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Category: Towards Better Health

Published on Leave a comment on Practice This Mini Form Of Therapeutic Meditation – It Will Help You With Stress

By Brad Aronson

On this website, I have placed my Simple form of Meditation, just for pleasant thoughts and relaxation. Two days ago, I came across this Mini Therapeutic form by Brad that is much less complex than most therapeutic meditations.

I thought if I include this on Ours Australia, it could benefit a lot of people. Who does not need to cut down on stress these days? So I thought it most appropriate. Have you ever considered meditation? This may be right for you!

Meditation Is Helpful – If You Don’t Complicate It.
Meditating is a great way to be in the moment. There are countless studies showing that people who meditate are happier. I haven’t mastered meditating, however, I was introduced to a Mini Meditation that was helpful when I had a time of high stress.

I focused on counting and my breath, clearing my mind of everything else. Here’s how the mini meditation works:

  1. Close your eyes
  2. Count slowly to 4 while you take the biggest breath you can. Expand your stomach and then your chest as you breathe. Sit up straight to take in as much air as possible.
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Published on Leave a comment on Misleading Sweeteners: Stop Messing With Our Health!

Watch out for Synthetic Sweeteners Masquerading as Natural Sweeteners!

YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW

These Manufacturers Have NO Conscience!

ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS – SWEET NOTHINGS FOR YOUR HEALTH?

Artificial sweeteners have been considered a solution to the problems caused by sugar intake. They lack calories and are advertised as a healthy alternative to high fructose corn syrup and sugar. However, studies have shown that consuming artificial sweeteners might make you gain weight faster than if you were consuming regular sugar. Artificial sweeteners slow your metabolism and ultimately trigger you to eat more. The three main ingredients in artificial sweeteners — aspartame, saccharin, and acesulfate potassium — have all been linked to cancer as well as Alzheimer’s disease, autism, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.

I used to use them too (not me, the writer) thinking they were better when compared to sugar since it’s what I was taught in school when I was studying to be a dietitian. If dietitians use and recommend them, it is no wonder we believe they’re good for us, right? Well, as research repeatedly shows, there may not be any good reasons to support the notion that artificial sweeteners are beneficial to us.…

Published on Leave a comment on Working Towards A Happy Temperament Is A Better Way To Be Happy More Often

HAPPINESS NEEDS WORKING AT RATHER THAN EXPECTING IT TO JUST COME TO YOU - THAT SELDOM COMES TO MOST, OR WISHING TO BE HAPPY ALL THE TIME, DOES IT? AND THAT'S WHY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH IT OR DISDAINED. IF WE CAN REPLACE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS WITH A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON HAPPINESS,
A PRACTICAL ONE, THIS CAN WORK FOR MOST OF US.

Collect Happy Thoughts And Moments Instead Of Disappointments

HAPPINESS IS WITHIN OUR REACH WITH THE RIGHT EXPECTATIONS. TRY NOT TO OVERTHINK THINGS - Including Happiness - AND IT WILL BE YOURS MORE OFTEN. HAPPINESS HAS A WAY OF EVADING US WHEN WE CHASE IT AWAY. RECOGNISE THE LITTLE THINGS THAT CAN MAKE US HAPPY MORE OFTEN. YES INDEED, LETS DO THAT.

We Are Happier If We:

You don’t sweat the small stuff...
Just miss the train? Spill your coffee? It doesn’t matter. If focusing on what’s important and not obsessing over minor annoyances is a priority of yours, it may be a sign that you’re in a good place. Research has shown that those who swap focusing on the small, everyday negatives for emphasis on brief, joyful moments tend to be happier overall.…

Published on Leave a comment on Tips On Balancing Real Life And Technology – We All Need This Aye? Especially Kids!

Take Care with PC and IPad Use

Sometimes Tech-Life can impose Artificial Values in Life when it comes to Lifestyle. Don't find yourself missing out on LIFE.....Hey? TV is noted for that. The Net involves your participation, so the addiction can be even more powerful to the point of crippling.

