Category Archives: Caregiving

Working a job or running a business while caring for a loved one can be a tough task. You have to balance between making your friend or family member feel loved and comfortable, and working a job to pay the bills. Additionally, with caregiving expenses the overall monthly expenses are likely to be higher and thus quitting a job may not be an option. If you find yourself in a situation where you are the primary caregiver and still have to work, below are 5 tips that can be helpful.

Find a More Flexible Job

The first option is to consider a flexible job that will leave you with enough time to care for your loved one. For instance, if you are currently working fulltime, you could consider a part time job opportunity in a field that pays well. A good example is a medical or dental assistant. Some dental offices hire assistants without any experience or formal training but in some cases you may be required to take a short course in a San Antonio Dental Assistant School. Other flexible opportunities you can consider include data entry, medical billing, freelance writing, transcription, translation, online tutoring, ecommerce stores, blogging, marketing, consultancy, customer service and book keeping, to mention but a few.

Have a Schedule

Review your work plan and the activities that need attention around the house and come up with a schedule for each day. Having a caregiving plan will keep you on track and ensure that everything is done on time. Every night before you go to bed, review your schedule for the next day so that you wake up prepared. Also, consider planning your meals in advance.

Buy Groceries and Other Supplies in Bulk

Going to the store every day is time consuming and thus you should consider shopping for all the supplies you need in bulk. Buying in bulk can also save you a few bucks every month. Make a list before you head to the store to ensure that you do not forget anything.

Exercise

Taking a few minutes to exercise every day can give you an energy boost, reduce fatigue and boost your feel-good hormones. Consider at least 150 minutes of cardio each week and a few minutes of stretching exercises. The workouts can be split to 30 minutes each day for five days. With a good workout routine, you will have more energy to care for your loved one and work your job. Additionally, exercise can boost the quality of your sleep and the strength of your bones.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

When you feel so worn-out, financially drained or emotionally drained, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Putting on a brave face when you’re feeling too drained may affect the quality of care you give to your loved one, your performance at work and your health. Thus, when you are feeling stretched, request a friend or family member to assist with caregiving, finances or just offer a shoulder to lean on.

With proper panning, you will be able to balance your job and caregiving responsibilities. However, note that you will not always have it all together. Don’t feel guilty when you feel tired and need some time off.

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organizations. Email: maggiehamm

Depression is often discussed in a way that minimizes it to a purely chemical condition, but in actuality, many negative emotions are caused by circumstances and occurrences with an individual’s life. On the other hand, optimizing your body chemistry by consuming a healthy diet is an excellent way to reduce the effects of depression, anger, and other moods that can have you feeling down and out.

Thus, there are various factors to consider when trying to determine the source of a bad emotion and how to put a stop to it in your everyday life. With that said, here are five things you can do to reduce the incidence of mood swings and create a more enjoyable lifestyle overall.

1.      Fix Your Diet

Most people overlook how profound of an effect diet can have on the way you feel and how you think. Many times, mood swings and bouts of depression are directly related to low blood sugar, nutrient deficiencies, chronic over usage of stimulants like sugar and caffeine, or other poor dietary habits. Try drinking water instead of soda for a while and make it a point to consume mostly whole foods. You don’t necessarily have to become a vegan food lover, and a rare snack of the processed variety won’t hurt, but if you’re wanting better moods, less junk is always better.

2.      Pick up a Hobby

Giving yourself something new to do will help keep your mind occupied and away from the wondering thoughts that may lead you back down the rabbit hole of depression. It can be something as simple as starting a collection of some sort or taking up a sport at the local gym.

3.      Be More Social

Loneliness and depression go hand in hand, so if you’re always alone and feeling sad with no one to talk to, it makes sense that your outlook on the future could suffer as well. Make it a point to make a few friends or reignite some old relationships and you’ll probably feel good that you did.

4. Start Working on that To -Do List

Staying goal oriented and continually making progress is a great way to release a rush of endorphins and serotonin because the brain’s pleasure center tends to issue a feeling of reward and satisfaction whenever a new achievement is tackled.

