8 Free Things You Can Do This Summer

If you are on a tight budget this summer, don’t worry, there are many awesome things you can do without spending money. With so many parties, vacations, weddings, and other expensive summer activities, we often end up spending more than we wanted to by the time fall rolls around. Moreover, it’s usually hard to save money during summer. Check out the list of the free things you, your family and friends can do this summer season. Hopefully, these activities will help you save money and have lots of fun this season.

1. Water fights

Whether at home or on the beach, water fights are always fun and free. While this activity is more for kids, adults can enjoy it too. If you stay at home and you are bored, consider washing your car. Invite your friends and have water fights while washing your car. This way, you will save money, because car washes are rather expensive, and have a lot of fun.

2. Have a picnic

Picnics are a classic and timeless summer activity, which is perfect for family, couples, siblings, friends, and kids. Although it’s not a completely free thing you can do this summer, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. You can have a picnic on the ground, or consider bringing along chairs and a card table. You can play your favorite sports or simply dance. No matter what you do, make sure you have fun.

3. Pursue a new hobby

There are many interesting hobbies you may want to pursue, such as painting, reading, gardening, cooking or pottery making. If you want to get into shape, make exercise your new hobby. Be sure to exercise on a regular basis and you will definitely achieve your fitness goal. Consider running, swimming, softball, weight lifting, dodge ball, or spinning. Summer is also a great season for gardening.

4. Spend the day making funny videos

Last summer my friends and I spent the whole day videoing everything we saw and did to capture the funny video. This activity is great for both family and friends. So get together with your family or your friends and spend the whole day videoing one another. You will have lots of fun and won’t spend money. This activity is especially perfect for picnics and water fights.

5. Host a grill out

If you have a grill and a big backyard, hosting a grill out for your family and close friends will be a great idea. If you are on a very tight budget, ask your friends to bring something to eat or drink. Eating outside is incredible because you don’t have to worry about cleanup or decorations. Simply set several pots of summer flowers on your porch and don’t forget about bug spray to fight the pesky mosquitoes.

6. Learn a new language

Whether you’re planning a vacation to another country, or you want to impress your co-workers and friends or you just to want to improve yourself, consider learning a foreign language. It can be challenging, but very rewarding!

7. Visit your family members

Take several summer evenings to spend time with your parents, siblings and other family members you haven’t seen for a very long time. If you are lucky enough to have your grandparents, be sure to visit them too. Spending time with your family members is a must-do activity this summer.

8. Plan surprise dates

My boyfriend and I have already started planning our summer surprise dates for one another. Surprise dates are fun, interesting, and they don’t have to be expensive. Just make sure it’s not something you normally do. Try to choose something new and unique for your surprise date. Your partner will love it, I promise! If you are single, use it for your sister, best friend, cousin or even mom.

Summer is an amazing season that offers many fun activities. If you don’t have money to spend on the summer activities, you can still have a great time. Consider doing some of these free things and enjoy a fun summer!Which things do you plan to try this summer? Feel free to share your ideas in the comments section.

7 Surprising Uses for Yogurt

If you think that drinking and eating are the only uses for yogurt, read on to find out a few surprising things you can use yogurt for. Yogurt is actually a very healthy food, which is packed with vitamin D and protein as well as probiotics. Yogurt boasts plenty of health and beauty benefits so I think it’s always a good idea to keep it in your fridge. Without further ado, here are seven surprising uses for yogurt.

1. Great hair mask and conditioner

Did you know yogurt can be used as a hair conditioner? While yogurt is good for your skin, it’s also great for your scalp and hair. Yogurt helps to bring out your hair’s natural shine and make it soft and silky. You can use yogurt as a hair mask or in place of your conditioner. Take a plain, natural yogurt and spread it all over your hair. Rinse it off with lukewarm water. It will help soothe an inflamed scalp, reduce hair loss and can even help banish split ends.

2. Natural scrub

Yogurt is one of the best natural scrubs for your hands, feet and the whole body! Mix yogurt with oats or dried citrus peel, if you have, massage into your skin in a gentle, yet firm circular motion and rinse off with lukewarm or cold water. This natural scrub will leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated, and you can even use it after shaving.

3. Teeth whitening

If you are looking for a natural home remedy for whitening teeth, opt for yogurt. Teeth whitening treatments are rather expensive, so why spend your money on them if you can whiten your teeth at home? Rub some yogurt onto your teeth daily and within a couple of weeks, your teeth will be sparkly white. This is due to the phosphorous and calcium found in yogurt.

4. Relieve sunburn

Yogurt contains zinc, which helps soothe the burning and itchiness of the sunburn. Apply a thick layer of plain, cool yogurt directly to your burn and rinse it off with cold water after 20 minutes. You can also mix your favorite essential oil into yogurt before applying it on your sunburn. This will help to soothe the inflamed skin.

5. Safe finger paint

If your children like to finger paint, consider making edible finger paint using plain yogurt and food coloring. Simply add a few drops of food coloring to the yogurt and get painting. Now you don’t have to worry about your kid accidentally eating paint.

6. Awesome facial

There are many ways to use natural yogurt on the skin. It’s a great moisturizer, it can help brighten the skin, get rid of dark circles under the eyes and it can even reduce the effects of aging. Moreover, yogurt helps fight pimples and acne. Mix yogurt, oats and honey to make a face mask or simply massage natural yogurt into your face and wash it off after 10 minutes.

7. Moss maker

If you have a sculpture, a wall or anything in your garden that looks a bit shabby, why not grow moss on it? Paint it all over with yogurt, but ensure that the thing you are going to make mossy is in a shaded place. This is one of the most unconventional uses for yogurt to try.

Now that you know these unconventional uses for yogurt, are you going to try any of them? Yogurt is healthy and versatile, and it’s amazing beauty product too. Just make sure you use plain, natural yogurt. Do you know any other uses for yogurt?

10 Best Slimming Ingredients for Your Summer Drinks

If you are trying to drop a few pounds for summer, you might want to know some great slimming ingredients you can add to your summer drink. I think sipping on cool and sweet drinks on hot summer days is an easy way to lose weight. We know that most hot winter drinks are high in calories, however, cold summer drinks can also contain plenty of empty calories. Cocktails, smoothies and juices are usually packed with sugar and they can cause weight gain. This summer, replace all those sugary ingredients for slimming ingredients for your drinks. Your lean waistline will thank you!

1. Unsweetened almond milk

If you want to lose weight, start using unsweetened almond milk instead of dairy milk. Unsweetened almond milk contains 30 calories per cup and it contains no soy, sugar, lactose, carbs, gluten, or MSG. I love to add unsweetened almond milk to my creamy summer drinks. Yum!

2. Stevia

No matter whether you are drinking tea, coffee, lemonade, smoothies, or cocktails, stevia is a great slimming ingredient for any drink. Stevia comes from an herb and is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. When buying stevia, make sure you choose the liquid stevia or the 100% pure stevia white powder.

3. Apple cider vinegar

A cup of ice water is one of the best summer drinks, which you can make more delicious. Try adding some stevia, ginger, lemon, and a dash of apple cider vinegar. This tasty summer drink will definitely help you trim your body for summer. The thing is that apple cider vinegar helps reduce your blood sugar levels and prevent fat storage in your body.

4. Lemon

One lemon contains less than 1 gram of sugar, which makes them a perfect slimming ingredient for your summer drinks. You can use a few slices of lemon to sweeten up your water and add a tart taste that will curb your sweet tooth. Moreover, you can add lemons to your summer veggie juices, smoothies, green or black tea. If you can’t imagine your summer without lemonade, consider making sugar-free lemonade with lemons and stevia.

5. Nonfat plain kefir

I know, it sounds tasteless, but nonfat plain kefir is actually a wonderful high-protein ingredient for the summer smoothies. Since nonfat plain kefir is not calorie-free, consider using no more than 1 cup per recipe. If you don’t like the taste of plain kefir, sweeten it up with your favorite berries or stevia. Nonfat plain kefir contains more slimming probiotics than plain yogurt. Plus, it has a slightly tart taste that can make any summer smoothie even more delicious!

6. Clean protein powder

Add a clean protein powder to your smoothie or nondairy milk, but make sure it’s free of artificial sweeteners, sugars and additives. I recommend you to have your drinks with a clean protein powder after your workout in order to build more lean muscle in your body and drop weight faster.

7. Lime

Lime is another fantastic slimming ingredient that you can add to any summer drink. Just like lemon, lime is virtually sugar- and calorie-free. It’s rich in vitamin C that helps boost your immune system. Lime is also good for cleansing and detoxifying the body and it’s incredibly helpful for shedding pounds.

8. Watermelon

Watermelon is naturally low in calories (1 cup has only 45 calories) so it’s a wonderful ingredient for your summer drink. You can use watermelon in your smoothies, juices, and you can even add it to your ice water to make a refreshing summer drink. Watermelon is not only good for your waistline, but for your overall health as well. It helps to reduce the risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease.

9. Kiwi

Even though kiwi won’t directly burn fat, it’s still a perfect ingredient to add to your summer drink to lose weight. Kiwi is low in calories and high in fiber, antioxidants and Vitamin C. You can add kiwi to your smoothies, juices and water. You can also use it in fruit salads or eat it raw. Kiwi helps to reduce stress hormone levels, control your blood cholesterol, and can even combat wrinkles.

