Category: Self Improvement

Have you ever thought that there must be more to life than what you can see with your eyes? If so, then you certainly aren’t alone.

After all, life is a mysterious experience. You only live for a limited time, and what follows is a complete unknown. That’s why so many people become inspired to explore spirituality. 

This article takes a look at tips on how to get in touch with your spiritual side in a material world. Keep reading to discover insight into this profoundly interesting subject as you being the path to self-discovery.

Start Meditating

When it comes to developing your spiritual life, one of the best things you can do is learn how to meditate.

This is the simple practice of detaching from your thoughts and clearing your mind. It’s actually much easier said than done, and but meditation can change your life very quickly.

You quickly discover that most of your thoughts happen to you rather than you thinking them. That might sound confusing, but you really aren’t in control of your mental activity.

The more you can quiet your mind and experience stillness, the more you will be able to become in touch with your inner self and the universe as a whole, which is the essence of true spirituality.

Surround Yourself with Spiritual People

If you want to live a spiritual existence, it’s important to surround yourself with like-minded people. Much like a drug addict, you have to be very careful about whom you choose as friends.

People that are serious about spirituality will encourage you, offer advice, and be there for you when you have questions. They will also provide a positive example of how to live and behave.

Learn to Look for Signs

One of the keys to how to feel more spiritual is to learn to pay attention to the world around you. As you seek truth, you’ll begin to notice signs that will point you in the direction you should follow. This will quickly become second nature as you realize nothing in your life happens by chance.

Here’s a resource where you can learn how to be a witch.

Keep an Open Mind

Learn to be open to new experiences. As humans, we tend to form belief systems and then reject anything that challenges our worldview. And yet a major part of spirituality is to learn to be open to everything around you and to embrace new ideas.

Learn to Be Calm

Another important aspect of being spiritual is learning to be calm. This means controlling your emotions and taking a deep breathe when you feel anxious or stressed. You might be surprised at how effective this can be when it comes to solving problems that arise in your life.

The Ultimate Guide On How to Get In Touch With Your Spiritual Side

Sooner or later everyone begins to search for the meaning of life. Fortunately, these insights into how to get in touch with your spiritual side will help point you in the right direction.

Continue exploring the fascinating articles on this blog to discover more lifestyle tips and advice.

 

Most Americans can expect to spend around $15,000 on skincare throughout the course of their lives. 

Are they spending money on the right products? What is the best way to care for your skin and keep it hydrated? 

Skin hydration is important because the moisture that’s in your skin carries nutrients and toxins away and to your skin’s cells. This is vital to keeping it healthy and smooth. 

If you’re wondering how to hydrate your skin to keep it supple and smooth, here are five skincare tips to help you out. 

1. Moisturize

One of the best ways to keep your skin hydrated is by using a moisturizer. You’ll want to use a moisturizer that’s fit for your skin, like a water-based one for oily skin or an oil-based one for drier skin like from Yves Rocher Monoi. Using oil seals your products in your skin and discourages the evaporation of water. 

Make sure the moisturizer has hyaluronic acid because it increases your skin’s water content. Another way to moisturize is by layering with serums or other products with your moisturizer because you’re exposing your skin to more nutrients. 

2. Drink Water and Eat Healthily

When you’re thinking of how to smooth skin, your diet might not come to mind. It’s not always what goes on your skin that counts, but also what you put into your body. Staying hydrated by drinking water will give your skin a great deal of hydration.

Water helps with digestion to get things moving while flushing out toxins. Eating foods that are high in water content also increases your skin’s hydration levels. Foods like cucumbers, celery, melons, and other fruits are great for skin hydrating skin. 

3. Mask Up

Yes, masks actually help with hydrating your skin. You might think of masks as getting rid of acne or clearing out pores and ironing out those wrinkles, but there are a variety of different types of masked designed to meet specific skin needs. 

Hydrating masks are easy and fun to do, and they’re vital for people who suffer from dry skin. They give your skin a boost of hydration and as well as many other benefits. Follow the directions on the product to get the best results. 

4. Cleanser

While moisturizing your skin is one of the top priorities, you also want to look for a cleanser that doesn’t dry out your skin. Some cleaners contain harsh ingredients like sulfates that strip your skin of too much of its natural oils. 

A gentle cleanser helps maintain your skin’s oil balance while getting rid of other dirt and debris. 

