Stress Solvers: Identifying The Cause and Finding a Solution

Stress Solvers: Identifying The Cause and Finding a Solution

Tuesday, 18 September 2018

Stress is an issue which plagues a lot of people in the modern world. Without the time to stop and think about the different parts of your life, it can quickly feel as though you’re being overwhelmed by the issues you face. In reality, though, it isn’t usually the big things which are the cause of the way you feel. Instead, things will nag at you, making it hard to spot the true causes of your worries, and this leaves a lot of people unaware of what can be done to make things better. To give you the help you need, this post will be exploring stress, along with the different work which can be done to lift the weight of stress off of your shoulders.

Identifying the Cause

Identifying the cause of your stress is the most important part of this process. It could take a long time to achieve a goal like this, and you will have to assess your life as if you’re looking in from the outside. The best way to go about this will involve keeping a record of when you start to feel the butterflies in your stomach, giving yourself the chance to monitor the potential causes of it. For example, if you find yourself worrying in the mornings before you go to work or school, it could be something about your work routine which is making you feel bad.

Tackling the Cause head on

Once you've identified the cause (or causes) of stress in your life, spend some time browsing the web to find different solutions to stressful situations. There are loads of blogs which can give you this sort of information. Along with this, your friends and loved ones will also be able to help, as they will probably be able to see the things which make you feel stressed long before you ever notice them.

Finding A Solution 

Once you have an idea of what is working you up, it will be time to start looking for a solution.


Can The Cause Be Removed? 

In a lot of cases, the stress you feel will be something which you have a great deal of control over. For example, a lot of smokers will find it hard to be calm if they haven’t had a cigarette for a long time, and quitting for good could be the best way to achieve their goals. With the help of a vape and some e juice, this job would be made much easier. Likewise, if your job is making you stressed, it could be worth looking for something new to try, and this approach can be taken with a lot of the aspects of your life.


Can It Be Used? 

Stress doesn’t have to be a negative part of your life. Of course, it can cause some additional health problems, but it can often be used as a tool to achieve goals. Stress can be a motivator and a demon, it's finding the best way to use your stress which can be difficult.

A lot of people find themselves being motivated greatly by stress, but this will only work if you’re able to change your attitude towards it. For example, if you have a lot of deadlines which are making you feel anxious, working towards completing them will often make the stress disappear.

Can Someone Help?

As I mentioned above, stress can impact your physical health. For example, heart palpitations, sweating and migraines. There are also loads of medical issues which can make you feel this way too though, which is why it's always important to take the time to go over step one.


Stress can have a major impact on anyone's lives, with some people spending huge amounts of time out of work with it, and others letting important things go undone thanks to the way they feel. It never has to be this way, though, as long as you’re willing to work towards something better.

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Visible Prejudice To Invisible Disabilities

Visible Prejudice To Invisible Disabilities

Thursday, 13 September 2018

Some disabilities are visible straight away. It may be that someone has a wheelchair or a walking stick. At other times, a long-term condition or disability doesn’t come with visual queues. Around 74% of people living with a disability don’t use anything like this. Instead, their struggles are invisible.

            

Invisible illnesses bring a whole new set of challenges and discriminations. Some people are simply unwilling to accept a disability they can’t see.

If you’re dealing with visible discriminations to your invisible disability, you’re not alone. This is something sufferers across the country have to deal with every day and something that I've recently experienced.

Workplace Misunderstandings

Workplace misunderstandings are some of the most serious. When you have a wheelchair, an employer can see your need for special access or a particular desk. But, the needs of those with invisible disabilities are often ignored. What's worse is that many such individuals face discrimination for the time taken off work. This isn’t treatment you need to accept. Any worker has rights to health and safety. Your disability means your employer must also set aside things like parking spaces. If they don’t, you’re well within your rights to take legal action for neglect in this area.



