The start of the new year is a time of change. The change from deep winter towards spring. And for many of us, a decision to work on the one thing we’d like to change in the coming year.
If you’ve chosen to keep your home tidy as your New Year’s Resolution for 2023, you aren’t alone. That’s because it’s something that many people struggle with. And this fact becomes painfully evident immediately after the season of gift-giving.
With this in mind, we’ve written this short guide to cleaning up your living space. Keep reading to find out how you can keep a tidy home in 2023.
Priorities
Many people avoid tidying their homes because they don’t know where to start. Instead of procrastinating, you should start by tackling the area that bothers you the most.
Often, these are spaces that are used frequently and by many people – such as hallways, living rooms, and even kitchens. This is especially true if you live with multiple other people or if you have children.
Make the most of awkward spaces
Homes come in a variety of shapes and layouts. Regardless of the peculiarities of your home, it’s essential you make the most out of its space if you want to keep it tidy.
This might seem unrealistic, especially if you have a lot of awkward spaces around your home. But you might be surprised what you can achieve with a little ingenuity.
For example, you can use floating shelves in awkward nooks, install a built-in wardrobe under your stairs, or get multi-functional furniture that doubles as storage space.
Declutter
Getting rid of old items you no longer need is one of the easiest ways to tidy up your home. And there’s no time this is more true than during the months following Christmas.
Between unused winter coats, beat-up winter boots, and food items you won’t use in the new year, you’d be surprised at just how much space you can free up.
Create better habits
Routines play an underappreciated role in keeping your home well-organized. So, if you want to keep your home tidy over the long term, you’ll need to build new habits.
Set up weekly times to conduct the activities most crucial to keeping your home tidy – whether it’s processing posts and papers, changing décor, or reorganizing your wardrobe.
If you want to take your tidiness to the next level, you can even set up daily habits – for example, quickly tidying each room before you leave it.
Keeping mess under control can be challenging. Yet it’s well within your power to keep a tidy home – especially if you follow our tips above! Which can you get started with today?
My sister just left us, and it doesn’t feel good. To be honest, I'm not sure why we have to struggle in life and then leave. It’s no longer making sense; how do I even understand this feeling? I wish I was dreaming, but that's not the case. I wish this was one of those bad dreams, but it’s not. I am writing, so I know it’s for real.
My mother and father are both in a bad mood. I feel lonely inside; it’s hard to process and understand. I just want to be fine. It's difficult. It's difficult, and it gets even more difficult as the days pass. Sometimes I laugh, sometimes I cry, and sometimes I find myself remembering both the good and bad times we shared. How do I even accept this bad news that knocked on our door? I don’t want to accept this. I feel bad and sad.
Ogadinma, your voice is beautiful, and you have always wanted to sing for God. You had dreams that never became reality, and I believe you fought the best you could. I know you enjoyed life and definitely would have preferred to live, but maybe you couldn’t anymore. I miss you, and it feels uninteresting over here.
Can you give us one month more? Just maybe a miracle will allow you to cook your favorite dish, dance like you always do, and sing like you always did. I miss you, sister. You always buy me clothes and gifts when I come home.
I don’t know how I will process this. Your second daughter, Chidera, is in shock, and Chidinma is also processing what has happened.
Just before you left us, Dad and Mom told me they wanted to pray, and I knew it wasn't just for me but also for you. I thought you would wait for a little and be with us. I am sorry that your strength failed you. I am trying to be strong; we haven’t faced this type of pain before, and it’s strange.
Your daughter informed me that you sent me a message on WhatsApp that didn't deliver, in which you mentioned that you were in pain. I can't deal.
A dress can be worn on Valentine's Day, but there is no perfect Valentine's Day outfit. Wear whatever makes you feel confident and comfortable. Some people go all out, which I can't condemn; it all depends on what you enjoy and how you and your spouse want to dress. Nevertheless, it's still okay to dress casually and wear jeans and a blouse for Valentine's Day outing.
Women's satin dresses have existed for a substantial amount of time and in a variety of styles. They have been worn by women as long shirts, slip dresses, wedding gowns, and even lingerie-inspired garments. The silky feel of satin against the skin is the primary factor that draws ladies to the fabric. As an added plus, satin dresses for women are effortless to style. Independent of the wearer's silhouette, the cloth appears luxurious, elegant, and fluid. And satin dresses for women are versatile; they are suitable for both casual occasions and the red carpet.
- Wear a satin dress. Satin dresses are beautiful and enticing. They look effortless and flatter your body, whether fitted or loose.
