Top 10 Male Turn Ons
It is an undeniable fact that a man is powerless to the charms of a beautiful woman. All men, however, have a different definition of beauty. Regardless of how a man defines what he finds attractive in a woman, there are several common male turn ons that all men would agree to. The following is a list of the top ten male turn ons:
1. Women who leave something to the imagination
As unbelievable as it sounds, men often prefer to be teased with a little taste of what is to come. This would include a woman who dresses to show a little skin, but not too much. For example, a female who offers the slight glimpse of a thong or a bra strap is often more seductive than one who is scantily clad. Women who maintain a certain degree of class are always more attractive to men than women who openly share all their secrets!
2. She is not afraid to admit that she loves sex
There is nothing wrong with enjoying the act of sex, and there are fewer things more attractive to a man than a woman who can admit this! Many men have a major obsession with sex, so a sexually confident woman with a healthy sex drive is a big turn on for them.
3. She has a strong sense of self-esteem
It is said that the dream of all men is to have a woman at his beck and call; au contraire, most men are looking for a woman who can think for herself. Men are hugely turned on by a woman who believes in herself and has the confidence to speak her mind. Men tire easily of women who constantly need to be reassured. A woman with self-esteem is more challenging and keeps men on their toes!
4. She knows how to talk dirty
It may sound clich , but men love it when a woman talks dirty! For men, hearing a woman describe what she wants sexually is a turn on. Women who effortlessly talk dirty are exciting and hold the promise of amazing sex.
5. She loves her body
Men love to look at women’s bodies. It is no secret that men love a great pair of breasts or a lovely backside. Moreover, men love a woman who appreciates what she’s got and is not shy to show it. It is difficult to be turned on by a woman who is ashamed of her body, but a woman who embraces her attributes will always win the attention of eager men!
6. She has an accent
You have probably heard this one before and you may find it hard to believe, but true enough, an accent is a male turn on. Regardless of whether she is from Scotland or Spain, her accent will be perceived as exotic to a man. It is especially sexy when she is describing what she loves to do in bed!
7. She has a wicked sense of humor
A woman who can be funny is very attractive and approachable. Men are turned on by a witty woman; one who can dish it out as well as she can take it! A sense of humor adds playfulness to the relationship and always keeps them coming back for more!
8. She is adventurous
Women who are willing to try new things and live on the wild side will always win the attention of a man. Showing a free-spirited nature is sexy and a challenge for any man!
9. She is independent
Men do not like to think that every woman is seeking a lifetime commitment. Men are turned on by women who can have casual relationships, without attachment. An independent woman is self-sufficient and free to have fun!
10. She looks like a centerfold
We can all fantasize, can’t we? Men know that the majority of women do not look like Pamela Anderson, but that doesn’t keep them from wishing they could hook up with one who does.
How Does Papaya Whiten The Skin?
- Papaya has become known as a leading ingredient in skin whitening products because it contains papain, a natural enzyme that promotes skin renewal and cell turnover. It helps in exfoliating the skin to reveal newer cells, and has restorative properties that soften the skin. To maximize the benefits of papaya, use papaya soap to exfoliate as well as papaya lotion to moisturize your skin.
- Eating papaya may also aid in whitening skin and overall skin clarity. Papaya is rich in vitamins A, E and C, and other anti-oxidants that help in giving skin the moisture and protection it needs. The nutrients contained in the papaya fruit helps in the skin’s healing as well. In certain cultures in South America and Asia, papaya is eaten not only as a ripe fruit but also as a young, green fruit used in stews and soups. Papaya leaves are also sometimes mixed into some dishes as well. A ripe papaya fruit can also be made into shakes and smoothies, or eaten as a stand-alone fruit snack after meals.
- Complement a papaya regimen with other nutrients and ways to protect your skin, such as moisturizers and sunscreen. Regular care, maintenance and a good hygiene are components of naturally beautiful skin.
How to Whiten With Papaya
Papaya contains an enzyme that benefits the skin.
Papaya is an active ingredient in many commercial beauty products that are designed to lighten the skin. Papain, an enzyme contained in the papaya, will help to soften and whiten the skin, reducing the appearance of freckles and age spots. It also has exfoliation properties, removing dead skin. It is quite simple to prepare the papaya yourself. No special materials are necessary and you can have all of the benefits of commercially prepared papaya products at a fraction of the price. You will also have complete control over the quality of the ingredients. The papaya product you make yourself will be free of chemical additives.
Instruction:
- Choose a healthy papaya. It should be ripe, but not too soft. Try to find one without bruises. Peel the papaya and remove any seeds that might be present. Cut it into medium-sized pieces with a paring knife.
- Place the papaya pieces in a blender. Blend it at medium until it forms a thick, smooth mash. This should take up to 30 seconds.
