by admin | Jun 10, 2022 | General, Health, Mind
Unlearn These Habits for a Better You
Unlearning is the new learning in the journey of having a blissful quality of life. People say, learning a new good habit can be cumbersome but have you ever tried to unlearn a bad habit? It is much harder to unlearn a bad habit. We, as humans, catch up on bad habits very quickly and let them settle just as our second nature.
There are some habits that one should totally unlearn to grow and stimulate better life decisions.
Fear Of Change
You don’t have to be happy about everything that happens in your life. However, you should not let your fear stop you either. We are all aware that things could be much worse at any time in our lives. Also the fact that you are reading this article right now proves that you are some of the world’s wealthier and more privileged individuals.
Life is changing way quicker than ever before, and we may be confronted with new problems every day. As a result, the most capable of adapting individuals will always win in the long run. It’s much harder than it sounds, but it’s probably one of the most underappreciated words of advice. Even if changes are uncertain, they almost always have a positive aspect. Be brave, focus on the positive aspects, and try new things.
Procrastination
No matter what your age is, you will always end up procrastinating! We procrastinate because we subconsciously believe that the task ahead of us is too difficult. So, next time you’re in this scenario, make a habit of breaking down your activity into smaller, more manageable chunks.
Delaying something inevitable in your schedule is never beneficial, it only ends up making the timetable more congested and leaves you with greater stress than what you already had. Therefore, always aim to complete your tasks on time and stop procrastinating to let go of the habit of procrastination.
Comparison
Comparing yourself to others is not only disrespectful of your own capabilities but also a total disregard of others’ status. Being jealous of others’ achievements without knowing what they have been through in their actual life is never justified nor advised. Never compare yourself with others. Always compete with yourself and beat YOUR previous best.
Being Afraid to Make Mistakes
Isn’t making mistakes just an aspect of our human nature? Everyone makes mistakes but there are very few people who accept them and rectify them. Following the notion of hard work will always lead to success is one of the biggest mistakes that people make. Try to embrace your mistakes and it’s okay to make them. Never go too hard on yourself for making mistakes and instead, try to learn from them.
Obsessions with Other Peoples’ Opinions
How often do you feel discouraged because of the opinions of others? The chances are that your answer is too often. The scary part is that you will never be able to appease everyone. The good news is that it makes no difference. You only have one life, so don’t bother wasting it by trying to live up to the expectations of others.
You can’t be everyone’s favorite, but you can be your own hero and save yourself. Stop suppressing your inner voice to please others and start shining your light on the world. Start unlearning bad habits and learning the ways to improve the quality of life. No matter what your definition of quality of life is, just make sure to enjoy every moment and reap the utmost benefits from every day that you are living.
by admin | Jun 10, 2022 | Health, General
What Are Some Of The More Common Meds And How They Work
A Better Understanding Of The Most Popular Prescription Drugs Medications are often a part of the treatment options most psychiatrists give their clients.
They are developed specifically to help ease the symptoms of anxiety, depression, and other mental conditions. We all know that meds sound scary, so in order to break the stigma surrounding them, we decided to write this article.
Its aim is to explain what the most common prescription meds are and how they work so that people have a higher level of understanding when they come into contact with them.
We hope you find this interesting.
Xanax
We’ve all heard of Xanax – a benzodiazepine that treats anxiety and panic. It works by increasing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid or, in simpler terms, the chemical responsible for calmness and relaxation. It’s absorbed quickly by the body, which is why most doctors recommend it.
Because of this, however, some people may abuse it, which is why it’s on the list of controlled substances in most countries. It has some side effects, especially if mixed with other medications. With time, people can become more tolerant of the substance, which is why dosage is very important when continuously taking Xanax.
Zoloft
Zoloft is the brand name of one of the most famous antidepressants out there. This is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) that focuses on serotonin levels which are often outside of the norm in people with anxiety, depression, OCD, and the likes.
Many psychologists recommend it over other antidepressants because of its lighter side effects. It’s also important to mention that this medication works slower than Xanax – here, the peak effect can be seen somewhere between 4 and 8 hours after taking the pill itself.
Prozac
This is another SSRI, but it’s different from Zoloft. It gained popularity much earlier, in the 1980s, and has been used ever since. This medication is very often taken on a regular basis alongside therapy. It is mostly used for treating anxiety disorders. However, many people recommend it for depression and OCD as well.
Its full effects can be seen up to 12 weeks after starting to take it, which can be frustrating and the reason why some people quit before they reach that point. The same as the other medications on this list, it should not be mixed with other substances, especially alcohol.
Ativan
This drug is a common antidepressant that works in a similar way to Xanax. However, it also affects the body’s physical functions and responses during such moments. It has a fast effect and as such, is often recommended for panic attacks and acute agitation, and restlessness.
