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An Introvert’s Guide to Starting a New Job (Infographic)

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There are countless ways to divide humans into groups (male/female, happy/sad, Type A/Type B….) but one that comes into play pretty often, especially on self help blogs, is INTROVERTS and EXTROVERTS. While it’s almost impossible to place people decisively into any groups (aside from gender, race, and blood type), most people do either fall directly under the heading introvert or extrovert – or, at the very least, lean more heavily toward one than the other.

Intorverts tend to keep to themselves more. While they are not remotely unfriendly and don’t lack in the personality department – introverts do not mind time with (or to) themselves. In fact, they prefer it! Extroverts, on the other hand, are generally the ones controlling as many conversations as possible. They thrive on being the center of both conversations and attention.

The first day of school or the first week at a new job presents two entirely different scenarios for introverts and extroverts. For extroverts, it’s “game on!” They usually approach such experiences as a welcome opportunity – “Let’s see how many people I can meet and how many conversations I can have today!”

But what about the introvert? The one who’d rather be at home curled up in their favorite chair with hot chocolate and a great mystery? These types of experiences can range anywhere from annoying to nauseating for someone who’s motto is “the fewer people, the better…. no people, the best!”

The infographic below can offer some much-needed encouragement along with priceless advice.

The advice can help you get through the day with your eye on the prize… your favorite chair, hot chocolate, and a great book at the end of the day!

Courtesy of: On Stride

Soothe Your Senses with a Luxury Spa Treatment at Home

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Get a Spa Treatment at Home!

We don’t all have the time and money to spend pampering ourselves with lavish spa weekends, but that doesn’t mean we can’t indulge at home from time to time. Read on to see how you can temporarily transform your household bathroom into a luxury treatment centre, for all of your senses.

Sight

Before you even touch a tap, make sure your bathroom is relatively tidy. Mess seems to especially accumulate around bathroom basins and tubs, so take five minutes to tidy away any bits and pieces you don’t intend to use. There’s no need to spend a lot of time cleaning, but you definitely deserve better than the morning’s towels on the floor and a full bin.

Next, adjust the lighting. Glaring task lights are great for seeing what we’re doing in the morning, but don’t lend any atmosphere to a relaxing soak in the bath. Accent lights, low-wattage bulbs and candlelight are much easier on the eyes, and can help tune your mind to a more meditative state.

Scent

A soothing scent will transport you away from a hectic household, and straight into your zen space. There are many fragrances that are said to promote calmness and relieve anxiety, and ingredients such as lavender, jasmine and sandalwood are often used in health spa products. Take your time to pick a scent that your personally enjoy, as it will help you to de-stress that much quicker.

There are lots of ways to fragrance a room, with options to suit every bathroom. Static air fresheners, plug-ins or reed diffusers are great for gently emitting a constant scent, but these can get a little lost once our noses become accustomed to them. Lighting complementary scented candles or incense will enhance the aroma just in time for your soak, or for the full spa experience, try using aromatherapy oils.

Sound

If silence is golden, why do our minds fill with obscure clutter and last minute “to do” notes at the very end of the day? Avoid your brain going into overdrive after five minutes of quiet by preparing a soothing soundtrack to help you unwind.

Most streaming services will have some ready-made playlists to choose from, with something to offer for every genre. You can even find tracks of ambient soundscapes, like ocean waves gently breaking, crackling log fires or distant, calming thunderstorms.

For particularly busy households, you will need two extra things. Firstly, some quality headphones to block out the noise. Make sure you find ones with an extra-long wire, so you can keep your music device far away from the bath. Secondly, if you don’t already have one, purchase and install a lock on your bathroom door, so that the source of the racket can’t come in and disturb your peace.

Touch

While you might not be able to recreate the exact luxury of a spa treatment, simply indulging in different products from your daily routine will tell your brain that your session is extra-special. Elevate your bath time to an extravagant, replenishing soak with two cups of Epsom salts, or by adding a squeeze of beautifully scented bubble bath.

Make sure to properly pamper yourself with a home treatment or two. If you have been waiting to use a conditioning hair balm, face mask or body scrub, now is the perfect time to let it work its magic while you soak. Spoil yourself with premium products, just as you would in a spa – it’s not like you get a chance to every day.

When you’re ready to get out, have fresh, fluffy towels waiting for you, alongside a cosy dressing gown and slippers.

Taste

It may usually be the last sense we think about in a bathroom, but your taste buds deserve a treat as much as the rest of you.

Start your treatment session with a mug of herbal tea (or glass of wine) while your bath runs. Try to find a comfortable spot to enjoy it, without interruptions from your family or phone.

