Acupuncture and More…

Everyone experiences times throughout the day where you just wish you could relax for even a few minutes.

You already know that relaxation helps your body re-energize, but sometimes you’re so busy and caught up in the moment that you just don’t have the time to unwind.

Well, fortunately there are simple ways to relax, even during your busiest days, that don’t require a lot of time or equipment.

Here are 5 Simple Relaxation Tips:

1. When you’re in line at the grocery store: Instead of stressing out because there aren’t enough cashiers and every line has 5 people with heaping carts of groceries, use that time to relax your body by taking some deep breaths.

· Deep breathing helps increase the oxygen in your blood. Your blood then circulates that extra oxygen throughout your body helping your inner systems recharge.

· Taking five slow deep breaths will do the trick. The proper technique is to inhale and exhale deeply through your nose and out your mouth.

· Not only will deep breathing help you relax, it’ll help to clear your mind, reduce brain fog, and you’ll feel much more alert and ready to tackle the next project on your plate.

· Deep breathing can be done anywhere when you’re feeling stressed or just want to clear your mind.

2. When you’re at work: It’s often hard to find time to relax at work. You might even get in trouble if you’re caught “relaxing.” Oh the horror! However, there are some techniques you can do while you’re at work to help create a sense of calm that aren’t so obvious to others.

· If your job requires you to sit at a computer all day, make sure you get up and move around for a few minutes every hour. This helps circulate the blood throughout your body. Just moving the blood flow will make you feel more alert and focused.

· While sitting at your desk, roll your head around, from side to side and from front to back with your eyes closed. This technique helps to relieve neck tension, increasing blood flow to your brain, which is a natural and easy way to relax.

· If you’re on your feet all day, stretch out your back and sides by standing with your feet firm on the floor, shoulder width apart, and twist your upper body, including your head, slowly from side to side. This will loosen up your back muscles and spine, releasing tension throughout your body.

· During a break or lunchtime, go for a walk. Walking is a great way to clear your mind and your body will benefit from the extra exercise as well.

3. When you’re rushing through a busy day: Take just a few moments to daydream and escape the busyness of reality.

· Daydreaming lets your imagination flow, causing instant relief from the stress of the real world.

· Think of a place or experience that makes you feel happy or calm. Imagine how it smells, how the air feels, and who’s around.

· After five minutes of a calming daydream you’ll feel relaxed, reenergized and ready to face the real world again.

4. Wherever you’re at, smile: Smiling is proven to help relax and rejuvenate your body.

· When you’re out and about, smile at others around you.

· When you’re at work, smile at your co-workers. Not only will it help you relax, it’ll help relax them as well.

· Smile at your children when you’re toting them around to all their different activities. This will create a peaceful environment you’ll all enjoy.

5. When the going gets tough, laugh: Laughter’s proven to be an instant stress reliever. Now I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want to be seen as a nut case, so laughing out loud when you’re in line at the store or sitting at your desk may not be the best time. When you can, get someone involved in your laughter with you.

· Tell a funny joke or story to a co-worker (at an appropriate time, of course).

· Play a fun game or sing a silly song with your kids as you’re driving.

· Watch funny videos on YouTube.

Engaging in these simple, everyday relaxation techniques will help to sustain and strengthen you throughout your day. It’ll also make it easier to unwind when you get home. Your friends, co-workers, and family will all appreciate the new, relaxed you!

Speed reading is a much sought after skill that enables you to boost your reading speed, while also improving your comprehension.

Speed reading strengthens your ability to read any style of writing while still understanding the intended and deeper meaning.

For example, when speed reading, you’ll be able to skim right over the less vital pieces of information and pick out the sections which are more important far quicker than by using traditional reading techniques.

Whether you’re already a fast reader or not, once you start training yourself to speed read, you’ll notice your reading rate and retention will vastly improve over time.

Just like anything else, when learning how to read more quickly, you can’t expect to read faster overnight. To learn how to use this skill properly requires time, effort and practice. You’ll need to work at speed reading every day in order to become proficient.

Here are some effective techniques you can use to teach yourself to speed read:

1. Time yourself. When you first begin, time your current reading pace so you’ll have a baseline that you can use for comparisons. Time yourself often when reading to see your growing improvement.

2. Practice improving your speed. Try and force yourself to read a little faster each time you pick up the material. You can do this by skipping over common words like the, to, from, and, etc.