10. Grapefruit

Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, fibre and lycopene, grapefruit detoxifies the body and aids in weight loss. Since grapefruit is high in water-soluble fiber, it helps you feel full longer and avoid overeating. Add a few slices to your water or drink grapefruit juice. Freshly squeezed grapefruit juice is a healthy and refreshing summer drink, and it’s oh-so delicious!

One of the best things about these amazing slimming ingredients is that they’re very easy to find. Plus, most of them are incredibly tasty. Do you add any of these slimming ingredients to your summer drinks? If you add any other ingredients to your drinks, don’t forget to share your ideas with us in the comments section.

7 Easy Ways to Eat a Low-Carb Breakfast

Whether you are trying to lose weight or just want to eat healthier in the morning, there are many health benefits of having a low-carb breakfast. Researches have shown that beginning the day out with more protein than carbohydrates can prevent fatigue, boost mental focus, curb sugar cravings, suppress appetite, better insulin levels and increase lean body mass. Plus, it can also help lose weight. Here are a few easy ways to eat a low-carb breakfast.

1. Smoothies

If you usually start your day with a healthy smoothie, make it even healthier by using ¼ cup fruit. Add cucumber, stevia, spinach, and a dash of cocoa powder to your smoothie to make it sweeter. When choosing fruits for your smoothie, make sure you use low sugar berries such as blackberries, raspberries and acai instead of banana.

2. Oatmeal

If you are an oatmeal junkie like me, you probably start your day with a warm bowl of oatmeal. When it comes to oatmeal, one of the best ways to eat a low-carb breakfast is to use ¼ cup oats rather than ½ cup and cook them with egg whites and almond milk (or coconut flour and chia seeds if you are vegan) in order to thicken your oatmeal up. It will lower the carb content and boost the protein content at the same time.

3. Veggies

Veggies boast plenty of health benefits so it’s definitely worth adding them to your breakfast. Add some leafy greens to your morning smoothie or toss some peppers or asparagus into your eggs. Veggies are high in fiber that helps lower your blood sugar and control insulin surges that cause weight gain.

4. Eggs

Eggs are a great food that you can use to make your low-carb breakfast. In case you don’t like whole eggs, you can use only the whites by pouring them in your smoothie or just stir them into your oatmeal. They are rich in protein, they are tasteless, and they can help you reduce your sugar cravings in no time!

5. Protein powder

A protein powder is really helpful for making a low-carb breakfast. Opt for a high quality protein powder that doesn’t contain sugar, artificial ingredients, and that is low in carbs and fat. You can stir it into your oatmeal, add a little to your smoothie, or bake with it instead of flour to make pancakes and muffins.

6. Coffee

If you can’t imagine your morning without a cup of coffee, keep it to only one cup. While one cup of coffee a day can improve insulin, a few cups can spike insulin levels just like sugar can. You might want to consider drinking green tea instead of coffee.

7. Avoid cream and sugar

One of the easiest ways to eat a low-carb breakfast is to add unsweetened coconut or almond milk to your coffee instead of cream and use stevia in place of sugar. For a morning mocha, try adding a dash of cocoa powder.

Eating a low-carb breakfast isn’t as difficult as you might think. When made right, a low-carb breakfast can be incredibly satisfying and delicious! Moreover, you don’t have to count those unwanted calories. Having a high protein breakfast is actually one of the best things to do for your health. Do you eat a low-carb breakfast?

10 Healthy and Delicious Summer Snacks

Summertime is here so it’s time to think about healthy and delicious snacks for summer. When it comes to summertime snacking, we all want something light, icy and tasty so that we don’t have to worry about our waistlines. From fresh fruits and vegetables to homemade popsicles, there are many awesome summer snack ideas to try this season. Fruits and veggies are high in nutrients which will help to get you through the hot days and the homemade popsicles are a yummy treat for a summer BBQ. Try out these 10 healthy and delicious summer snacks and feel free to share your own summer snack ideas after reading through.

1. Fresh fruit cup

This refreshing summer snack is perfect for both kids and adults. Most fruits are low in calories and sugar so they make a great snack for those who are trying to lose weight. Strawberries, apples, cherries, blueberries, grapefruit and pomegranate are among the healthiest fruits you may want to eat daily. Many fruits travel well in your bag or in the car. Just mix your favorite fruits to make the healthy travel snack.

2. Yogurt with berries

Yogurt is an excellent source of protein and calcium, and berries are high in vitamin C and powerful antioxidants. Berries help your body combat stress, and they contribute to beautiful, glowing skin. Since berries contain water they also help you stay hydrated during the hot summer days. Yogurt with berries is one of the healthiest and most delicious snacks to try this summer. You can also add a whole grain cereal to your yogurt if needed.

3. Watermelon feta salad

Mix 1/4 cup of crumbled feta cheese, 2 cups of diced watermelon, and 1 tablespoon of chopped dill in a small bowl. This healthy summer snack should be eaten immediately, otherwise the watermelon can become soggy and tasteless.

4. Veggies with a light dip

Vegetables are low in calories and high in a variety of essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals, which help combat age-related diseases. Fresh vegetables with a light dip is a great, satisfying snack to eat on a hot day. Treat yourself to guacamole or hummus dip, or make your own vegetable dip with non-fat Greek yogurt and some ranch seasoning.

5. Green smoothie

Tear 1 cup of kale leaves into small shapes. Pulse 5 ice cubes in your blender until crushed. Add kale, 1 cup of fresh mixed berries, 1/2 banana, and 1/2 cup of water to your blender and blend until smooth.Green smoothie is a great slimming snack that will refresh you on a hot day.

6. Cheese sticks

This is a quick and easy summer snack that you can eat at home. Cheese sticks are packed with bone building calcium and protein. Cheese is also high in vitamin B that helps your body absorb and distribute calcium to build and maintain healthy bones. If you don’t like cheese, try wrapping cheese sticks in whole-wheat tortillas and microwave for 10-15 seconds. Add fresh salsa and enjoy a tasty snack!

7. Popsicles

Have you ever made your own popsicles? All you need is an ice pop mold and a blender. The ice pop molds are easy to find and buy during the summertime, so why not make the ice pops and invite your friends to enjoy this awesome treat? The flavor combinations of the homemade popsicles are numerous. You can use fruits and vegetables to make the yummy treat.

8. Bacon-cantaloupe bites

It’s one of my favorite summer snacks. The best part about this snack is that it’s incredibly satisfying and really easy to make. Simply cook 1 slice bacon in your pan and cut it into 10 small pieces. Cut cantaloupe into 10 small pieces as well, and spear cantaloupe and bacon with toothpicks.

9. Trail mix

Whether you have a beach trip, a long hike planned or a bike ride, take along healthy trail mix. Combine raw nuts, dried fruits, chocolate nibs and unsweetened coconut to make the delicious summer snack. The raw nuts give you fat and protein, the dried fruits give you carbs, unsweetened coconut gives you protein and the cocoa nibs are packed with powerful antioxidants. Enjoy this crunchy snack any time you feel hungry.

10. Air popped popcorn

Air popped popcorn makes an amazing summer snack. This healthy, whole grain snack is high in fiber and it’s one of the best sizable summer snacks. Try to make your own popcorn to skip the salt and trans fat that the commercial popcorns are packed with. Toss in some Parmesan and rosemary or cayenne pepper and chili powder to add some flavor to your popcorn.

Healthy crunchy treats and fresh sweet treats will definitely satisfy your snack cravings during the summer season. Keep your healthy snacks ready to go in your fridge or pantry, so that there will always be something tasty to refuel you when you are hungry. What’s your favorite summer snack?

7 Undeniable Reasons to Focus on Making Yourself Happy

Every person makes this world wonderful and happy. It is important to struggle for happiness, but you should start with yourself. You should change your negative vision of the world and control your emotions and feelings. It turns out that happiness doesn’t depend on external factors, but it has a direct connection with your inner feeling of contentment. Remember that it is possible and quite easy to be happy being yourself. However, if you don’t learn to accept who you are, you will never grow as a person. Read on these reasons and I hope your life will be colored by new and pleasant changes.

1. No one knows what you feel inside

No one can penetrate your mind and understand how you feel and how you are doing. People around can just suppose these things. If you know yourself, then why not make yourself happy by meeting your own needs? If everyone finds happiness in themselves, this world will be full of happy people.

2. You are responsible for your happiness

Let me ask you a question, “Who is responsible for your happiness?” The answer is YOU. Only you have total control over your happiness. Nowadays it’s easy to believe you are trapped without choices and you are somehow at the mercy of everyone and everything around you. The truth is that we always have a choice to change our life and circumstances for better. If something in your life makes you feel despondent, then you should change it, because everything is up to you in your life.

3. You know what happiness is to you

Surely, everyone has the picture of happiness in mind. Someone sees happiness in money; others can be happy enjoying the beauty of nature or playing with a funny kitten. Maybe it makes you happy to sit on the beach and watch the sunset. If you have the aim and make appropriate efforts, you will certainly succeed and feel yourself happy.