5. Focus on Success Instead of Failures

Everybody wins some and loses some, but it’s important not to dwell on your losses, even if they are more numerous than your wins. In fact, some of the greatest achievers of all time had to endure a hard-fought journey to the top, and during such battles, failures are almost always going to be more common than successes, so you just have to learn from them.

Give Positives More Weight Than Negatives

By latching onto successes and giving them much more weight than the failures, while also practicing the other tips mentioned above, you can begin to dismiss the shortcomings of your past along with all the detrimental emotions that come along with not letting go and moving on.

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organizations. Email: maggiehamm

With today’s busy lifestyles and crazy schedules, finding enough time to maintain your own self-care is often the last priority. There are a number of things that can make you feel negative and can hinder your progress in life but getting through these hurdles is what makes you a stronger and more resilient person. Whatever life throws at you, by taking a positive approach and spending time on caring for your body and mind, you’ll start to notice changes in both physical and mental well being. Sometimes you need a reality check, and although you may have a support network around you, you have to take responsibility for your own destiny and well being to support your own development and progression in life.

For some people, this concept can be more difficult than for others, so if you’re looking for some inspiration on how you can incorporate self-care into your life, take a look at these handy tips to make some time for you.

Treat yourself as you treat others

The saying normally goes ‘treat others how you want to be treated,’ but that should also be turned around when looking at how you value yourself. Being kind to yourself is just as important as being kind and considerate to other people and actually could arguably be more important. Give yourself little pep talks and make sure you’re supporting and nurturing your own development. Re-training your thought process and recognizing your own strengths and attributes will help you gain more self-confidence which leads to better self-care.

Focus on being healthy and happy

You may have some personal hurdles to overcome that prevent you from seeing the bigger picture, or you might need a little motivation to get rid of those bad habits. However, focusing on health and feeling happy is an essential factor in self-care. It might be you need a little helping hand for alternatives to habits such as smoking, and www.brokedick.com offers liquids to support a change in lifestyle. Feeling healthy also isn’t just about physical health, it also focuses on mental health too, so making some time for yourself and relieving symptoms of daily stresses can help put you in a better frame of mind to take on new challenges.

Staying positive

Learning to love yourself and your body can be a difficult task but having the right mindset and getting to grips of the real picture can help you see past the fake stimuli that society is pressuring you to achieve. Focusing on the positives in all situations even the bad ones can help you achieve so much more. Not fixating on problems and seeing past small issues can help you understand things in a different light, which, in turn, help to control your emotions and take care of your mind.

Believing in your own strengths and realizing your achievements is vital for positive affirmation. Getting to this point might require time and patience, but the journey will help you reap the rewards in self-love.

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organizations. Email: maggiehamm

The thought of your caregiving journey coming to an end may be extremely overwhelming and upsetting. Whether the person in your care passes over or makes a full recovery, it can be incredibly difficult to find your feet and move on with your life. If you are so used to thinking about the needs of someone else, not having to do so anymore could leave you feeling more than a little lost. Instead of fretting about the future, you should take on board the following seven suggestions. They won’t be able to remove the pain from the process, but they will be able to provide you with a little comfort during this tough time.

Find hobbies to enjoy

As a caregiver, it is unlikely that you currently have a lot of time to spare. However, once you are relieved of your caregiving duties, you will suddenly have a huge gap in your schedule. If this is due to the loss of the loved one, you may find it extremely difficult to come to terms with your change in lifestyle. Even if this is due to a brilliant recovery, it is still possible that you will find yourself at sea, which is why you should be on the lookout for interesting hobbies to enjoy. This will provide you with something positive to direct your attention towards. It will also help you to rediscover your identity as an individual. Instead of seeing everything in relation to the person in your care, you will need to teach yourself to prioritize your own needs once again.

Establish your own support system

Taking part in exciting new hobbies could also provide you with a fantastic opportunity to meet new people. If you are going to move forward with your life, it is vital that you have your own support system to fall back on. This may seem like a foreign concept if you are used to being the one that is providing support. However, every now and then, it is important that you allow yourself to be taken care of. If you are wondering how to achieve this, why not sign up to a friend finding app? You could even look out for ex-caregivers who are also trying to build connections. That way you will be linked to likeminded individuals who understand your mindset and appreciate everything that you have been through.