3. Read each and every day. If you only read when you feel like it, you can’t possibly improve. Work a little bit each day, otherwise you may find yourself having to backtrack and relearn skills all over again.

· Go to the library and grab plenty of books to practice with.

· Take time each day to sit down and practice quickly reading a chapter or two, then test your retention by paraphrasing what you read.

4. Learn good reading habits. Work to break yourself of habits that slow your reading down, such as sub-vocalizing words, which is pronouncing words to yourself or moving your lips when reading. Be sure you’re only saying the words in your head.

5. Read with your hand. Moving your hand down the page helps guide your eyes quickly through the material.

6. Avoid re-reading. Practice taking away understanding of your material the first time you read it.

· You can skim through the information from time to time if needed, but avoid re-reading it in depth if you don’t have to.

7. Read in blocks of words. Instead of reading words letter by letter or the information word by word, interpret the author’s ideas in blocks of words.

8. Avoid distractions. Interruptions can interfere with your capability and cause confusion.

· You may want to try reading in the morning or before you go to sleep, when there are likely to be fewer distractions.

Before you can speed read, you first have to make the commitment to continually refine your skills. Practicing Speed reading will help you improve your reading, writing and comprehension. As you strengthen your speed reading skills, you’ll soon find that you enjoy reading and learning new things more than ever!

Self-discipline is a powerful attribute to have, yet challenging to obtain.

Self-discipline is the ability to do whatever it takes to overcome obstacles and reach your goals, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. It may involve saying: “no” to things you want or saying: “yes” to things you hate, but with the power of self-discipline, it becomes easier to stand up for yourself.

Most individuals would love to be more self-disciplined, yet very few people actually take action to acquire it.

Perhaps you start your day with good intentions, but veer off as the day progresses due to challenging issues, stresses, or distractions. Thankfully, there are some strategies you can incorporate into your daily life so you can become a master of self-discipline and stay on task.

Follow these techniques to strengthen your self-discipline:

1. Be committed to the cause. Are you truly unhappy being undisciplined? Is this something that you’re committed to improving? Many times people claim they want to be more self- disciplined, but the truth is, they honestly don’t mind being the way they are.

· Be honest with yourself. If this is something that you definitely want to improve in your life, it may take a bit of time and effort, but it can be done.

· The only way you’ll succeed is by staying committed to the cause.

2. Write it down. The process of writing your ideas and goals helps you clarify the thoughts in your mind so you can come up with an action plan that you can stick to.

· Write down all the areas that you wish to improve - your finances, relationships, career, or anything in between. Include what changes you would like to see and how you believe will be the best way to make it happen.

3. Enlist the help of others. It’s absolutely wonderful that you’ve committed to make a positive change in your life, but don’t keep it under wraps. Tell others that you want to make a change and boost your self-discipline.

· Don’t be ashamed that you weren’t more self-disciplined from the beginning. The important thing is that you’re now taking positive action! Those who love you will be there to support you and help you celebrate your successes.

· Your support group can also help you get through the bad days and put you back on track to achieve your goals.

4. Believe in yourself. Have faith in yourself and know that if you can master your self-discipline, you can do anything! There will be both good and bad days, but as long as you remain focused and committed, you’ll be successful in strengthening your self-discipline.

· Remember to focus on the big picture and concentrate on how your body, mind, and energy will change for the better when you stay committed.

Many people admire those who are self-disciplined. These people can stay on a schedule and never seem to lose focus on what they need to accomplish. They make more wise decisions, take action when they need to, and achieve their goals with relative ease.

Implement these strategies into your daily life and they’ll soon become habits. Self-discipline can become your way of life - if you want it!

Do you know what people are truly saying with their body? One way to decipher their code is to learn the secret meaning of body language.

Whether you’re questioning if you got the job after an interview or if that first date went well, body language can provide you with a secret edge.

Be careful, though, because body language can be easily misconstrued. Sometimes people have certain actions or posture habits that disguise what they’re really saying. But by remaining alert and observant you’ll fair better than most!

Here are a few things to keep an eye out for that’ll give you the upper hand:

1. Be aware of how they’re speaking. Positive ways of communication include speaking at the same tone and the same rate of speech that you’re using. It’s also a positive sign when someone can share a laugh with you and truly have a sincere and inviting sound to their voice.

· On the flipside, negative ways of speaking include speaking a lot louder, softer, faster, or slower than you. If their voice sounds unsteady or quivering, they might not mean exactly what they’re saying to you aloud.