5. When to Moisturize

You might think the best time to moisturize is when your skin is dry. But you actually want to slather on your skincare products when your skin is damp, like right out of the bath or shower. This way, the water that’s still present on your skin gets locked in by your moisturizer

How to Hydrate Your Skin

When you’re thinking about how to hydrate your skin, remember these five basic tips. They will keep your skin hydrated and radiant once you get into a good routine and find products you love. 

You don’t need to spend a lot of money on a moisturizer that works. Check out the rest of the site for more useful tips!

Is TMJ pain getting you down?

Jaw and ear pain caused by TMJ disorders can be a major disruptor in your day, especially since you can’t predict when the pain is going to set in.

However, you can try to reduce and relieve the pain with a few simple exercises. Keep reading for quick TMJ exercises for pain relief that you can do anywhere. 

What Is TMJ?

First, let’s define TMJ disorders. It stands for temporomandibular joint dysfunction and is one of the leading causes of ear and jaw pain.

Your TMJ is a joint that connects your jaw to your skull and works as a hinge to open and close your mouth. For people with TMJ disorders, you can feel severe pain and discomfort and even experience a regular TMJ headache.

Pain isn’t the only indicator of a TMJ disorder. You may also have a clicking in your jaw, or your jaw could lock up from time to time. It may be hard for you to open your mouth widely without pain or jaw clicking.

Another symptom of TMJ disorders is trouble chewing foods that are too crunchy or chewy. 

When TMJ pain strikes, it’s important to know how to relieve it quickly so you can go on with your day. Try a couple of these easy TMJ exercises for pain relief and see which ones work the best for you. 

1. Facial Massage

A facial massage is an easy way to relieve TMJ pain. Start by heating your jaw with a warm washcloth or heating pad. Once it feels warm, use your fingers to massage in circular motions along your jawline.

Massage slowly and work up and down your jaw for several minutes. Reapply heat as needed and continue massaging until the pain is gone.

2. Relaxing Your Jaw

You’re likely clenching your jaw without realizing it throughout the day. This can put more pressure on your jaw and increase TMJ pain.

Practice relaxing your jaw by holding your tongue to the roof of your mouth right behind your teeth and opening and closing your mouth several times. Letting your jaw relax like this will relieve the tension you’re holding by clenching.

3. Jaw Resistance

Resistance exercises will improve jaw strength and make your TMJ easier to manage. 

Start by placing your thumb under your chin. Apply pressure to add resistance as you slowly open your mouth. Hold for a couple of seconds before closing your mouth. As you close, keep the thumb on your chin and continue applying resistance. 

4. Jaw Movements with a Tongue Depressor

You can use a tongue depressor to complete a few easy jaw movements that will increase jaw mobility and relieve TMJ pain. Place the tongue depressor between your teeth and slowly move your jaw from side to side.

Next, move your jaw forwards and backward so that your bottom teeth are in front of your top teeth. Repeat each motion slowly for a few minutes.

5. Goldfish Mouth Openings

There are two variations of the goldfish exercise you can try to reduce your TMJ pain. For the first one, practice a partial opening. Hold your tongue to the roof of your mouth and place one finger under your ear with the TMJ. With your other hand, place your pointer finger on your chin.

Practice partially opening and closing your mouth slowly a couple of times. Try the same exercise again but open your mouth fully.

6. Chin Exercise

A simple chin exercise can relax your jaw and quickly reduce your pain. Standing with a straight spine, tuck your chin into your neck. It should look like you are making a double chin. Hold for a few seconds before releasing, and repeat for a couple of minutes until your pain subsides. 

7. Tongue Movement Exercises

Open your mouth as wide as you can without pain and touch your tongue to the roof. Next, slowly move your tongue back until you feel the soft spot on the roof of your mouth.

Then, stick your tongue out of your mouth as far as you can. Repeat this exercise in a circular motion a couple of times. Don’t try to go too fast; the slow movements will help reduce your pain quickly.

8. Open Up Exercise

Stretching out your jaw will release TMJ pressure, so try this stretching exercise. Just like before, open your mouth as wide as you can without pain. Then, place your hand on one side of your mouth and apply gentle pressure to your jaw.

Your jaw should shift sideways slightly. Hold it in this position for ten seconds before you release it. Repeat on the other side.