Reach out to other caregivers

If you are interested in reaching out to other caregivers, you should do so via a wide range of online forums. You could also follow uplifting blog sites or attend conventions. This is a great opportunity for you to learn from the experiences of others. To someone who has never been a caregiver, all of your answers will appear obvious. You should simply cheer up, keep busy, and put yourself first. However, your fellow caregivers will be able to understand just how difficult it is to break away from the pattern of always prioritizing someone else.

Look after your own health

The next step is to look after your own health. You can do this by taking up regular exercise, following a healthy diet, and spending plenty of time in the open air. You should also be getting enough sleep and drinking your recommended daily intake of water. If you have spent all of these years worrying about someone else’s health, the last thing you want is to be struck down by your own health issues now that your time is your own. That is why you should also endeavor to invest in a comprehensive health care plan and schedule in regular checkups. As a caregiver, you understand perfectly just how important good health can be to someone’s life. That is why you should never take any chances with your own.

Deal with any negative side effects

If you have experienced any negative side effects from your years of caregiving, it is vital that you deal with them as soon as possible. For example, if you struggle with anxiety after years of worry, you will benefit from speaking with a therapist. They will be able to provide you with the coping techniques you need to clear your mind and control your breathing. Or, if you have become overly reliant on harmful substances, you should visit an inpatient drug rehab Colorado way. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to receive the treatment you need in a safe environment, led by professionals who know the journey themselves. Whatever your issue, it is important that you confront it head-on. Acting as a caregiver is an extremely difficult job, so you shouldn’t feel ashamed if it has had a serious impact on your life.

Re-evaluate your living space

Another great idea is to re-evaluate your living space. If you have had your patient or loved one living at home with you, it is important that you embrace a new way of looking at your environment. This is especially important if part of your caregiving duties required you to maintain a sterile home that stored a lot of medical equipment. Instead of being surrounded by painful memories, you should consider updating your design scheme. This could be a therapeutic process, so it is important that you carry out most of the work independently. That way, you can ensure the transformation occurs at a speed that you are comfortable with. While it is essential that you move forward in your life, you don’t want to do so before you are ready.

Embrace a change of scenery

If you are not yet ready to transform your home, but would like to enjoy a change of scenery, you should get to work planning a vacation. This is a brilliant opportunity for you to step away from the stresses and strains of daily life. It is also a great way for you to force yourself to unwind. If you haven’t truly relaxed for a number of years, it might take some getting used to. That is why you will benefit from a trip abroad. Once you have selected your destination, you could invite along some close friends. Or, you could make the most of your chance to go it alone.

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organizations. Email: maggiehamm

How to get help with your caregiving duties

As a caregiver, it is likely that you are dealing with an enormous amount of responsibility. In order to protect yourself and the person in your care, it is important that you are honest about whether or not your duties are beginning to overwhelm you. The moment that you feel out of your depth, you should be on the lookout for opportunities to lighten your workload. One of the best options available to you is to bring in outside help. If you are wondering how this could work, you will need to pay close attention to the following seven suggestions.

Hire a personal trainer

First things first, you should consider hiring a personal trainer. This is a fantastic way for you to improve the health and happiness of the person that you are caring for. You could even join in with the exercises yourself, in an attempt to boost your own levels of strength, flexibility, and stamina. If you decide to push forward with this plan, just make sure that you opt for a personal trainer who is able to tailor their workouts to suit your specific needs. Otherwise, you could be putting the person you care for in danger. Although it is important that they stay healthy and active, it is vital that they aren’t pushed beyond their capabilities.

Work with a physiotherapist

If the recipient of your care isn’t in a position to benefit from a personal trainer, why not scale things back by working with a physiotherapist? This is a great opportunity for you to ensure the person that you are caring for isn’t doing any long-term damage to their health. Depending on the condition that they are dealing with, it is possible that they will be putting extra strain on specific areas of their body. Instead of allowing everyday wear and tear to spiral out of control, you can hire a physiotherapist to prevent this from happening.