- Smoky eye: You might want to go hard on that eye shadow by doing smoky eye makeup.
- All shades of red lips are also classics. Red lips are a go-to that will complement your look.
- Wear comfortable heels. Comfort is key. Don't wear anything that makes you feel uneasy.
What Are the benefits of Milk Thistle?
Numerous plants have positive impacts on liver function. The most spectacular research, however, has been conducted on milk thistle extracts (Silybum marianum). The majority of the health advantages of milk thistle extracts are attributable to the high concentration of silymarin, a complex of flavonoid chemicals that protect the liver from damage and promote detoxification processes.
Milk thistle extract can prevent liver damage and grow new, healthy liver cells to replace the damaged ones. And milk thistle benefits the liver more than any other organ. In addition, research indicates that milk thistle extract can help repair and regenerate kidney cells, resulting in a 25–30% increase in renal cell replication. The kidneys are an additional crucial component of detoxification.
In human clinical trials, milk thistle extracts (often standardized to contain 70% silymarin) have demonstrated numerous positive effects, many of which are related to enhancing liver function. When liver function improves, this organ is better able to do its job. As a result, improvements in blood sugar regulation, cholesterol, fat metabolism, and general health are observed.
How does Milk Thistle Extract Contribute to Detoxification?
One of the most important ways that milk thistle extract increases detoxifying processes is by reducing glutathione depletion. Levels of this important detoxification aid, an antioxidant, and a cellular defender are directly related to the liver's capacity to defend itself and eliminate toxic substances. In essence, the higher the glutathione concentration, the better the liver's potential to detoxify toxic substances.
When exposed to compounds that can harm the liver, such as alcohol, the glutathione content in the liver often decreases significantly. This glutathione deficiency makes liver cells susceptible to harm.
Not only does milk thistle extract prevent the depletion of glutathione caused by alcohol and other harmful substances, but it has also been proven to raise glutathione levels in the liver by up to 35% in individuals with normal liver function. The results of this study show that milk thistle extract can speed up detoxification by up to 35%, even in healthy people. This is because the amount of glutathione in the liver is linked to the liver's ability to detoxify.
What Does Research Suggest Regarding Milk Thistle Extract?
Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that silymarin has good benefits for liver health regardless of the organ's stress or strain. Clinical and analytical evidence usually confirms the benefits. One early study, for instance, showed the benefits of silymarin for people exposed to harmful substances. 49 of 200 workers exposed to toxic toluene and/or xylene fumes for 5 to 20 years had abnormal liver function test findings and/or abnormal platelet or white blood cell counts in this study. Thirty sick employees were administered silymarin, while the remaining 19 were left untreated. The administration of milk thistle extract enhanced liver function measurements as well as platelet and white blood cell counts.
The fatty liver linked with obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome can also be treated with milk thistle extract (abdominal obesity, elevated blood lipids, insulin resistance, etc.). In investigations of people with these illnesses, milk thistle extract improved liver function and, consequently, blood sugar and cholesterol metabolism. In addition to enhancing antioxidant indices (SOD, GPX, and TAC), milk thistle extract lowered an inflammatory marker (C-reactive protein). It has also been shown that milk thistle extract raises the levels of antioxidants in the blood of athletes.
Today I'll be sharing my thoughts and results after using a vitamin C cleansing gel that I didn't think was necessary, but after trying it, I decided to share.
So I always wanted to wash my face with soap, but some soaps are pretty hard on the skin, leaving it extra dry. This product is for general skin care, so for my face, I apply it, leave it on for a few minutes (about 2 minutes), and then wash it. After using your shower gel, you can apply this product and rinse it off.
Planning on getting fit this year? You’re not alone. According to research from YouGov, of the 21% of Brits who say they are making New Year's resolutions for 2023, 53% want to do more exercise—47% of men and 57% of women in all.
As part of this, millions will be signing up for gyms in an effort to shed pounds and bulk up muscle, but new research has found that lots of people—women in particular—find visiting the gym an anxiety-inducing experience.
Gym anxiety: what does the research say?
European lingerie specialists Hunkemöller wanted to find out how many found that a big chunk of people suffer from gym anxiety. They found that, by looking at Google Search Trends data, searches relating to “gym confidence” had risen 1,600% in a year, with “getting over gym anxiety” up 300% in the same period.
To delve deeper into the results, they surveyed 2,000 UK adults to find out their anxieties relating to the gym. They found that 28% of women felt anxious in a gym environment, compared to just 16% of men. 61% of these women said they’d feel better at a female-only gym.