Sadly, that isn’t where the work-based discrimination ends. Many people with invisible disabilities are unable to work. This can cause issues for obvious reasons. To others, it looks as though you’re able. They don’t see the struggles you face each day and may judge you as a result. Even the companies who should look out for you can often jump on the discrimination bandwagon. Companies can sometimes offer financial support for long-term disabilities but may try to argue that you’re able to work. In this case, don’t hesitate to seek a disability lawyer who can set the record straight. No matter what happens, remember that you have the legal high ground here. Never let ignorance push you into accepting work you’re physically unable to complete.

The ‘it’s all in the mind’ argument

Even outside of work issues, invisible illness falls foul to many horrible labels. Most common amongst them is the idea that it’s ‘all in the mind.’ If someone sees you straight after you’ve taken your pain management, for instance, they’ll assume you function that well all the time.
They didn’t see how much of a struggle it was for you to get out of bed that morning. As a result, they may make the false assumption that you can work past your pain if you ‘set your mind to it.’ This is a damaging belief which can do real harm in the long-term. The only thing you can do here is to educate people. Be honest and speak about your struggles. Hopefully, hearing your story will teach them that suffering is about more than what they can see.

Xo

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Guide for First Time Renters In The UK

Guide for First Time Renters In The UK

In my life, I’ve lived in a total of four places. I’m not new to the concept of renting, but I know that for some it can be daunting and a completely new thing. Since I moved back in with my parents, the idea of renting has been slowly creeping up on me, which is why I decided to make a little renting guide for anyone in the same position.

Research The Property

Before sealing the deal on a rented property, make sure it’s the right one for you. Is it in the right area? At the right price? Also take into consideration the price of your rent, the price of council tax, bills and utilities. You don’t want to get the flat of your dreams and then scrimp trying to save money for it.

Save More Than You Need

Although we’d all like to think we can just grab the flat we want exactly when we want it, the truth is exactly opposite. For the majority of places in the UK, you will need to pay a deposit, your first month of rent and any fees on top of that (including agency fees). Always add up what you need to save and save a little more on top of that. Having a little cushion to fall back on is great for unexpected fees such as the cost of moving your furniture with companies such as M25 Supervan London.

Decor, Baby

If you’re an avid decorator like me, you’ll want to get stuck in the with the painting and redecorating on your new place. But have you checked if you can actually change the decor? Some landlords don't allow you to put up posters, let alone change the paint colours. Always ask the question before making the decision to rent.

Is It The Right Place For You?

This is a tough one, because you may have found a great place for you, but is it really good for you? Is it in the right area, are there local shops, gyms and other places for you? Because if not you might have to say goodbye. Amenities are essential to moving out, and if you’re in the middle of nowhere, you can easily get stuck.

Xo

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Winter-Proofing Your Home

Winter-Proofing Your Home

I woke up this morning legit shivering. I always used to love the onset of cold weather, but I honestly am not feeling it this year. With winter creeping in and the nights getting darker so much earlier, I’ve decided to write up a little post about winter-proofing your home and how you can save energy by doing some basic tricks.

Buy Warm Clothes

Honestly, one of the easiest tricks for saving money comes in the form of layering it up. Think Joey in Friends when he wore all of Chandler’s clothes. Buy some fluffy jumpers, cosy socks and bundle up when you’re feeling the chill.

Change Your Bedding

If you suffer from chills at night, it might be worth replacing your duvet with a thicker tog in order to keep the warmth in. Thicker tog duvets can be bought online or in local stores, and many are put on offer in the lead up to winter months.

Make it Cosy

Think throw pillows, blankets and even duvet forts. Winter cold is no joke, and the cosier you are, the more likely you are to keep that heating turned down. To make it seem warmer than it is, ensure you have warm glow lighting including salt lamps and fairy lights, which make any space seem warm and inviting.

Make Sure You Aren’t Losing Heat

Before any of the aforementioned steps, make sure you aren’t actually losing any heat in the home. If your boiler is old, make sure to get it checked by a Specialist in Boiler Installation. If your home is prone to drafts, make sure you get draft stoppers. The same goes for your windows, as so much heat can be lost from incorrectly sealed window glass.

