Category: Self Improvement

Dry needling is becoming the preferred form of treatment for pain. 

One study conducted by the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy in 2017 concluded that patients who received dry needling in physical therapy reported it as their preferred treatment method for pain. 

But is dry needling right for you? 

Here’s everything you need to know about this exciting new (and science-backed) approach to pain management and well-being! 

What Is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a way to decrease muscle pain and restore muscle function, by poking “trigger points” or specific tissues with small needles.

Dry needling is very similar to acupuncture in that needles are used to help regulate and cure a specific ailment. During an appointment or consultation, a patient will discuss their specific problems with a practitioner, and together they will decide what the best approach is. 

During a treatment, the practitioner will insert needles into areas of the body that they believe is collecting tension, and therefore creating pain. Sometimes these areas can be obvious, sometimes they are not. 

The needles are like thin sewing needles, versus a thicker needle that might be used to inject a person with some form of liquid. That’s how “dry needling” got its name. 

Dry Needling vs. Acupuncture

If you looked at one photo of dry needling, and another of acupuncture, most people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference. 

But, as Physio auckland explains, dry needling involves a process of rapid, short term needling into altered or dysfunctional tissue in the body to restore muscle function. 

Aside from the process, the intention and philosophies behind dry needling and acupuncture are very different. Acupuncture’s roots are in Chinese medicine, and its goal is to restore the overall energy flow (Qi) of the body. Whereas dry needling is more medical-based. 

The philosophies and beliefs behind these procedures ultimately dictate how a practitioner will approach treatment. 

Key Benefits of Dry Needling

Dry needling is backed by research as having legitimate benefits that can aid health and well-being. Honor Health explains that the main benefit of dry needling is its ability to reduce pain and soreness. 

They explain that the insertion of the needle into the tissue can help release muscle tightness that’s causing pain. They also note that dry needling can relieve the symptoms of tendonitis and help the body reduce inflammation. 

Trigger points are located in skeletal muscle, and are what we often refer to as “knots.” Dry needling can be especially helpful for those experiencing shoulder, knee and hip pain. Headaches, sciatica, plantar fasciitis and more.

Is Dry Needling Right for Me? 

Don’t let the idea of needles scare you away from this treatment. They are incredibly light and slender. The only discomfort can come in the form of a twitch, which means that the tension in the trigger point is releasing. 

Any type of athlete can benefit from dry needling. Runners, cyclists and basketball players are only a few of the types who most commonly use it.

Need more life hacks? Click over to our home page for more ways you can start living your best life! 

When Veterans Day rolls around each year, do you tend to think about all the men who have served our country?

That’s not uncommon. 

With movies like Band of Brothers, it’s easy to forget that each girl in the military has made a difference too. And this might make it difficult for women to consider a career in the military. But that’s a mistake.

Do You Want to Be a Girl in the Military?

Then do it! 

If you need a little more inspiration, we’ve put together this small list of seven women veterans to get you started. 

1. Deborah Sampson 

During the Revolutionary War, women were not permitted to enlist and serve. But that didn’t stop Sampson. 

Disguised as a man, she enlisted in 1778 using the alias Robert Shirtliffe. She served for three years until she developed an illness in 1781. Because the illness left her with brain fever, she needed to be treated.

The physician treating her discovered her secret but didn’t out her. Instead, she was given a private discharge and enough money to return home.

To this day, Sampson is one of a small number of women with military combat experience in the Revolutionary War.

2. Cathay Williams

Williams was the first African American woman to enlist. And because things hadn’t progressed much for women by the Civil War, Williams was also disguised as a man.

Born to an enslaved mother and a free father in Independence, Missouri in 1844, Williams worked as a house slave in Jefferson City, Missouri.

At the age of 17, dressed as a man, she enlisted under the false name William Cathay. Shortly after her enlistment though, she contracted smallpox and was hospitalized. 

After that, she was frequently hospitalized and eventually the post surgeon discovered she was a woman and informed the post commander.

She was honorably discharged. But that didn’t stop her. She signed up with the all-black regiment that would eventually become part of the legendary Buffalo Soldiers.

3. Elsie S. Ott

By WWII, women no longer had to hide their gender to enlist.

Though still not permitted in active combat, they played important roles behind the scenes. This was the case with Ott.

