drinking more water an automatic part of my daily live. It’s the only way it’ll last. I’d know, after all, it’s been a resolution and goal for as long as I can remember! This year I’m trying to focus on BUILDING a habit of drinking 8 oz of water between my cups of coffee and glasses of raspberry tea.

It’s honestly my only hope I believe! That, and, another trick: By knowing myself and all of my funny quirks, I think I can work the quirks to my advantage. I love pretty and whimsical things and am just completely drawn to them. I have my favorite coffee cups, tea glasses, and travel mugs and happily use them daily. I associate each with the goodness they hold!

I’ve decided to buy myself the most charming, fun, and whimsically delicious water bottle on Amazon (Amazon link to water bottles) and keep it with me (refilling it throughout the day). I’ve found a few in my favorite color (purple). There’s also a VERY cool, soft and collapsible one (Amazon link) that can be fastened to a belt buckle for when I’m walking or working in the yard.

Socrates said,  “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” and I plan to carry this quote with me through all of 2022. It may be a helpful companion to you as well!

Best of luck with all of your resolutions and goals and have a very safe and happy New Year! ~ Joi (“Joy”)


Filed Under: Daily Quote, Health, Self Growth Tagged With: creating new habits, healthy new habits, making resolutions stick

Top 6 Mood-Boosting & Other Health Benefits of Pets

November 15, 2021 by Joi Leave a Comment

Health Benefits of Pets Graphic

The Health and Happiness Benefits of Pets is Extraordinary!

by Nicole McCray

Pets have always been incredible companions for their owners, and although they require a lot of care, pets bring us a lot of joy, too. Many of us feel that pets generate feelings of happiness for us and within our families. The bond and connection between humans and their pets are beneficial and rewarding on both sides.

While you may already know that bringing a pet home will give you joy, but there is so much more to it. Owning a pet can have genuinely positive effects on our physical and mental health, and it goes beyond just helping us be happier. 

Did you know that pets who form strong bonds with their owners can become in synch with their tone of voice, gestures, and body language? It aids them in understanding what they are feeling at any given time. 

Pet owners aren’t always aware of the multiple effects that pets have on their health. Here are some of the top mental, physical, and emotional health benefits that having a pet can do for you. 

Pets Reduce Stress and Blood Pressure

Having a pet can cause stress by having accidents indoors, becoming sick, or destroying your furniture. However, owning a pet also aid in helping to relieve feelings of stress, hypertension, and anxiety. For example, there was a study with children who owned pets that discovered they had much lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol when interacting with their furry companions and creating a decrease in blood pressure.

So, you can effectively reduce your stress and anxiety just by playing with your pet. Even just something like simply stroking your pet’s head will be engaging enough to work on lessening those stress levels. So, the next time you have a rough day or are gone from home for a while, think about providing your pet with some quality time – it’s not only great for them, but it will help you too.

Pets Alleviate Depression

Along with lower stress levels, pets can also help those suffering from clinical depression. You may notice whenever you are feeling blue or down, your pet can help make you smile again, immediately boosting your mood. 

The National Institute of Mental Health utilizes animal therapy to help treat depression and other mood disorders because pets have such a positive effect on emotions. In addition, pets remain loyal as companions, so when someone is feeling isolated or withdrawn, their pet will still be there and work to help provide feelings of calm and comfort.

Pets Give Us Healthier Hearts

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. People with pets, however, are less likely to suffer from a heart attack or risk of stroke. The American Heart Association has performed studies that concluded that owning a pet can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Owning a pet also increases the likelihood of increasing your physical activity, which leads to being more fit. Most pets require some form of exercise, and if you are actively engaging with your pet, that means you are also getting some exercise. Exercise will help keep your heart healthy, give you more energy and help you maintain a healthy weight.

Pets Help Prevent Allergies

Another unexpected heart benefit from owning a pet is that exposure creates a barrier against having allergies. Millions of people suffer from allergies, and pet dander can be a common trigger for them, but exposure to them earlier in life, such as when you are a child, helps lower your risk for developing them.

A study in Medical News Today associated that children exposed to animals at an early age had a much lower risk of having asthma by the time they started school. The theory behind this is that being around allergens or pathogens will strengthen your immune system and effectively increase your tolerance to allergies.