- Wash your face and gently dry it. Do the same with any other area of your body that you wish to lighten. Apply the papaya paste directly to your face and other parts of your skin, avoiding the area close to your eyes. Leave it on for about 15 minutes.
- Rinse the papaya mash off your face with warm water. Pat your face dry with a clean towel. Then apply your usual face moisturizer.
- Repeat this process three times per week. After about three weeks you should notice some positive results
How to Make A Papaya Facial Mask(Whitening & Anti-Aging)
Papaya is used as many skin care products today and provides a “natural” face lift and rejuvenation brings a wonderful and natural glow to the skin. It is commonly seen in soaps, lotions, toners, moisturizers, facial peels, and many more.
I will share to you this skin care in which we apply real pulp of a papaya, a facial mask for all skin types and for all ages. This mask is good for dull, wrinkled, and darker complexion.
Maximum Benefits:
*Whitening: Papaya contains papain, an enzyme of a fruit that effectively lighten the skin.
*Anti-aging: Papaya contains vitamin C and good source of vitamin E and beta-carotene, these three powerful antioxidant controls premature ageing.
Additional Information:
Rubbing the white pulp of raw papaya on the face effectively removes pimples. It also reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Instructions
1. Wash the ripe papaya. Peel, remove seeds, and dice.
2. Simply mash the papaya in a bowl with a fork so it doesn’t become too runny and easy to mash. Mix with a tablespoon of a natural honey.
3. Apply the mask into cleansed face in 15 minutes away from the eyes.
4. After 15 minutes use a clean-wet towel then wipe gently to exfoliate the skin then wash with warm water. Pat dry and see the wonder result.
Spirituality Needs Love
Love needs another. Love is an open giving and receiving process that gets deeper only by letting go and going deeper. Love is a relationship, and a relationship in it’s highest form of two people losing themselves into each other into an everlasting love that is within each for themselves and the other. Less is unfulfilled love that leaves the being short of the blossoming of divine love, or love beyond that which comes, and goes with ‘conditions’.
Love in any degree or form may be part of keeping a marriage together for a ‘marriage marathon’ achievement of decades of survival. Love does not need closed contracts of agreements to live together ‘til death do we part’. On the other hand, love can flourish under many circumstances that have infinite descriptions. Staying together through thick and thin may likely have nothing to do with anything but a low level love of ‘ego commitment’.
Breaking through love’s socially accepted barriers enters a space of evolving into what could be referred to as a ‘spiritual realm of consciousness’. Love in it’s deepest mutual sense is the catalyst to deeper levels of insight, consciousness, spirituality or whatever identification that comes closest to describing it. Love is far more than a word that gets passed around as if to touch everything with it. Love to the ultimate degree passes through, and is reflected by the mirroring of another simultaneously and unbreakably.
Love is the movement of energy light into your being while awareness is the giving out of love in the reverse. Awareness is also being within yourself in absolute aloneness, and in a sense, a feeling in high consciousness without a relationship but one within. Both love and awareness open the being to a state of higher consciousness. Deep inner awareness facilitates the ability to love another with no limitations as well as love being an opening of awareness. One merges with the other moving one beyond the state of the ‘coma’ of normal humanity.
Love does not possess without diminishing it into a ‘conditional’, low energy love. Love needs freedom or space for each person. Freedom is more valuable than love, but needs to have love filled in the heart to be really free. Love is never a bondage but a necessity on the path of ‘self realization’. Love is not a goal but a journey. The love journey is the goal with the insights it brings to the changes and maturity within. Freedom enriches love and awareness that together bring more of each other.
8 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 22
When I was 22, I wouldn’t have listened to my old curmudgeonly self. I would have said, “You don’t get it”, then put my headphones back on and headed over the Haymarket. I might have written about it on my blog over at TheGlobe.com (remember that site?) under my pen name ‘nehalennia’. 1999 was a great year, and I was going to make a million trillion dollars working teh internets. Instead I got laid off from my dot com job and ran into the warm embrace of reliable employment. So despite the fact that I wouldn’t have taken my own advice, here are
8 Things I Wish I Knew When I Was 22:
1. Pick a career you love; you don’t have to give into the pressure to be practical.Everyone changes careers over their lifetime; why not experiment with one that you are crazy about? Worst case scenario, you go get that crappy corporate job when you’re 28 and let the cool waters of 9-5ing wash away any memories of your failed Falafel-R-Us Gift Basket business.
2. Pay off your credit card debt and don’t buy so much stuff. Does every college do this? Offer credit cards at the student union, and in exchange for filling out an application, they gift you a candy bar? I was hungry! I was broke! Sign me up! Thankfully I was so thoroughly burned the first time, I learned my lesson.