4. You care only about yourself

In fact, all people care about themselves more than about others. They often find tiring to care for someone more than they care about themselves. Every person tries to be more in touch with their needs. That’s why you should try to improve yourself, if you really want to be happy. You are responsible for your happiness and you shouldn’t wait until someone will make your life a miracle.

5. Finding your own joy is wondrous

Once I asked an old man how to become happy and he shared a small secret of life with me. The power to decide to be happy is one of the most important things in your life. Those who have made such a discovery in their life are happy. It’s important to find your own joy and let yourself be free of bad thoughts and feelings. Many people spend the whole life understanding and realizing this truth.

6. You have one life

Mae West once said an interesting thing, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” You have all chances to feel happy. You have a choice to live the only life the way you like. There’s no time for negative emotions and misery. There are so many marvelous places to visit and so many positive emotions to experience. You should realize that it’s necessary to risk and face difficult situations, because it’s very difficult to struggle for happiness. It usually requires strong will to survive and move on in spite of everything. You should always remember that life is beautiful.

7. You’ll become a nice person

I think it is easy to notice a happy person in the crowd, because happiness usually changes people in many aspects. Happy people often smile, have bright eyes and think positively. Moreover, it’s a great pleasure to communicate with such people. When you try to make yourself happy, you make people around you feel better at the same time.

There are many reasons for you to become happy. The main thing is your sincere desire to feel this state. I hope this article will inspire you to improve yourself and change your life for better. Do you find yourself happy? What is happiness for you and how to reach it?

7 Amazing Benefits of Music Therapy

Music has a profound effect on your body and mind. Music therapy is a growing field of health care used to heal people. Unfortunately, many people don’t even realize how effective and useful the power of music therapy is. In fact, music therapy is often used to ward off depression and to calm and ease muscle tension. Music therapy can bring an innumerable list of other benefits. Read on to discover seven amazing benefits of music therapy.

1. There are significant therapeutic effects

It’s no surprise that music therapy is growing popularity. Many hospitals are using music therapy for pain management and other uses. Moreover, music from a great number of cultures has different therapeutic effects, but many people prefer to listen to music of their own culture, because they find it more effective in healing and relaxing. Furthermore, music for meditations can easily calm you down. Set aside time each day to meditate to soothing music, such as classical music, soft rock, relaxing sounds of wind chimes and other soft tones.

2. Music evokes neurological stimulation

Every person perceives various music genres in a different way. If to compare classical and heavy metal music, we can point out that classical music makes you feel relaxed and comfortable while hard rock music usually quickens your heart beat. Eventually, the quickened heart beat response will begin to produce a vague message of anxiety to your brain. Music can shift your energy from angry to happy with help of different genres. Try to listen to the music, which makes your mood wonderful.

3. Music can boost your mood

It’s not surprising that music is linked to your mood. Everyone knows that listening to music while feeling down or bad can provide a relief. What may not be known to most people is that music can also bring a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety away. Music also helps people overcome life difficulties. Many scientists have found that people can boost their mood simply by listening to upbeat music. Music has the power to make you smile, dance and sometimes it can bring you to tears, especially if you are a sensitive and sentimental personality.

4. Influences brainwaves

According to a medical research, music produces sound vibrations which can stimulate your brainwaves. Much depends on the speed of the beat that can either make you more alert and hyper or relax and calm down. Meditative states help you feel positive waves and vibrations in your brain.

5. Heals conditions

Music helps heal different emotional and physical conditions. It has been proven to be effective, because people have definite, measurable responses to certain sounds and tones. Healing music has been shown to induce states of increased well-being and relaxation. Music therapies can relief dementia, insomnia and autism. Those who suffer from depression should listen more to their favorite music. Practitioners believe that music makes both body and mind more perceptive to recovery.

6. It uncovers emotions

Nowadays therapists try to heal people with a help of music and guided imagery. They believe it can help to get into the subconscious mind, find and eliminate the root cause for anxiety and depression. Music can be the key to the solution of your health problems. Plus, you can uncover hidden emotions of yours.

7. Music is the way of self-expression

People cannot live without self-expression. Someone likes to listen to the music, while others adore creating and playing tunes and songs. My friend is a pro at playing the violin. She is good at writing her own music. It seems she is absolutely plunged in this creative process and gets satisfaction while playing the violin. I think music is the best way to express your individuality. Your own music can have a magical healing effect on you and others as well.

Music is one of the most beautiful things created by a human being. I cannot even imagine this world without it. I hope humanity will learn soon how to use it wisely. Have you ever used music in healing purposes? Do you support music therapy as a way of healing people?

7 Best Ways to Have a Fun Summer

There are many easy ways to make your summer fun when you think it’s boring. Whether you’re working, or you’re in summer school, or on summer break, you can still have lots of fun. When the weather is amazing, there are so many interesting things to do to have a fun summer. Here are a few great ideas to try this summer.

1. Camping

One of the best summer activities to try is definitely camping. Sitting around the campfire with your family or friends, chatting and roasting marshmallows, isn’t it fun? Summer is a perfect time to go camping, especially with kids. Just don’t forget to bring sunscreen, mosquito spray, and warm sleeping bags.

2. Go to the pool

No matter your age, going to the pool with family or friends is an easy ways to have a fun summer. Every summer I enjoy going to the pool, even though I’m not 18 anymore. While I don’t do cannonballs, I still enjoy spending the time by the pool. This summer try to go to the local pool at least twice a week. Consider bringing a cooler full of drinks and healthy snacks and spend the day hanging out with your family and friends.

3. Volunteer

If you are single or you just feel lonely this summer season, volunteering might be right for you. Volunteering can be fun and really rewarding. It’s a great opportunity to help others and make new friends. There are usually lots of volunteer opportunities in the summertime. The humane society often needs extra help and churches need a few volunteers for summer camps as well. Spend a week, month, or even the whole summer volunteering, and you will have one of the best summers ever!

4. Have a backyard BBQ

A backyard BBQ is a wonderful opportunity to get together with your family and friends, relax and have fun on the weekends. If you are on a tight budget, you can ask everyone to bring a dish or drink. This way you will enjoy your BBQ without ruining your budget and wearing yourself out. Having some tasty food and great music is a sure way to have a fantastic BBQ.

5. Plant a garden

One of the best ways to enjoy the warm summer weather is to plant your own garden. For instance, you can plant a vegetable garden. Vegetables taste much better when you grow your own. Gardening is also a wonderful family activity for summer. Most children enjoy planting something and then watching them grow.

6. Take a weekend trip

You don’t have to go on a long vacation to have a fun summer. A short weekend trip will be enough to relax and have a good time. Even if you only stay overnight, you’ll feel like you have a vacation. You’ll have fun without spending lots of money. A short weekend trip is a great option for those who have super busy schedule.

7. Visit local events

There are many local events to visit in the summer, from music festivals and arts festivals to Fourth of July parades and farmer’s markets. Perhaps you think that all local events are boring, but if you want to have fun, you will definitely enjoy any event. You can visit these events with your family and friends, or even alone.

As you can see, it’s possible to make your boring summer fun without going on a two-three week vacation. These are just a few summer activities and there are many other fun activities to try in the summer. What are your favorite summer activities? Share your thoughts please.

7 Ways to Make Your Social Life More Interesting

Summer is a wonderful time to shake up your social life and try some new and funny things. It is important to have an active lifestyle, because it fulfills you with energy and improves your reputation and social status. Look for romance if you are single or broaden the circle of friends and acquaintances with these seven ways to make your social life more interesting.

1. Go in for sports

If you are looking for special and useful ways to shake up your social life, you could always choose to take up a sport as this will also give you an opportunity to meet new people. There is no need to climb the mountains or take up a team sport because there are plenty of activities you can do by yourself or with other people. By joining a sports club, you can socialize with people who have similar interests. Furthermore, you also have a chance to participate in competitions. It will help you improve your own performance.

2. Join a club

It’s a great way to socialize. You can easily join social clubs, sports teams and attend meetings or outings. It will help you gain experience and build confidence, however, you should attend social groups regularly. If you attend social clubs, you will be always surrounded by positive and active people. Moreover, you’ll make new friends. The more friends you have, the wider your experience of life will be, especially if you cultivate a broad mix of friends. Plus, they will share your interests and help you improve yourself with a smile on your face.

3. Try new things

Say ‘Yes’ to everything new and unknown. Try something you have never tried before, but have always been meaning to. Maybe yoga? Or, why not make an appointment to try a new hair color or a new hair style? Try to learn a new skill or attend courses and it will broaden your horizons. By the way, don’t forget to make an amazing thematic summer photo shoot.

4. Meet your old friends

Nowadays our modern life is so busy that we often cannot find time to catch-up with the old friends. It’s not enough to meet them on Facebook. Summertime is the best period of time to meet with the best people of your past. You can go shopping together or drink some beverages in a cozy and friendly atmosphere. It’s a good idea to visit some captivating and wondrous place together with your friends. Surely, you will have many common themes to speak about.

5. Stay away from TV

Have you ever imagined your life without television? To my mind, if you get rid of television, your social life will be boosted by new events, meetings and interesting activities. Especially, the summer months are the most suitable time to reduce the usage of electronic technologies and get out. Electronic technologies steal your time and replace real communication by online services. Moreover, it will make you stressed and make your relationships worse.