Pets Promote Better Social Skills and Relationships

It is no surprise that most pet owners have a special connection and bond with their furry friends. Many, if not all of us, usually consider our pets to be more than just a pet, but a member of the family unit. However, that special bond that is created also benefits us with other relationships.

The clinicians at Bond Vet – NYC Animal Hospital said that many adults who had developed previous attachments to animals when they were young tend to have more understanding, empathy, and compassion. In addition, their emotional intuitiveness creates more substantial relationships with people. 

Social skills are improved because taking care of animals gives owners a leadership role as caregivers. In addition, taking care of pets leads people to be more involved within their community, helping others and taking on other roles as leaders because it makes them feel good. Even studies have performed that children with autism showed more assertiveness if they lived with a pet. 

Pets Help Us Sleep Better

While you may not want to allow your pet to sleep in the bed with you, having it in the bedroom at least can help with the overall quality of your sleep. Pets love to feel secure and comforted, and they like being close to their owners, even when they are sleeping. 

Researchers found that pet owners who had their pets in the bed with them or within their bedroom found that they slept better and did not find the pet to be disruptive to their sleep. The feelings of companionship, security, and relaxation offered a better night’s rest for both pet owners and their furry friends.

With all of these tremendous advantages that pets give us, it is easy to see that bringing a pet into the home is more than just helpful to the pet. There is much joy and love to be had, and taking care of your pet creates many wonderful ways that improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Filed Under: Articles by Various Authors, Health, How to Be Happy Tagged With: health benefits of pets

Are You Getting Enough Sleep? If not, it Will Catch Up with You!

November 12, 2021 by Joi Leave a Comment

Quote About Sleep

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?

Study after study tells us how physically and emotionally damaging lack of sleep is.  To compound matters, more studies are coming now proving that not getting enough sleep is also causing significant mental impairment in individuals, so add mentally damaging to physically and emotionally damaging.

I don’t know about you, but just one of these three makes me determined to getting more sleep – the three combining efforts  (like a frightening tag team) makes me want to go to bed right now!

The hard cold truth is that, apparently, most of us are actually sleep deprived. We’re filling out our to do lists so ambitiously that we neglect to figure in time for sleep.

Obviously we’re not doing ourselves any favors by skimping on sleep. In fact, we’re doing ourselves a whole world of harm. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that most of us get between 7 and 8 hours of sleep each night. Sleeping less than this (on a regular basis) is associated with:

  • Diabetes
  • Stroke
  • Hypertension
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • A Shorter Life Span
  • Weight Problems

A few tips from experts on improving your sleep:

  1. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine. Whether it’s reading before bed, taking a bath or shower, or watching a little television – having a routine you associate with “winding down” helps significantly (this is also very, very true with kids).
  2. Try to keep regular hours for sleeping and waking. I’ve started making myself follow the weekday routine on the weekends and it has helped my sleep greatly.
  3. Get enough activity during the day but not too close to bedtime. Too much activity right before lying down to sleep spells disaster. I used to do a few regular “chores” (cleaning the litter box, loading the dishwasher…) right before lying down but found that doing them earlier in the evening helps me fall asleep faster.
  4. Essential Oils – Lavender, in particular, is wonderful for helping the mind and body wind down. I love using Downy Infusions Lavender Vanilla on my bed linens and gown – it sets the stage for very sweet sleep. A lot of people also keep a small bottle of lavender essential oil (Amazon link) by their bed to simply smell right before lying down. There’s just something relaxing and magical about lavender that helps most of us fall asleep faster.
  5. Be sure your vitamin levels are within a healthy range. If your magnesium, for example is low, it will VERY MUCH impact your sleep.
  6. Don’t even think about touching that phone or iPad! I know, I know, it’s easy to take one last look at Twitter, your e-mail, or Instagram, but they’ll be there in the morning!

Sweet dreams! ~ Joi


Filed Under: Essential Oils, Health, Improve Your Sleep, Self Help Tagged With: how to improve your sleep, how to sleep better

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Cat on Pine Mountain , Kentucky

Welcome to Self Help Daily, a blog devoted to helping you get the most from life by getting the most from yourself!

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My name is Joi (“Joy”)! I am the animal lover behind Self Help Daily.

To contact me, please do so through e-mail (joitsigers @ gmail.com). Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you! ~ Joi

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