Category: Self Improvement

Top 5 Factors to Consider When Choosing Dental Implants

Did you know that 30 million Americans are missing all their teeth in one jaw?

That’s a huge number, and with increased exposure on social media, more and more Americans are turning to dental implants to regain their first-class smile of years gone by.

Finding the right dental implants for your needs requires knowing your options. Here are five factors to consider when choosing dental implants.

1. Types of Implants

Found yourself asking “What are dental implants?” Well, let’s look at the different types to find out.

Patients can choose to have either an All-on-4 installation or two dental implants on each side. The former involves having four teeth installed when the patient needs 12. It is advantageous for patients who are not candidates for tooth replacement surgery and those who don’t want to undergo root canal treatments.

Dentists have two options when it comes to dental implants; they can either make a new tooth for you or attach one that has already been made into your mouth. This is most appropriate if the existing teeth are damaged, decayed or loose, meaning you have no choice but to make a go at replacing them with dental implants.

If you have cavities and dentures that aren’t working for you, then it may be time to consider having an implant installed instead.

2. Material and Shape of Implant

Dental implants made from titanium (but not all of them) are more durable than other types of implants. There is less likelihood of breaking down sooner, but they’re also more expensive. Ceramic or porcelain dental implants are more robust than titanium ones but less pricey.

The length and size of the dental implant are determined by the amount of space that’s made between it and your jawbone, so it’s crucial to know how much space you need for your implants to fit in. Dental implant manufacturers have different lengths and sizes for their implants, each one catering to different patients.

3. Dental Implant Budget

Dental implants made from titanium metal tend to be more durable than ceramic or porcelain and should last longer with little likelihood of breaking down soon. Still, they’re also more expensive than other types of implants.

While the cost of a dental implant installation is determined by the total number of teeth that need to be replaced, it’s also important to consider what type of implant you want.

Titanium dental implants are more expensive than other types as they are more prominent. On the other hand, ceramic or porcelain dental implants are more affordable but not as strong as titanium.

4. Dental Implant Procedure

Dental patients, like others, are always looking for ways to avoid pain during treatment. This means having options regarding dental implants that will provide them with comfort and prevent them from feeling any pain while their teeth are being replaced.

Also, some patients would prefer not to feel in the area where their implant is placed because it may make them feel uncomfortable.

5. Oral Health Issues

If you’ve got oral health issues, the chances are you’ll need those seeing to first. That’s so the mouth area can be free from infection and in good health before the procedure. Therefore, you must be able to go about your day-to-day activities without them getting in the way of doing so.

Regardless of the implant type you need, make sure you have had the necessary treatment before filling your dental implants with bone material. This is critical as dental implants work if they’re placed in a healthy jawbone.

Get Choosing Dental Implants Right First Time

If you’re worried about choosing dental implants, then we hope this has relieved some of your fears.

As long as dental implant choices are made in the right way based on your needs and what can be afforded, patients have no reason to worry about how much is spent on making their way into the dentist’s chair. In the end, the perfect smile is priceless!

Keep reading our blog for more top health advice!

What Is Emergency Dentistry and Is It Worth the Cost?

Are you in need of emergency dentistry services?

When healthy emergencies strike, it’s always good to have a plan. Unfortunately, most people associate “emergencies” with going to the hospital. It’s less common to know what to do when you have an emergency with your teeth.

Fortunately, an emergency dentist can take care of most issues. In some cases, the work they do may be temporary. But at least it can hold you over until you can see your regular dentist.

Here’s more on what emergency dentistry is and why it might be worth the cost.

What Is Emergency Dentistry?

As the name implies, an emergency dentist is a dental professional that handles patients who need immediate care.

When you break a bone or get incredibly sick, you go to the hospital. But if you crack a tooth, the hospital can’t do anything for you. This is when you might visit turn to emergency dentistry services.

Like other forms of emergency health specialists, an emergency dentist is usually available outside of normal working hours. This isn’t always the case, but you might be able to schedule an appointment early in the morning or night.

You may have to pay an additional fee to be treated, though.

*Keep in mind, this article is not meant to serve as a substitute for medical advice for your oral health. Speak to a dentistry professional to get advice for your specific situation.

When to See an Emergency Dentist

There are several cases that require emergency dentistry work.