2. Notice what they’re wearing. People who are truly interested do their best to make a long lasting and positive impression. Their clothing will usually be neat and tidy and their hair will be groomed as well.

· Someone who isn’t interested will often appear unkempt because they don’t really care about the impression they’ll leave behind with you.

· The old saying, “Dress for success,” is a simple way to remember that people do judge others by their appearance. Whether it’s right or wrong, it happens. If you were hiring a salesperson for your company, would you want the person who’s friendly and dressed in a suit or someone who looks like he just rolled out of bed?

3. Are they interacting with you in a positive way? When people relate positively with you, they may express body language signals that show it. They may look at your eyes while speaking, lean towards you, or touch you gently to accentuate a point.

4. Do they appear uninterested or distracted? Negative signals include looking away when they should be listening, crossing their arms, constant fidgeting or tapping their foot, clearing their throat, or yawning. This may be a sign of distrust, anger, frustration, boredom, or a lack of self-confidence.

5. Practice people watching. The best way to learn more about body language is to spend some time observing people. By becoming more aware of the way others react to certain situations, you’ll be better equipped to communicate effectively.

· All people have their own quiet signals they display during different times. A great way to become more in tune with these signals is to take the time to make people watching a hobby.

· Become observant. Whether in the supermarket, church, or at the mall, watch the way people display their secret signals. It will greatly help you in deciphering body language in your own personal situations.

Reading body language is an important way to figure out what people are truly saying. It can also help you build positive and long-lasting relationships. Use these tips often to help you discover the secret meaning behind body language and become a master of communication with others.

Are you suffering from burnout? Whether it’s caused by work issues, stress at home, relationship challenges, or a combination of all them, it can cause a frightening feeling of hopelessness!

Burnout often causes a feeling of numbness and not knowing how to get your life headed back in the right direction.

Take heart - hope is not lost! There are some strategies you can utilize to overcome burnout, once and for all.

Try these techniques to get relief from burnout:

1. Don’t blame yourself. Life is hectic and stressful, especially with all the intense demands placed on our shoulders. If you’re feeling burnt out, rather than blaming yourself, be proactive in getting back in the saddle so you can feel like yourself again.

· Remember, you’re in control of your destiny. Focus on what you can do, not what you think you should do.

2. Stop being so serious. With the stress and responsibilities you carry on a daily basis, you may be in need of some plain ol’ silly time. Release your inhibitions and have some fun!

· Whether it be dancing in your living room or swinging on the swings at a local park, take some time to find your inner child again. This will help you let go of your current stress level, even if it’s just for a little while.

· Making time to have fun will give you a chance to refocus and get your life and priorities back to where they need to be.

3. Stay healthy. It’s important to stay in peak physical condition when you’re under constant stress. Eat many servings of fruits and vegetables, drink large amounts of water, and exercise.

· Fit exercise into your busy schedule by making an appointment with yourself to exercise, and then keep your appointment!

4. Improve your time management skills. You may be burnt out because you’re trying to fit a week’s worth of stuff into a single day. Unfortunately, that’s impossible! Learning how to budget the time in your day more effectively will relieve a lot of this time pressure and stress.

· Good time management will lessen the feeling of being overwhelmed, as well as enable you to have the time you need to do what you want to do.

5. Get enough sleep. This allows your body to rest, rejuvenate, and start the upcoming day with more energy. You can also deal with stressful situations better when you’re alert and focused.

· If you adhere to the 8 hours per night rule, you’ll find yourself more focused, levelheaded, and patient.

Final Thoughts on Burnout

No matter how you may try to sugar coat it, modern life isn’t easy. It’s no wonder that sometimes we feel like we can’t juggle everything any more!

Although these feelings are normal from time to time, they can escalate out of control.

Before we reach that point, it’s important to get our lives back in the right direction. These burnout strategies and tips will enable you to better handle every-day stresses so you can enjoy all the amazing gifts life has to offer!

Our children are one of the most important and precious people in our lives. We want the best for them and hope they strive to do well in all things. Children, just like adults, can develop motivational roadblocks that hold them back from achieving what they’re meant to do.

Since the inception of the Internet, television, video games, and social networking, motivating our children has gotten progressively more difficult. To have them complete schoolwork, do some chores around the house, get more involved with school activities, or even just go outside to get some fresh air can be a struggle.

Here are some simple strategies you can use to help you motivate your children:

1. Praise your child for their accomplishments. When your child accomplishes something, no matter how big or small, be sure to express how proud you are of them. If they know that they’ve made you happy, they’re more apt to strive to make that happen again.