6. Learn a new language

How many languages you know, so many times you are a human. Nowadays it’s very prestigious to know a few foreign languages. If you learn a new language, the society will appreciate your decision. This activity is an effective confidence booster that will help you feel comfortable while visiting other countries. There is a great variety of daytime and evening class summer language courses. Besides, by learning a new language, you exercise your brain and improve the memory. Moreover, you will be surrounded by new interesting and perspective people.

7. Read a new book

If you are interested in literature, consider reading a new book. Books usually change our vision of the world and make us all-rounded. Those who read a lot can easily answer any question and find a theme to talk with people. Nowadays, modern literature is greatly developed, so you can find something worthy of reading. Plus, you can buy a guidebook of the city you live in. Such literature helps you see the city in a whole new light.

I hope these tips will help make your social life better and boost your confidence. This summer is the best time to embody these ideas. What way do you usually shake up your social life? What can make it more saturated and colorful?

7 Best Habits of Highly Healthy People

“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.” This quote by Buddha is a life moto of highly healthy people. Don’t think that highly healthy people are crazy about their health, but they just develop effective habits to keep a good well-being. Nowadays there is no perfect formula for long life, physical health and happiness, but according to a large number of researches on health and longevity, these 7 habits will significantly improve your health and will make you feel better and happier day by day.

1. They are organized and disciplined

If you want to be healthy, you should try to become organized. Being organized may lead to feeling more in control and having more mental energy. It will help you succeed in everything and do things on time. Highly healthy people prefer to work out in the morning every day. It requires good self-discipline and organization, because the person who works out at 6am before work has to do a lot of prep work. They pack the gym bag in advance and have a breakfast ready in the fridge. Being organized will help you become healthier.

2. They take care of their health

In our busy lives, it’s very easy to neglect the healthy habits that keep us feeling great and eating right. Highly healthy people usually have a habit to prioritize their health. They often prefer to dedicate time to different sport games and activities than to meet with friends for drinks. Moreover, they are very fastidious about their nutrition. Healthy people usually have a bunch of homemade food they have made beforehand. They always avoid fast food because they find it very harmful. They drink enough water throughout the day. Water gives us energy, cleans out our body and helps its systems function well. Such life choices provide us good health and wonderful mood.

3. They have an exercise schedule

Exercise and other physical activity are not only good for you, but they are also a fun way to spend time. Highly healthy people use sports as a tool to maintain the body in a good form. That’s why they set aside time for exercise in the mornings and evenings. Due to the high level of self-organization, they easily stick to the exercise schedule. They think that active lifestyle and regular sports will help them live longer.

4. They get enough sleep

A good night’s sleep is an essential part of both physical and mental well-being. It’s scientifically proved that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, memory, learning, metabolism and other vital functions. That’s why healthy people value a good night’s sleep. It is very important to wake up and go to sleep at the same time, because your body works according to a certain regime. We know that going without sleep for too long makes us feel terrible, because lack of sleep can increase cortisol levels. The choice of highly healthy people is always to enjoy a good night’s sleep, because it can make them feel ready to take on the world.

5. They plan out meals

Healthy people try to move more and snack less. Eating impulsively or snacking when they are bored or in a bad mood is not their pair of shoes. This is one of the unhealthiest habits of many people. It is necessary to eat 4-5 times a day. Highly healthy people are devoted to packed meals and try not to reach for a bag of chips. Plus, they are regular customers at a grocery shop. These people believe that healthy foods nourish their body with all necessary vitamins and minerals.

6. They always find the right balance

The main principle of highly healthy people is to find the right balance in everything. They usually stick to this rule when it comes to their lifestyle, eating habits, sports and weight. Plus, they don’t run into extremes when something goes wrong, but live a full and active life. Moreover, it is necessary to know that regular and consistent work on yourself will bear good results and health improvement.

7. They have good cooking skills

Unfortunately, many healthy foods aren’t as tasty as junk foods. But nowadays there is a great variety of recipes how to cook a delicious dish using healthy ingredients. Many highly healthy people are talented chefs in the kitchen. So, if you are invited to the dinner, you will enjoy many dishes.

This list of tips on how to be healthy can be a good start for you to change your attitude toward your health. As you see, staying healthy isn’t very difficult. What are your secrets to stay healthy? Do you prioritize your health?

10 Habits That Can Steal Your Happiness

People from all over the world have one common desire. They are looking for happiness. There is no definite concept of happiness that’s why all people keep moving in different directions to reach their happiness. Each person has an individual vision and perception of happiness. I think all people have habits which can both help them become happy or lose their dream. Unfortunately, there are many habits that steal your happiness and make you feel miserable. These harmful behaviors can easily affect your emotional well-being, if you do nothing to correct them. Read on and be aware of the things that steal your joy each day.

1. Waiting for a suitable moment

Only you can change your life. Don’t wait for the perfect moment, make every moment perfect instead. Many people who keep waiting for the perfect opportunity and for the best moment to do what they have to do, usually end up doing nothing. Life is short, so you should do your best to seize the opportunity to make your life and the life of your dearest and nearest people better.

2. Working without interest

Working for nothing more than a paycheck is a kind of imprisonment. Unfortunately, nowadays many people face economic problems and go to work they hate. You shouldn’t give up on your dreams and work without passion and interest. This is your life and it’s up to you to find a job that defines you. Confucius once said a wonderful thing, “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

3. Focusing on the success of others

There are so many happy people around. You often find them smiling, joking and succeeding in everything. Consequently, you begin to focus on other people’s lives and compare your success to their goals. Don’t let these destructive thoughts flag your spirits. Just define success for yourself and move on towards your dream. You are the only master of your own fate. Incredible change happens when you decide what kind of life you want to live and admit how you can bring it to life.

4. Living with worries and fears

Fears and worries are false emotions that can deprive you of many opportunities to become better or do something you’ve never done before. Don’t let all those fears and negativity take over your life. They usually make you feel despondent when you realize that you have lost a great number of joys and moments of happiness. You’d better be strong enough to face all your fears and allow them to become opportunities to expand your life. Don’t worry, be happy!

5. Harboring hate in your soul

As Maya Angelou said, “Hate, it has caused a lot of problems in the world, but has not solved one yet.” This bad habit can really affect your mental well-being, if you give way to negative emotions. Hate is one of the most powerful emotions that can ruin both your happiness and life. You should recognize hatred and let it go. It’s more pleasant to enjoy things you have and don’t hold on different negative thoughts. To my mind, the only weapon that can make hatred go away is love. Love breeds life and light, but hate breeds destruction and chaos.

6. Trying to change everything all at once

It is almost impossible to change everything all at once. I think it’s better to change something fundamental. It is scientifically proved that the process of considerable changes is extremely stressful for a human’s mind. Try to change everything gradually. If you want to make a difference in the world, start changing the world around you. When you cope with your own mind and moods, you will feel much happier.

7. Exaggerating difficulties

A bad day is not a cause to make an elephant out of a fly. You should realize and treat difficulties as new opportunities, but not as a problem of all your life. Life is constantly testing people for their level of commitment and life’s best rewards are reserved for those who show courage and commitment to various difficulties. Mao Zedong once said an encouraging phrase, “In time of difficulties, we must not lose sight of our achievements.” You should believe in yourself and realize that you always have a choice and a way out.

8. Fleeting contentment

There are so many beautiful and tempting things around. It is important to know what contentment is and learn to differentiate its types. There are two types of contentment in life. People can seek either fleeting contentment or enduring contentment. The fleeting type of contentment is a kind of a material comfort, while enduring type means the gradual growth of your mind and soul. The enduring type of contentment gives you happiness and confidence, when fleeting contentment awards you with short-term kinds of pleasure. It requires maturity and wisdom to decipher one from another.

9. Amplifying the importance of physical attractiveness

Don’t judge things and people by their appearances and physical attractiveness. You shouldn’t choose everything based only on color and shape, because appearances are deceptive. Surely, physical attractiveness is very important, but you should also take inner qualities into consideration, especially when it comes to relationships between people.

10. Holding on those who make you suffer

Sometimes it is necessary to avoid negative people who hurt you. If they are a constant source of your pain and negative emotions, you should accept that someone you love and respect doesn’t treat you friendly. Don’t waste your valuable time to impress or prove something to these people. If you want to live a happier life, let all toxic people go. Don’t be afraid of losing someone who doesn’t feel lucky to have you. As Robert Tew once said, “Don’t let negative and toxic people rent place in your head. Raise the rent and kick them out.”

Happiness is already in your hand, but you should open your eyes to see and accept it. Try to get rid of bad habits that can dim and steal your happiness, and you will feel better and happier.

7 Secrets of a Successful and Long-Lasting Marriage

Nowadays there are so many secrets to a long-lasting and harmonic marriage. You should realize that marriage requires constant work and struggle for mutual understanding and happiness. Be ready to face the reality of marriage and do your best to maintain love, passion and friendship regardless of all possible problems and barriers. I hope this article will give you greater chances to overcome the difficulties of a family life.