Here are some common examples:

  • Cracked, broken, or abscessed teeth 
  • Knocked out tooth
  • Chipped tooth
  • Tooth out of alignment
  • Severe tooth pain

Basically, if you’ve lost or damaged a tooth or have immense pain, you might want to call a local dentist. The same goes for if there’s excessive bleeding or a severe infection in the mouth.

In some cases, time is of the essence for your trip to the dentist. If, for example, one of your teeth is knocked out, call right away. Put the tooth in a cup of milk and try to be seen sooner rather than later. This could make the difference between you keeping your tooth.

Type in “emergency dental near me” for all the options in your area.

What Isn’t a Dental Emergency

Unfortunately, oral care isn’t completely cut and dry. A lot can go wrong with our teeth. But that doesn’t mean everything is an emergency.

There are many instances where it’s better to wait to see your primary dentist than to pay for emergency dentistry. Examples include:

  • A loose crown
  • Slight tooth pain in the mouth/jaw
  • Minor tooth repair
  • Minor tooth chipping

Your primary dentist can handle these incidents. You’ll save money by waiting an extra day or two. Plus, it’s more likely that they’ll be able to accept your dental insurance (which only about 50 percent of American adults have).

Of course, reserve your best judgment if it will be several days before you can see them or if you think it will get worse if you wait. It’s always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to your oral health.

Emergency Dental Cost

Just like going to the ER, emergency dental costs will be higher than a regular trip to get your teeth cleaned. And if they don’t take your health insurance, you may have to pay for any work you get done out of pocket.

A good baseline to expect for visiting an emergency dentist is between $75 and $100. If you need a tooth pulled, it could be between $600 and $800, depending on where you live.

At a regular dentist’s office, crowns range between $1200 and $1400. Expect to pay at least this at an emergency dental office near you, plus more if you’re being seen promptly or outside working hours.

Outside of the typical nine to five workday, fees are likely to increase. Ask when you call to make sure you can afford the visit. Some emergency dentists use companies like Care Credit to make financing an option.

It’s also not a bad idea to set some money aside each month for dental work. Even if it’s not an emergency, having a little cash on hand for your oral health is always a smart move.

How to Avoid Dental Emergencies

Avoiding dental emergencies is about being proactive. Taking care of your mouth and developing good hygiene habits can prevent bad things from happening altogether.

See your dentist regularly to get your teeth cleaned and checked. He or she will be able to tell you what type of routine work you need. Getting fillings done when they’re required could prevent a tooth from cracking or chipping later on.

Your dentist can also warn you about signs of tooth decay, gingivitis, or periodontal disease. Left untreated, these things can quickly turn into dentistry emergencies.

Outside of these tips, be sure to avoid physical contact to the face and wear a mouth guard if you’re playing sports. Lifestyle considerations come into play here.

Should You See an Emergency Dentist?

Time is of the essence when it comes to emergency dentistry. If you need work done, make the phone call as soon as possible to find out your options. 

Bleeding, severe infection or pain, or a damaged tooth (cracked, chipped, abscessed, etc.) are all considered emergencies. Slight pain or swelling or a loose crown are not. You can probably wait to see your regular dentist and will save money by doing so.

For more tips on saving money, check out the rest of our blog!

Acne Scar Treatment: How Types of Dermal Fillers Help Heal

As if acne itself isn’t enough of a pain to have on our faces and bodies, they also have to leave delightful little souvenirs behind after they’re gone. 

Welcome to the world of acne scars.

Considering that acne affects up to 50 million Americans every year, you’d think that there are a plethora of options and treatments available, and you’d be partially correct.

One of the key methods of removing or camouflaging acne scars is using dermal fillers. If you’re unfamiliar with what dermal fillers are, no worries. You’ve come to the right place.

Keep on reading for our full breakdown of the source of acne scarring, how it forms, and the different types of dermal fillers that can treat and remove those scars. 

What Are Acne Scars?

Before we start our deep dive into the different types of dermal fillers, let’s cover our basics. 

In the simplest of terms, acne scars are the term used to describe permanent indentations that are textural in nature and show up as the result of severe acne. Generally speaking, those scars aren’t brown, they’re skin-colored. If there’s a discoloration, those are considered hyperpigmentation marks and are easier to remove than acne scars. 

