Old Habits Die Hard

Old habits are hard to break, which is why it is extraordinarily difficult to quit biting your nails. I know, I've been there. Up until I was was about 15, I not only chewed on my nails, but I also chewed on the skin around them (which is really common among those who bite their nails). My fingers were almost always bloody and sore. On top of that, I never thought about how unsanitary it was. Give your fingers a break.

Why is biting your nails bad? When you bite your nails, you are putting all the germs that are caught under your nails IN YOUR MOUTH! And if you chew the skin around it, you are exposing your fingers to germs and risk an infection.

How do I stop? Sometimes all you need is to be more aware of where your hands are. When I absolutely need to remember something, I write it down in bright red on the back of my hand. I know it does not look very nice, but how could I miss that bright red on my hand? Try putting a bright and outrageous nail polish on. That way, when you bring your hand up to your mouth, you see the color and know to stop. If that isn't enough, some companies sell nail polish that tastes horrible. This way, you won't want to chew on your nails. I think it would be a better idea to dip your fingers in some vinegar and do that periodically throughout the day, seeing as we all know that that is safe and nontoxic. DO NOT DIP THEM IN ANYTHING SPICY. Sure, the taste will keep your fingers away from your mouth, but if you go up to rub your eye, you will be experiencing terrible pain for a few minutes (and you don't want that). If all else fails, you may need to take up a hobby. Just keep your hands busy and away from your teeth.

This really does require a lot of patience with yourself and a lot of effort. Before, I thought I had weak and ugly nails. Now, I enjoy the look and feel of long, strong nails. The time and effort is so worth it.

Ouch!

Bladder infections can be terribly painful and very annoying. They can be just a discomfort, or be really serious. The first site listed here will give you all the technical jargon on bladder infections.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/12494-bladder-infections/

And this site lists home remedies and prevention.

http://www.home-remedies-for-you.com/remedy/Urinary-Tract-Infection-(UTI).html

Our best friends

Many of us have our childhood friends that we have long conversations with on the phone. Or maybe it is your cousin or sibling. These people are good for our social health. But I am not talking about these people today, instead, I am talking about our furry friends. Many people out there think that they are too busy, or have too little a house or income to own a cat or dog. But many people out there still manage to do it, and they reap the benefits. That's right, there are far more benefits to having a canine or feline companion versus human companions. Read up on these benefits on the sites listed below and be amazed.

http://www.helpguide.org/life/pets.htm

http://stress.about.com/od/lowstresslifestyle/a/petsandstress.htm

Is organic worth it?

Organic offers you pesticide free product, true, but with an increased cost. So is the cleaner product really worth it, especially to those who must stretch every dollar? The site below is very informing and will really help me out next time I am walking through the produce at the market.

http://www.kvbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=4497016#

I hope you enjoy.

Is crying healthy?

The shedding of tears is often negatively looked upon by society. It is regarded as a sign of weakness, or a need for attention. I found 3 sites that explain what the purpose behind emotional tears are and the health benefits associated with it.

http://www.geocities.com/tcartz/crying.html

http://www.cyquest.com/good_cry.html

http://www.helium.com/items/339767-possible-health-benefits-of-crying

What did I gather from these? Letting them roll will leave you much happier and much healthier.

Stay Safe on Halloween

It is right around the corner, and any of us living with little ones know how much they anticipate it. We all also know that there are far more dangers that night than on a typical night. All adults should review the sites I have listed below for Halloween safety tips and in turn inform all those who will be participating (your children, younger brothers and sisters, your neighbor) to follow all the tips for a safer, much more enjoyable Halloween.

http://www.halloweenmagazine.com/rules.html

http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/

http://www.lacity.org/lafd/hween.htm

What is that smell?

Most of us want our shoes to last. But the problem that always makes us want to trash our footwear before it's their time is their horrid smell.

To prevent smelly shoes, you should always wear thick cotton socks to absorb sweat. With flip flops and flats, make sure that your feet are clean and that they have air to breath. If your shoes get wet, be sure they are completely dry before you wear them again. Toss them in a dryer for a few minutes. And be sure to sprinkle baking soda in your shoes to absorb any odors.