This Link will take you to a Website whose motto is to

"WATCH LESS - LIVE MORE'

The use of IPads can be very addictive....sometimes even more than a Computer or Laptop. Misuse or Overuse of one of the above mentioned can end up stressing you or your family out when you find yourself addicted:

You can't stay away from it - you find yourself unable to moderate the use of it.

They interest you more than other things.

You find yourself restless when they are not in use.

You begin to lose interest in other activities.

Previous interests become boring or you loose motivation.

Your way of thinking starts to change because you are used to Tech-Mode.

You often spend much more time online than intended.

You make yourself promises only to break them.

You find it difficult to engage in other things - but you must.…

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Published on 2 Comments on When Family Members And Friends Offend By Imposing Their Problems On You Repeatedly…

By Janet Vargas - Owner Of This Website

Especially the same problem "over and over" some people are heavy weights at that and there seems no way of escaping them. Ever felt weighed down like that "time after time" in addition to whatever your concerns may be?

Hi Friends, I’ve experienced a lot of this kind of thing for some years and may be able to help you.

When they keep making poor decisions and are disgruntled with life, we should not have to bear punishment for that when they don’t like the consequences. We really should not, that’s very unfair. If it is a family member at fault for that kind of behaviour, I believe that’s a form of abuse. If it is a friend at fault, that is a form of abuse also that does not know boundaries and they will have to learn better – if they don’t respect your boundaries.

They are boundary violators and should be dealt with accordingly. If they don’t learn their lesson, opt for better friends because that is no friendship – they violate the very principles Friendship is founded on. Friendship must be built on good principles, there aren’t a lot of them but they must be respected to Enjoy any Friendship.…

Published on Leave a comment on Chemical Detergents, Dish Soaps, and Depression.

How Cleaning Products Are Messing With Your Mental Health

Interview with Marilee Nelson from Branch Basics

When it comes to our mental and physical health, we often focus on what we should eat, how much we should exercise, and how much we should meditate –  and forget to take a good look at where we spend most of our time: our homes.

Be Kind To Yourself - Nasty Chemicals In Many Cleaning Products Are Worse Than You Think.

In this week’s blog and podcast, I speak with Marilee Nelson, founder of Branch Basics, about how the hidden toxins in our home can affect our mental and physical wellbeing, how to keep our living spaces free of toxic chemicals and products, how to protect our brains and bodies outside of the home and more!

As Marilee points out, products with harmful chemicals like pesticides and artificial fragrances in our homes can harm our health. Even small amounts can affect us, including many of the ingredients in supposedly non-toxic products! There is little regulation regarding cleaning supplies, and many do not even have a full ingredient list. We do not even understand how many of these chemicals affect our health over the short and long term (Marilee describes the impact of these chemicals in detail on the Branch Basics YouTube channel, if you are interested in learning more).   …

Published on Leave a comment on How to Know When And How to Say NO

By Dr. Caroline Leaf And Dr. Henry Cloud
Neuroscientist And Psychologist

It's Alright To Say "NO..."
You Don't Have To Do Everything.

We all know that community is important for mental health, but what happens when people demand too much from us? How do we know when and how to say no before we feel drained and burnout? 

As I discuss in this week’s podcast with Dr. Henry Cloud, acclaimed leadership expert, bestselling author and psychologist, boundaries are as important as community when it comes to our mental health. It is not selfish to say no or give ourselves a break. 

We all need space, or what Dr. Cloud calls “property lines”, in our relationships. These lines set healthy limits in a friendship, and make sure people don’t throw their “trash” into your yard (figuratively speaking) or try control what you do and how you live. These are not walls: they are permeable. Ideally, we open our boundaries to let in good relationships, but we close them to keep out to threats and danger.

But, you may ask, what can you do when you feel obligated to say “yes” all the time and let people in all the time?…

Published on Leave a comment on What Can Happen To Your Body If You Wear High Heels Every Day?

Wearing high heels makes you stand taller and feel prettier, according to experts. But you should not forget that your health is more important than anything, and few centimetres of height by way of heels might cause some serious health issues in the long run.