Other TMJ Treatment Options

If you experience regular TMJ discomfort that is severe and inhibits your daily life, seek professional help for TMJ pain relief. A chiropractor, massage therapist, physical therapist, and osteopathic physician can all help you. They can perform jaw and skull massages that reduce your pain and help you manage your TMJ disorder. 

Regular chiropractic adjustments are especially helpful for TMJ ear pain. Describe the pain to your provider and outline when and where you feel it the most so that they can focus the massage on your problem areas. 

TMJ Exercises for Pain Relief

Having these TMJ exercises for pain relief in your back pocket will help you combat the discomfort and soothe your jaw as soon as you feel the pain set in.

The exercises will also help to strengthen, relax, and stretch the jaw so that you experience fewer TMJ issues moving forward.

If your pain is severe and ongoing, contact your professional healthcare provider for help. For more health tips and resources, check out the rest of the blog. 

We’ve all done questionable things to get a beautiful pearly white smile.

After all, it’s so easy to fall into bad bleaching habits. With more than 45 million Americans who have professionally bleached their teeth, you’ll notice that the teeth whitening industry has flourished, and there’s a product (or ten) that fits a variety of preferences and budgets.

That doesn’t mean that they’re good for your oral health, especially in the long-run. If you’re unfamiliar with the top teeth whiting mistakes, no worries. We’ve got you covered. Keep on reading for our top nine teeth whitening mistakes and how to avoid them. 

1. Teeth Whitening Mistakes 101: Overbleaching

Let’s start with one of the most common (and most dangerous) mistakes that people in the U.S. fall into. 

As a matter of fact, this has become such a big problem that dentists have referred to it as a new condition, called bleachorexia. Overbleaching your teeth can cause a host of problems like gum sensitivities, loss of enamel, and even soft-tissue chemical burns.

It’s essential to start your bleaching process by talking with your dentist. They can determine whether you’re a suitable candidate for teeth whitening and will help prepare your mouth for the process. 

For instance, the best time to bleach your teeth is right after a thorough dental cleaning. This way you’ll have a clean and smooth tooth surface, which will give you the best results. 

You’ll also want to learn more about teeth whitening aftercare, which can either make your results last forever or make you feel as if you haven’t done anything.

2. Picking a Generic Dental Tray

When you skip the opportunity to get a tailor-made tray for your teeth by your dentist, you’ll have to use a generic tray. 

A generic tray can lead to spillage, make you swallow whitening solution, and lead to disappointing results. All of these factors can cause you to repeat the process, which will be both bad for your oral health, as well as costly. 

On the other hand, when you use a customized tray, you get to enjoy a great fit over your teeth. The bleach will be kept properly in contact with your teeth, and stay away from your gums and throat.

3. Whitening Your Teeth at a Salon

Sure, it might be a little less expensive to whiten your teeth at a salon. However, there are solid reasons why you should go to your salon for getting a facial or a manicure. 

Simply put, a salon won’t have the right disinfection materials so that they can conduct a proper disinfection process of the whitening equipment. To use bleaching equipment, you must have the ability to fully sterilize it before (and after) every single use. 

Unfortunately, the majority of salons won’t have this capability on hand, which can lead to a higher risk of infection. 

4. Regirous Use of Whitening Toothpastes

If you tend to use a whitening toothpaste daily, or twice a day, you need to stop.

Any sort of whitening toothpaste works by removing stains on the surface of your teeth, that might have been caused by drinks, like coffee and tea. However, when you use them daily, they can actually make your teeth look much worse. 

They are too abrasive for daily use and could cause severe tooth wear. You’ll want to make sure that your toothpaste doesn’t have a compound called silica, as this can remove your teeth’ surface enamel if you overuse it. 

5. Treating All Your Teeth the Same Way

Some patients might be unaware of their teeth conditions. For example, if you have veneers, or porcelain crowns, applying a whitening product to them can remove the surface glaze, or even the shiny restoration part, which can make them look horrid. 

When you consult with your dentist, they’ll be able to immediately tell whether you have restorations in place and will provide valid advice on how t safely whiten your other teeth. 

6. Picking Your Whitening Products Online

Sure, it’s easy and probably cheaper to buy questionable whitening products online. 