The main reasons behind this anxiety also differed greatly. For women, the top sources of anxiety were lack of knowledge regarding exercises and form (26%), feeling uncomfortable (26%), and a feeling of being stared at by others (22%). For men, 19% felt uncomfortable in gym surroundings, 17% were intimidated by gym equipment (17%), and 16% were unsure of whether their form and exercises were correct.
Are different cities more female-friendly when it comes to gyms?
Hunkemöller then set out to analyze which city was the best for women looking for a female-only workout space. Shockingly, in the 15 cities looked at, there were just 73 women-only gyms, with each catering to tens or hundreds of thousands of women. The results were as follows:
Surgery for prostate cancer can have varying results: in some men, the disease never returns, while in others, it does. Doctors estimate the likelihood of recurrence by analyzing specific types of clinical data. For example, recurrence is more likely if a man's biopsy reveals an aggressive form of cancer. Extremely high or fast-rising levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) before surgery are also related to poorer results.
Researchers are working diligently to improve the techniques used to identify men who could benefit from additional treatment or monitoring. These risk-based classifications are aided by genetic tests and new types of medical imaging.
In December, researchers at Stanford University revealed promising results with a new imaging technique that highlights prostate cancers. The strategy employs a mildly radioactive tracer that searches the body for cancer cells. The intravenously administered tracer 68Ga-PSMA-11 binds specifically to a protein termed prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). This protein is significantly more prevalent on the surface of prostate cancer cells than on normal prostate cells. On an imaging scan, tumors highlighted by 68Ga-PSMA-11 stand out like lit matches in a dark environment. PSMA scans are being utilized to diagnose early metastatic cancer, and the tracer can also be employed to transport chemotherapy medications directly into malignant tumors.
The recently announced 2023 American Diabetes Association Standards of Medical Care span nearly 300 pages and are fairly detailed. And considering the close connection between obesity and diabetes, weight loss is a key issue. What other changes have been important for the about 37 million Americans who have diabetes today?
Collaboration is essential for a lifestyle change.
There are no significant changes in this update, according to Dr. David M. Nathan, a professor at Harvard Medical School who co-authored and chaired past versions of these recommendations, which have been published annually for more than three decades. The majority of the typical lifestyle recommendations for treating diabetes are common sense: eat your vegetables, go outside and exercise, and get enough sleep.
Dr. Nathan, who oversees the Diabetes Center and the Clinical Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, notes a subtle shift in the counsel of the American Diabetes Association over the past five to ten years: an effort to make care for patients with diabetes more patient-centered. "This requires working with your doctor to develop a lifestyle and pharmaceutical plan that works for you," he explains. "Doctors do not instruct patients at the dinner table or bedside." They can assist you in making plans and decisions to effectively manage your diabetes, but you must be proactive.
Five lessons for diabetes maintenance
According to Dr. Nathan, people with type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, should be aware of the five main takeaways from the guidelines:(Several of these guidelines also apply to people with type 1 diabetes, though they should consult their own doctors for specific recommendations.)
Strive for sound, consistent sleep. Experts have long acknowledged a connection between inadequate sleep and weight. Accumulating research suggests that sleep disturbances are also linked to diabetes risk. Dr. Nathan states that alterations in sleep habits can affect blood sugar regulation. Frequent reasons for disturbed sleep include obstructive sleep apnea, a dangerous disorder that involves recurrent, brief pauses in breathing throughout the night. Because it is more prevalent in adults with diabetes (especially those with obesity), anyone exhibiting the classic signs—loud snoring, snorts and gasps during sleep, and daytime tiredness despite a full night's rest—should be investigated. Ask your physician about a home sleep apnea test.
Don't "diet." Numerous trendy diets, including keto, paleo, intermittent fasting, and others, can aid in weight loss. However, the majority of people regain any weight lost once they stop following the program. According to Dr. Nathan, it is much more efficient to gradually adopt a healthy food pattern that you can maintain over time. The Mediterranean diet and the closely related DASH diet are viable options. It is especially crucial for those with diabetes to avoid sodas and other sugary drinks. In addition to eating fewer desserts, sweets, and fatty foods, you should consume more high-fiber carbohydrates, such as whole-wheat bread and brown rice.
Workout safely. Walking is a good form of exercise for the majority of people, provided they begin slowly and gradually increase their distance and speed. People with diabetes must pay special attention to selecting shoes that fit properly and periodically inspect their feet for redness, blisters, and ulcers. Because diabetes can induce neuropathy (numbness due to nerve loss), you may be unable to feel small injuries and trauma to your toes and feet. These conditions can lead to more severe foot issues and amputations.