It is also prescribed for alcohol withdrawal, seizures, and insomnia. A specific side effect that Ativan has is known as “rebound anxiety” – a relapse or worsening of the same feeling which was the initial reason for taking the pill.
A different but important side effect is also an overall numbing feeling towards life events and responsibility when under the influence of Ativan.
Adderall
Adderall is a stimulant medication often prescribed to people with ADHD. It’s a mix of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine that increases the activity of the central nervous system, making you more focused. It comes in two versions – immediate and extended-release – providing two different sorts of treatment.
One deals with instantaneous outbreaks, while the other with predetermined conditions. The deficiency in attention span is believed to be caused by a decrease in dopamine, and Adderall makes your brain produce larger quantities on a more regular basis.
Although it’s estimated to help around 75% of patients with ADHD, this medication also has side effects and can be addictive if not taken according to prescription.
Final Thoughts
Medications help people all over the world. Being so widespread, it’s incredibly important to know what they’re prescribed for, how they work, and what side effects they can have.
Here we have made a very short summary about the most common meds, but we highly recommend you do more research if you’re considering taking this or similar medicine and, of course, consult with a professional!
by admin | Jun 10, 2022 | General
What does your wardrobe say about you?
Have you ever wondered whether the way you dress and the colors you choose define you as a person? It is pretty common for us to not pay attention to the clothes or colors we choose for the day, but there actually is a pattern that shows we don’t pick out just anything randomly.
The specific color of clothing can tell us more about us than we suspect. It is thought that color patterns are engraved in our brain at an early childhood stage. It depends on the exposure and gut feeling towards a particular color, as well as specific experiences.
Emotions are like colors, and subconsciously we tend to like or dislike some of them.
Bright colors
If a person dresses in bright colors, such as yellow, orange, and red, he is most commonly going to be perceived as a trendsetter and change-maker. This means that the person is friendly, and people can approach them, without feeling any pressure or fear. The only contradictory color of these is the color yellow because it could cause slight frustration in some people.
Black, grey and blue
These classic colors show a person who is well-groomed and can take care of themselves.
Sometimes he, or she, may be a bit too serious and demanding, but this only shows the well-organized and sophisticated side of that person.
Let’s talk about style.
Not only the colors but the specific style that one has can tell us more about the person and their personality. Let’s take, for example, men who wear V-necks and crewnecks. V-necks are worn by people who are laid back, chilled and easy going. Crewnecks, on the other hand, are the clothing that more uptight and balanced people choose for the day. These kinds of people tend to take more time making decisions and have an intelligent approach to everything.
Sports clothing can give away something about you, too. For men, It usually says that the guy is easygoing, doesn’t care too much about how he looks and doesn’t mind making quick decisions.
For women, the sporty look tells us that the gal is confident and always ready for action – whether it’s to the supermarket, or for an errand. It’s the opposite of the vibes that men give away in a tracksuit.
The clean and simple look is reserved for people who don’t want to be judged by their covers. The casual white T-shirt and jeans look are reserved for people that have nothing to prove to others.
These types of dressers don’t like being recognized or standing out in a crowd and are keener on the intellectual side of things. The “I want to make a statement” look speaks for Itself. You know that a person wants to be spotted when he is in a classic, clean-cut suit with an outstanding tie. For women, it’s the elegant dress, high heels, and bright colors that bring out that extra confidence that gets everyone’s heads turning around.
The trendsetter look is the most interesting of all. It not only combines all the other looks and personality traits but also sets the rules for the new ones. This type of person is not only ready to experiment but has the boldness to be a leader and great decision-maker. Typical clothing for the trendsetter is weird looks that have not yet been approved by social standards, like colorful socks and hats and strange combinations with them.
For both sexes, this type of dresser says only one thing – I am here and ready to show you the way.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a way to shake up your wardrobe, consider what it says about you. For example, if your closet is full of earthy tones like browns and greens then people may perceive you as more grounded or stable than someone who has mostly bright colors like pinks or yellows.
You should also know that red can be perceived as rude or angry depending on the shade (a deep crimson will come off differently than a light pink) – so keep this in mind when choosing accessories and color schemes for your next best look!
by admin | Jun 9, 2022 | Fitness, General
Where Does Lost Fat Go?
If you’ve been working on improving your activity and nutrition with the goal of losing weight, you’ve probably asked yourself this question at least once. As you probably know, energy (in this case, fat) cannot be created, nor destroyed.
So the question here is – How do your fat deposits transform when you are on a weight-loss diet? In this article, you’re going to learn more about fat loss and what happens to the weight that disappears from the scale during a successful diet.
Let’s get to it, shall we?
How Do You Lose Weight, Even?