In 1941, Ott signed up for the Army Nurse Corps and was given commission as 2nd Lieutenant. During this time, wounded personnel had to be cared for on site. And this was becoming increasingly problematic. 

With improved aeronautics, the army decided to try evacuating the wounded by plane. Ott was the first nurse to prepare for an evacuation of the injured. She was given just 24 hours notice to supply and prepare the plane for her passengers.

But she did a stellar job and her efforts contributed to the advancement of military medical care. Two months later, she became the first woman to receive the U.S. Air Medal. And nothing makes you feel more confident that having a medal. You can learn more about that here. 

4. Grace Murray Hopper

In 1943, Hopper joined the United States Naval Reserves and was assigned to the Bureau of Ordinance Computation Project. She became the third programmer of the Mark I – the world’s first large-scale computer.

She soon went on to master the Mark II, Mark III and the UNIVAC I. Her work with these now ancient computers allowed her to create a program that translated symbolic math codes into machine language. 

In 1966, Hopper retired from the Naval Reserves, but returned a year later to help standardize the Navy’s computer programs and languages. She was promoted to Captain in 1973 and was appointed special advisor to Commander in 1977.  

At the age of 76, she was promoted to Commodore in 1983 and eventually achieved the rank of rear admiral – one of the few women to do so. 

The military’s Cray XE6 “Hopper” supercomputer is named after her. 

5. Tammy Duckworth 

Senator Duckworth served 23 years in the U.S. Army Reserves, where she trained as a helicopter pilot. But she was no “weekend warrior.” 

In 2004, while working on her doctorate, she was called to active duty. She was sent to Iraq to fly helicopters that same year. When her helicopter was shot down by a grenade, Duckworth sacrificed both of her legs in the accident. A 13-hour surgery saved her right arm, but she has only partial use of it.

As a result of her bravery, she was awarded the Purple Heart in 2004. 

During all of this, she managed to balance work and family too. She continues to fly as a civilian pilot and has even completed several marathons. And she completed that doctorate as well. 

6. Eileen Collins

Like Hopper and Duckworth, Collins took to the sky. WAY up to the sky.

Collins joined the Air Force in 1979, where she served as a flight instructor, aircraft commander and instructor pilot for nine years. From 1986-1989 she served as an assistant professor of mathematics at the Air Force Academy and graduated from the Air Force Test Pilot School in 1990.

While at the Test Pilot School, NASA selected Collins for the astronaut program. Forever on the fast track to success, she became an astronaut in 1991. By 1995, she was the first woman to pilot a space shuttle. And in 1999, she earned the distinction as the first woman shuttle commander. 

7. Bea Arthur

Arthur of The Golden Girls fame once served in the Marine Corps, where she drove military trucks. In fact, she was one of the first members of the Women’s Reserve.

In early 1943, Arthur enlisted under her original name, Bernice Frankel. She was just 21 and, by many accounts, a handful. Marine records noted her as being argumentative and overly aggressive.

Even so, her particular brand of moxie had her promoted from corporal to sergeant to staff sergeant in the course of two years. She was honorably discharged in September or 1945 and headed to the stage. 

She would eventually become a Hollywood icon for strong, outspoken women – which was no easy feat in the 1970s.  

Is Military Life Right for You?

If you feel that in your heart you could be a girl in the military, the best way to find out is to give it a try. 

You may just make a future list of amazing women veterans.

In the meantime, keep checking back with our family life blog to inspire you to “be the best that you can be” at home.

Any change you want to make in your life starts with you.

Maybe it’s time to finally take on the career change you’ve been dreaming of. Maybe this is the year you and your family start to travel more.

Whatever a life improvement looks like in the near future, focus on self-improvement first.

Not sure where to begin?

Here are five self-improvement tips to consider trying!

1. Get Rid of Your Clutter

A messy home is a reflection of a messy life.

When things aren’t in the right place, it’s harder to think straight. Clutter can cause memory loss, poor eating habits, or increase your stress level.

All of these can get in the way of any self-improvement efforts.

To put your best foot forward when helping yourself, clear your path first. Clean up your home and your office space. Your mind will become more clear as a result.

2. Make Time to Learn New Things

Once you’ve established some peace of mind, develop your mind.

You don’t have to go back to school or learn a new language, but do something that interests you.

Maybe you start crafting or gardening. Maybe you start playing a sport you played in school again. Maybe you commit to cooking something new once a week.

