Modern life is stressful. Everything happens at a thousand miles per hour, workloads feel higher than ever, and we always feel like we’re ‘switched on’. The rapid progress of technology hasn’t helped either; now we can receive work emails at any time of the day, and some of us feel like we’re obliged to reply to them. The gap between our personal lives and our professional lives has never felt smaller. We take our work home, and we take our home life into work too. Sometimes, it all feels like it’s getting a little bit too much.

Ten years ago, if you complained about stress becoming an issue, you’d have been told to take up yoga or meditation, but who has time for that? Taking time away isn’t always an option either; especially if the stress is actually coming from home. What you need is a ‘quick hit’ solution that drops stress levels there and then, and allows you to cool down and think about things rationally. That’s exactly what we’re going to give you right now. Here are five days to dial back stress when it’s becoming overwhelming.

 

1. Try The 4-7-8 Breathing Strategy

You don’t have time to meditate, and you probably couldn’t do so in the office anyway, but you do have time to take a second and breathe properly. Becoming conscious of your breathing, and breathing in a structured manner, is like a meditation shortcut. You get most of the benefits without having to spend time sat in the lotus position.

Simply sit back in your chair (or even on the floor if you’d prefer), and straighten your back. For the next four seconds, breathe in slowly. Once you get to four, hold your breath for seven seconds. At seven seconds, breathe out as slowly as you can, and try to keep breathing out for eight seconds. You’re breathing out for longer than you’re breathing in, and if you do it right, you’ll physically feel the tension leaving your body. It might take a couple of attempts to get it right, but you’ll be glad of it when you do.

 

 

3. Focus On One Thing

When you’re really stressed, what your mind really needs is a distraction from whatever’s pushed you to that level. It’s like you’re in a car, driving towards a wall, and you need to reach across and pull the steering wheel round to get back onto the road. You can force your brain to change course by telling it to focus on one thing, and one thing only.

It can be anything you like; whatever is easy to dial in on at the time. Become aware of your heartbeat, and start counting it. If you’re walking somewhere, focus on how each footstep feels. Notice the wind or the air moving across your face? Really be aware of it. Feel it. If it’s an option, take a bite of some food and put all your effort into noticing how it tastes. None of this solves the problem of whatever is stressing you out; it just cools your brain back down to a level where it can think about dealing with it.

4. Get It All Written Down

Quite often, stressful thoughts build up and spin around our head, going nowhere, but feeling like they’re getting faster each time. You need to get them out of your head so the process stops. Writing them down is the easiest way to do it. It might seem like you’re doing nothing but transferring the problem onto paper, but you’d be surprised at how much better it makes you feel. It’s almost like your brain treats writing the problem down as the first step in solving it, and relaxes to let you think more clearly.

Some people call this process a “brain dump”. It takes the emotion out of a problem or a frustration, and turns it into a simple fact written on paper. Because the emotion isn’t there, the issue looks easier to solve, and you may find that writing it down even helps you to start coming up with solutions. Nothing can be solved when it’s all locked up inside your head. Release it, and reduce the burden on yourself.

5. Stroke An Animal

We realize straight away that this isn’t a solution that’s open to everyone, especially in a work environment (although more and more businesses are bringing in official office pets for this exact reason). If you have a pet at home, go and spend fifteen minutes with them. If you don’t have a pet, and you find yourself becoming stressed often, then a pet might be exactly what you need.

Stroking furry animals actually releases both serotonin and dopamine into your brain. These are the chemicals that make you feel good. The more contact you have with a friendly animal that lets you stroke it, the better you’ll feel. The worst problem in the world can feel like nothing after fifteen minutes with a helpful dog or cat. It won’t make the stressful feelings go away forever, but it will reduce their impact for now, and when stress hits you hard that’s exactly what you need.

 

 

 

 

Disabled people have been forced to rely on a member of their family, friend or caregiver  to do things that they can no longer do but thanks to the recent advancements in technology the welfare of the disabled is changing for the better. They can do things that we’re once impossible and can use these skills to express themselves. A new exciting range of technologies has given the disabled the opportunity to control mouse movement with just their eyes. It’s not just about advances in technology though. The disabled are now able to sell and purchase approved Used Mobility Scooters which can save them up to 3,000.

Some of the technology we see and use on a daily basis can be used in different ways to help the lives of the disabled, such as using tablets to speak or using voice control to navigate mobile phones. The expense of these devices has worked in favor for both language and speech therapists. Apps including ‘Speak for Yourself’ allow therapists to work alongside disabled individuals to help then gain access to over 10,000 at the press of a screen. This has helped improve communication skills among people with autism. Parents and teachers have begun turning to tablets and other portable devices to help their children communicate effectively and practice their eye contact whilst learning new vocabulary. Apples assistive touch has also made room for those that suffer from a disability to use devices in a different way.

For those that are unable to type or use a touch screen, voice command technology gives them the opportunity to control their device with the use of their voice. Now, voice command technology is being used across an array of products, including cars and e-readers. Eventually, visually impaired individuals will be able to use devices equipped with GPS to guide themselves safely. In the future, they will be able to get themselves from A to B in cars that don’t require a driver.