Call in a dietician

Another important step is to call in a dietician. Hopefully, bringing in an expert will help you to ensure your patient or loved one is eating the correct meals and receiving all of the nutrients they require. While you might find it difficult to talk them out of unhealthy choices, a trained professional will be equipped with persuasive arguments and startling facts. They will also be able to help your patient or loved one to enjoy the best of both worlds. Instead of cutting out all of their favorite treats, a dietician will think up innovative recipes that are both healthy and delicious. When you are struggling through a hard time, the last thing you want is to be denied all of life’s small pleasures, which is why you need to strike the right balance between being a sensible caregiver and acting as a kind and understanding source of support.

Reach out to a rehab center

If the person that you are caring for is struggling with addiction, it is essential that you reach out to a rehab center as soon as possible. This is one area of the caregiving process where you simply cannot manage independently. Of course, you can offer your patient or loved one plenty of advice, but you can’t shoulder the burden of their behavior alone. That is why you should research drug rehab centers in Washington State. Whether the recipient of your care is struggling with addiction as a result of depression or compulsive medication use, the right rehab will be sure to help you out. Allowing their addiction issues to escalate could put even more strain on their body and mind, so you need to act at the first sign of trouble.

Book a session with a stylist

Next, you should consider booking a session with a stylist. While this step might not seem as important as visiting a rehab center or collaborating with a physiotherapist, there are still plenty of benefits to thinking about the superficial from time to time. In order to raise the spirits of the person in your care, you need to make sure that they are looking and feeling their best. The fact that they are going through a difficult time doesn’t mean that they can’t take pride in their appearance. Therefore, organizing a styling session could be a brilliant way for you to remind your patient or loved one that they are still worthy of pampering and preening. You could even use this as a bonding session and join in with the fun. Whatever you decide, the most important thing is that everyone involved is given the chance to feel confident, happy, and normal.

Hire an interior designer

In addition to this, you should encourage your patient or loved one to hire an interior designer. This is another brilliant way for you to provide them with a mood-boosting treat. Updating their décor could also be a great option if they are tired of being constantly enveloped by medical equipment and a sterile environment. If the person that you are responsible for spends a lot of their time at home, it is vital that they are comforted by their surroundings. Even if you don’t decide to pay out for an interior designer, you could always take matters into your own hands by adding a touch of color to the walls, rearranging the furniture for easy access, and purchasing a couple of houseplants. You might be surprised by the amount of difference it makes.

Schedule in a regular deep clean

Last but not least, you should embrace the many benefits of hiring a cleaner. There is no better way for you to ensure your patient or loved one is protected against harmful germs and bacteria. A regular deep clean will also come in handy if they suffer from allergies or easily trip and fall. While you may not be able to afford a weekly clean, scheduling one in for the end of every month will still have an impact. Of course, it will provide a touch of luxury for the person in your care, but it will also help to cross one more job off your list. It really is a win-win situation!

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organizations. Email: maggiehamm

Chemical poisoning might sound very rare and complex to occur normally, but it is actually quite common in children and the elderly in particular- most of the household products, medicines, cleaners we use daily have chemicals in them, and due to their physical frailty, kids and the aged are more vulnerable to injury or illness by chemical poisoning. Substances like carbon monoxide and lead are common in cleaning liquids and yet other chemicals release fumes and odors which can cause slow chemical poisoning when inhaled frequently. An elderly person is more susceptible to these dangers but there are a few checks to prevent chemical poisoning.

Keep notes

With age, one tends to get a little confused about different things, and it’s possible for the same to happen in the case of medication. To avoid the risk of getting muddled and taking the wrong medicine, or consuming it the wrong way, one can keep notes about each medicine and when and how it should be taken. Caregivers should keep track of the same.

Protection against fumes

An elderly person should try to find alternatives to harsh chemicals which give out possibly poisonous fumes, but in case that is not possible, it is prudent to take measures such as using thick, anti-absorbent cleaning rags and brushes, protective face and body gear, and opening all the windows around to let the gases out. The caregiver needs to be careful in such cases.