Acne scars will remain on your skin and would only improve in appearance by using the right dermal filler. 

The Cause of Acne Scarring

More often than not, when someone is dealing with a severe acne outbreak, they’ll be dealing with a specific type of acne, which is cystic acne. This involves large pus-filled spaces, which are known as acne cysts. 

Basically, those cysts will actively destroy the skin tissue around them, and once they’ve dried out, your skin has lost the ability to fill those empty spaces during the healing process. That’s how the scars form. If you’re noticing that the scars are lumpy, specifically the ones on your chest or back areas, these are known as hypertrophic or keloid scarring.

Acne scarring tends to show on the face. It has a different texture in comparison to your healthy undamaged skin, and it’ll be your normal skin color. On the other hand, if you’re seeing keloid scars, they’ll usually red in color.

Here are the major types of acne scars:

  • Ice pick acne scars
  • Red acne scars, otherwise known as macular scars
  • Mixed acne scars
  • Boxcar acne scars
  • Lumpy hypertrophic and keloid scars
  • Rolling, atrophic, and depressed acne scars

Regardless of the type of acne scars you’re dealing with, there’s bound to be a dermal filler that best suits your needs. 

How Do Dermal Fillers Work?

When you treat acne scars using dermal fillers, you’ll be tapping into the benefits of a non-invasive cosmetic procedure. Simply put, the treatment is made of a series of injections of different types of fillers. 

You get to immediately see the results of these cosmetic injections. Yet, some types of dermal fillers take a few months for the results to be seen with the naked eye. 

An example would be treating atrophic acne scars. The treatment would involve doing a subcision combined with dermal filler injections. When you combine these two processes, you’ll be releasing old scar tissue, as well as stimulating new collagen production at the same time. 

As time goes on, your dermal fillers themselves will cause an increase in your natural collagen production, which can immensely help with healing those depressed scars. 

The Types of Dermal Fillers

As there are different types of acne scars and scarring, there are also different types of dermal fillers to best treat them. 

A consultation is usually required (and definitely recommended) before starting the procedure to nail down the right dermal fillers to use for your specific case. Moreover, you might have heard about the comparison between dermal fillers and wrinkle relaxers, but you’ll want to check out these methods before making a decision. 

For now, here are the main types of dermal fillers on the market. 

The Juvederm

If you’re dealing with deep acne scars, your medical professional will probably recommend using Juvederm. It’s one of the most popular dermal fillers, and it’s made of hyaluronic acid. This acid is a stronger version of the natural hyaluronic acid that your skin produces deep within your dermal layers. 

By injecting the hyaluronic acid into the acne scars themselves, you’ll be encouraging your skin to produce collagen and replace the loss that occurred in the depressed areas of your skin.

The Restylane

Whether you’ve heard about it under the name of Restylane L, Restylane Lyft, or Restylane Silk, all of those belong to the Restylane family of dermal fillers. 

Each subtype has a different thickness level, which can be used to restore the lost collagen volume in your small depressed atrophic scars. These are considered to also be hyaluronic acid-based filler, but they tend to show immediate improvement, as well as promise lasting and long-term results. 

The Bellafill Filler

This one doesn’t use hyaluronic acid. Bellafill is actually made of a mix of animal collagen and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The actual combination, that’s FDA-approved, tends to be 80% collagen and 20% PMMA. 

The PMMA comes in to extend the lifespan of the correction of the scar tissue, while the collagen itself single-handedly corrects the acne scars themselves. Those fillers won’t wait for your body to generate collagen by itself.

The Sculptra for Acne Scars

This filler is known for the unique benefit of lasting over two years after your cosmetic correction has been achieved. 

Sculptra is a dermal filler made of Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA), which works on stimulating your body’s natural collagen production, in addition to replacing the skin volume loss. 

Ready for Some Concrete Healing Treatments?

We know how frustrating it can be to have to deal with the aftereffects of acne, nevermind the acne itself. 

However, with the current dermatological advancements, you can take advantage of the different types of dermal fillers, and get that clear skin that you’ve kissed goodbye in high school. 

Just remember to get in your consultation first, and ensure that you won’t be getting any major acne breakouts before starting your treatments. 