3. Your student loans can be deferred practically indefinitely. After graduation, just call them and ask for a deferment. They will bend over backwards to make deferring easy to do. In six months when your deferment is over, call them up and do another. Repeat as needed.
4. It doesn’t cost as much as you’d think to travel. You don’t need to save $50,000 to spend a year overseas. If you’re young, willing to sleep anywhere (hello, couchsurfing!) and go to countries off the beaten tourist track, then you can survive on much less (I’ve heard as low as $1000/mo).
5. The job you have right now is not that important. If I were an employer I would only hire ambitious twenty something’s. They will knock themselves out working incredibly hard on stuff that barely matters. Try to get a 35 year old to take photocopying that seriously and you’re more likely to get your dog to iron your suit in the morning.
6. You don’t need a safety net. You can figure this out. The idea of being out there, with nothing to catch you if everything goes wrong may make your stomach do little flips, but really, you’ll be just fine.
7. This is the best time in your life to travel carefree. If you wait it’s going to be more complicated financially and emotionally. Now instead of putting on a backpack and heading out the door, I’ve got to cancel leases, forward mail, set up online payment arrangements, sell a ton of stuff, convince my family that I don’t need an MRI “just in case this idea is a sympton of a brain tumor”, and wrangle with complex stuff like dodging the “when are you going to have kids” question.
50 Things Everyone Should Know
- The word “queue” is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.
- Beetles taste like apples, wasps like pine nuts, and worms like fried bacon.
- Of all the words in the English language, the word ‘set’ has the most definitions!
- What is called a “French kiss” in the English speaking world is known as an “English kiss” in France.
- “Almost” is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.
- “Rhythm” is the longest English word without a vowel.
- In 1386, a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child
- A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off!Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.
- You can’t kill yourself by holding your breath
- There is a city called Rome on every continent.
- It’s against the law to have a pet dog in Iceland!
- Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day!
- Horatio Nelson, one of England’s most illustrious admirals was throughout his life, never able to find a cure for his sea-sickness.
- The skeleton of Jeremy Bentham is present at all important meetings of the University of London
- Right handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people
- Your ribs move about 5 million times a year, everytime you breathe!
- The elephant is the only mammal that can’t jump!
- One quarter of the bones in your body, are in your feet!
- Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different!
- The first known transfusion of blood was performed as early as 1667, when Jean-Baptiste, transfused two pints of blood from a sheep to a young man
- Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails!
- Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin!
- The present population of 5 billion plus people of the world is predicted to become 15 billion by 2080.
- Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
- Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian, and had only ONE testicle.
- Honey is the only food that does not spoil. Honey found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs has been tasted by archaeologists and found edible.
- Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a “Friday the 13th.”
- Coca-Cola would be green if colouring weren’t added to it.
- On average a hedgehog’s heart beats 300 times a minute.
- More people are killed each year from bees than from snakes.
- The average lead pencil will draw a line 35 miles long or write approximately 50,000 English words.
- More people are allergic to cow’s milk than any other food.
- Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from blowing sand.
- The placement of a donkey’s eyes in its’ heads enables it to see all four feet at all times!
- The six official languages of the United Nations are: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.
- Earth is the only planet not named after a god.
- It’s against the law to burp, or sneeze in a church in Nebraska, USA.
- You’re born with 300 bones, but by the time you become an adult, you only have 206.
- Some worms will eat themselves if they can’t find any food!
- Dolphins sleep with one eye open!
- It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open
- The worlds oldest piece of chewing gum is 9000 years old!
- The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds
- Queen Elizabeth I regarded herself as a paragon of cleanliness. She declared that she bathed once every three months, whether she needed it or not
- Slugs have 4 noses.
- Owls are the only birds who can see the colour blue.
- A man named Charles Osborne had the hiccups for 69 years!
- A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue!
- The average person laughs 10 times a day!
- An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain
100 Ways to Uncomplicate Your Life
My grandfather used to say that we were born as smart as we’d ever be, and that we became less bright with age. I never understood what he meant, until today.
You see, when we’re born we see the world in an uncomplicated way. We know what we need, and we ask for it. We like nice people, and we don’t like mean people. We sleep when we’re tired, we eat when we’re hungry, and we stop eating when we’re full.
As we grow older, we eat and drink to console ourselves, rather than addressing what’s bothering us. We overwork to avoid close relationships, rather than finding people we can trust to form strong bonds with. We hold grudges, play games, spend more than we make, want things we don’t need, and we get too far away from our basic human needs. In other words, we complicate things.
Today, on what would have been my grandfather’s 88th birthday, I dedicate this list to my Papa. Thank you for everything. I finally get it.