1. Develop your identity

When two people get married, they become one in making financial decisions and raising children. They usually get so overloaded with various tasks that can easily lose their identity. Moreover, women tend to want to please their husbands and make sacrifices in order to do it. This recipe for unhappiness can make you feel miserable and despondent. It is necessary to learn early on how to compromise, but not give up. You shouldn’t forget to do things you like. Don’t forget to meet your friends at least once a week. Also, make time for your favorite hobby.

2. Be in touch

Unfortunately, many of us have busy schedules and sometimes don’t have an opportunity to communicate with the spouse. Nowadays it is more convenient to use electronic technology to “keep in touch” during the day. Send a message or call your beloved to share things and feelings about your day. Such type of communication will help you find more topics to speak about in the evening. Don’t wait for a date night, communicate with one another on a daily basis instead.

3. Focus on your common needs

One of the most significant secrets of a successful marriage is to focus on your common needs. It is necessary for every person to seek to do good for the other person, instead of fighting over “what about me.” Ensure yourself that you are meeting your spouse’s needs. If your needs are already met you should enjoy your life. A common desire to satisfy your common needs is the basis of a long-lasting and healthy marriage.

4. Positive outlook

You should realize that negative outlook can greatly affect the relationship in your marriage. If one spouse is a depressing figure in the couple, it can make any marriage unhappy. Stay positive and you will significantly improve the atmosphere in your family for better. It is necessary to develop the bright side of your mind by thinking positively. Moreover, you should help your spouse get rid of negativity and depressive thoughts, if necessary.

5. Believe in your love

Perhaps the best proof of love is trust. Trust is the core element of any kind of relationships. When you trust in your love, you become invincible and strong enough to overcome harsh realities of life and various difficulties together. Hard times are the best periods to check the strength and sincerity of your love. As Maya Angelou said, “Have enough courage to trust love more and more time and always one more time.”

6. A taboo word

When you get married you’d better forget about the existence of the word ‘Divorce.’ Divorce is not the best way to solve your problems. You shouldn’t speak and even think about it. Divorce is a destruction of your marriage. It’s better to put all efforts in finding the way out of all difficult situations. Such strategy will make your marriage permanent and strong.

7. Ask happily married couples for advice

If you have an opportunity and desire, you can ask happily married couples how to live in peace and love for so long. These wise and experienced people will cheerfully share their ideas and give you a piece of advice. Every couple has a key secret of their own happiness. For example, I asked my grandparents to share their own secret of a long-lasting marriage. I understood that trust, blind eye and a sense of humor were the main elements of their secret. It was a big honor for me to receive an advice from such wise, smart and reserved people.

Happy marriage is a long life journey, full of positive and negative moments. Marnie Reed Crowell once said, “To keep the fire burning brightly there is one easy rule: Keep the two logs together, near enough to keep each other warm and far enough apart – about a finger’s breadth – for breathing room. Good fire, good marriage, same rule.” Hopefully, these secrets will inspire you to make your family life more successful. What are your secrets of a happy and long lasting marriage? Share your tips, please.

7 Amazing Activities for a Mental Health Day

Mental health is an important part of your life. It makes you able to function during everyday life and helps you feel confident to rise to a new challenge. There are many ways to improve your mental health. Have you ever had a mental health day? It is necessary to have a rest from your regular routine and life problems. Nowadays there’s a great variety of activities to make your mental health day wonderful and useful. Hopefully, these 7 ideas will help you reboot your mind and boost your mental well-being.

1. Pay a visit to your friends

Human interaction seems to keep our minds refreshed. It is a good idea to visit your best friend and spend you mental health day together. You will have an opportunity to laugh, relax and reflect together on some interesting topics. You should know that strong relationships have a great effect on your well-being. No matter how you slice it, nothing can be better than time spent with the best people of your life.

2. Go for a walk

Walking is one of the best ways to increase both mental and physical health. If you make long walking a regular habit, you will always feel peaceful and calm. A long walk is a perfect time to clear your mind and focus on yourself. Moreover, it can help you erase a bad day, as you start concentrating on the surrounding environment. Plus, walking can help you keep fit and relief stress.

3. Nature heals

Go to a park in your neighborhood or take a short trip to more rural areas, because nature is a perfect medicine when you are suffering from stress. Just looking at greenery can ease your mind. Lift up your eyes and you will see the beauty and power of nature. It seems to be the healing for tired minds and for overburdening spirits. You should spend you mental health day walking in nature.

4. Massage

Massage is more than a luxury that makes you feel better both mentally and physically. Various medical researchers have shown the benefits of using massage to help treat mental health conditions in different types of situations. You can have a nice mental health day if you visit a spa saloon. Nowadays, professional spas offer a great variety of massage and other relaxing procedures. Massage is an amazing way to reduce stress and anxiety.

5. Read

If you prefer a passive way of spending time, you can spend your mental health day reading a good book. Getting lost in a wonderful book will help you refresh your mind. When you read, you escape from reality, fears and obsessive thoughts. Reading is a good de-stressing activity that takes your mind off everyday life.

6. Go shopping

Shopping sprees can offer wonderful health benefits linked to great mental health. Plus, it is a wonderful mood enhancer. Shopping with best friends provides a bonding experience that can help you rid yourself of stress. The heightened emotions of happiness release endorphins in your brain, which help you refocus your mind on your body movements, improving your mood.

7. Have a good sleep

One of the most effective ways to bring your mental health back to life is to have a good sleep. Sleep is extremely important for maintaining good mental and physical health. It will help the body restore energy. Use your mental health day to catch up the sleep and have a good rest. It is desirable not to sleep the whole day long in order not to break your sleeping cycle.

You should realize that mental well-being is the core element of your overall health. I hope these tips on how to spend your mental health day will help you refresh your mind. What way do you spend your mental health days? Share your ideas, please.

7 Fun Ways to Spread Optimism This Summer

Optimism is a unique quality that helps you to view misfortune as a one-time event and a challenge to work through and find new opportunities. Just like Noam Chomsky said, “Optimism is a strategy for making a better future. Because unless you believe that the future can be better, you are likely to step up and take responsibility for making it so.” Optimists can easily overcome obstacles and keep moving towards a bright future. Thus, a habit of positive thinking gives you more energy and enthusiasm to work, perform and reach goals faster. Moreover, optimists experience less stress and enjoy better health at ages 45 and 60. If you are an optimist, you are more capable of coping with setbacks in life without becoming depressed. Here are 7 simple tips that will help you enjoy the summer and develop a useful habit of positive thinking.

1. Positive music

A research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. Uplifting music can both boost your mood and help you open up new perspectives and fill you with good emotions. Music can help you keep creativity and optimism levels higher. If you have heard and enjoyed a wonderful song, why not share your new playlist with others? Send an uplifting song to your friend and let them catch the wave of positivity.

2. Help somebody to be optimistic

Sometimes it is necessary to share your optimistic outlook with others. If your friend is a pessimist, try to help them get rid of emotional tension and find solution of all hesitations and fears. Just spend more time together so that your friend can see and analyze your optimistic attitude towards different issues and casual moments of life. Lend the grounded and optimistic perspective to your friends for them to understand that life and things aren’t as bad as they think.

3. Smile

Optimism begins with a frank smile. I think that success starts with optimism and it’s easier to be optimistic when your whole body is smiling. Smile is a universal symbol of happiness and a force of nature that unites people. My favorite musician and singer Tupac Shakur once said a wise thing, “The power of a gun can kill and the power of a fire can burn, the power of wind can chill and the power of mind can learn, the power of anger can rage inside until tears you apart, but the power of smile, especially yours can heal a frozen heart.” Smile as much as possible and make people’s hearts shine with happiness.

4. Hug

A hug is even more powerful than a smile. It can make you feel safe, wanted, needed and loved all at the same time. Even the simplest human unexpected touch can deliver a big joy and contentment. Hugging for 20 seconds releases oxytocin, which can make someone trust you more. If you want to fill your life with adventures and new emotions, then organize a free hugs campaign.

5. Give a compliment

Summer is the period of a good mood, smiles, pleasure and compliments. Think about things that make people happy and practice giving genuine compliments every day. You will both cultivate optimism and develop your personality. Plus, you will be well liked by others, and you can receive compliments in return and everyone’s well-being will be enhanced. When you compliment others, you feel generous and big-hearted. A good compliment voices your genuine liking for another person’s appearance or qualities. Such strategy will both boost your self-esteem and improve your relationships with others.

6. Help someone break out of the daily routine

Daily life with no changes can be a real boredom. This can be the reason of tension and stress. Help your friend to distract from constant life problems by doing some funny and interesting things. I think the best way of breaking the routine is to walk barefoot in the grass. Moreover, you can find a picturesque place and have a photographic session. Go to the shore and enjoy the sunset together. Such breaks and unusual activities are extremely useful for your mood and mental well-being of your friends.

7. Cultivate optimism together

Pay forward optimism to those who add this wonderful habit of thinking to your life. You should be grateful to these people and appreciate their attitude towards you. Try to build wonderful relationships with such people and spend more time together. It will help you remain an optimist.