Xo

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What To Do When You're a 20 Something Suffering From Back Pain

What To Do When You're a 20 Something Suffering From Back Pain

Back pain is one of the most common health conditions, but also one of the most misunderstood. In the last few years, I've suffered from some extreme back pain, with the causes changing from larger breasts to lumpy beds and chronic illness. Back pain can come out of nowhere, and when you're a 20 something suffering from stiffness and pain, you might not know where to begin in terms of helping yourself. Below I've outlined some facts about back pain and how you can start to ease your symptoms.

Back Pain & Its Causes

If you were to ask 10 people what the cause of their back pain is, you would likely receive 10 different answers. There are hundreds of potential causes of back pain, ranging from simple wear and tear, to pregnancy, and even to serious injuries caused by others. As a result, if you develop back pain, it is important to speak to your doctor in an effort to ascertain the actual cause - without knowing this, you may struggle for effective treatment. When I first saw my doctor, he pinned my weight on the cause for my pain - when in reality the cause was my growing breasts.

Back Pain Can Happen At Any Age

Many of us associate back pain with later life, and there is some justification for this: statistically, back pain is more likely to occur in later life. However, back pain can impact anyone, especially as a result of spinal conditions such as degenerative disc disease. It is therefore important not to dismiss any back pain you experience as temporary due to your age; if your back hurts, investigate why this may be occurring.

Back Pain Has Become An Industry

Some methods of treating back pain are inexpensive; yoga, for example, has shown great promise in helping people treat the condition. However, studies have shown that back pain is incredibly costly to treat, and can result in extra health costs of over £3,000 per year, per individual (this is adding up chiropractor and massage costs along with NHS & Private medical treatment). It's super important to seek help as soon as possible to prevent the issue worsening if you develop back pain and, if applicable, consult a personal injury lawyer if someone else is to blame for your condition.

Don't Rest A Bad Back

This might be surprising, but resting a bad back can 100% make it worse. Movement encourages muscles to heal and strengthen, which is important when it comes to our backs, as it's our main support system. While you should always consult a medical professional for advice on your specific condition, for the most part, you will usually be told to actively exercise if you have hurt your back - strange, and quite different to what most people think is the right course of action, but true.

Xo

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My Advice for New Bloggers and What I Would Do Differently

My Advice for New Bloggers and What I Would Do Differently

Thursday, 6 September 2018

Recently I’ve seen an influx of young bloggers in the community. I think it’s really cool that younger gals are trying to make it in the blogger world, but I’ve noticed that many are trying to monetize their blogs and that they’re focusing on that more than anything. 

If I’ve learned anything from working in SEO, it’s that content is king, but as well as that, there are also some other things you should consider before you make yourself a blog. 

Think it through

Before I made this blog, I had created and deleted about 8 blogs. I was unsure if I could keep up with it, if I’d lose interest or if I would run out of things to say. Having had this blog for 3 years now, I can say that I don’t regret taking my time. I actually think that, had I had more time to think it through, I may have taken this website in another direction. That being said, the experience this blog has given me is invaluable, and it’s complimented the job I’m in now.

If you’re thinking of creating a blog, make sure it’s what you want. Write about what you love, what you find interesting, and start finding similar bloggers who inspire you. Take it slow and learn all you can before throwing yourself into the deep end.

Find your niche

When I started out, I didn’t know what I wanted to write about. I kind of decided not to have a niche in the end, and I labelled myself as a lifestyle blogger. If I did it all over, I would have focused on one thing (interiors, fashion, or beauty). I think now that the market is becoming more saturated, it’s important to know what you want your site to be, what audience you’re targeting and what you love writing about the most.

Will you brand yourself or create something new?