1. Don’t try to read other people’s minds
2. Get up 30 minutes earlier so that you don’t rush/get a ticket while driving too fast/have to explain why you’re late/get fired
3. Get 8 hours of sleep per night so that you think more clearly
5. Start saving and investing every week, no matter how little you can spare
6. Balance your checkbook
7. Don’t try to be friends with everyone. Cultivate closer relationships with fewer people.
8. Don’t try to do business with everyone. Identify your target client and take very good care of them.
9. Before getting angry, ask yourself if it will really matter in 20 years
10. Focus on being a good person, not on pleasing others
11. Stay home this Saturday, and finish off that nagging chore that you need to finish
12. Kiss and make up
13. Make a weekly menu, and shop for only those items at the market
14. Ask your grandparents the best way to uncomplicate life, and try it for a month
15. Fill up your gas tank when it’s half full
16. Don’t drink alcohol when you’re tired, sad or mad
17. Pay your bills on time
18. Get an annual physical examination
19. Say “I love you” to your significant other and to your children. Studies show that more marriages last, and fewer kids use drugs, when these words are spoken every day.
20. For just one day, imagine everyone’s intentions are good because most people’s are
21. Give away clothes that haven’t been worn in two years
22. Throw out clothes that are in disrepair, and can’t be mended
23. When you have a conflict with someone, talk it out. Don’t let it turn into more than it is.
24. Know what your priorities are in life, and act as if they are your priorities
25. Tell the truth
26. Don’t cheat
27. Don’t steal
28. If you’re holding a ridiculous grudge, let it go
29. Clean your house weekly, so that it doesn’t become too large a chore
30. Do your best at work, or at school
31. Don’t eat when you aren’t humgry
32. Eat when you are hungry
33. Be yourself
34. Say no unapologetically
35. Cook simple meals
36. Don’t try to keep up with the Joneses
37. Pay off your car before buying a new one
38. Organise your desk at the office
39. Change your smoke alarm batteries when the clock springs forward, and when it falls back
40. Organise your important paperwork
41. Take only half the clothes that you planned to take with you on holiday
42. Help your children with their homework every night, and have an open dialogue with their teachers
43. Have white sheets and white towels in children’s rooms, because they’re easily bleached
44. Spend your time with nice people
45. Avoid drama
46. Don’t text or talk on the phone while driving
47. Turn off the television/video games/computer; they’re time consumers
48. Don’t engage in office politics
49. Refuse to gossip, or talk behind other people’s backs
50. Do the dishes right after dinner
51. Never go to sleep angry
52. Ask nicely for what you need and want
53. Walk 10,000 steps per day to help your heart
54. Do 20 push-ups before speaking in anger
55. Leave work at work
56. Don’t befriend anyone that isn’t trustworthy
57. Don’t envy others
58. Have your oil changed
59. Take vitamin C before you catch a cold
60. Don’t work more than 8 hours per day
61. Weed your garden weekly
62. Wash your car weekly
63. Have a spring cleaning month every year, and do one room at a time
64. You don’t need to be best friends with work colleagues, but build respectful partnerships
65. Don’t drink and drive
66. Don’t look for reasons to be angry or sad, look for reasons to be happy. You’ll always be able to find plenty of each.
67. Be friendly with your neighbours
68. Return emails and phone messages promptly
69. Schedule in free time
70. Don’t procrastinate
71. Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it
72. Be more flexible when you’re able to be
73. Forgive and forget. End of story.
74. Break the consumerism habit…put a three month moratorium in place on buying anything not deemed a necessity
75. Start your diet on September 1, rather than January 1, so that you won’t also have holiday pounds to lose
76. Take care of any health issues or concerns
77. Have your tires rotated
78. Have your brakes checked
79. Have your eyes checked
80. Don’t let your imagination run away with you
81. Let go of perfection in others
82. Let go of perfection in yourself
83. Don’t try to help those that refuse to help themselves
84. Find a way to reduce your commute to work
85. Have an alloted amount of worry time per day/week, that you strictly abide by
86. Drink more water
87. Eat more salmon
88. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill
89. Wear your hair in a classic, easy to care for style
90. Finish what you start
91. Wear classic clothes and shoes that never go out of style
92. Create a daily routine
93. Have a 1, 5, 10 and 20 year plan for your financial and life goals
94. Slow down
95. Eat out less often
96. When you ask your husband which outfit looks best, thank him for his answer and wear the one he liked
97. Allow your children to grow up
98. Clean out your garage, and donate anything that hasn’t been used in the past year
99. Stretch every day
100. If a relationship is over, let it go
don’t forget to comment
Best Romantic Ideas
1. Get tulips and attach this note: “I’ve got two-lips waiting for you!”
2. On a special occasion, buy your partner eleven real red roses and one artificial red rose. Place the artificial rose in the center of the bouquet. Attach a card that says:“I will love you until the last rose fades.”