You should promise yourself to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Pessimists should do their best to become optimists. Optimists should enjoy life and teach other people to be positive. I hope these tips will help you spend this summer with a smile on your face. Share your secrets to spreading the optimism, please.

10 Habits of Highly Successful People

Unfortunately, there is no handbook for happiness, that’s why we have to move in different directions. There are many people who are true to their purpose and are all about following their cherished dreams. They maintain a positive attitude. It is important to train your imagination in order to see the end of your goals in mind. Such mental stimulations help you work much harder with the bigger picture in mind. Happy and goal-seeking people usually don’t speak about their secrets and habits. Here are the habits that express their values and beliefs.

1. Life is a game

Real life is a game that is played by everyone. Successful people realize this fact and set priorities to assign their time as much as possible. This life strategy opens up space for personal growth and creativity. It helps them not to take life and its events too seriously. This is the best way to increase their confidence level and learn how to solve problems without a fear to take risks. Elbert Hubbard once said, “Do not take life too seriously. You will never get out of it alive.” Life is just a game, enjoy playing it.

2. Speak their truth

They are able to speak what’s on their mind without fear and judgment. By speaking the truth, they are supporting their words with actions that help them pursue their happiness. These people are courageous enough to think for themselves aloud.

3. They turn difficulties into opportunities

People who live their life successfully turn obstacles into opportunities. As Charles R. Swindoll said, “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” Getting over obstacle is a hard work, because many difficulties can seem overwhelming. It helps them surround themselves with good people who can see things from a different perspective and shed light on the darkest of situations. Moreover, successful people walk through their fears to become emotionally stronger. It is necessary to get a habit to look for opportunities in a problem. If you do it regularly, you will begin to attract more opportunities.

4. Act on their desires

“Don’t waste your time dreaming” is the moto of all successful people. They prefer to take positive actions towards their desires. There’s no need to hesitate whether to start a new relationship or invest money in something. They always know how to move on their ideas, because they realize that sometimes it is necessary to knock until the door opens. Their intuition is a guide to their good life.

5. Live the life they want

There are no backups for such people. They know what they want and put all possible efforts to make their dreams a reality. They try not to complain about the lack of money, romance, success or joy in their lives. Regardless of personal and life circumstances they try to maintain faith in a good future. They just live the life they have imagined.

6. They feel that they deserve the best

Having an inner belief that they deserve the best in this world helps these people forget about fears and raise their standards. By the way, they choose to be with those who will treat them with respect and consideration. They know their values and worth and accept only the best in life. It usually affects the type of people they attract, the financial security and the level of health they have.

7. Stick to their own rules

Rules can be useful, especially when they protect our safety. There’s a nice saying, “Rules are made to be broken”. Happy people try to go against the stream and make their own rules, which they believe will give them freedom and chances to improve their lives. Furthermore, they set these rules in their mind, write them down and follow to them.

8. They aren’t afraid to ask what they want

Many of us fear asking. We fear asking for help, we fear asking for raise, we fear asking for money and so on. This common and unexpected behavior makes people look weak and unsure of themselves. Successful people are connected to their passions and express their needs without guilt, fear and shame. When they ask somebody for something, they focus and expect a positive outcome.

9. Mentors

Having a mentor is said to be one of the most important keys to success. Mentors can introduce people to new opportunities and important business partners. Successful people prefer to have teachers and mentors in order to learn something new and move in a right direction. It helps them understand how to pursue their dreams and how to live in accordance with their own nature.

10. They feel comfortable despite the discomfort

Many people have the tendency to start doing something and refuse to move forward out of fear of rejection, failure or just a bruised ego. The process of leaving the comfort zone is a challenging thing. Though, successful people feel comfortable being uncomfortable. Despite all problems and things that make them feel uncomfortable, they focus on positive moments and move towards happiness.

Harriet Tubman said, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” I hope this article will help you develop the habits of a happy person. Do you know other habits that can help you follow your dreams?

9 Ways to Get a Good Night’s Sleep Despite Stress

Nowadays a good sleep is a big luxury. We are the society that stays up all night to work, study or have fun. However, going without adequate sleep carries with it both long and short term consequences. It can affect your mood, ability to retain and learn information, and may increase the risk of serious diseases and accidents. Constant stresses of life and work issues will leave anyone tossing and turning all night. Those people who have a more sensitive nervous system are inclined to suffer from insomnia.

Getting a good night’s sleep is extremely important to your brain function. Furthermore, sleep can affect proper hormone balance. I hope this article will help you adopt all necessary habits that encourage better sleep.

1. Reduce caffeine intake

Human sensitivity to the effects of caffeine on sleep is absolutely variable, but in most cases it helps restore better levels of wakefulness. The stimulating effects of caffeine take hours to wear off and can wreak havoc on quality sleep. Try to eliminate it from your nutrition and you will notice the improvement of your sleep. If you cannot live without caffeine, you can replace it with water or herbal tea to boost your energy and health naturally.

2. Relax

In the evening hours, it is desirable to provide various relaxing procedures. Many doctors recommend creating a suitable sleep environment to prepare your body for sleep. Warm temperatures can greatly affect sleep quality. Open the window to air the room and fill it with oxygen. For example, I find reading and practicing gentle yoga the best prep activities before sleeping. These relaxing activities can promote better sleep by easing the transition between wakefulness and drowsiness.

3. Left-nostril breathing makes wonders

Have you ever practiced yoga? Left-nostril breathing is a good way to improve your sleep. Many yoga students report sleeping better after beginning a regular yoga practice. This yoga technique activates your parasympathetic nervous system. Use the thumb or index finger of your right hand to close your right nostril. Breathe deep and long for 5 minutes through the left nostril or until you fall asleep. These slow deep breaths have a great relaxing effect on your body and mind.

4. A sleepy meal at dinnertime

If you want to have a good night’s sleep, try not to overload your digestive system. Your discomfort might keep you up. About 90 minutes before you want to nod off, head for the kitchen and make yourself a light sleepy-time snack. You’d better limit the amount of water you drink before bed to prevent night trips to the toilet.
Moreover, there are many foods that promote sleep. They include melatonin, magnesium and tryptophan. Chamomile tea or warm milk with honey is practically a sleeping pill. For desert you can try some bananas. In addition to soothing melatonin, and serotonin, bananas contain magnesium that is a good muscle relaxant.

5. Train your mind

Many people have the fear of insomnia. They get anxious because they think they are not sleeping enough. Besides, stress at work or anticipation of a challenging day ahead can keep you wound up until 2 or 3 am and occasionally all night. A few bad nights can activate a cycle of insomnia lasting for weeks. Fearful thoughts create emotional and physical tension and you cannot fall into a deep sleep. If you cannot fight this fear, ask someone for support. A compassionate friend or spouse is a good source to turn for emotional support when suffering from a phobia of insomnia.

6. Take a hot bath

One of the most effective ways to fall asleep is to take a hot bath. You should take it at least one hour before bedtime. Mix ½ cup Epsom salts with a few drops of an essential oil. Soak for at least 20 minutes and it will help you relax and fall asleep faster.

7. Relaxation breaks

Try to take frequent 10 minute breaks during the day and use them to move around as much as possible. Take a stretch, walk or exercise if possible. It will help you keep your body in balance. Moreover, you will avoid the state of overwhelm by the end of the day.

8. Read

Reading is the best choice to calm your mind down before sleep. It is better to read an exciting book that you’ve read before where you know the ending. This kind of activity is absolutely individual, because some people gain the opposite effect. As a result, reading makes them more awake, especially if you are reading an extremely exciting book. Trust yourself to know the genre which keeps you awake and which one puts you to sleep. I think, a good novel will do the trick just fine.

9. Avoid the light

It is necessary to do the same things before sleep to give your body a signal that it’s time to wind down. First of all, you should get rid of any bright lights you might have in your bedroom. The bright light stops the production of melatonin in your brain. You can use the lights with dimmers to have an opportunity to adjust the brightness in your bedroom. Plus, you can use heavy curtains or an eye mask to block the light. Keeping computers, TVs out of the room will strengthen the mental association between your bedroom and sleep. If you cannot get relaxed due to some annoying noise, then use earplugs.

Nowadays, millions of people suffer from different kinds of sleep disorders. If you face such a problem, try to do your best to stabilize your sleep cycle. First of all, consider visiting your doctor. I hope these tips will help you improve your sleep naturally. Have you ever had problems with sleep? Please, share your tips on how to sleep better.

7 Tips on How to Motivate Your Partner

 

It is easy to lose spark when facing various challenges in life. Nowadays many people feel tired and exhausted due to stress, losing job or overload. If your partner is facing hard times, then you will have a great role to support them and help find the way out. If you really love your significant other, you should do your best to boost their confidence and motivate them when they feel down. Show your love and care for them to understand that they are not alone. You should be ready to deal with nervousness, because when we have problems we usually turn emotional and lose stability. Here are 7 tips on how to motivate your loved one to handle the situation and become strong again.

1. Suggest small steps

Sometimes the way to your dreams can be long and complicated. You can find the goal unachievable, because of unexpected challenges and obstacles that arise along the journey. If your beloved doesn’t know what to do, where to begin or how to move forward, try to suggest them to start with small steps and actions. You can share your vision of the situation and suggest a list of small steps and people who can help them overcome tough times.