Study and research

If you’re taking care of the elderly on a regular basis, or are doing it professionally you might consider reading up on what kinds of chemicals to avoid or to be careful around. There are several courses from simple first aid to basic toxicology which you can pursue. In fact, toxicology makes a sound career and combining it with anti-hazard precautionary care for the elderly is a novel idea. How much does a toxicologist make? A good amount, that’s for sure, and it’s a great way to learn about chemicals, chemical poisoning, and how to prevent it.

Emergency phone line

This is important for everyone, including the aged and their caregivers. Always keep a poison/hazard helpline number at hand, amongst the regularly important numbers such as those of the police, ambulance, fire department, etc. Chemical poisoning is a terrible danger for the elderly, and being prepared this way is best.

Store chemicals in original containers

Many households have a tendency to store different products and materials in containers of different categories, such as laundry detergent in a soda bottle, for example. That is not a good idea, as the aged person might mistake it for something else and spill the chemical, which could result in injury. So be careful not to interchange containers with chemicals in them, and label everything clearly to avoid any confusion.

As you may have observed, the little factors play a huge role in preventing terrible events like chemical poisoning. One must be alert, careful and pro-active when it comes to protecting particularly the aged from such dangers.

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organizations. Email: maggiehamm

Everybody gets stressed at one point or another, and everybody has different reasons for being stressed. It’s virtually impossible to avoid being stressed, as a Gallup poll carried out late last year that revealed just 4% of American’s felt they had never been stressed showed.

If you can’t avoid it – and short of moving to a desert island where the pressures of life are absolutely non-existent, that seems unlikely – then the next best thing is learning how to deal with it.

Thankfully, there are quite a few coping mechanisms that can help you deal with most stressful situations. For starters, here are six tips for dealing with stress.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine and refined sugars

Many of us turn to caffeine to keep us awake or alcohol and nicotine to help us cope in stressful situations. None of these substances is particularly helpful for dealing with stress. Caffeine and nicotine are both stimulants so will actually increase your stress levels rather than reducing them while alcohol may give us a temporary feeling of elation or a boost, but ultimately it is a depressant which means that it is far more likely to make you feel even worse than we did before hitting the bottle.

If you are feeling stressed, swap caffeinated and alcoholic drinks for water or natural drinks such as fruit juice and herbal teas. These will keep your brain hydrated which will help keep you awake and alert just as caffeine does but without the negative impact of a stimulant.

Refined sugars are particularly bad for stress levels due to the energy crashes they can be responsible for which can make you tired, irritable and angry. More than two-thirds of the refined sugar used in the United States is found in processed food, so by cutting out cheaply manufactured food produce in favor of fresh produce, you’ll be helping to cut your stress levels.

Take part in physical activity

Our ancestors from thousands of years ago used to have to fight to survive and that has left modern day man with hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. These chemicals are released into the body in stressful situations in order to provoke the fight or flight response , which was designed to protect us from harm when we were under threat.

The stresses of modern day life such as a work deadline or trying to host the perfect Thanksgiving meal don’t require a fight or flight response, so how do you deal when your body releases adrenaline and cortisol into your system? Exercise is one way to do so. It can help to metabolize the excessive stress hormones and return your body to a calmer state.

If you are feeling stressed, then go for a brisk walk in the fresh air to relieve it. If you want to help manage stress before it has even hit, then regular physical activity can do the trick as well as improving your sleep. Which moves us nicely onto…

Get a good night’s sleep

Sleep and stress are a vicious circle. You need to get a good night’s sleep to feel less tired and as a result less stressed, yet if you are stressed, you may struggle to sleep as thoughts and worries continue to swirl around your head when you are trying to drift off.

There are a several ways in which you can help yourself get the recommended seven to nine hours sleep a night that an adults over the age of 26 need. Stopping doing mentally demanding work a few hours before going to bed will allow your brain time to unwind and switch off while you should also avoid anything containing caffeine before hitting the pillow.

A warm bath or reading fiction can help relax your body and take your mind off the stresses of everyday life that might be keeping you awake. You should also try and stick to a regular bedtime. If your body knows that come 11pm every day you’ll be switching off, then it will adapt and be prepared to shut down at that time each night, in turn helping you get to sleep.

