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As we start to get older, we realize that we begin to accumulate more junk than we know what to do with. For some people, this can turn into a major problem because they don’t want to consider the idea of getting rid of their things. For others, it is simple to toss things. Now that the weather is beginning to warm up, it’s time to think about what you should keep and what you should toss:

1. Make sure that you hang on to anything that you know you are going to use again next year. For example, if you have had the same Christmas decorations for the past 15 years, chances are you are going to use them again. If this is the case, check into Cordova TN Storage. This way, you will have a safe place to store your Christmas items when you are not using them.

2. Go ahead and get rid of any clothes that no longer fit you. You may be tempted to keep them thinking that you will lose the weight. If you do end up losing weight, treat yourself to a new wardrobe. Of course, you can hang on to those few special things that you are really attached to.

3. Make sure that you don’t hang onto items that are damaged. For example, if you have a piece of furniture with a broken leg, either take it to get it repaired or get rid of it. It is only an eyesore sitting in the corner.

4. Keep any items that may have been in your family for a number of years. For example, if you were fortunate enough to receive your grandmother’s china, you probably don’t want to get rid of it. Instead, pull it out on special occasions and actually use it. This way, you won’t feel like you’re hanging on to something that you’ll never use.

If you don’t have a lot of extra space in your home, you may be tempted to get rid of things simply because you don’t have room for them. However, if these things are important, you can always put them in storage. Check out http://www.extraspace.com/Storage/Facilities/US/California/Fontana/900405/Facility.aspx” to learn more about the storage facilities in your area. Once you have put some of your things into storage, you will wonder why it took you so long to clean up your home. It is going to look amazing.

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Father Martin‘s

This 147-acre rehabilitation facility provides a compassionate approach to drug and alcohol recovery. Located near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, Father Martin’s program treats every participant with dignity and respect during their recovery.

Malibu Horizon

With one of the most successful patient records in the industry, Malibu Horizon combines medically proven rehabilitation methods with a caring 1-on-1 approach to therapy.

View Point Recovery Center

This family oriented facility is one of the highest rated locations for alcohol and drug rehab in Phoenix. The dedicated staff treats every patient like family, and provides one of the most effective Arizona substance abuse program in the entire state. The tightly-knit home environment provides a caring solution for addictions of all kinds, and supports the patient’s need for comfort, privacy and respect.

Caron Pennsylvania

This facility sets on a spacious campus environment to support an overall feeling of welcomeness and healing. The Pennsylvania facility is considered a home away from home among patients, but other Caron treatment centers utilize the very same principles throughout the recovery process. Located in Wernersville, the Caron Pennsylvania facility provides treatment and support for patients and their families to overcome the impact of addiction.

Harmony Foundation

Panorama of Estes Park (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Located just outside of Estes Park, Colorado, the Harmony Foundation is one of the most scenic rehabilitation centers in the mid-west region. Nature lovers and outdoors enthusiasts will find the area provides an overall positive outlook during treatment. Using a tried and true 12-step treatment program, the Harmony Foundation is one of the longest operating rehabilitation facilities in the country.

Many sufferers of substance abuse are reluctant to enter a rehabilitation program. Finding a treatment facility with a history of success is a must, but feeling welcomed into a caring environment is equally important. All 5 of these rehab centers hold a reputation for using proven treatment methods, treating each person as an individual and making every patient feel at home.

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Install a Home Security System

Studies show that burglars are deterred from houses that are clearly marked as containing a security system. A Corpus Christi TX home security system can be easily installed to keep burglars, violent offenders, and unwelcome intruders from coming into the home. Homes are far less likely to be violated if offenders know there is a security system in place. It is that simple. The security system is low-cost, especially when compared to the price of not having one when something happens.

Self-Defense Courses

A few self-defense classes are the best way to defend against bodily attacks from criminals. Learn karate or simple defense maneuvers that will take the criminal element down to his or her knees and give the victim enough time to get away and contact police officials. Self-defense does not involve the purchase of weapons or any other equipment. People taking these courses will learn how to use parts of their body to prevent bodily injury during an attack. It will also teach each person how to use every day items to inflict further injury to any person attempting to commit a crime against them.

Self-Defense Weapons

Deadly and non-deadly self-defense weapons are available to help stave off the possibility of violent attacks. Stun guns, pepper spray, and handguns are just a few of the weapons available to help with the task. If these weapons are not available, keys, paper clips, or any heavy items that can be thrown are handy ways to take care of the problem.

Simple Safety Precautions

Safety precautions that everyone should take every day include locking the doors, keeping the phone close by, asking who it is before opening the door, always telling someone where you are going, and keeping windows up in the car. These simple precautions could save a life.