However, the whole premise of whitening your teeth is having stronger, healthier, and better-looking teeth. When you decide to buy sketchy products online, you’re playing Russian roulette with your oral health, and things might even backfire. 

If buying things online is your only option, then at least make sure to do some solid research before making your purchase. 

7. Not Having Clean Teeth Before the Procedure

If you haven’t been brushing and flossing your teeth pre-whitening, then you might run the risk of having some residue left on your teeth that can prevent the whitening substance from getting to your enamel and removing any stains. 

Just make sure you’re not brushing too hard, either. You don’t want to deal with bleeding and sensitive gums. 

8. Eating Acidic Fruits

If you tend to maniacally eat a whole lot of acidic fruit to brighten your teeth, you’re doing yourself a disservice. 

Fruits that have a low pH are very effective in breaking down the dental enamel. Unfortunately, once you’ve lost a layer of enamel, it doesn’t grow back. This can cause dental cavities, tooth sensitivity, and even gum tissue recession. 

9. Doing It Once and That’s It

Once you’re going through a teeth whitening process, you’ll need to make it a frequent occurrence to maintain your pearly whites. 

This is even more essential if you’re a person that consumes a lot of tea, coffee, red wine, or tobacco. All of those are staining agents, so they’ll re-stain your teeth as time goes on. 

You’ll want to get your dentist’s advice on how often you should be whitening your teeth. 

Ready to Blind People With the Sheer Whiteness of Your Teeth?

We know how overwhelming it can be to dip your teeth for the first time in the world of teeth whitening. With a million and one product on the market, and all of them promising amazing results, you’ll want to take a step back and do your research.

Hopefully, our guide on the top nine teeth whitening mistakes and how to avoid them was helpful to you. 

Just remember to always consult with your dentist whenever you’re in doubt. 

Did you know that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) researchers estimate more than 50 million Americans live with chronic pain? Chronic pain is an ailment that hurts your body or prevents you from completing day-to-day work or activities. 

You may live with terrible back pain that flares up at work. Or your muscle aches prevent you from a good night’s sleep. Chronic pain is widespread and you shouldn’t have to face it alone.

Consider the benefits of massage therapy. You may be wondering what can massage therapy help with? Massage therapy can ease chronic pain and help you live a more comfortable and healthy life.

Read on to discover the five amazing benefits of massage therapy. This information will inspire you to confirm your next treatment. 

1. Get a Better Night Sleep 

Sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on your body. Short attention span, irritability, and malaise are the signs of someone lacking a good night’s sleep.

If your pain or body aches prevent you from sleeping well, massage therapy can alleviate those concerns. A massage therapist will help to calm your nervous system. This lessens tension which helps the body relax and fall asleep easier. 

2. Relieve Your Pain

You may be questioning what conditions can massage therapy help treat? If you suffer from specific health conditions like chronic pain, fatigue, or respiratory issues, massage therapy may help.

Check out this article to see if you need a massage therapist. A massage therapist can work with you one-on-one to address specific ailments and create a plan to relieve long-term pain. 

3. A Calming Tactic 

Is massage therapy worth it? If finding a way to manage anxiety or depression is appealing to you, read on. 

According to The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), massage therapy sessions significantly decreased anxious patients’ resting heart rate. The study showed respondents were less likely to report intense feelings of depression or anxiousness after the therapy sessions.  

 4. Move Those Muscles 

In the world of remote work and social distancing, you may feel a little stiff. Maybe you aren’t moving those muscles as much as you used to. Or, you may sit behind a screen all day at work.

Massage therapy can help to improve circulation and move your muscles. This promotes overall body health and strength.

And if you’ve ever pulled a muscle, massage therapy can address that pain. Massage therapists are trained in determining muscle damage and creating a plan that alleviates these issues.  

5. Your Attention Please 

Do you ever have trouble focusing? If you find yourself distracted by daily tasks, massage therapy can help increase your attention span and stay focused. Massage therapy helps to restore your muscles and nervous system. This helps your body function better; including brain energy and focus. 

The Benefits of Massage Therapy Can Change Your Life! 

The benefits of massage therapy stretch way beyond the physical body. Massage therapy can improve your mental state. This can impact your relationships, work, social life and so much more.

While each person has individual ailments or pain, remember that a massage therapist can create a therapy plan tailored to specific needs. If you found these massage therapy benefits helpful, check out our other health-related stories.