Supplement your diet with natural remedies to help you relax

We’ve already covered the fight or flight response and what that does for stress levels – so how did our ancestors cope with stress? In ancient times, herbal remedies would have been used to help reduce anxiety and depression which can lead to high-stress levels.

These answers still exist today. Some herbal remedies you may want to consider to combat stress are Ashwagandha which one study showed reduced stress by 44%, Rhodiola who’s properties include energy enhancement and improving mood, valerian root which can help with insomnia and nervousness and cannabidiol which helps manage anxiety.

Keep a diary

Writing “Dear diary…” entries when you are stressed probably sounds like a pretty accurate description of hell, but it can be an extremely beneficial tool when it comes to managing stress. By noting down the time and place when you underwent a stressful episode, you’ll have a record to look back at and work out if any similarities are linking the times you are stressed.

You could discover that it is happening in the run-up to performing a specific weekly chore or when you come across a certain individual. By working out certain scenarios that are making you stressed, you can either avoid them completely in the future or if that isn’t just isn’t possible, try and come up with ways to cope when faced with them.

Say NO!

Often, we put ourselves under additional stress because we can’t say no. Whether it be to that extra shift at work or helping out a neighbor, taking on extra responsibilities is extra stress – especially if you already lead a hectic lifestyle with far too much crammed in.

It’s difficult to say no, especially when we feel like we may be letting a friend or relative down. It is something we all have to learn to do though. Learning to say no to requests that you don’t think are important or are simply ones that you can’t or don’t want to fulfill will help you deal with stress.

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organizations. Email: maggiehamm

It’s natural for people to want to share their life with others and build relationships in different areas of their life. Whether these relationships are on an intimate, friendship or family level, each and every one is important for building a better life and compassionate outlook. Positive relationships are good for the soul, and they provide tons of benefits for you and those around you. Some of the most obvious advantages of building healthier relationships come in the form of trusting one another, respecting others and making time for the people who matter most but there are also plenty of other significant benefits too including:

Encourages healthy habits

You are most influenced by the people around you, so building better relationships will help you get the most of the good aspects and healthier habits for the long term. You’re likely to follow in the footsteps of someone who is a good role model, and this can be for healthy eating habits, supporting change and reducing things that negatively impact your life.

Decreases stress

When people that support and comfort you surround you, you are less likely to be affected greatly by everyday stresses. Also, for people that are in a committed relationship, studies suggest that you release less of the hormone that contributes to stress. Working together and building up resilience to trivial stresses can help you sustain a happier lifestyle and enjoy support others around you.

Solving problems

When you have a good network surrounding you, you are more likely you be able to tackle problems calmly and rationally. This support network can provide a place to bounce ideas off each other and come up with solutions to small or larger issues. It can also be a fun space too, as challenging yourself to work together in a relationship building exercise such as the Memphis Escape Room will get everyone working together in a fun and exciting way.

Helps you to heal

Both in the physical and emotional sense, having healthy and supportive relationships with you can help you to heal faster. Research has shown that people who have others supporting them after operations and times of illnesses are more likely to recover faster for those that don’t have a support network. In emotional cases, having a significant other to talk through your problems and help you through bad times will help to see things in a different light which aids recovery times.

Contributes to a longer life

Having better relationships over the course of our life is said to lead to a longer and happier lifestyle in the long run. Healthy relationships help to keep blood pressure down and support your coping strategies towards stress. Having people around you also gives you a greater sense of purpose and although it might not seem apparent, a feeling that you are a more prominent part of people lives. This sense of self-worth and purpose in life is said to add years to your life too.

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organizations. Email: maggiehamm

Staying On a Clear Path

Go to school, spend time with family and friends, practice self-care and even choose a career that you feel fulfills your soul: staying on a clear path throughout your life could also mean staying out of trouble. It is all of these factors that can contribute to someone staying on a law-abiding path in life. There will always be ups and downs with everything, but that does not mean that you should neglect taking care of yourself. Taking care of yourself is incredibly important for the sake of your mental health and living a long life. Avoid breaking the law and engage in activities that make you happy. This article provides further details about what staying on a clear path could entail.