3. If your partner is going away for a few days, tell her that you are worried about her so you have organized a bodyguard to look after her. Then give her a small teddy bear.
4. Write him/her a check for one million kisses.
5. Take a book that your partner is reading and using a pencil, underline letters in a section of the book she has yet to read to spell out a love letter. For example in any exert from a novel, you may underline the letters so that the underlined letters come together to spell out your secret message. That secret message may be “I love you” or “Honey, you are my life” or anything you want.
The underlined letters will make your partner curious and with a bit of luck she will write them down to decode your special message.
6. Buy a packet of glow in the dark stars and stick the stars on the roof above your bed to spell out a message such as “I Love You” When the lights go down, your message will be revealed!
7. Buy a tree with your partner and plant it in a special spot. Each year on your anniversary, have a glass of champagne next to your tree and talk about how your love and the tree have grown.
21 Life Secrets and Tips
- Memorize something everyday.Not only will this leave your brain sharp and your memory functioning, you will also have a huge library of quotes to bust out at any moment. Poetry, sayings and philosophies are your best options.
- Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions.Those who are heavy set with material desires will have a lot of trouble when their things are taken away from them or lost. Possessions do end up owning you, not the other way around. Become a person of minimal needs and you will be much more content.
- Develop an endless curiosity about this world.Become an explorer and view the world as your jungle. Stop and observe all of the little things as completely unique events. Try new things. Get out of your comfort zone and try to experience as many different environments and sensations as possible. This world has so much to offer, so why not take advantage of it?
- Remember people’s namesso that they feel appreciated and for your own future benefit when you want something from that person. To do this, say their name back to them when they introduce themselves. Then repeat the name in your head a number of times until you are sure you have it. Continue to use their name in conversation as much as possible to remove any chance of forgetting it. If you’re still having trouble, make up a rhyme about their name: “Dan the Man” or “Natalie flatters me.”
- Get fit!It’s ridiculous to think that we have one body, one sole means of functioning, and people are too lazy to take care of themselves. Fit bodies lead to better health, confidence and more success with romantic endeavors. I’d say those are 3 very good reasons to get in shape.
- Learn to focus only on the present.The past is unchangeable so it is futile to reflect on it unless you are making sure you do not repeat past mistakes. The future is but a result of your actions today. So learn from the past to do better in the present so that you can succeed in the future.
- Even more specifically, live in THIS moment.Even 10 minutes ago is the past. If you live purely in this moment you will always be happy because there is nothing wrong in this split-second.
- Smile more often.Whenever you get a grin on your face, your brain is releasing serotonin, the happy hormone. Smiling is the natural way to force yourself to be happy. Many people even smile for five minutes straight in the morning to get themselves in a great mood for the day. It is a very powerful tool that is utilized less and less as we grow older and need happiness more than ever. Just remember that while happiness leads to smiles, smiles also lead to happiness.
- Drink water.Hydration is tremendously important for overall health. Soda has absolutely ZERO nutritional content; it’s like pouring a punch of sugar and syrup into your cup. Instead, fill it with life-replenishing water. It may taste plain at first if you’re coming off of a heavy soda-drinking streak, but you’ll soon find yourself addicted to it. 10 glasses per day is optimal, how many have you been getting lately?
- Don’t take life so seriously!Learn to laugh at the little things and this whole “existence” thing will be a whole lot easier. Be amused by your mistakes and failures and be thankful that you learned your lesson and won’t mess up like that again. And most importantly do things that you enjoy! Life is not strictly business, it can be mixed with pleasure.
- Think positive thoughts.When you find yourself thinking a negative thought, stop it immediately by any means necessary. Slap yourself in the face, yell something positive at the top of your lungs or jump up and down. Do whatever it takes to get back to a positive mindset as such is essential for continual happiness and success.
- Read books.No explanation needed.
- Get in the sun.Superman was completely re-energized when he flew out to space and soaked in some rays and you can do the same right outside your front door (if you live in a constantly dreary place, my apologies). The sun feels amazing: your entire body will be coursing with warmth and life.
- Help others.I’ll just give you a plethora of reasons why this is a MUST
- Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help someone else, and so on. Pay it forward
- You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected
- Your relationship with that person will become stronger
- It’s the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person
- You might be able to call in a favor later when you need some help
- Karma (if you believe in it)
- Because there are more people in this world than just you
- Set aside a specific time to worry each day.Ponder all of your problems and anxieties during that time so that they will not distract you during work or moments of pleasure. This way you can be extremely efficient with your time and avoid focusing on negative things as much as possible. If you get all of your worry out of the way and have the mental fortitude to keep from reverting back to them, you will be much happier on the daily.
- Be honest at all times.Lies lead to nothing but trouble. Being known as trustworthy is an excellent trait to maintain and essential to having integrity.