Prepare yourself an extra drink and snack for when your bath is ready. Icy water and chopped fruit, for example, feel particularly refreshing during a hot soak… although so do wine and chocolate – it’s entirely your choice!

Get a Spa Treatment at Home!

How Much Does My Diet Affect My Sleeping Pattern?

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Do you have trouble sleeping? Before asking a doctor to prescribe you medication for insomnia, consider whether your lifestyle could be adjusted in a way that might promote a better night’s rest. There is a lot that goes into an excellent night’s rest, whether it’s what you ate for dinner or the mattress you’re sleeping on – which The Sleep Judge can help with.

Diet Considerations

The University of Pennsylvania has found clear evidence of a correlation between sleep quality and food intake. Specifically, it was found that people who don’t get enough sleep are more likely to consume higher amounts of calories. The study also found that people with a balanced diet tend to be more regular sleepers than people who like eating one particular type of food more than others.

Interestingly, it didn’t seem to matter whether that one favorite food category was fast-food calorie bombs or vegetables and legumes. It’s simply the variety of the diet that seems to prepare the brain for an easier night’s rest.

However, if there was one definite substance that should be locked up every evening, it’s caffeine. Caffeine is known for its stimulant effect, and that can shake up your sleep schedule if you use it too often to stay up late at night.

Alcohol has been shown to make it easier to go to sleep, but generates a sleep of lower quality than going without. Plus, you’re more likely to wake up in the wee hours of the morning, which can throw the entire night out of balance.

Choosing a Sleep-Healthy Lifestyle

If you’re not getting a good night’s rest consistently, you might be able to make some slight changes to the way you approach sleep. For instance:

  • Do you take naps during the day? If you do, you might be offsetting your brain’s ability to turn itself off at night – it might only be willing to go for about four hours during the night because it expects another couple hours in the middle of the afternoon.
  • Do you sit in bed when you’re not tired? Even if you’re trying to adopt a healthy sleep schedule, going to bed when you’re not tired is counterproductive. Not only will you be unable to sleep, but you’re also training your brain to associate bedtime with that state of mind – you’re best off going to bed as soon as you feel like sleeping, and avoiding it the rest of the time.
  • Do you have any bedtime rituals? Whether it’s brushing your teeth and taking a shower or making a to-do list for the next day like American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault, having a bedtime ritual and sticking to it can help effectively prepare you for sleep.

Simply by following these few suggestions, you will be able to improve your mood and benefit from a better night’s sleep without having to drastically change your life or get medication prescribed.

Caffeine and Sleep - Not a good Duo!

7 Proven Strategies to Make Your New Habits Stick (Infographic)

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One of my favorite quotes about habits is by Samuel Johnson, “The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken.”  This is a great quote because it is so incredibly true. Making a habit STICK is where the magic is. After all, vowing to eat healthier and promising to get more sleep sound wonderful… but your body and mind won’t reap a single benefit unless you STICK with it.

The infographic below (made with Visme) outlines 7 Proven (and simple) Strategies to help make new habits stick around… as in stick around until they’re too strong to be broken.

7 Proven Strategies to Make Your New Habits Stick

Infographic made with Visme.


More Than Butterflies: Overcoming Social Anxiety

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I’ve done a lot of research on anxiety and stress for Self Help Daily as well as my mental fitness blog, Out of Bounds. One thing that fascinates me with anxiety is there is no one size fits all type of hat you can place on everyone’s anxious head.  I think that people who approach anxiety that way are as dangerous as the ones who say, “Oh, just breath and get over it.”

Each individual has their own triggers, as well as their own manner of coping with their anxiety. Social anxiety is a huge deal for a lot of people. I often think that most of us, at least to some extent, have at least some degree of social anxiety. While I have zero problem dealing with people face-to-face or in e-mail… I get a knot in my stomach anytime I have to talk to someone outside of the family on the phone.

I have no idea why, but I simply do not like it. AT ALL. In fact, I will do just about everything to get out of the situation – and I’ve always been that way.

The infographic below does a beautiful job of explaining the signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder. It also blows the lid off of a few myths surrounding this anxiety and, best of all, gives you some advice on coping with your own social anxiety.


Source: Fix.com Blog
Always keep in mind that you are not alone… you are SO not alone! Many people deal with the same anxiety or anxieties you do. In fact, many people in your own life probably have similar experiences. I hope you’ll keep searching until you find the solution you need to handle your social anxiety. Your happiness and peace of mind are worth it!

Make each moment count double,
~ Joi (Joy)