Go to school

School and education is a privilege that some people still fight to obtain in certain parts of the world. Not everyone can receive free education. It’s highly important for those that do to attend. School is beneficial for kids and adults for a number of reasons. For one, attending school helps kids obtain the necessary social skills for life. Moreover, without school, you may find it harder to understand what the correct path in life is. This is broadly used because the ‘correct’ path sometimes means something different for everyone. However, what remains the same is this need for people to stay within the law and to ensure that their life path does not harm them or the people that surround them. Plus, going to school teaches people from a young age how to read, write, critical thinking skills and so on. It is these skills that set people up for a functional life in society. In addition, school develops personalities from a young age, as the interaction with people can mold kid’s likes and dislikes. Without learning about all of these different factors from a young age, adults would have a hard time adapting to professional work.

Avoiding addiction

Some people use substances such as alcohol and drugs as a way to connect with people. It ties back to the importance of attending school, as school helps people gain the necessary social skills. Addicts, for instance, can use their chosen drug as a way to connect with others. However, those that fall prey to this drug will also wind up incarcerated or even worse. ‘10 Things You Learn As A Heroin Addict’ will help you learn about Connor’s story and his life with heroin addiction. There is an assumption that the drug will make people feel good, but really, the opposite is true. Should people fall into this life, getting help is one of the most important things you can do to overcome the addiction. Recovery is the only way to come out of substance addiction, and just because people you know are taking the drug does not make it ok.

Avoiding addiction is more than just avoiding a certain drug; it is avoiding alcohol abuse and any other substance or drug overdose. When you begin to talk to people or hang out with people who have fallen off the path, it’s important to quit sooner rather than later. Meaning, stop running with those crowds. True friends do not force you down a path of addiction, nor should they. True friends inspire you to live the best life you can and support you every step of the way.

Help from friends & family

Family and friends play a huge role in people’s lives. Having people in your life that support and love you will further help you stay on a good path in life. A support system from the people that care about you can be one of the best scenarios to help you through any tough situations. Family, for instance, is meant to prepare you for the world from a young age. Teaching you right from wrong and taking care of you. For those that do not have a good relationship with their families, friends are the family you choose. Having people around that care about you will help you emotionally. Distancing yourself from these people, alternatively, will sabotage your ability to connect with them on an emotional level. You must be open and allow for friends and family to help out, especially during stressful or anxious times in life. They are there to provide comfort, and these are individuals you should open up to about your feelings and emotions.

Self-care

It is always up to you to take care of yourself. Family and friends can help support you, but nobody can tell you what to do outside of you. That is why self-care tips are beneficial. One example of self-care is going about life slower. Life isn’t a marathon with checklists. Everyone hits milestones at a different point. Don’t always get caught up with social media applications and constantly being on your cell phone. Go for walks in the park or take a stroll through the neighborhood. Self-care can also differ with the seasons, as you may not be as inclined to go for long walks in mid-winter. Still, winter is a great time to sit by a fireplace and read a favorite book, watch a good show, drink some hot chocolate and take some time to relax. Taking care of yourself will go a long way to improving your way of life.

Choosing a career that fulfills your soul

Choosing a career that fulfills your soul could be another self-care method. People spend a lot of their lives in the workplace. You have to make money to afford to purchase a home, furniture, food, clothes, etc. Thus, aim to go to a job that fulfills your soul. Having a dead end job will only make you hate your life, and this will not benefit you. You can stay on a clear path and still have a job you hate, but having a job you love will make life more exciting. Life is too short, so you might as well do your best to get the kind of job that would make life fun.

Self-care is one of the most important factors when it comes to staying on a good life path. Still, friends and family, education, career and avoiding addiction all affect your quality of life. As a result of this, it’s important to surround yourself with people who will push you to succeed and make you happy. From a young age, always do your best to stay out of trouble. Trouble should not be the go-to activity throughout life.

Author’s bio: Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organizations. Email: maggiehamm