How to Find True Love with Dating Apps

When it comes down to it, we’re all looking for love. Thanks to the internet and dating apps, it is more possible than ever for you to find your perfect match.

Is this a pipe dream or can you actually find true love with dating apps? The answer to this question is a resounding, yes! Below we will dive into exactly what you should do to maximize your time on dating apps to find the partner of your dreams.

Make Sure That You’re Using the Right App for You

The first thing you should keep in mind is that no two dating apps are the exact same. They each have different requirements and you will also find a different pool of people on them. With this in mind, you should find the app that gives you the absolute best chance of finding your ideal match.

Check around for some of the most popular dating apps and see what kind of infrastructure they have. Dating apps have different settings and features that let you tell more about yourself in the bio so that you can get closer to finding a person that you have the most in common with.

The closer you get to finding your ideal app, the easier it is to weed out people that aren’t best for you, so that you can start going on some dates today.

Set Your Expectations and Get to Know What You Want

You also have to know what you are looking for in a partner. This begins by finding wholeness within yourself. When you know yourself, it becomes easier for you to also know what you want in a partner.

Nobody can do everything or be everything for you. Figure out what kind of companionship you like and what you are hoping to get out of a relationship. When you go into it with clear expectations and a realistic outlook, you will show up as the person you need to be, which makes it easier to attract the right person. 

Date Safely and Be Open to the Experience

One mistake that people make when trying to find true love with dating apps is getting too strict with their deal breakers. You need to be open to the entire experience rather than stubborn and closed-minded.

You should definitely have deal breakers, but it’s a waste of time, money, energy, and effort to have hard no’s already lined up when you are looking for love. With that said, recognize that using dating apps always involves meeting up with strangers.

You should practice safety so that you’re only exchanging energy and time with people who won’t harm you and who add to your life. Use dating apps that have strict discretion in setting up accounts and conducting background checks.

Find True Love in Your Life With Dating Apps

If you are trying to find true love, using dating apps is an incredible way to make it happen. Use the tips in this article and begin trying out some great apps. 

Consider these tips and check back for more information on family, relationships, and more. 

Courtney Sarofim Will Inspire You

While most well known for marrying into the billionaire Sarofim family of Houston, Texas, Courtney Sarofim (nee. Lanier) was already a woman set for success.

Women aspiring to excel in heavily male-dominated areas like banking can look to Sarofim’s career trajectory for advice. Mothers struggling to juggle work-life balance can take a leaf from her book. Sarofim is even working hard to bring the best of global fashion to Houston.

Are you looking for some inspiration from one of the women set to inherit the Sarofim fortune? Read on to learn more about how Courtney Sarofim got to where she is today.

Courtney Sarofim’s a Straight Up Lady Boss

Courtney Sarofim has a background in financial analysis, acquisitions, and investment. This makes her an untapped resource of inspiration.

It’s no surprise that Courtney Sarofim has it all together when it comes to women-in-business acumen. Her mother-in-law is the unstoppable Susan Sarofim.

Willing to Take Risks

Courtney studied Political Science at Columbia. She also earned a JD from the University of Houston Law Center. She practiced as an associate at the century-old Fulbright & Jaworski law firm in New York City.

Following a move back to Houston in 1998, she took on a role as Vice-President at her father’s real estate development company, Landar Holdings.

Since 2013, Sarofim has been a Partner at Houston investment firm Sima Capital LLC. While there, she has facilitated Sarofim investments in many industries. Everything from biotech startups and neuromarketing to software and motorcycles.

People know her for her ability to spot investment and buyout potential. Her niche includes early-stage oil and gas, technology, and real estate companies, start-ups, and venture funds.

Passion for Politics

Courtney Sarofim is deeply interested in politics at a state and federal level. She is the step-daughter of former Houston mayor, the late Bob Lanier, and went on to study political science at an undergraduate level.

While not publicly outspoken about her politics, her trail of donations reveals her political leanings.

Despite having a Democrat for a father, she has been a quiet contributor to Republican candidates, groups, and campaigns since 1990. In 2012, she financially supported the presidential run for Mitt Romney. More recently, she has supported both Jeb Bush in the 2016 presidential primary and Pierce Bush in his 2020 run for congress.

Steps up for Worthy Causes

Known to be modest, Courtney Sarofim likes to keep her endless charitable activities on the down-low.