Though many fad diets have taken priority spots in people’s lives, fat loss is mainly about one specific principle, called “Eating in a caloric deficit”. Your body requires a certain amount of energy to maintain its physiological processes and mass in space.
That amount of energy depends on the following factors:
- Gender
- Age
- Height
- Weight
- Non-training activity
- Training activity
- Food intake
If you consume more energy from food than your body needs to maintain its weight, you will progressively gain weight. On the other hand, if you consume LESS energy from food than your body needs to maintain its weight, you will LOSE fat.
It’s quite simple and there is no way around it! Every fad diet that makes you lose weight, does so not because of the diet itself, but because of the caloric deficit that it helps you establish.
But Where Does Lost Fat Go?
When you’re in a deficit of energy, your body uses its energy deposits (fat) to compensate for that deficit.
That is to say that during fat loss, your body actually burns off the fat in order to use it for a variety of functions.
When oxidized (burned with the help of oxygen), fat leaves the body in the form of carbon dioxide and water!
That is to say that the two main “exhausts” for lost fat, are:
- The lungs
- The urinary system
In other words, when you lose fat, you exhale the carbon dioxide and then the water gets into your circulation, until it leaves the body as sweat and urine.
How Much Of The Fat Is Water?
Interestingly enough, when you lose fat, most of it comes out as carbon dioxide, through your lungs. To be precise, about 80-85% of lost fat turns into carbon dioxide, while the other 15-20% turn to water. For instance, if you lose 10 kg of fat, roughly 8 kg of it comes out through your lungs and the remaining weight is excreted in the form of urine/sweat.
Fun Fact
As a matter of fact, basically everything you consume comes out as carbon dioxide! Nearly every gram of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and even alcohol, get converted to carbon dioxide and water, while the byproducts of the food leave the body as excrements.
The only exception for a nutrient that reaches your colon intact, is dietary fiber, which cannot be absorbed or digested but may help the digestive processes.
Everything else besides fiber is absorbed and then takes exit via the lungs!
Conclusion
Fat loss is simple, yet interesting – It only requires a caloric deficit, but can make your body undergo drastic visual changes over a short period of time.
The process becomes even more interesting when you think about the fact that 85% of the weight that disappears from the scale, takes its exit through your lungs! If you have any other interesting questions, let us know in the comments below!
by admin | Jun 8, 2022 | General
Why Do Some People Dislike Surprises?
How Our Brains Respond To The Unexpected Surprises are usually considered a good thing. We have surprise birthday celebrations, some of us plan surprise visits for our friends, even gifts are based on this idea.\ So if they’re such a big part of our culture, why do some of us dislike them? Here we explain what surprises are, how our brains perceive them, and why people have such opposing opinions about them.
The Definitions
Firstly let’s define a surprise. A surprise is any event, living thing, object, or environmental change that the individual did not expect to see. They can be positive or negative, intentional or not, and long-lasting or short-term. Anything from finding an unexpected gift from a loved one, to getting a sudden paycheck cut, can be categorized as a surprise.
They also vary in time and intensity.
How long a surprise lasts and how strongly we feel about it is tied to the explanation we are given considering the event itself or the conclusion we draw ourselves.
Some Examples
Although there are some things that are objectively more surprising than others (seeing a plane parked in the street as opposed to finding out that your roommates used all of the coffee), the level of surprise we feel lessens when we receive an explanation.
Once we understand that the plane is a prop or that they decided to make coffee cake, everything begins to make sense again. The longer we cannot find an explanation for something unexpected, the more lasting memory the situation creates. If you see a pot of flowers inexplicably flowing in the middle of a room, you will definitely remember that image for longer than coming home to find out your kids have rearranged some furniture.
How The Brain Processes Surprises
Now that we understand what surprises are and how they work in the outside world let’s figure out what happens in our brains. Surprises “happen” in the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain that deals with the perception of different situations. It is also important to note that this is the part that also deals with our pleasure and reward systems.
The other part of our minds which is active when something unexpected happens is the amygdala. Its job is to help us decide whether this is a positive or negative situation and for our bodies to start releasing the respective substances, most often dopamine and oxytocin.
There are studies that show that our brains seem to enjoy the unexpected. Researchers from the USA compared the activity of the reward pathways in the brain in both random and organized situations. According to that study and some further research, our brains are more active when they don’t expect the stimuli as opposed to when they do.
This means that the dose of chemicals we receive is higher when we experience a surprise. Another important aspect is that surprises magnify all other emotions. Because our brains are highly active when we experience something unexpected, all of our emotions are simply stronger.
Why Some People Dislike Them
So why do some people say that surprises really aren’t their cup of tea?