Prevention and preparation are the keys to feeling more secure and worry-free. The first step to avoid becoming a victim of crime is to understand the true risk to home and family. The most common mistake people make is to think that a crime could not happen to them. It is time to take the fear out of daily living and start using everyday tools for self-defense.

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That’s right! A sunny day has more to offer human health and wellness than a brightened mood. Rays from the sun boost the immune system, and increase your bodies ability to repair genes. But without exposure to sunlight, the human body cannot manufacture a key component for our health that diet alone cannot supply for us: Vitamin D.

Infographic provided by Carrington’s Medical Billing School

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Common stress relief and relaxation techniques involve moments of tranquility with candles and a bubble bath. Maybe even a nice cup of chamomile tea. It’s undeniable that these techniques are helpful in relaxation, but they usually only help for a short period of time. Reducing stress so that you can relax can be an extremely difficult thing to do. There is rarely one technique or aspect of your life that can change in order to reduce the stress in your life. While individuals make look to bubble baths to change their stress level, they are forgetting a large part of stress management.

Exercising may seem like just one more thing to add on your daily to do list and may be the last thing you want to do when you are overworked and stressed already. Believe me, I get it. Stress can do horrible things to your body and if you let it go on long enough some of it can be extremely detrimental.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Exercise increases your endorphins-Endorphins are those feel good chemicals in your brain that boost you mood. High endorphin levels cause us to experience fewer negative effects of stress and they also lead to feelings of euphoria.

Meditation in motion- When we are stressed our minds are like a clogged sink. Thoughts pool up in our head and get stuck making it impossible for us to process anything. When you exercise, your mind is able to drain itself of those thoughts so it can focus on your body’s motions. As you resume those thoughts, you will be able to sort through them in a more clear and concise manner.

It can get you outside- Being cooped up inside has a tendency to maximize the stress in our lives. It’s amazing how much a little fresh air and sunshine can relax you. There have been studies done that show how being outside increases levels of serotonin which help to regulate your mood. Feeling sun on your skin and smelling fresh grass have also been known to elevate moods and have a relaxing effect.

Increase self-esteem- many times stress stems from feelings of inadequacy and poor self-image. Improving your health and toning your muscles will help to improve your self-confidence. Not only will you feel good about your body, but exercising can bring about feelings of accomplishment.

Once you decide to exercise in order to relieve some stress, you need to keep in mind that it’s not a one and done thing. You have to be persistent because you are not likely to feel the effects right away. Creating a consistent schedule to follow and you will be more likely to experience the benefits of exercise. However, you don’t have to participate in extremely vigorous exercise to experience the stress relieving benefits. Moderate to light exercise can have the same benefits. Go on daily walks with a friend or even work in your garden for some exercise. Have fun with it.

Author Bio:

Sam Foster is a health writer with a passion for running, swimming, and cycling. When he’s not gearing up for his next Iron Man or triathlon he writes for St. Luke’s Hospital, one of the nation’s top hospitals in heart care.

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Gluten

Many people’s bodies are sensitive to gluten, but they don’t even realize it until they have experienced so many side effects that their doctor decides to test their gluten sensitivity. Gluten intolerance not only affects digestion, it also has negative affects on the brain. Headaches, social phobias and depression can all be caused by gluten intolerance. Additional affects of gluten on the brain may include tremors, loss of balance, inability to concentrate and visual disturbances. People with undiagnosed gluten sensitivities often have vitamin deficiencies in their bodies because eating gluten causes an autoimmune reaction that damages their intestines. The intestinal damage makes it difficult for their bodies to absorb nutrients.

Sugar

Sugar is another very common substance that has a tendency to be harmful to our brains, especially if it’s consumed in large quantities. The sugar that you consume is converted in your body and feeds your brain. Brain function is often impaired when your blood sugar levels are below 80 mg/dl or above 270 mg/dl. Symptoms of too much glucose in the blood include slow reaction times, inability to complete simple tasks and decreased ability to do mental math. Similar impairments may occur when there is too little glucose in your blood to feed your brain properly. Long term affects of high blood sugar include impaired memory function and permanent loss of cognitive function.

Mercury

Although mercury poisoning is less common today than it was in years past, mercury is a dangerous substance that has both long-term and short-term affects on the health of people who are exposed to it. Most people come into contact with mercury by eating fish that contains heavy amounts of the substance. Mercury causes extensive damage throughout the body. Consumption may cause lethargy, anemia, rapid heart rate and other health issues. Long-term exposure to mercury often leads to death. Most of the damage that mercury causes affects the brain. It causes nerve damage, memory lapse and mental disturbances. Severe mercury poisoning often results in loss of coordination, blindness, coma or death.