This provides the disabled with self-confidence. Those that struggle on a daily basic with simple tasks we do without realizing start to lose self-confidence. They get frustrated with the fact that they are unable to do these things, whatever they might be, without assistance. This can result in the feeling of failure and even encourage depression. New technology brings that additional needed hope back into the lives of those that continue to feel disadvantaged and isolated from others. By helping them feel more independent rather than dependent; they can build a sense of achievement and be proud of what they have accomplished on their own.

More than 19% of the working population suffer from a disability and more than 10million of those live in Britain but thanks to technology, the world is changing for the better. The things we take for granted everyday are a step into the light for others. Mobile devices are no longer designed to make phone calls and to search the web; they provide disadvantaged people with the opportunity to communicate and feel as sense of freedom.

 

 

 

 

Back problems are very common nowadays. Perhaps, it is because a lot of people are now experiencing it due to our lifestyle. Back problems are so common to people who are working in offices while sitting from 8 to 12 hours a day.

One of the most dreaded symptoms of severe pains running from the lower back all the way to the legs is called Sciatica. According to studies, millions of people around the world suffer from this. It sounds very uncommon but has actually affected a lot of people and could affect you too. That is why it is important that one must understand what it is in order to treat it right and manage the pain.

 

Here are five things everyone must know about Sciatica.

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1. The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the human body.

Sciatica takes place when something puts pressure on the sciatic nerve which then ends up causing a sharp pain down a person’s lower back all the way to the legs. The sciatic nerve is the largest single nerve in the human body. It covers the whole lower spine all the way to the foot and it has an important role in connecting the spinal cord with your leg and foot muscles. If you experience any pain in any of those parts is referred to as sciatica.

 

2. One of the symptoms is lower back problems.

This is the most obvious and common symptoms if you have sciatica. A person suffering from sciatica will experience an annoying, burning, and searing pain in the lower back. Back problems from sitting can also be experienced. Most of the time, the pain radiates all the way to the lower parts of the body.

 

3. There is a nonsurgical treatment for sciatica.

There are several known treatments for sciatica and most of them are nonsurgical. Fewer people experience the chronic pain which is why only a few will ever have the need for surgery. These treatments can ease the pain you are suffering from. Acupuncture is known to relieve the pain after thin needles are stuck to specific points of your body. Massages, as well as a hot or cold compress,  are also a good way to treat back pains.

 

4. It can be treated using epidural steroid injections.

When the pain caused by sciatica has become severe, one of the last resorts when it comes to treatment is using an epidural steroid injection. Once it is used, it can directly take effect in the area in the sciatic nerve. It is effective, but it is not a long-term treatment.

 

5. The most common cause is a herniated disc.

Having sciatica has several causes but the most common one is a herniated disc. What happens is that a disc in your back is torn and it bulges into your spine and sciatic nerve. This occurrence can irritate the nerve root that is why it sends a shooting pain on your back and all the way to the legs. Sometimes, the pain is just temporary but others also have severe cases with the pain lasting longer periods of time.

 

 

 

 

Having a baby will change your body; some of these changes may be permanent but not all of them have to be. Your post-partum body is not something to worry about; with a bit of care and attention, sometimes, you’ll get back to looking like yourself. Some women take huge steps to help them to change their appearance, such as having a cheap hair transplant abroad, but you don’t need to make big changes. Have a look at our tips for getting back in shape after giving birth.

 

Eat Well

It sounds obvious, but it is important to eat well post-pregnancy. This doesn’t mean crash dieting, which many women are tempted to do to lose weight. Don’t cut anything out of your diet instead, make sure you add plenty of fruits and vegetables. Aim to stick to a balanced diet and make sure you know which food groups should take up the most room on your plate. It is easy to fall into bad habits when you are pregnant. Convenience meals and snacks are tempting when you are running on little sleep but try to reach for healthier options such as carrot sticks or celery. Bulk cooking nutritious meals can also be a great timesaving tactic, if you don’t have time ask a relative or friend to help.

 

Eat Enough

 

Eating enough is just as important as eating well to get back in shape. You should consume at least the recommended daily allowance of calories for women every day. This means eating three meals a day even if you feel pressed for time. Remember, eating frequently will help to kick-start your metabolism.

 

Get Outside 

Most women aren’t ready or able to exercise for weeks after birth. However, it is important to spend time outside whenever possible. New moms can often feel too tired to go out, but a five or ten-minute walk a day will help you to get some essential vitamin D and get your body moving. Try arranging to go for a walk with other moms in your area or friends to help form a healthy routine. When you are recovered and ready to begin exercising, start with gentle home exercises and avoid anything too strenuous. Yoga and swimming can be an ideal exercise to get your started when you are ready. You could also try going to a specially designed exercise class for new moms.

 

Have a Nap

Having a nap might seem counter-productive for getting your figure back but getting enough sleep could help with weight loss. Over-tired people usually crave sugary and fatty foods to help them feel energized, which is not good for getting in shape and will undo your hard work making healthy meals. Having a nap will also help you to feel more energized and able to get outside and keep moving.

The most important thing to remember is that your body will recover when it is ready, so don’t place any additional pressure on yourself.