2. Avoid focusing on the negative. We all make mistakes, so it’s much more productive not to harp on them. You’ll receive much better results by focusing on what your child does well rather than the few mistakes they may make.

3. Show pride in your child’s work. Display a good grade or report card. Placing their work on the refrigerator door, believe it or not, still works wonders! When his accomplishments are proudly displayed, he’ll be motivated to achieve as much as he possibly can.

4. Brag. Call a grandparent, aunt, or uncle and tell them about your child’s recent accomplishment. When your child sees that you take the time to make a special phone call because you’re so proud, it encourages them and boosts their confidence.

5. Use rewards. Every child likes to be rewarded for good work. You can try things like a weekly allowance or a special treat, like a movie or ice cream, as a reward for good behavior. Whatever the reward, children will strive to do their best to obtain these special treats.

· This can be used for just about anything from a good grade to washing the family dog. Children enjoy being able to receive something tangible for a job well done.

6. Show sincere enthusiasm in the things your child enjoys. As a child grows, his interests may change frequently. As a parent, it’s important that you keep up with your child’s likes and dislikes.

7. Sit down and talk with your child. Find out why they’re interested in certain things and how you can help them with their activities. If you show sincerity and really listen to what they’re telling you, it’ll be a big motivating factor.

8. Don’t overwhelm your child with goals. Naturally, we want our children to succeed, but sometimes we can overdo it. After the homework, chores, and after-school activities, children deserve time to just be children.

· If you give them some free time to do what they want, whether it be playing video games, watching television, or anything else they choose, it will keep them motivated to do other things as well.

Children are each a unique individual and have different interests and goals in life. Though at times their motivation may waiver, we, as parents, will be there to point them in the right direction. Using these motivation tips will make that process just a little bit easier!

Usually when we hear the word “willpower,” we relate it to losing weight or quitting smoking. Willpower is extremely helpful when trying to break those bad habits, but it can also be beneficial in other areas of your life as well.

It’s important to realize that we’re not born with willpower; it’s something we must nurture and build in ourselves. Once we strengthen our willpower, it’ll provide us an upper hand in achieving our goals. Why? Because we’ll develop an unshakeable focus and intensity in purpose!

So how do you go about building your willpower?

Here are four strategies to get you headed in the right direction:

1. Commitment. You must be committed to reaching your goals. If you’re not completely committed to what you want to accomplish, there’s no way you’ll be able to develop any willpower.

· To be successful in achieving your goals, you mustn’t harbor any second thoughts, excuses, or doubts. Be honest with yourself and know that this is something you truly want to see through until the end.

· Remember, just having the desire will not guarantee accomplishment. You can desire something without firm commitment, so be sure to distinguish between the two and take the appropriate actions.

2. Call on your inner strength. Building your willpower takes perseverance. This is a time to call on your inner strength - that extra push you need to get through the difficult times.

· You’ve made a commitment to take a journey to strengthen your willpower and accomplish your most challenging goals - this is great! The truth is, you’ll have many days of success, but there will also be days that aren’t as triumphant. It’s on those not-so-good days that you can call on your inner strength to get you back on track.

· Everyone has an inner strength and most of us have used it on more than one occasion. Trust in it and it will get you through the rough spots!

3. Ask for support. Building your willpower to achieve a goal is a large undertaking. Sometimes it can be overwhelming. This is why it’s so imperative that we have support during this time.

· Entrust a friend, spouse, or parent with what you’re trying to accomplish. That way, when you hit a stumbling block, you have someone you trust to get you back on the right track.

· Your support system will help you through the hard times and celebrate your successes with you.

4. Be consistent. If you have the willpower to stop smoking for one week, that’s wonderful and should be celebrated. But the only way you’re going to build your willpower is to do whatever it takes to avoid cigarettes today, tomorrow, and forever. Then soon enough you’ll be celebrating two weeks, two months, two years, and then forever!

· This strategy applies to any goal that you’re seriously trying to accomplish. You must be willing to keep up the positive behavior all day, every day, no exceptions, and no excuses.

· Things can only improve as you continue to build your willpower. Keep pushing yourself forward!

Willpower is a tricky concept. We all want to develop it to break a bad habit or reach a particular goal, yet in order to do so, we must be willing to go the extra mile and fully commit ourselves to our success.

If you are committed, you should be commended! Be sure to use these tips to help you build your willpower and celebrate your successes each and every day.