To rid your shoes of their smell, once again, sprinkle your shoes with baking soda and let them sit over night. You can also put some Gold Bond foot powder in your shoes to kill any fungus or bacteria that may be causing the smell.

So now you can keep your favorite pair of shoes.

For your occasional irregularity

We all have the occasional irregularity, but this irregularity is a very normal thing for many out there suffering from constipation.There are many causes, and many ways to relieve your constipation. I love the sites listed below because they highlight some commonly ignored advice and inform you on some causes and solutions that may have never crossed your mind.

http://www.colonhealthadvice.com/causes-of-constipation.html

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art14193.asp

When you have to leave

Far too many of my friends think that the behavior displayed by their partner in their relationship is normal. I am sure that they are convinced that whatever relationship they may be in is nothing out of the ordinary. If your significant other does anything this site list, you need to re-evaluate whether this person is really worth your love.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2091310_relationship-toxic-relationship-hurting.html#

Value yourself.

My keyboard isn't working

I'm using my onscreen keyboard. Here is a site on general keyboard problems.

http://support.gateway.com/s/tutorials/Tu_926437.shtml

What you should always have in your car

Admit it. Your car is your second home. You use it all the time. So shouldn't you be prepared in case something goes wrong? I have listed 10 things that you should always have in your car.

1) A cell phone. Definitely a must. Even an old cell phone without a carrier. As long as it is fully charged, you should be able to call 911.

2) The owners manual. This is a duh that many people don't give notice to. It will definitely be helpful with or without emergency.

3) Food and water. You may end up being stuck out in the middle of nowhere all day long.

4) Road flares. It lets other drivers who are passing know you need help and will prevent any more accidents.

5) Duct tape. Everyone knows how useful this is with most anything. Be sure to keep a roll with you.

6) First aid kit. If involved in an accident, it can be a lifesaver.

7) Flashlight. It is a necessity at night when making jump starting a car or changing a tire.

8) Jumper cables. To revive a dead battery and to be revived.

9) Blankets. It can get pretty chilly at night and you probably want to stay warm.

10) Toilet paper. When stuck in a rural area, it is way better than leaves.

Why they should be pulled

The wisdom teeth are the third set of molars to come in. They come in between the ages of 17 and 21. When they grow in, they can grow in perfectly fine and cause no troubles. However, more often than not, they cause many problems and need to be removed.

The potential problems are:

Crowding of teeth.
Damage to adjacent teeth.
Damage to nerves.
Damage to jawbone.
Make second molars vulnerable to decay.
Can stay trapped in gum (causing pain).
Can only partially breakthrough (causing pain and leaving you vulnerable to bacteria).
And misalignment of jaw.

How will they pull them out?

Your oral surgeon will numb the area around the teeth to be pulled. He will then remove any bone or tissue blocking the teeth. He will extract them with his fancy instruments and whatnot. And if necessary, he will then stitch you up to help you heal faster.

In any case, I think it is very worth the temporary pain to save you smile, and to save yourself any long term pain.

My sources:

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/wisdom-teeth

http://dentistry.about.com/od/preventionandtreatment/tp/wisdomteeth.htm

Its that time again

The time that comes every month (lady specific). Some of us out there have to deal with this to the full extent (painful cramping). I listed the sites below to help you find ways to relieve that pain.

http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/crampsmenstrual/ht/menstrualcramps.htm

http://www.ehow.com/how_1960_relieve-menstrual-cramps.html#

Yoga

My grandmother practices yoga because she believes it is good for her health. I know that yoga can improve your flexibility, but I was not aware of all the benefits. So once again, I did the research.

Flexibility. Yoga stretches your muscles and relieves stiffness, tension, pain, and fatigue. It also allows more freedom in the motion of your joints and lubricates your joints.

Strength. Some styles of yoga are a bit more vigorous than what you would imagine. The aim of these styles is to build upper and lower body strength through specific poses that target your upper body, hamstrings, quadriceps, and abdominal muscles.