- Sleep less.Fully adjusting to a new sleep cycle can take up to 21 days so don’t give up if you feel tired after switching to 5-hour nights. The “required” 8 hour/night is for normal people. If you’re reading THIS article on THIS site, you are not normal. So figure out how much sleep YOU really need and adjust accordingly. As enjoyable as sleep is, waking existence is much more fulfilling and efficient. IF this really sparks your interest, check out alternate sleep cycles with which you can be fine off of 2 hours of sleep per day.
- Figure out what your goals and dreams are.So many people wander aimlessly through life simply go for whatever small thing they want moment by moment. Instead, decide what your perfect life consists of and begin to put the steps in motion to reach that place. The most satisfying thing in the world (yes, better than sex, much better) is overcoming a challenge and reaching a goal. We are the happiest when we are growing and working towards something better.
- Start your day off right.Wake up and set aside an hour for personal development activities (meditation, self-introspection, observing nature, etc.) Do the things that make you feel blissful, optimistic and empowered so that you can set a positive tone for your day. I guarantee that once you start doing this, your days will be more enjoyable and fulfilling. Today is going to be the best day of your life. Duh.
- Utilize ‘The Burning Method.’Whenever a fear or worry or complaint comes to mind, close your eyes and imagine writing down the thought on a piece of paper. Then proceed to light the paper and fire and watch it disintegrate. Even better, actually write it down and burn it. You won’t have any problem ridding your mind of the thought after doing this.
- Love is all there is.If you truly want to be a master of life, let love be in your every action. Love your friends, family and enemies alike. This is the most difficult thing to do out of this entire list, which is why it is listed at #50. But if you accomplish this, you will be seen as a leader among everyone that allows hate, envy, disgust and all other negative emotions into their lives. Think Gandhi. Love is so rare in this world when compared to the massive presence of hate that by exuding love, you will immediately see yourself and the people around you change. Love. Love. Love.
A few rules.
1.Never stop thinking. This is important. If someone ever says to you ‘You need to stop thinking so much,’ call them ignorant in your head and keep thinking deeper. It is this mentality that breeds stupidity and sheeple. Your mind is the most important tool you have, if you stop using it, it will atrophy. Question everything.
2. Stare into space blankly and don’t mentally punish yourself for doing it, even if it is for that split second. If you have a problem with staring blankly, think of it as daydreaming.
3. Root Beer sucks after having spicy food.
4. Everything is going to be just fine. If you worry about acne, you’re going to get a fucking pimple.
5. Don’t be afraid to talk about anything. You shouldn’t be afraid of reality.
6. Everyone is a hypocrite.
7. You are all original. Every life experience is case sensitive and unique. Every time you wake up or go to the bathroom or quote someone else, you are becoming more you than anyone has ever been.
8. Do pointless things. Don’t actively restrain or hide yourself from the redundant.
9. Stop rushing. Shut up and embrace the sound of silence.
10. Religion shouldn’t be taught, it should be found. No one should tell you what to believe except you. And while were on the subject…
11. Don’t be restrained by one religion. People change every moment of everyday. Minds grow and evolve. Religion has no law so feel free to mix and match. Make your own.
12. Going to the bathroom is not a right nor a privilege. it’s an act of nature.
13. Talking to yourself is healthy. Is there anyone that you have more in common with?
14. There is no such thing as time. The sun never sets or rises. Days and years don’t exist. There is only your life. Earlier today you were born and death is predicted later in the evening.
15. We will always be in a transitional phase. Look outside and know that everything will be replaced at some point. This existence is temporary.
16. Its not half empty or half full. Its half a glass.
17. Every now and then take something that you see everyday and try to see it in a different light. Renew its existence.
18. Be happy, but don’t force it.
19. You will always succeed in trying.
20. We are all crazy. Every person you read about in the history books had some kind of ‘disorder’, they just knew how to use it.
21. We are all about as similar as we are different.
22. Ideas are just as valuable as people. Why do you think we keep making people?
87. Numbers don’t have to go in order.
24. Words will always be just words. Love is just another four letter word, only the feeling is real.
25. Ask a child for advice. They may not know much, but they know what is important.
26. Prove you’re alive. Do anything from dancing in the supermarket to screaming ‘Fuck’ during a moment of silence. Remind the world you are still here.
27. Don’t take anything, even this, too seriously.
13 Mistakes Men Make Each Morning
There are some people who manage to slip effortlessly from slumber into the arms of a new day, firing on all cylinders from the start. If the headline of this article piqued your interest, it is likely that you are not one of these people. In fact, if you are still reading, it is entirely possible that you are sitting at your work desk with a death-grip on a cup of coffee, half an unshaved face and breath to match the cargo hold of The Deadliest Catch.