Whatever you do, just learn something!

Learning goes hand in hand with many self-improvement tips. As you take on new challenges and tasks, you learn about yourself as well.

3. Take Care of Yourself

Speaking of learning about yourself, are you taking care of your mind and body?

Sometimes, self-improvement is really just self-care.

Make time to exercise more and eat a bit healthier.

This can be as simple as stretching in the mornings and going for a few runs throughout the week. Or, commit to getting your butt to the gym and eating a well-rounded meal afterward.

You’ll notice these changes have a direct effect on other parts of your life.

Healthy living boosts your endorphin production. Endorphins are the body’s happy hormones. They can improve your mood and your sex drive.

4. Change Your Attitude

Being happier is just one emotional result of adding self-improvement tips to your life.

When you work on yourself, you start to tap into a higher level of consciousness.

This changes how you speak to yourself and interact with others.

Consciousness can result in you being more patient with your kids or communicating better with your husband. It can help you speak your mind at work, too.

5. Think Outside the Box

Sometimes, the best way to help yourself is to truly challenge yourself.

Get out of your comfort zone and see what you find when you push the boundaries. You might discover a talent you never knew you had.

At the very least, you’ll open your mind and develop a wider perspective of yourself and the world around you. Some new things to try include:

• meditation practices
• hypnosis downloads
• art classes
• extreme sport classes

Make a list of activities you’ve always wanted to do but have talked yourself out of. Then take on each task one by one.

Change Your Life with the Help of Self Improvement Tips

No matter which method of self-improvement you take on first, the results will spread to many parts of your life.

The more you work on yourself, the happier and more aware you become. This will be of benefit at home, in your career, and even how you interact with strangers on the street.

To learn more about ways to improve your life, click here.

When you’re looking for work and you make an impression that lasts, it moves you to the top of the list.

What makes it so hard? You only have 7 seconds to get it right.

Making a great first impression is a challenge, but it’s doable. Here are ten reasons you need to make an impression that people respond to–and tips for getting it right.

1. Getting the Job You Want

It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for permanent, freelance, or casual work.

You need to make an impression which makes you unforgettable. This doesn’t mean being quirky or weird just so they remember you!

They want to know they can rely on the person they’re hiring. It’s a bonus if you can also make sure they perceive you as a friendly person too. Smile and greet them with a firm handshake every time.

2. Show You Can Manage Your Time

Don’t be late. If you’re late to an interview, this will negatively affect the opinion of 96% of hiring managers.

If you live in a busy city, that’s no excuse. Turning up late shows you didn’t think about traffic or the risk of a late train.

Turn up 30 minutes early if you can. Grab a coffee and take a walk around the neighborhood to mentally prepare for your interview.

3. Body Language Says It All

Your body language says more than you’d like it to sometimes.

Stand upright and go for a firm handshake. Always meet your interviewers’ gaze and smile.

If you don’t do this, your body language could be misinterpreted as disinterest. Slumped shoulders, fidgeting, or staring around the room could lose you the opportunity to make an impression and land the job.

Always be aware of how you hold yourself. Make sure you’re not inadvertently sending the wrong message.

4. Dress to Impress

For most interviews, you’ll need to dress smart to make an impression. In many circumstances, this means a suit or business attire.

Still, do your research. If you’ve found out that a company has a fairly relaxed atmosphere, you might go with a button-down shirt and smart-casual trousers instead.

Be careful of appearing too casual, though. If you dress down too much, what you’re really saying to the interviewer is, “I don’t care about this job.”

Playing it safe is almost always the best option.

5. Think About What You’re REALLY Saying

Like body language, the words you speak often have more than one meaning. They can also reveal things you didn’t necessarily intend.

Half the battle is knowing what questions you’re really being asked. For example, if the interviewer asks you about a time you messed up, they don’t really want to hear about the time you missed two deadlines in a row.

They want to hear about what you did to make the situation right. More importantly, they want to know how you prevented yourself from making the same mistake again.

6. Make an Impression So People Trust You

Making a good impression is all about getting people to trust you. The signals we send tell other people about how much they can trust us.

Being trusted is always important, but even more so in certain professions. For example, let’s say you’re interviewing for a Skin MD MD laser skin care position (or another position in the medical profession).

The level of responsibility is much higher than some other professions. It’s crucial you get the other person to trust you during the interview.