Posture. Yoga will strengthen your core making it more likely that you will stand tall and sit with better posture. You will also develop more awareness on your body and you will quickly notice when you are slouching.

There are many more benefits to yoga that I don't list here. You may read up on them on the sites listed below.

http://www.webmd.com/balance/the-health-benefits-of-yoga

http://yoga.about.com/od/beginningyoga/a/benefits.htm

Apples

I'm very big on health, which is funny cause I'm not big on fruits. So I thought I would research apples (seeing as supposedly an apple a day keeps the doctor away). And this is what I found to be most useful.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400279/eat-more-apples

http://www.helium.com/items/1226658-health-benefits-of-apples-apple-varieties-apples-health

So eat up.

Make your shoes last

I was walking around my campus today, and had to sit down and massage my heels. My shoes are so extraordinarily worn, hence the pain. I decided to find what I can on how to make your shoes last longer. Here's a site I found for that specifically. Enjoy.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2186588_extend-life-shoes.html#

Boost yourself

Cold weather is setting in, and that means getting your body better prepared for any sickness that may come along. The cold weakens your immune system, so its time to give it an extra boost.

There are 4 changes that need to be made to strengthen your system.

1) Eat a balanced diet. You need all the proper nutrition to keep your immune system in top quality.

2) Take your supplements. Especially Vitamin C. Your body needs it.

3) Exercise. You don't have to participate in a marathon. Just fit it in.

4) Sleep. you know better than to be staying up so late, and yet you still do it. It is needed to recharge your WHOLE body.

Don't fall prey to the cold or flu.

Dry air

So lately, I have been waking up with a sore throat. It's really dry and painful to swallow. I thought that for some odd reason, I was sleeping with my mouth open. But I noticed that my nasal passage was also dry. My grandmother had a bloody nose a few days ago and mentioned something about the air. I did my research, and I think that the air is too dry. So is your air dry?

What you need is a humidifier. I only wake up with a sore throat and it goes away after a few hours, so if this is the case for you, you should only run it when you sleep.

I happen to be lacking a humidifier, and I am also lacking the funds for one. Once again, if this is your case, I would suggest having a glass of water at your bedside. Drink some before you go to sleep, drink some if you wake up in the middle of the night, and drink some first thing in the morning.

This should help relieve some of the pain in your throat.

Just do it!

Yes. I know I just ripped Nike off. But in all seriousness, Nike knows what it's talking about. We all have procrastinated before, don't deny it. Procrastination is only as harmful as you let it be.

The three main causes for procrastination are a) the task is overwhelming b) the task is an unpleasant task and c) laziness and lack of motivation.

And your steps to beating procrastination.

1) Organize yourself. Anything can seem overwhelming when it is disorganized. Organize your work space and organize your thoughts. This leads to number two.

2) Write down your tasks. Write down all the tasks you have to accomplish and do the one you think is the most unpleasant, or else you will be putting it off by doing all the easier tasks first.

3) Break it up into small portions. You can't finish a sandwich in one bite, so you might not be able to finish a task on one go. You will feel like you are actually making progress versus feeling like you only made a ding in a project.

4) Give yourself little breaks, especially if you are doing something that isn't pleasant. These tasks can be mentally fatiguing and make your motivation quickly dwindle.

5) Reward yourself. Make sure the award isn't accessable before the task is finished, or else you may cheat.

I'm going to say this one more time because it is so true. Procrastination is only as harmful as you let it be.

Feeling light

I used to constantly be lightheaded. It's an occurrence that normally happens due to low blood pressure and poor circulation. It's an easy fix. Just get your heart going.

Stretch in the morning to help your circulation.

When you take your break at work, take a walk.

I know you here it all the time, but park farther away from where ever your destination is.

Take your dog for a walk. Seriously, you both probably need it.

When you talk on the phone, pace.

And when you have housecleaning to do, turn on some music and shake those hips.

It is such an easy fix, there is no excuse to let yourself be lightheaded.