Branding yourself can be a big task. It’s about getting your name out there, having your social accounts linked to your blog and having to suddenly be professional. I honestly didn’t think about this when I first started out, and I totally regret trying to brand myself. If I could go back, I think I would try and create a new blog and make new social accounts for it. Having said that, I’m starting a new project at the moment, and if I didn’t have the knowledge I have now from my current blog I wouldn’t be able to work on it.

Do it for yourself, not for money

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, NEVER start a blog in order to earn money. Creating an income from your blog should only be done once you have an audience, a great website and some really good content. Earning money from blogging should be a result of hard work, not something you’re entitled to from the get-go.

Get to grips with SEO

In order to get a great website, you will need to get to grips with SEO. SEO, in basic terms, is how well your website ranks for the things you’re writing about. There are tonnes of free resources out there at the moment that can help with blog SEO, just do your research and get to work. You’ll find that hard work pays off (and ranks you better on Google).

Network – the community isn’t that bad

In the past, I’ve definitely slated the blogging community, and there are a lot of things wrong with it in my opinion. However, that doesn’t mean that I haven’t met some amazing people whilst being a blogger myself. Get out there, enjoy the content of others and hype others up, you may find you get the same in return.

Ignore the stigma

At the moment I think that a lot of people who aren't in the community give bloggers a bad name, and tbh I think this does come down to a choice few bloggers who, in my opinion, make the community seem like a bitchy place to be. It can be, and I think some bloggers give others a bad name, but this doesn’t have to be you. As long as you don’t think you’re above others, write about what you love, and embrace others, then I think you’ll be on to a winner.

Xo

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3 Tips for Reducing Chronic Aches and Pains

3 Tips for Reducing Chronic Aches and Pains

Friday, 24 August 2018

There’s not much that can put a damper on your enjoyment of life as surely and thoroughly as having to deal with a host of chronic aches and pains. Whether as the result of a pulled muscle, muscular imbalance from bad posture, or a repetitive strain disorder such as carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic pain is in no way a welcome part of anyone’s life.

Fortunately, there are various things you can do which may help to alleviate your chronic aches and pains, depending on what’s causing them. While the particular remedy you pursue will have to be tailored around the specifics of the problem you’re facing, there is a range of proactive steps that can be taken. Here are a few tips for reducing chronic aches and pains.

Visit a professional physiotherapist

If the pain you’re experiencing is serious, especially to the point of being debilitating, and if you’ve been experiencing it for a significant amount of time, your first port of call should be getting checked up by a licensed medical professional, such as a physiotherapist.

These experts might be able to issue you with effective sciatic nerve treatment and can help you to avoid aggravating the condition any further, through the negligence of confusion.

In fact, visiting a professional as the first stage in your road towards recovery is often one of the smartest things you can do, because it helps you to pinpoint the exact cause of your pain outright, which in turn makes it much easier to target your rehab efforts productively, and to avoid performing any activities that could lead to further inflammation or injury.

Take up a yoga class

Yoga is an ancient art with a great track record of boosting people’s vitality and making their lives significantly more enjoyable and healthful, overall.

As a matter of fact, recent research has found evidence that performing regular yoga routines can actually be an effective way of relieving the pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome and osteoarthritis of the ankle. Research has also found evidence that yoga might be an effective strategy for reducing chronic, systemic inflammation in the body, which is thought to play a role in many disorders, including being associated with various recurring aches and pains.

Doing a good yoga routine might, in other words, help to free you from those aches and pains and improve your overall quality of life, and fitness, in the process.

Improve your posture and consider a standing desk

A surprising number of chronic aches and pains actually occur as the result of poor posture, which in turn results in muscle imbalances, and excessive pressure being put on certain parts of the body throughout the day.

Spending too much time sitting down each day also helps to feed these postural issues, while at the same time resulting in a variety of stresses and imbalances, all by itself.

Be sure to observe good posture whether sitting or standing and consider investing in an adjustable standing desk, to give yourself a break from sitting down all day, every day.