Sitting on the boards of Houston K-12 private schools and art museums. Funding scholarships for disadvantaged children and throwing parties for successful women authors.

Courtney Sarofim is a force to be reckoned with in the Texas non-profit sector.

Arts and Culture Patron

Courtney has held board and trustee positions with:

  • Houston Ballet
  • The Children’s Museum
  • The Menil Collection
  • The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston

Events like the Society of Performing Arts Luncheon, the KIPP Academy benefit dinner, and the Bayou Bend Children’s Party wouldn’t be the same without her volunteering as chair.

In 2015, Courtney was instrumental in raising almost $500 million for a redevelopment of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. She follows in the footsteps of her father-in-law, Fayez Sarofim, who is a well-known donor to numerous culture institutes in the city, including the art museum and Houston Ballet.

Supporting Women’s Issues

In 2019, Courtney Sarofim was an honored guest at the Safe at Home Luncheon and Style Show held by the Astro Foundation. The event raised close to $200,000 to help tackle the issue of domestic violence and support education efforts.

In 2017, Courtney organized a Houston book launch at Burberry in the Galleria for renowned women author Plum Sykes, who is also a friend of the businesswoman. Guests also had the opportunity to view Burberry’s latest bag collection, a fitting tribute to the title of Skyes’ novel, “Party Girls Die in Pearls.”

Family-Work Life Balance

Courtney and her husband, Christopher Sarofim, have three children together. Both Christopher and Courtney work at the investment firm founded by Christopher’s father, Fayez Sarofim. Christopher is the likely successor.

It’s because of this strong family network across both her professional and private life that Courtney can successfully juggle time spent at work and home.

Her children even get to enjoy her busy professional life. As a member of the board at Houston Zoo, Courtney Sarofim was working hard to raise funds for a new African Forest exhibit. One of the perks for her family was that her young daughter Louisa Sarofim got to spend a lot of time among all the exotic animals!

She’s a Follow-Worthy Fashionista

The notoriously busy Courtney Sarofim is famous for her easy-breezy yet always on trend outfits. She once famously stated that while she loves to look good, what she wears needs to fit with her hectic schedule.

Looks That Wow

A multi-time winner of the Annual Houston Chronicle Best Dressed honor awarded at Neiman Marcus in Houston, she is known for creating unusual combinations that just work.

Once she wore an Oscar de la Renta pink taffeta skirt paired with a crystal-studded t-shirt. A favorite find might be stand-out Louis Vuitton cream silk, velvet toe, and black ribbon pumps.

Backing Prominent Fashion Designers

In 2019, Courtney was able to convince the Sarofim business she works for to step out of their comfort zone and invest in New York-based fashion designer Adam Lippes.

Lippes is a bit of an anomaly in the US high fashion industry. He refuses to hold runway shows, instead opting for showcases of new collections held in his 1850s-built Brooklyn home. Despite his unconventional approach, you can find his clothing in over 70 stores and he featured on the cover of Women’s Wear Daily.

Ever the savvy saleswoman, Courtney has hosted numerous shows for Lippes since their partnership began, including the Lyford Cay Club in the Bahamas and even in her own home.

Upholding the Sarofim Reputation

Courtney Sarofim and the entire Sarofim family are undeniably influential members of the Houston, Texas community. Their charitable contributions and business acumen have contributed to the success of their city and state. Today, Courtney Sarofim and her husband, Christopher Sarofim, are well-positioned to continue the considerable Sarofim legacy.

Browse the articles on our blog for more inspirational stories on how women in the USA find professional success, wealth, and happiness.

7 Tips for Starting Remote Jobs on the Side

We all dream of having the freedom to work when we want and where we want, but did you know that you could easily make that a reality by working from home? 

Over 57-million people in the United States are part of the growing gig economy. This means taking short-term, remote jobs, and working as a freelancer or an independent contractor. 

With the flexibility that this type of work offers, many people are choosing to work in the gig economy alongside their regular career. But how do you manage your workload and life when working as a freelancer?

Here are seven tips for starting remote jobs on the side of your current career. 

1. Build a Support Network 

For many workers, remote working can increase levels of productivity. For many, this increased productivity is because there are fewer distractions from co-workers. For other workers, working from home can be a very isolating experience. 