7. Positive People Make a Positive Impression

Projecting confidence to make an impression really works.

Be upbeat, positive and friendly. Your CV may make an impression too, but no company hires people on the strength of a resume alone.

It’s important to show your enthusiasm and speak about specific things you’d like to achieve in the role. This shows you’ve given some thought to that particular job and you’re not just rambling off a script.

8. Be Personable But Not Overly Friendly

We’ve talked about being positive, both in terms of spoken language and body language.

But now comes a word of caution about where to draw the line. You’re not best friends with the interviewer. You’ve probably never even met them before.

Don’t be overly friendly or too familiar. This can kill your chances as quickly as seeming disinterested. It comes across as rude and presumptuous.

By all means, have a friendly chat, but be very careful about what you talk about.

9. Remember You’ll Be Working with Your Interviewer

The interview process isn’t just about testing your knowledge.

Even if you’re perfect for the job in terms of your experience and qualification, personality matters. The hiring manager wants to know that there aren’t obvious clashes between you.

Be professional and friendly, and try to connect with them on a human level.

10. Relax

If you’re stressed out and nervous, your body language will give this away.

Remember what we said about body language earlier? Try to relax and bear in mind that at the end of the day, your interviewer is just a person too.

If you can make an impression on them as a person (not just a potential boss), you’ll go a long way.

Still Looking for a New Job?

It can take a while to find the right job. Don’t stress about it.

Sometimes you’re just not the right fit for a company. Try not to take it too personally.

While you’re waiting to make an impression, we know money can get a little tight. Why not browse our selection of printable coupons to save yourself a few dollars?

We’ve also got loads of frugal living tips to help you stretch your cash until you land the perfect job.

Did you know that you’re all-powerful? All-powerful in regards to your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that is.

Thoughts give rise to emotions, and emotions influence how you behave. So, you can claim power to improve your life by getting to the root: your thoughts.

Let’s take a look at 5 ways you can change your mindset for a simpler life.

1. Change Your Mindset By Realizing It’s Just a Thought

Our brains are funny things. They store every experience we’ve ever had. Good and bad. And we keep this view of the world until we decide it no longer serves us.

To change your mindset, you must first know what your mindset is.

Our beliefs about what we need to achieve joy in life were given to us by others. Did you receive the message that you needed “stuff,” money or a nice car to be fulfilled?

If so, you’re not alone. But you don’t have to keep that mindset if you don’t want to.

This is the first and most crucial step in the process to change your mindset: You must be willing to change your beliefs about what you think you need to be happy.

2. Identify What You Believe

Ask yourself, “what do I believe I have to own/have/do/be before I can be happy?”

A few examples would be:

• Lots of money or stuff
• A big house
• Gardening all day long
• Always having a great work/life balance
• Spending all your time pursuing your passion
• A spouse, 2.5 children, and a white picket fence

Whatever your condition for being happy, identify it clearly.

3. Let it Go

After you’ve identified what you’re holding onto, make an intention to let it go. This may seem too easy, but it’s a solid commitment.

Every time that little voice in your head says, “but, you have to have…,” politely tell it you disagree. Remember, this belief was given to you. You did not choose it.

When we decide we must have [blank] to be happy, we actually have difficulty seeing the beauty and joy already in our lives now.

4. Choose What You’d Like to Replace It

When you let go the “have tos,” you open yourself up to enjoying what you have in this moment.

When you’ve cleared away the mental clutter, decide what you really need to be happy. Or you can go a step further, and choose that you don’t need anything.

You can choose to be happy because you’re an amazing, lovable person who loves life. Nothing more. Nothing less.

If you find it difficult to identify and replace your thoughts, you can try out the Avatar Course for support.

5. Embrace Simplicity as a Way of Life

Now that you’ve released the clutter, you can embrace simplicity in your life.

When you’re no longer telling yourself that you have to have something to be happy, you can just enjoy whatever you’re doing, whether that’s:

• Making supper
• Doing Yoga to keep your center
• Walking down the sidewalk

Remind yourself that you need nothing to be happy, and happiness will find you, wherever you may be.

Simple Not Easy

These tips may be simple, but they’re not always easy to stick to. That takes daily dedication and work.

But if you commit to changing your mindset even a little, you’ll begin to see wonderful changes in your life almost immediately.

These are our 5 tips for a simpler life. What would you add?