2. Give the evidence of their success

If your partner’s things are not going well, try to provide an encouragement for them by offering a pep talk. You are the one who should remind them how wonderful and talented they are. You can give the example of their past accomplishments. Try to persuade them in their originality and abilities to make their dreams come true. This strategy will help you boost your partner’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

3. Find the reason

Try to determine the cause of your partner’s troubles. If it is possible, try to create a cozy atmosphere and find a suitable moment to talk to them and understand what is bothering them. When you know the reason, you can start on the emotional support instead of just criticizing and commenting that you see your beloved is changing in a bad way.

4. Don’t be importunate

When we want to help somebody, we should be careful enough not to put too much pressure on them. It is important to feel the line support and mental pressure. Your partner has the risk to get more stressed and annoyed if you bother them about something. I think no one likes pushy people, especially when you are surrounded by problems and want everyone to leave you alone.

5. Don’t praise too much

Praising your partner is one of the most significant things to motivate them to move on, but you should know when to stop. Too good isn’t good, too. When you are doing it all the time, they will find you insincere. Don’t gush too much about their goals and accomplishments. Just remind them about their advantages from time to time in order to give them a push to live happier.

6. Reward every attempt

It is very difficult to start doing something new and unknown, especially if you feel despondent and depressed during the hard times. When your partner achieves some results, you should show your happiness and appreciation. Enjoyable rewards make them more enthusiastic and relentless. When they see that their efforts and actions make you happy and meet your common needs, they will get an extremely high desire and motivation to become better. It is desirable not to blame your beloved with every little detail, because all your efforts to motivate them to be successful will be in vain.

7. Find something positive in their actions

If you have given your partner an advice to do certain small steps to go through hard times, you should feel responsibility for your actions and try to notice and accentuate all the good things that result from their actions and attempts. You can find different positive moments and changes in their deeds. If they go in for sports, you can remind how strong and wonderful they look.

Nowadays even strong and highly successful people can face problems and lose motivation. If you have a persistent desire to overcome all difficulties in your family life, you should be brave enough to face harsh realities of life and be a single whole despite of everything. Moreover, you should support your partner if necessary. Have you ever tried any other effective ways to motivate your significant one? Share your tips with us please.

Fashion Tips part 2

HEM YOUR PANTS FOR A SHOE HEIGHT

"The biggest mistake women make is wearing pants that aren't the right length for their shoes," says stylist Kate Young. To fix this, hem to either heels or flats—no going back. Generally, hems should just graze the tops of your shoes and be from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch off the floor.

THROW ON A SCARF

It's the ultimate accessory according to a host of the best-dressed women we interviewed. Stash one in your purse or carry-on to transform simple Ts in the time it takes to make a knot.

GO HANDS-FREE FOR EVENING

A dressy bag with a chain helps you hold crudités and a cocktail—plus, it lends a cool edge to evening wear, says stylist Cher Coulter. Wear the chain diagonally across your body for the best effect.

CONSIDER THE WEAR AND CARE

Before you buy, try to gauge how a piece might hold up after a few washings. And don't shell out for clothes you can't, or won't, take care of. If you know you'll never hand-wash that embellished sweater or fancy bra, walk away.

EMBRACE YOUR SHAPE

"Once you know which silhouettes flatter you, filter trends ruthlessly," says designer Shoshanna Gruss. For instance, if you're petite and shapely, it's best to avoid tall columns and billowy maxis even if you love them. Go for a dress with a defined waist and just-above-the-knee hem.

Fashion Tips part 1

SHOW SKIN STRATEGICALLY

Looking truly sexy involves knowing what to bare—and what to keep under wraps. Otherwise, where's the mystery? "Choose one—only one—body part and show it off," advises Jen Rade, stylist to Jenna Fischer and Angelina Jolie. "If it's cleavage, don't show your legs. If it's your legs, stay covered on top."

ROUND UP WHITE BUTTON-DOWNS

They elevate jeans and keep ball skirts from drifting into fantasy-land. But all that mileage comes at a cost: a short shelf life. So buy three, don't overbleach (which can cause yellowing), and refresh regularly.

ACCESSORIZE IN BRIGHTS

If you've got a closet full of neutrals—be they navy, black, camel, or gray—add energy with boldly hued shoes and bags. Not only is a hunter green satchel more lively than ho-hum black, but it's also surprisingly versatile.

THINK IN MULTIPLES

Take a cue from Jackie O, who had a closet full of sheath dresses. If you find an especially flattering fit right off the rack, go ahead and buy doubles. When it works, why question it?

KNOW YOUR STRETCH

The secret formula for a soft but formfitting T? 95% cotton, 5% Lycra spandex. For jeans to hold their shape, they need at least 2% Lycra.

7 Undeniable Reasons to Focus on Making Yourself Happy

Every person makes this world wonderful and happy. It is important to struggle for happiness, but you should start with yourself. You should change your negative vision of the world and control your emotions and feelings. It turns out that happiness doesn’t depend on external factors, but it has a direct connection with your inner feeling of contentment. Remember that it is possible and quite easy to be happy being yourself. However, if you don’t learn to accept who you are, you will never grow as a person. Read on these reasons and I hope your life will be colored by new and pleasant changes.

1. No one knows what you feel inside

No one can penetrate your mind and understand how you feel and how you are doing. People around can just suppose these things. If you know yourself, then why not make yourself happy by meeting your own needs? If everyone finds happiness in themselves, this world will be full of happy people.

2. You are responsible for your happiness

Let me ask you a question, “Who is responsible for your happiness?” The answer is YOU. Only you have total control over your happiness. Nowadays it’s easy to believe you are trapped without choices and you are somehow at the mercy of everyone and everything around you. The truth is that we always have a choice to change our life and circumstances for better. If something in your life makes you feel despondent, then you should change it, because everything is up to you in your life.

 

3. You know what happiness is to you

Surely, everyone has the picture of happiness in mind. Someone sees happiness in money; others can be happy enjoying the beauty of nature or playing with a funny kitten. Maybe it makes you happy to sit on the beach and watch the sunset. If you have the aim and make appropriate efforts, you will certainly succeed and feel yourself happy.

4. You care only about yourself

In fact, all people care about themselves more than about others. They often find tiring to care for someone more than they care about themselves. Every person tries to be more in touch with their needs. That’s why you should try to improve yourself, if you really want to be happy. You are responsible for your happiness and you shouldn’t wait until someone will make your life a miracle.

5. Finding your own joy is wondrous

Once I asked an old man how to become happy and he shared a small secret of life with me. The power to decide to be happy is one of the most important things in your life. Those who have made such a discovery in their life are happy. It’s important to find your own joy and let yourself be free of bad thoughts and feelings. Many people spend the whole life understanding and realizing this truth.

6. You have one life

Mae West once said an interesting thing, “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” You have all chances to feel happy. You have a choice to live the only life the way you like. There’s no time for negative emotions and misery. There are so many marvelous places to visit and so many positive emotions to experience. You should realize that it’s necessary to risk and face difficult situations, because it’s very difficult to struggle for happiness. It usually requires strong will to survive and move on in spite of everything. You should always remember that life is beautiful.

 

7. You’ll become a nice person

I think it is easy to notice a happy person in the crowd, because happiness usually changes people in many aspects. Happy people often smile, have bright eyes and think positively. Moreover, it’s a great pleasure to communicate with such people. When you try to make yourself happy, you make people around you feel better at the same time.

There are many reasons for you to become happy. The main thing is your sincere desire to feel this state. I hope this article will inspire you to improve yourself and change your life for better. Do you find yourself happy? What is happiness for you and how to reach it?

HOW TO GET RID OF CELLULITE FOREVER (NATURALLY)

  Cellulite has often been termed “the curse of women” because so many suffer from the annoying orange peel skin dimples and fat deposits on their hips, bums and thighs. Unfortunately, too many women also throw thousands and thousands of dollars down the drain on totally ineffective “treatments” and useless products. That is because most people don’t really know what “cellulite” is, or what causes these odd dimples on the lower body trouble zones… So if you don’t know what cellulite is, how can you treat it? Fact is, there is no real difference between cellulite fat, and regular fat. All of the cellulite sponges and creams designed to “dissolve” cellulite and other gimmicky devices are all ripping you off. Unfortunately, cellulite is actually caused by muscular atrophy, a condition that occurs when the layer of muscle becomes weak and undefined, and separates from the skin, making the unattractive fatty deposits visible. So the first thing you need to know is that cellulite treatment has nothing to do with your skin and everything to do with the muscles underneath the skin. And remember, cellulite removal has NOTHING to do with weight loss. Even the skinniest of girls can suffer from cellulite. The good news is that there is a way to reverse muscular atrophy, and banish annoying cellulite forever. And no matter how much you weigh or how old you are, you can do this naturally without popping pills or using phony lotions.

