How to Travel Safely in a Coronavirus World

August 31, 2020 Karen A. Mulvey

If you want to safely explore the world during this time of uncertainty, planning ahead, following travel tips and being overly cautious is key. Keep in mind that many places in the world have travel advisories in place. For example, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that international travel is not advised, and domestic travel is strongly cautioned against.

There are many states and countries, too, including Maine and Hawaii, that require 14-days of quarantine after travel, while others (like New York) have a long list of states that are not permitted to travel there without a two-week isolation period.

That said, travel is good for your mental and physical health - and in many cases, travel (such as in the case of attending funerals or other events) is an absolute necessity. Therefore, if you’re going to travel during the coronavirus pandemic, don’t panic or stress - but instead, plan intelligently so that you can feel better about getting out and about as the restrictions lift.

Follow these travel tips, and you’ll stay safe and healthy.

Good Reasons Why You Should Embrace A Healthy Lifestyle

August 30, 2020 Shana Thompson

Leading a healthy lifestyle isn’t something that’s out of reach for most people. Initially, it might seem like you’ll have to overhaul your entire life, but you can and should make these changes gradually. You want to ease yourself into eating more vegetables, exercising more, getting more sleep. This builds up your willpower ‘muscle.’ When you first start, you want to pick up a habit that is easy enough that you don’t need the motivation to do it. It should be so easy, you can’t say no. Rather than doing 50 pushups, start with 5. If that seems like it’s too much, work backward to find the number that you know you can do consistently. Instead of cutting out all sugary drinks immediately, bring the number down by one or two. Once you’ve gotten used to that, increase your habit in very small ways. Little gains add up and by the end of the month, you’ll be much further along than if you tried to do everything at once and gave up.

Leading a healthy lifestyle requires time and patience. However, the benefits far outweigh any potential negatives in the beginning. Once you’ve gone down the path of healthy living, you’ll wonder how you ever lived before it. You’ll feel happier, healthier, stronger, and more focused in your life.

Top Non-Tech Ways To Keep Your Mind Sharp and Healthy

August 29, 2020 Jessica Lauren

Keep Your Mind Sharp and Mentally Healthy

Keeping your brain active throughout the day can stave off boredom and stress. More importantly, it can keep your brain and mind healthy for longer and reduce the risk of cognitive decline. Many of these activities are a part of a healthy lifestyle such as exercising and eating healthy, so should be something you are already following.

Unfortunately, these tips won’t necessarily prevent you from developing Alzheimer’s as these degenerative diseases often have many risk factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and environment. However, these tips can help combat the normal, age-related mental decline and keep your brain healthy for years to come.

Top Things To Bring To College On Move-In Day

August 22, 2020 Lisa Czachowski

One more tip when you’re creating your college shopping and packing list for college move-in day? Don’t forget about the storage. You are going to want to invest in a few pieces that will help you store your gear with ease, such as under the bed storage units or footlockers. These will help you keep all your supplies and equipment contained and out of the way, both during the move as well as when you start to unpack.

Now that you know what you need for move-in day, it’s time to start shopping! Although these can be stressful times, try to enjoy the experience while it lasts. It will be graduation time before you know it.

10 Eco-Friendly Backyard Playground Toys To Enjoy At Home

August 16, 2020 Shana Thompson

If you are looking for new outdoor and backyard playground toys for your child, there is no shortage of different options out there. We know that it is important for you as a parent to not only have playground toys that your kids will love to play with, but ones that are durable, safe and meant to last as well. We can help you find all of these and more with our list of top outdoor playground toys. Now all you need to do is determine which toy is the right toy for your child.

Top Stylish Bedroom Decorating Ideas

August 10, 2020 Lisa Czachowski

When you are designing your master bedroom, try not to get too overwhelmed with all the options that are available to you, particularly if your space is small. Pare things down to your favorite essentials and remember, the focal point of the room will likely be the bed - so keep other features and accessories to a minimum when considering bedroom decorating ideas.

Ultimately, your master bedroom is a reflection of your own personality. Don’t be afraid to play around with unique colors, designs, and furniture. After all, you only get one chance to showcase your style - give it your all!

12 Reusable Growlers For Your Next Daytime Adventure

August 7, 2020 Shana Thompson

If you are going on a hiking adventure—then you want to make sure that you are able to keep plenty of cool and fresh water with you. The right reusable growler can help you do this. However, it is important to note that not all growlers are created equal. If you are looking for a growler that is not only made of safe and eco-friendly materials that won’t leach into your water—and ones that will keep your water super cold as well, we have options for you. Take a look at our list of the best eco-friendly growlers on the market right now to find the type of growler that will work for you.

12 Powerful Yoga Accessories to Compliment Your Next Workout

August 3, 2020 Jessica Lauren

If you are dedicated to maintaining your regular yoga practice, then there are a few accessories that you will need in order to make the most of your time in the studio or on the mat. Take a look at our picks for the top yoga accessories out there to find the best products to meet your needs. Whether you are in the market for a block or pillow or just need a new yoga mat to take with you to class, there is no shortage of different options on our list. Plus, we love that all of these products are safe, natural and eco-friendly solutions that you can feel good about buying and using on a daily basis.

How Does Stress Impact Our Mental Health

July 31, 2020 Rebekah Pierce

Dealing with stress, anxiety and mental health at any time can be stressful, but doing so during a pandemic can be even more overwhelming! There are certain public health actions you can take (like proper social distancing) that may reduce your feelings of anxiety but also may come with unintended consequences (for example, you might find yourself feeling lonely and isolated, which can further increase your stress).

It’s important that you find healthy ways to deal with your stress so that it doesn’t turn into a chronic problem. If you realize that you or someone you love is suffering from severe symptoms, such as excessive worry and fear about your own health or the health of your loved ones, stress over potential or actual job loss, or changes in sleep and eating patterns, you might want to reach out for help.

Other signs of a serious mental health problem include difficulty concentrating or sleeping, worsening of chronic physical or mental health problems, and increased use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Take care of yourself, and do what you can to alleviate your short- and long term stress. Remember to watch out for the health and wellbeing of those around you and don’t hesitate to reach for help if necessary.

Ways To Stay Motivated While Working From Home

July 28, 2020 Jessica Lauren

Working from home for many people can be amazing, but it doesn’t come without its downsides. For many people, procrastination and lack of motivation tend to be the biggest issues they face. To successfully work from home, you need to remain organized and disciplined with your routine.

Luckily, the above tips can definitely help you stay on task. It can be difficult at first, but once you figure out a schedule that works for you, you’ll see your productivity increase in no time. Just remember to take breaks and make sure to mentally close the door on your work once you are past your scheduled time. It’s definitely tempting to keep checking work emails, but much like the physical barrier between your home office and the rest of your house, you need to keep that separation between the two so you can have a healthy work-life balance.