As always, we’re here to help. Here are 13 mistakes men make every morning, and how to correct them.
1. Wake Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed
The first mistake commonly made at the day’s beginning is starting off on the wrong foot. After an unappetizing dream, poor sleep or a stressful set of days, the mindset with which we greet the morning is absolutely essential to mental well-being. Famed author of 30 best-selling books, motivational speaker and PHD, Dr. Wayne Dyer has assembled a series of morning meditations addressing the importance of this exact moment. Starting with a prolonged “Ah” sound, Dyer says the following words to himself: “I know that I can connect my mind with the divine mind and guarantee myself peace in any moment.” We know. It’s a little, shall we say, California. Come up with your own. By speaking a morning mantra, you increase your chances of having a positive day.
2. Dehydration
Next step should be reaching for water. Do your best to drink an entire glass before addressing another task. The effect of water on your metabolism in the morning is important. It wakes up your digestive system before dehydrating it with coffee.
3. Bathroom Breakdown
Create a morning routine in the bathroom of rinsing your face with lukewarm water and a drop of soap. Even if you’re not inclined to utilize an expensive face wash, your skin craves water.
4. No Breakfast
For some of us, eating breakfast regularly can be a challenge. While our bodies might not feel hungry, skipping the first meal of the day is a detriment for those interested in maintaining a healthy metabolism. It does not need to be a hefty helping of eggs and sausage. In fact, eating a small piece of fruit, yogurt, small bowl of oatmeal or egg-white omelette is better for your body than bombarding it with heavy fats and carbohydrates generally found in typical American breakfasts. And for those of us on the run there are always easy-to-grab yogurts and bananas.
5. Lack Of Vitamins
Try a dose of Vitamin C for energy. After a few weeks of consistently reminding yourself to power up in the morning, your body will chart an apparent difference in energy abundance.
6. Caffeine Overload
While the first few hours of the day seem to challenge our eyelids’ ability to remain open, over-fueling on caffeine is one of the worst and most common mistakes made by working individuals. By artificially stimulating the senses at such a fast and intense rate, it communicates to our bodies a dependency on the substance that you won’t be able to shake for the rest of the day. Moreover, caffeine highs always result in devastating lows, causing you to crawl back to the coffee pot and repeat the cycle all over again.
7. Screen Addiction
Though we are accustomed to checking our phones when we wake up, setting our eyes against a screen first thing in the morning molds our brain’s agility for the rest of the day. Instead, look out the window, focus your eyes on the sky outside, or go outside for a minute and inhale the coming day. This way, when you are ready to reach for your smartphone, your prior personal peace will steel you for the day.
8. No Exercise
Getting physical activity in the morning is one of the most beneficial ways to begin a day. Not only does it activate your metabolism and motivate your body to digest food throughout the day, it also focuses you mentally. By overcoming the mental obstacle of forcing yourself into physical challenge, you prove to yourself your ability to conquer tasks your brain fears. More than that, the endorphins provide better positivity than any caffeine can manage.
9. You Smell
Whether or not you support the wearing of cologne, deodorant is an important pit stop (pun intended). Nothing’s worse than rushing to work, throwing yourself at your office desk and glancing down only to see a sweat ring releasing terrible fumes for onlookers in the surrounding area to suffer from. To be careful, it’s best to keep a stick tucked away in your desk drawer or glove compartment.
10. Foul Teeth
Though it sounds terribly elementary to tell an adult about the importance of teeth brushing, a recent survey revealed that the total days on average an American spends brushing their teeth is 38.5. Moreover, 50 percent of people confessed that a smile is the first noticed facial feature, which should motivate you to keep yours from yellowing.
11. Stiffness
Stretching every morning can increase your overall flexibility. Simply stand up straight, inhale your arms up, bend over at the waist and gently reach for your toes. Though it might feel straining, do your best to breathe into the stretch rather than against it. You should feel a slight pull in your hamstrings, which can also be found by doing this stretch on the ground, legs stretched out long before you, while bending forward at the waist. To loosen hip and groin tightness, sit with the soles of your feet together and gently push your knees toward the ground.
12. No Vision
Try a mental habit known as “visualization.” This entails calming your senses and stepping into an emotional reality of your projected desires, whether it’s snagging that promotion or climbing Yosemite. This act of experiencing, in all five senses, your ultimate goal, guides your body, mind and heart toward achieving this dream. Or so says the crunchy-granola crowd. Close your eyes, visualize your intended place, feel the surroundings, smell the air there and memorize this feeling in your body. As a result, you are subconsciously connected with your greater life goal and driving force.