HERE ARE 5 TOP TIPS TO GET RID OF YOUR CELLULITE FOREVER:

1. You CANNOT get rid of cellulite with creams or lotions: Stop using them! It’s that simple. There are dozens of cellulite reduction creams on the market, but they don’t do anything to treat your cellulite. The dimples caused by cellulite are a superficial result of a problem below the surface of your skin, therefore creams will do nothing. 2. Medi-Spa Treatments do not work: Numerous FDA reports show that medi-spa treatments designed to remove cellulite have actually scarred and injured a number of women permanently. From body-wrapping to endermologie, these treatments are completely ineffective (but can be very expensive). 3. Cellulite is NOT genetic, you CAN get rid of it: Ignore what you’ve been told, cellulite is not a genetic problem and you do not have to be stuck with it forever. Believing these falsehoods will just prevent you from taking the steps you need to get rid of your cellulite. 4. You can get rid of cellulite no matter how old you are: Because cellulite is a muscle issue, you can always fix it by strengthening your muscles. All you have to do are some simple movements that target specific muscles in the cellulite affected area to get rid of your cellulite. You can do these movements at home – they are not vigorous or overly strenuous and can be performed by women of all fitness levels. 5. The ONLY way to get rid of cellulite forever is with specifically targeted lower-body movements: The movements are unique, and directly target the muscles in the cellulite areas. They focus on lifting, toning and shaping the muscle layers, pushing them towards the skin and getting rid of the dimpled appearance. Unfortunately, these are not movements that you’ll be able to learn at your nearest gym. This natural way to remove cellulite does not make use of weights or machines. These exercises specifically target cellulite. (click to watch the video). With this program you will learn how to target every single one of your lower body muscles, with simple, light movements. Follow this program and you will attain the tight and sexy look that you’ve always dreamed of. If you have some fat in your cellulite zones, it will be burned off as fuel so you will also lose any unhealthy excess body fat. You can do these movements from the privacy of your own home and if you start with this targeted muscle stimulation method today you will start seeing results after approximately 2 to 4 weeks. It’s your body so just go ahead and do the right thing for it!

5 FOODS EVERY WOMAN NEEDS TO EAT

 



 

It’s just not worth throwing your health away by making the wrong choices at the supermarket. Here are five things every woman should always make sure to have in her diet.

1. Leafy Greens

The deep green-colored vegetables that you can find in any salad are doing a huge part to fight off a host of diseases, including type-2 diabetes. Leafy greens include great choices like spinach, lettuces, rocket, watercress, bok choy, silverbeet and even herbs like basil, cilantro, and parsley. Eating them raw, like you would in a salad is the best way to make sure they stay as potent as they can be: once you start cooking leafy greens they start to lose all of their health benefits. If you do wind up cooking any of these do it for as short amount of time as possible, escpecially before they start to lose their bright green color.

2. Oats

Not just oatmeal, but oats in any dish contain a soluble fiber called beta-glucan that helps stop cholesterol from getting absorbed into the body through the small intestine. The more oats you eat, the more you can cut down on your overall cholesterol levels, including the bad LDL cholesterol.

3. Green Tea

Green tea has long been known to fight cancer and heart disease. The polyphenols like catechin and flavonoid antioxidants in green tea have also been proven to bust fat and to curb the number of free radicals in your body. Free radicals damage cells, contributing to the aging process. Drinking green tea not only makes you healthier, but look healthier and younger too.

4. Omega-3s

Omega-3s are ploysaturated fatty acids that our bodies turn into compounds that reinforce a host of functions including the circulatory system, the nervous system and the production of disease-fighting molecules. Studies examining the protective benefits of omega-3s on heart health have shown real reductions in the amount of cardiac arrest. But the reason why you need to have a diet rich in omega-3s is because that is the only way to get them: the human body doesn’t produce omega-3s, it can only get them from food.

Salmon is a fatty fish. It’s a fatty food choice altogether: it contains twice as much fat as steak has. These aren’t the same fats we’re dealing with though. There is no better way to get the amount of omega-3 fatty acids your body needs than by eating salmon. Other great sources of omega-3s include flaxseed and flaxseed oil, walnuts and omega-3 fortified eggs.

5. Fruits

Not all fruits are going to give you the same disease-fighting benefits. A fruit like the blueberry stands out way above others because it contains fiber, antioxidants and polyphenols. Polyphenols help your body process and break down fat cells. Another great fruit choice is avocado. Its high potassium levels are accompanied by high fiber content and a number of vitamins. Other disease-fighter fruits include prunes, grapes, apples and grapefruit.

WHY YOU NEED TO EAT MORE DARK CHOCOLATE

Chocolate has been put into so many foods and mixed with so many other ingredients to make sweet desserts that somehow it got a reputation for being too much of an indulgent treat than a regular, healthy food. Today a huge number of studies are proving that the cocoa in chocolate should be a health-boosting part of your diet. You need to start eating more chocolate now, and let us tell you why.

Cocoa is the Key

Cocoa is made from cocoa beans, and it is the chief ingredient that will benefit your health when you eat dark chocolate. Cocoa is packed with flavonol antioxidants, an important component to every diet. Flavonol is found in many different vegetables and fruit: they are what give plants their different colors. As antioxidants, flavonoids stop the break down of cells in the body, increasing your health and fighting aging and disease. Studies have even shown that a diet with abundant flavonoids will help fight lung cancer. Yes, chocolate is a cancer fighter.

Body and Mind Benefits

Ever wonder why people feel like eating chocolate when they are feeling down? Or why people celebrate with chocolate? Chocolate has a combination of effects that create and enhance good feelings. Daily servings of chocolate have been shown to increase mental health and well-being.

Besides being able to lower your blood pressure and aid in the production of beneficial bacteria in your body, dark chocolate can also boost your body’s iron levels, making it great for anyone who suffers from anemia or any iron deficiency. There is much more iron in dark chocolate than in similar serving sizes of spinach, which has long been touted as a great source of iron. Popeye had it wrong for years…

The Numbers Game

To maximize health benefits, snap up dark chocolates that have high concentrations of cocoa: 60% is okay, but chocolates with higher cocoa percentages than that are even better. Just be aware that higher cocoa levels can cause the chocolate bar to taste more bitter than your average sweetened candy bar. That might bother some people but for many others it’s no problem at all: the bitterness of the cocoa becomes an acquired taste.

What to Look Out For

Obviously, chocolate is a favorite treat among candy lovers and sweet tooths around the world. You don’t want to confuse candy chocolate from the stuff that is going to benefit your overall health. Even quality chocolate can have additional ingredients, levels of the antioxidant flavanol can be different from one brand of chocolate to the next, even if they have the same cocoa content. Limit the amount of sugar and fat in the bar you choose, and be aware of how many calories are in each serving. Make sure that you are getting all of the health benefits you can from your chocolate and pay close attention to the ingredients.

Tesla Release Electric Car Patents To Public

A few days ago, we reported that Telsa Motors CEO Elon Musk had hinted he would be opening up patents to the Supercharger stations that charge their electric vehicles (EVs). This would have made it more convenient for competitors to enter or expand the EV market, reducing demand for traditional vehicles powered by gasoline. Today, Musk formally announced that Tesla Motors were not just opening up the patents for the Superchargers, but for all of the patents obtained by Tesla; over 200 in all.

Musk released a blog entry on Tesla’s website entitled “All Our Patent Are Belong To You” which doubles as a potential massive advance for the EV market as well as the only good reference to that Zero Wing meme in the last decade. In the blog, Musk vows that Tesla will not sue anyone who uses their technology in good faith.

“When I started out with my first company, Zip2, I thought patents were a good thing and worked hard to obtain them,” Musk wrote. “And maybe they were good long ago, but too often these days they serve merely to stifle progress, entrench the positions of giant corporations and enrich those in the legal profession, rather than the actual inventors.”

There are some minor stipulations for companies who want to use Tesla’s technology. Other auto manufacturers using Supercharger technology must also charge customers for use of the charging stations up front, and granting free access thereafter. It is hoped that other manufacturers will also assume an open source stance, allowing the industry to evolve more quickly.

Aside from the free exchange of ideas with an open source format, there are other benefits. Tesla is set to open a factory to produce batteries for EVs. If more auto manufacturers utilized the batteries, they could be produced at a lower cost per unit, driving down price. This would aid in Tesla’s goal of creating an affordable EV in order to reach a wider range of consumers.

Musk elaborated that while Tesla Motors originally sought patents in order to protect themselves, they realized they were really just limiting the competition in a field that they had hoped to expand, not constrict.

“At Tesla, however, we felt compelled to create patents out of concern that the big car companies would copy our technology and then use their massive manufacturing, sales and marketing power to overwhelm Tesla,” Musk elaborated. “We couldn’t have been more wrong. The unfortunate reality is the opposite: electric car programs (or programs for any vehicle that doesn’t burn hydrocarbons) at the major manufacturers are small to non-existent, constituting an average of far less than 1% of their total vehicle sales.”

Musk lamented that most major auto manufacturers have EVs that aren’t attractive to consumers due to their limited range, if they have EVs at all. With 100 million new vehicles hitting the roads every year, Musk believes there is plenty of room for everyone manufacturing EVs to thrive.

“Technology leadership is not defined by patents, which history has repeatedly shown to be small protection indeed against a determined competitor, but rather by the ability of a company to attract and motivate the world’s most talented engineers. We believe that applying the open source philosophy to our patents will strengthen rather than diminish Tesla’s position in this regard,” Musk concluded