If you’re working remotely for a big organization, chances are they have something in place to connect with their workforce. This might be a communication tool such as Slack, Microsoft Teams, or Google Hangouts. 

Often, you can use these tools to keep in touch with other workers- even if it’s not entirely work-related. For example, an organization may have Slack channels for work and separate channels for socializing. 

Don’t be afraid to join in on social channels. Build up a network by breaking the ice over memes and cat pictures. 

Having connections with other workers in the same role as you can be very helpful for keeping isolation at bay. 

2. Plan Your Time 

Unlike when you may have worked in a regular career, when you’re working remotely there isn’t likely to be anyone checking up on you and making sure that you’re getting the work done on time. This is especially true if you’re working as a freelancer. 

Without the nine-to-five structure that you’d usually be working, it can be very easy to get off track and lose control of your workload. 

Create a schedule of work. Start each day by writing a to-do list. Make sure you are realistic about how long each task will take you. Prioritize the most important jobs and work down to the least important. 

If there are deadlines for the work, make sure you complete the tasks in the order that they’re needed. If you need to, set alarm clocks and reminders. 

3. Don’t Panic 

When you first start off in a remote job, it can seem exciting and overwhelming all at once. You’ll feel a wide range of emotions around your new career.

Don’t panic. You may feel as though you’re all alone in this situation because there is nobody else working near you. 

You’re not alone. If you’re feeling imposter syndrome, or that you’re not going to be able to do the job, reach out to other remote workers on whatever channel is available. 

Find support from online forums or remote working Facebook groups. 

If you have any genuine concerns or you’re unsure about anything you’ve been asked to do, ask your client or employer. 

Try and remain calm as best as possible. Meditating for a few minutes each day could be helpful to help you with your stress levels. 

4. Update Your Laptop 

Your laptop is about to become your most precious tool. You should do everything possible to make sure it is in an optimal condition at all times. This means carrying out that mac operating system update that you keep putting off doing. 

Make sure that you have good antivirus and firewall protection and carry out regular software updates.

Use cloud-based software wherever possible. That way, if your computer crashes or breaks down, you’ll not lose any of your valuable work. 

5. Stay Focused 

It can be hard to stay focused when you’re working from home. There are likely to be plenty of different things around your home that could potentially distract you. 

Learn to stay focused as much as possible. Be strict with yourself about the time that you spend working and commit to it. 

Work out what distracts you most and remove the temptation from your working space. 

6. Take Breaks

Working on your own can be quite intense. Without the distraction of other people around you, you can be far more productive. However, spending all of your time sat at your desk is not good for you. 

Take breaks from time-to-time even if you’re just walking to another room to fetch a drink. Take a lunch break. Go outside for a walk if you can. 

Taking breaks is essential- as is getting some exercise. 

7. Set Work/ Life Boundaries

Even if you’ve never been a workaholic, it can be easy to slip into a habit whereby you spend all of your time at home working. Without a clear division between your working time and your relaxing time, you could see yourself on a course for burn-out. 

Set clear boundaries about the hours that you are going to spend working and then confine all of your work to those specific hours. 

Having a separate space in your home where you’ll work will also help you to mark out the difference between work and relaxation.  

If you use a work email address on your phone, make sure you set up your email client to only download messages during your set working hours. Don’t be tempted to check your emails when you’re not working- it’s a slippery slope. 

Let those you work with know what hours you plan on working. You can also mute conversations on apps such as Slack so that you’re not reminded about work when you’re off.  

Starting Remote Jobs Can Take Getting Used To

When you’re starting remote jobs, it can be daunting. Creating a schedule, separating your work and home life, and taking regular breaks are all ways that you can make sure you’re firing on all cylinders and really making an impact in your new work-from-home career. 

For more great articles, be sure and explore the rest of the site. 

 
 

Invest in Yourself! 10 Things That Your Self-Care Plan Should Include to Reward & Restore You in 2020

Every year we make resolutions, work at them for two weeks then forgot the promises we made ourselves before the first quarter is over. But there might be a new horizon for this cycle.

Many people are referring to 2020 as the “year of vision” (get it?). And what better way to make your visions a reality than by investing in yourself.  