Learn more about brain surgery and the side effects by clicking here.

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Fast Food (Photo credit: SteFou!)

We have to take a step back and realize what we are doing to ourselves and wonder if the illness, depression, and pain is our own cry for help. We’ve become a society that skips breakfast, snacks on diet soda and candy bars, runs to the nearest McDonald’s for lunch, grabs a coffee and a pastry for a mid-day pick me up, shovels dinner down from a box, foil, or plastic while standing up and watching the clock to making sure we’re not late to the next scheduled event. No wonder we’re sick, sad, and slowly killing ourselves!

So, what’s the solution? Get back to basics!! It’s a simple as that. We need to re-evaluate our lives, health, bodies, and families and figure out what’s more important.

Getting back from my rant… When we’re feeling sad and down our natural instinct is to grab the “comfort foods.” Which don’t get me wrong I love my southern foods and salted caramel gelato in the summer. And yes these things make me feel great and I indulge in them on special occasions, when I really want them, (which is in moderation) and sometimes on those really, really bad days I give into them because you just need that something to brighten your day, and sometimes the biggest bar of dark chocolate can change your whole mood and turn of daily events for the day.

When the sad, lonely, and depressed days continue for days, weeks, and months we need to look at our lifestyle. And the littlest changes can make all the difference. Studies prove diets high in processed meats, junk food, fried foods, sweets, processed sugars, snacks, and cereals, and large quantities of dairy are linked to depression. Here’s four ways to jump-start you back to being healthy but mostly to start feeling happy again.

1. Change your diet:  Diets high in fruits, vegetables, fish, and lean meats boosts energy and brain function. Helping you to feel better faster. Try cutting out the not so good for you foods for a couple of weeks and see how your mood, personal appearance, sleep patterns, and overall energy changes. Reach for the good carbs. The brain needs carbohydrates to function correctly so skip the potato chips and go for whole grains, fruits like apples and bananas. These fruits will also kick those sugar cravings we all get mid-day.
2. Up your antis: Antioxidants that is! Eat foods high in minerals and nutrients. Berries and tomatoes are high in Vitamin D. You can also get a huge boost of Vitamin D from the sun so get outside for some rays and fresh air, there’s no way you won’t start feeling better as soon as you get out and breathe that spring air. Up your Vitamin E by eating more nuts and seeds. And don’t forget your beta-carotene by increasing your intake of sweet potatoes, collards, and carrots.
3. Eat the good proteins: Cut out the fatty meats and go for the leaner ones. Like fish, reach for salmon, flounder, and even tuna. Chicken and turkey are also great feel good proteins. Don’t forget your beans and legumes that are essential for healthy diets.
4. Maintain a healthy weight: Excess weight can wreak havoc on your whole system. Excess weight puts a lot of stress on organs so make sure to take care of yourself. Drink lots of water, get 6-8 hours of sleep, try to get 30 mins of exercise a day that can be anything from walking to pulling weeds.

Here’s to feeling better about ourselves, eating better, and living happier!

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Better Relationships

A great education means better relationships for many people. That’s because education can make you better relationship material. Education can expand your interests and put you in different places, where you’ll meet a different sort of person than at your local bar or club. Those places may be fine to meet people for casual friendships, but perhaps, an interest in beer, shots, and shooting pool isn’t the best thing to base a long-term relationship on.

Improved Physical Health

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, education can contribute significantly to better physical health, reducing the likelihood of such things as heart disease and diabetes. Well educated people are more likely to seek out health information and apply it to their lives. Education expands possibilities and potentials, changing what people want out of life. Many people make conscious lifestyle choices to preserve the opportunities that a great education offers.

Enhance, Protect Mental Health

On April 10, 2012, US News and World Report noted that research has found that when it comes to being happy and enjoying a long life, education is one of the most important factors. An active, interested, well-educated mind, as explained in a March 6, 2013 Science Daily article, can help protect against Alzheimer’s Disease and age-related dementia. The role of an active mind in protecting against those ailments is well established by science. Education, ongoing throughout life, is a great way to stay mentally active and connected to the world around you.

Become Your Best Self

Earning a Masters in Employment Law online can launch you into an excellent career with financial security. However, a great education can also help you to become your best self, improving your physical health and increasing your satisfaction and happiness in your daily life. Improving your education can help you to be a more interesting person, changing your perspective on life and broadening your horizons. It really can make a better you.

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