A Learning Management System (LMS) is a web-based application that helps you manage the training and development of your employees. In addition to that, it also helps you streamline administrative tasks and other HR processes. When you have an adequately incorporated LMS, you can quickly assess employee performance, track their progress and even identify new hires that will be the best fit for your organization. You can also train your employees to perform better and develop soft skills that will enhance their productivity and job satisfaction.
Track The Progress of Employees
When you integrate your LMS and HR software, you can monitor your employees' progress and identify trends that could help your business. This also allows you to determine which employees need to meet your training goals and can lead to a better understanding of your overall training strategy.
Your employees can enjoy a seamless training experience with suitable LMS and HR integration. Your training materials can be easily accessed, and you will have real-time monitoring of their performance. Automated notifications can inform your staff when they fall behind or position them for success.
The size of your business, your work sector, and your budget will all affect which LMS is best for you. However, you can make sure you choose one that is easy to use, scales with your company, and offers seamless cloud integration.
Integrations reduce data redundancy and the time you and your staff spend on data entry. This will save you money and help you avoid costly mistakes when introducing new software like the best online payroll software.
Teach Employees Soft Skills
A learning management system (LMS) can be an essential tool for employee soft skills. It's a great way to identify skill gaps, distribute training, and track results.
A study by the University of Michigan found that soft skills training can increase company ROI by up to 256 percent. Investing in your employees makes them better workers and more appealing candidates for future promotions.
Whether you want to retrain employees to keep them in demand or reskill them for internal or external changes, an LMS can help. Two-thirds of companies have committed to upskilling their employees.
Soft skills are critical for a business to succeed. These include Emotional Intelligence, interpersonal skills, and the ability to effectively communicate. They inform how a person interacts with others, solves problems, and performs in a group. Regular, ongoing training is the most effective way to equip your employees with these skills.
Training can include on-the-job and self-paced courses delivered in various formats. Employees can also receive personalized lessons.
One of the routines I find very difficult to restart is my exercise routine. The importance of exercise to our overall health cannot be overemphasized.
I haven't exercised for a while, and it has been very difficult for me. When I started trying to start exercising again, I ran, and I felt so much pain and exhaustion that I wasn't able to reach my set goal for the day. I ended up feeling so weak that I wish I could just take a cab home. I slowed down and walked home.
When you want to start running, this is a habit you need to put in place first, which will help you get set for your new routine. Whether you are beginning to run or attempting to rediscover your love for it, the initial step is typically the most challenging. When you commit, however, running offers both physical and mental advantages. Running increases longevity by preventing osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Additionally, it can enhance brain function and increase the size of the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for verbal memory and learning.
How to begin running
A month before you start you need to set your eating habits straight and eat healthily. This will help your body to build up its strength.
"Patience is the best trait of a beginner runner." "Too rapid an increase in time or speed can lead to dissatisfaction or exercise-related injury [fast running places increased stress on the musculoskeletal system - ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissues], so focus on endurance before speed."
How do you maintain motivation?
"Begin by keeping things really simple," and establish a goal that you can achieve and cannot fail at. Choose a reasonable number of times per week that you believe you can run, then stick to it for four weeks to allow your body to adapt. Three times every week for four weeks equals 12 runs. When you reach 12 ticks, give yourself a physical treatment to serve as a constant reminder of your success.
What is the proper running technique?
Good posture reduces stress and impacts the joints, lowering the chance of injury and enhancing performance, allowing you to run for longer with less effort. Maintain an elevated chest and lowered shoulders while running. Your feet should land behind your hips, aligning your body from head to toe in a straight line. Avoid forward tilting from the waist, which can strain the lower back, and keep your hands open to avoid extra tension. Since running is a forward motion, it is inefficient to swing your arms across your body; instead, tuck your elbows into your waist so that your arms go forward and back. Lastly, pay attention to how your feet fall. If they sound heavy, try landing softer.
How can I avoid injuries when running?
Complement your running with additional workouts.
"Pilates generally increases core strength; spinning is good for stamina; and swimming stretches tired muscles." "To continue jogging without pain, focus on your glutes and lower abdominals." Both of these muscles are responsible for your running posture. When your glute muscles are functioning optimally, you will run faster, and your lower limbs will move effectively and safely. "The lower abdominals maintain the right alignment of the hips and pelvis to prevent excessive strain on the lower back." Squats will help you avoid ankle difficulties and knee pain, which are frequently caused by weak glutes.