When faced with a surprise, some people feel awkward and confused, as if a big amount of pressure is right on top of them – these are all symptoms of anxiety. For many people, events like these mean the loss of focus and flow in their day. If the brain doesn’t know what to expect, it can’t keep us out of harm’s way, which is exactly why some of us feel uneasy when we think about surprises.
Unexpected situations are known to cause stress which is why there are people who worry every time there is the possibility of such an event occurring. Some choose to keep certain things about them private – like birthdays for example – so as to avoid surprises as best they can.
And when we understand that this is because their brains experience a massive amount of stress just thinking of the unexpected things that may happen, we really can’t blame them. There is also our unique experience with the world of surprises.
If there were multiple times we were unexpectedly disappointed, it’s normal for us to connect them with something bad. Hence every time we think about them, we reinforce the belief that they aren’t a good idea.
Final Thoughts
Although it’s commonly accepted for people to like surprises, there are those who do not. Our brains are wired the same. However our experiences are unique. This is why some people don’t enjoy the unexpected.
Not only that, it would seem that the people who don’t like surprises seem to have them connected with a source of anxiety – an emotion more complicated than simple reward centers in our brain. Regardless of which group you fall into, we should all respect each other’s opinions and act accordingly with others.
Objectively speaking, surprises are neither bad nor good, and both types of people have their reasons for enjoying or not enjoying them.
Do YOU like surprises? Share our opinion below!
by admin | Jun 8, 2022 | General
Why Do We Like Mysteries
The Information We Miss Is Often The One We Are Most Interested In Throughout history, we have always been fascinated by mysteries. Questions we don’t have the immediate answer to just seem to be more interesting than the ones we could figure out momentarily. Here we explain why it is that we enjoy mysteries so much and what sorts of mysteries there are.
The Basics
In the simplest terms, a mystery is something we don’t understand or have an answer to right away. They are mainly fueled by our natural curiosity, which is the same driving force thanks to which we have developed a lot of our skills.
From an evolutionary standpoint, we need to know certain things (where can we find food, is this place dangerous etc.), so when we are presented with something implying it will provide us with more knowledge, we intuitively start to like it.
The promise of knowledge is simply alluring to us.
A different but just as important side is that mysteries make this information gap easily seen. There are a lot of things we don’t know and don’t have an interest in, but mysteries take advantage of our curiosity and show us exactly what it is we don’t know. This, alongside the fact that most of the more common mysteries are connected to crimes or love, which are some of our essential interests (survival or reproduction), make them irresistible.
As a bonus, the more information we have about the context, the easier it is to spot this information gap and the more we are motivated to fill it. The structure in which we are presented with mysteries, usually is also important. While most of the time we go chronologically when we experience something mysterious (be it a crime movie or a magic trick), we usually see the outcome first.
This is yet another surprise our brains have to make sense of, which sparks our curiosity even more. Finally mysteries have the potential for epiphanies which is one of the best rewards for our brains.
Types Of Mysteries
There are some differences when talking about mysteries.
They can be big or small, have an answer or not, be presented by someone, or simply out there.
So let’s have a look at the different types!
Fictional
For starters, they can be fictional. Here they can be portrayed through paintings, theater, or even music. The easiest example for them, however, is mystery novels – in them, we are presented with a problem and clues to finding its solution.
Regardless of whether the setting and environment are based in the real world or not, the basic premise is the same, and it works so well. Books like these are some of the biggest best-sellers in the world. Crime fiction makes us use our cognitive abilities and predict the possible outcomes of both future and past situations. Not only that but our personal judgment for each character is vital when trying to figure out what happened.
Universal
A different sort of mysteries are those which constantly surround us. Questions like how did the universe start or what exactly is our subconscious have been bugging the minds of some of our greatest scientists for centuries.
Whether such mysteries are in a specific field of study or more generalized, similar to the age-old question of why we are here, they keep being a part of our lives from time to time and will likely stay with us in the future. These types of inquiries are less likely to be characterized as mysteries simply because their scope is too big.
We often find ourselves being too focused on our day-to-day lives to really start looking for the answers.
Practical
Here we are talking about the magic tricks done by magicians, as well as the logic puzzles you can buy yourself. What these have in common is that you have a physical representation of the problem you’re facing. Not only that, but you are encouraged by the one presenting you with the mystery to solve it yourself.
The only difference between the two is that when you see a magic show, the presumption is you won’t be able to solve it, which often makes it even more interesting.
Final Thoughts
Mysteries are all around us – in the form of art, items, or deceivingly simple questions – they are a part of our daily lives, as much as we allow them to be. Logically speaking, this makes all the sense in the world, seeing as how our curiosity has pushed us to evolve in a more complex matter.
If you just look around you, we are sure you will find some very immersive mysteries just waiting for you to figure them out.
Page 2 of 7«12345...»Last »