Those High Heels Cause Back Pain And More

You may develop back pain.

Have you ever found yourself leaning forward after wearing your high heels all day long? This happens because you feel the need to release the pressure on your back. Your back has a C-curve shape in a normal position. When you wear high heels, you change the shape of the spine, and, over time, it can wear off the cartilage on your discs, joints, and ligaments in your back.

You may put extra pressure on your feet.

Your natural balance is distorted when wearing heels. So you might experience extra pressure on the balls of your feet which can affect your walking speed, stride length, and gait.

You may damage your knees.

Because of excessive knee torque (force of rotation) and compression, your knees are more prone to being torn when you wear high heels. The “wear-and-tear arthritis,” known as knee osteoarthritis, happens much more often to women than to men, and wearing high heels is one of the main reasons for this.…

Published on Leave a comment on The Value And Advantages In Having A Hobby/Hobbies

IT'S NICE TO HAVE A HOBBY: SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, SOMETHING LIGHT-HEARTED. EVERYONE "BUSY BUSY" SEEMS TO BE THE WAY OF MODERN CIVILISATION SINCE THE TURN OF THIS CENTUARY, HEY? BUT IS THAT HEALTHY FOR US OR OUR KIDS? NOT REALLY. NO. SOMEONE SAID TO ME A FEW YEARS AGO "SOME PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY LOVE, TO DO IT?" IT'S SO TRUE THAT SOME DON'T KNOW THEIR PASSION, TO PURSUE IT. THERE ARE BENEFITS WHEN YOU DISCOVER WHAT IT IS, LIKE MANY HAVE EXPERIENCED FOR MONTHS OR YEARS. WE HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS JUST DISCOVERED HIS AND IT'S REALLY GREAT TO SEE. LIFE SHOULD NOT ALL BE WORK, CHORES AND TV OR SOCIAL MEDIA. TRY AND THINK YOUR WAY AROUND THAT. FEEL FREE TO LOOK FOR IDEAS AND EXPLORE. BE KIND TO YOURSELF, HEY?

6 Reasons To Get A Hobby

By Jaime Kurtz, Ph.D., PsychologyToday.Com

You're Really Not Too Busy.

Over a couple of generations, we have somehow misplaced their free time.

Various things contribute to this, but for many of us, being legitimately busy simply isn't one of them. Instead, we habitually waste time, creating the illusion of busyness.…

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Published on 2 Comments on Children Learn From Growing Things – Let Them Explore, Hey? It’s Good For Them.

I FOUND SOME GOOD FAMILY RELATED MATERIAL ON THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT WEBSITE THAT'S REALLY GREAT. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING NATURE A LOT - OUR NEED FOR REGULAR EXPOSURE TO IT SOME WAY/WAYS THROUGH THE WEEK.

Children Love To Learn How To Grow Plants - Why Not Let Them Try? You May Be Surprised!

IN MY PRETEENS, I WAS FASCINATED BY PEAS AND BEANS EMMERGING THROUGH THE SOIL, WHEN MY MUM WAS TENDING HER VEGGIE GARDEN AND WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE A FEW PLANTS OF MY OWN TO GROW. MY FEELINGS ABOUT THIS WERE NOT VOICED UNTIL I MENTIONED IT TO HER LATER IN LIFE (MY 40'S OR 50'S).

IN RESPONSE, SHE SAID "Oh Janet, you never said anything about it. I would have been happy to share some with you - I didn't think you were interested." I WAS ACTUALLY INTRIGUED. IT'S A GREAT INTEREST FOR KIDS OF DIFFERENT AGES, FROM LITTLE TO TEENS and A GOOD CONTRAST TO THEIR TECH INTERESTS - HELPING TO PROVIDE A BALANCE FOR THEM, HEY? AND HEALTH BENEFITS TO BE GAINED TOO, A WIN WIN!

The Government Says:

People of all ages can enjoy gardening, but children in particular will have lots of fun and gain special benefits. …