You can leave the hamster wheel of abandoned goals behind by creating a self-care plan for a happier, healthier life. Check out these 10 tips on what to include.

1. Starting a Serious Workout Regimen

One of the most popular goals for making a life change is starting a workout plan. Granted, keeping up with a consistent exercise schedule can be challenging at first. However, the more you have to start over, the harder it becomes.

Before you go sign up for a gym membership, add a serious workout regimen to your self-care plan. Having a sense of direction will help to motivate you instead of discouraging you in a new environment. 

2. Ditching Diets for Good

The effects of dieting can be detrimental for people that engage in “yo-yo dieting” often. A better way to get your health on track is to learn your body. Figure out which affects different foods have on you.

Adopting an overall lifestyle in regards to the way you eat is better than trying restrictive diets on and off. Everyone is made differently so following a cookie-cutter plan isn’t usually the best route to take.

3. Becoming Financially Free

The total US consumer debt is over $13 trillion. Most people are haunted by debt from credit cards, student loans, mortgages, etc. This can leave you feeling hopeless and often financially trapped.

The good news is that you don’t have to stay in debt forever. Figure out a plan to become financially free and take small steps towards it. Experts like Dave Ramsey have built entire communities dedicating to helping people learn financial literacy and turn their stories around.

4. Exploring Creativity

A lot of people are stuck in a cycle that only allows them to focus on working tirelessly and then re-starting their day. One of the best ways to escape this is to include indulging in creativity more in your self-care plan.

This might come in the form of picking up a new (or old) hobby. Consider trying that dance class, painting that portrait or writing that short story. Creativity is free to engage in and can unlock your mind and your mood into more blissful states.

5. Building Solid Relationships

Having a strong support system is essential in life. Whether we’d like to admit it or not─ humans need other humans. Remember to stay connected and reach out to those you love and care about.

Make efforts to spend quality time with your loved ones. If you’re looking for a romantic relationship (or in one), put your best foot forward in creating a solid foundation with the other person. Keep in mind that any relationship starts with yourself so stay accountable for your actions and behaviors.

6. Leaving the Comfort Zone

They say that everything we truly want is on the other side of fear. This cliché phrase has stood the test of time for good reason. Take a step outside of your comfort zone this year.

You can start by taking tiny steps towards things that scare you. Put yourself to the test with small actions like publishing that blog or asking your crush on a date. Build up to larger tasks until the process becomes natural.

The fear never really goes away but facing it becomes easier. This is what gets you to the experiences you truly desire.

7. Establishing Regular Medical Check-Ins

One of the first things that become neglected when we’re caught up in daily life is our health. Many adults don’t even visit their primary care doctors for routine check-ups─ let alone specialists.

Make it your duty to build a medical team that you check-in with regularly. This includes doctors, dentists, specialists, and even alternative medical professionals.

Finding them doesn’t have to be a difficult task. Doing a quick search for something like “best chiropractor near me” will help you start. Also, consider asking family and friends for recommendations.

8. Getting Your Space in Order

Most people feel like their life is chaotic when their home isn’t in order. It’s common for individuals to save years worth of items that they don’t need anymore. 

Take some time this year to do a deep cleanse in your space. Use the Marie Kondo method of getting rid of things that no longer bring you joy. 

You may also be due for some redecorating or home renovations. Include investing in making your home feel more comforting in your self-care plan.

9. Doing Work You Love

Going to a job you hate is becoming a thing of the past. This isn’t to say that you should quit and never work again (although that would be great). But you can find meaningful work that you love to do.

The advancement of the internet and technology has opened more opportunities than ever before. If you’ve been feeling less than enthusiastic about your job then it may be time for a career change. It might seem scary at first but if you start taking steps towards a new future, everything works out eventually.

10. Pampering Yourself

One of the most important things to include in your self-care plan is actually caring for yourself. Put some “you” time on the schedule regularly to indulge in things that bring you pleasure and joy. This is great for finding balance in life.

Consider getting weekly massages, doing face masks, soaking a bubble bath or just taking more naps. Figure out what helps you to restore and relax and do it.

Write Your Self-Care Plan Today

There’s no better time to get started on your self-care plan than now. Most of these tips can be implemented today by just taking some small, actionable steps. The most important part is remaining committed to your happiness and health.

For more tips and advice, check out some of our other articles.