Xo

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5 Ways to Reduce Social Anxiety

5 Ways to Reduce Social Anxiety

Monday, 13 August 2018

For me, social anxiety can be a real problem. When I was younger, I would be so scared of seeing other people in public that I would get palpitations from the thought of getting on a bus or train.

This actually carried on until University, but along with therapy and medication, I found some ways to ease my anxiety about new and difficult social situations. I’ve added them below in case you fancy trying them out!

Hot Bath/Shower

Whenever I have an event coming up, or I’m simply worried about going out in public (it can happen), I’ll take an hour beforehand to just try and relax. I’ll light some candles, run a bubble bath, and add some lavender oil to the water. My parents recently got rid of our bath (yes I still live at home lol) so I’ve taken some time to just stand under our steam Insignia Shower.

Get some Headspace

If you suffer badly from your anxiety, I actually recommend downloading the Headspace app. I’ve spoken about this app before, but it’s totally worth it. You can get a free trial for a week or so, and even the trail can help you order your thoughts! Practices take about 5 minutes out of your day, so it’s not too imposing.

Tidy

This might just be me, but I find that tidying my room, lighting candles and changing my bedding can positively affect my mood. I think it’s because I have something to focus on apart from the anxiety? I’m not too sure, but it really helps me to take my mind off of stressful thoughts.

Tackle the Cause

Sometimes, just sitting back and thinking about why you’re so anxious can help you understand why you feel the way you feel. With my public transport fear, I kind of decided one day to sit down with myself and figure it out. I actually realized that it’s because of my fear of terrorism, crowded spaces and strangers. Once I recognized this, my anxiety kind of relaxed a little bit. I still get anxious, don’t get me wrong, but knowing why I get so anxious helps out my mind at ease a little bit.

Putt Yourself First

This one might be obvious, but for some people, it actually isn’t. Putting ourselves first can be a bit of a bizarre concept, but it’s actually super important. The moment I said no to social engagements that made me feel stressed, the better I felt. Of course, I haven’t secluded off from friends, and I don’t recommend you do this either, but sometimes when your mental health is in a bad way, we have to put ourselves first and decline social invitations in order to provide ourselves with some self-care.

Xo

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Potential Side Effects of Living a Stressful Lifestyle

Potential Side Effects of Living a Stressful Lifestyle

The symptoms of stress vary, and sometimes we can't even feel the effects of stress on our bodies until it's too late. Do you ever get sick on holiday? Or feel run down at the weekend? It can be our bodies telling us to slow down more often...If you ever feel as though:

- You are rushing around all day, going from one activity to the next.

- You hang out with people who add to your feelings of anxiety.

- You find little time for fun in your life.

- You indulge in unhealthy habits, smoking, heavy drinking, gambling, etc.

- You are continually facing pressure, be that from yourself or somebody else in your life.

… then you are living a stressful lifestyle.


Now, we can’t always escape feelings of stress, but if you know your lifestyle is adding to the problem, you need to do something about it. While the natural remedies found at NextDayCBD are a practical solution to alleviate stress symptoms, as are the medications prescribed to you through your doctor, you also need to change the way you live. If you don’t, you may fall prey to the side-effects of a stressful lifestyle, which I've outlined below.

According to research, stress can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression. I've had a first hand experience of this, and trying to remove stress and stressful situations in my life has helped to alleviate some of my anxiety.

When you are in a stressed state, you will find it difficult to concentrate on simple tasks. Whether at home or at work, you may make mistakes or forget important details, and this can lead to further consequences. Take some time to think about what's causing you stress, and take some steps to remove the reason from your life. This could simply be removing toxic friends (ghosting is the way), or practising meditation and mindfulness. 

Should you go to bed with unresolved stresses playing on your mind, you will find it difficult to sleep. Not only will insomnia be a problem, as you toss and turn playing over your stressors in your mind, but the quality of your sleep will be negatively affected as well.

Comfort eating is one way to battle feelings of stress, and for many people, this means reaching for chocolate or junk foods, rather than those foods that can combat stress. As a consequence, feelings of stress will be compounded, as health problems can arise as a result of unhealthy eating, including heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. I've struggled with binge eating for a number of years, but recently I've been taking small steps to stop myself doing it, and I can honestly say my stress levels have calmed down.

Stress can also suppress the immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections and illness. This can include such things as the common cold and skin problems, but there are more pressing concerns, as studies suggest there is the added risk of autoimmune diseases as well.

So, consider your lifestyle. If you are at risk of stress, or you are currently feeling the effects of stress, then you need to take steps to change the way you live. This includes reducing stressful activities and finding more time for calming activities. It also means quitting bad habits and making more of an effort to adhere to good habits, such as more exercise and healthier eating.

Xo

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Why I’m Walking Away from the Diet Industry

Why I’m Walking Away from the Diet Industry

Friday, 10 August 2018

I’ve been dieting since I was 14 years old. I’ve constantly looked at myself with scrutiny, denying myself clothes, food, experiences and happiness; all because I was worried about my body and the way it jiggles. In the past year alone I’ve dropped and gained 12 lbs, seen a personal trainer each week and pushed myself to limits that made me sick. But why should I do that? Okay, so my body isn’t what others want it to be, and to an extent, it isn’t where I want it to be either, but I’ve been doing some thinking over the past week, and I’ve come to some hefty conclusions.

My body has been through some shit. Self-harm, bingeing, purging, excess, illness, and mental health issues. My body has overcome everything I’ve ever put it through, and I still stand in the mirror and actively choose to hate it on the daily. Why would I do that? This body has been there for me again and again, it’s suffered through disease, skin problems, autoimmune problems, and it still fights for me every damn day.

So I like pizza, cheese and bread, so what? I also like vegetables, jogging, swimming and fruit. Despite what society tells me, I am not something to be ashamed of, and I won’t be ashamed any longer. I still want to be healthy, and I’ll always pursue that, but not because I want to lose weight, but because I want to feel strong, to feel healthy. I’m not going to push myself to extremes anymore, but I am going to explore my fitness and enjoy the process.

I don’t want to diet anymore, I don’t want to deny myself things that I think I don’t deserve because I’m fat. Because yeah, I’m chunky, but does that stop my boyfriend from loving me? My friends from going out with me? My family from being there for me? Absolutely not. My body has no effect on these things, and I won’t let myself think about it that way again.

That being said, I don’t want to fall down the path of binge eating either. I know it only leads to purging, and I won’t do that to myself anymore either. I think that my eating from now on will fall somewhere in the middle. Somewhere between the binge and the purge – getting there might be hard, but you know, I’m quite excited to have my control back. I won’t be controlled by eating plans, diets, fasting, smoothies, syns, shakes or tablets any more.

For so long I clung on to Slimming World, forced myself to see that “it’s just a lifestyle change” and that it’s good for me. When I think about it more, how often do Slimming World foods include sweeteners, fry light, light spread and light cheese? It’s a plan that’s based on cutting fat from our diets, fats that we really need for healthy skin and joints. We need a mix of nutrition in our diets – and I’d rather focus on what my body needs to survive, and not what diet companies tell me it needs to look better.

I have dry skin, stretch marks, loose skin, cellulite, saggy breasts, my stomach is a little loaf of bread and I’m going to start working on embracing these things. Reading Body Positive Power by Body Posi Panda has really opened my eyes to accepting myself, and hopefully, I can go down the path of loving my body.

I wanted to write this as a note to myself more than anything, to re-read when I’m feeling low about myself. Because I know it will happen. I’ll reach a point where I’ll want to diet or try a new trend, and its times like that when I’ll need to reread this. If you’re fed up of dieting, waiting for something to change, or you’re on the verge of getting back into bad eating habits, I really recommend reading Body Posi Panda’s book – it’s such a good read and I can’t recommend it enough.

Xo

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