13. No Plan
Again, we know this is hippie-dippy, but at least give it a try. Writing a brief journal entry in the morning is known to increase likelihood of daily organization and focus. Write out a simple note of all that you’re going to accomplish by day’s end, chronologically organized by importance. Instead of thinking of this as a to-do list, consider it a done deal. By writing it out, it is going to happen. You don’t need to obsessively check off tasks accomplished, but rather calmly look the list over at sundown and see how well you did. If there’s a few points left, don’t register a feeling of disappointment in yourself. Capitalize on all that you did accomplish and transfer the remaining items to tomorrow’s early morning entry.
The Healthiest Sleeping Position for You
At one point or another you’ve fallen asleep in a less-than-comfortable position and suffered the consequences the next day: the aches, the pains, the fatigue. Those symptoms, however, are just the short-term results of one bad night. What you might not know is that your sleeping position — even in the most comfortable of settings — could have lasting health implications that affect your health. What is the healthiest sleeping position? It mostly depends on what’s right for you.
You probably belong to one of three categories: back sleeper, side sleeper or stomach sleeper. Those distinctions might not seem that important, but there’s an entire subset of the medical community devoted to analyzing those specific positions and determining which is healthiest. Jonathan Sherrill, a registered polysomnographic technologist and general manager of the Los Angeles-based Advanced Sleep Medicine Services Inc., is a member of that community.
According to Sherrill, a person’s primary concern when settling into a sleeping position should be comfort.
“Overall, we recommend the position that is most comfortable,” Sherrill says. “The body will naturally acclimate and adjust to whatever position it functions best in.”
However, the sleeping position a person finds most comfortable isn’t always the healthiest.
“In order to sleep and recover, your body has to enter a zone where it’s unaware,” Sherrill says. “It needs to shut off from the external cues of the environment and it needs to go into that recover mode. So while it’s in that zone, it’s not really conscious of what it’s doing. The body could be malfunctioning in several ways.”
Those malfunctions are related primarily to breathing. Chronic obstructions in a person’s air intake can lead to sleep apnea, a disorder characterized by excessively low blood oxygen levels, which over time can result in stroke, heart failure and sexual dysfunction among other negative health effects.
The Back Sleeper
Of the three basic sleeping positions, the back sleeper is the one most commonly associated with sleep apnea.
“For posture reasons we do like people to sleep on their backs, but we also see that people tend to malfunction more in that position,” Sherrill says. “Gravity allows your tongue to relax and during a certain phase of REM sleep your body goes through muscle atonia when your body relaxes so much that you essentially become paralyzed. So when you’re sleeping on your back and your tongue falls back and your muscles are paralyzed, it leads to a higher incidence of sleep apnea in that position.”
The Stomach Sleeper
Sleeping on one’s stomach also can prove detrimental.
“We usually like to rule out the stomach,” Sherrill says. “It’s a position that many obese people will go into naturally. However, in that position you often end up with more backaches. Your stomach is pressing back and your spine enters an awkward posture, which can lead to pain.”
The Side Sleeper
That leaves the side position, which, according to a 2003 study conducted by the London Sleep Assessment Service, is the most popular position among the general population. Over 50 percent of people favor some variation of the side sleeper position during sleep. According to Sherrill and his colleagues, the majority has it right: Sleeping on your side, and specifically on your right side, is perhaps the healthiest position a person can adopt.
“Right is preferred over left,” Sherrill says. “The left position can increase your blood pressure, increase your heart rate and we recommend that people who suffer heart attacks should not sleep on their left side.”
That conclusion was partially echoed in a recent New York Times article exploring the various health effects of right-side versus left-side sleeping. When asked which side was generally healthier to sleep on,Times health expert Claiborne Ray pointed to a 2003 study that found that some people did indeed benefit from sleeping on the right side of their bodies, but that they tended to be individuals with pre-existing heart conditions.
Ray said, “The findings were in keeping with the concept that a left-hand position ‘may exert deleterious effects’ on heart pressure, cardiac output or the functioning of cardiac nerves and thus ‘may be a protective strategy.’”
In other words, there’s research that suggests sleeping on your right side can help prevent circulatory problems and there’s research that indicates sleeping on your right side helps mitigate the effects of pre-existing circulatory conditions. It’s a chicken-egg situation, but in any case the evidence points to a common conclusion: Sleep on your right side, especially if you’ve got a bum ticker.
Power of 1O
10 exercises for a timesaving, all-in-one cardio and strength workout
Perform the first nine exercises for 30 seconds each, completing as many repetitions as you can in that time. Then do as many pushups as you can. Perform the entire circuit twice. Try to increase the number of repetitions you can do of each exercise each time you do the workout.
High Knee Run
Run in place, with knees driving toward your chest.
Plank with Alternating Knee Drive
Assume a pushup position. Bring your right knee toward your left elbow explosively, and return to start. Repeat with left leg.
Split Squat Iso Hold (right leg)
Perform a forward lunge with your right leg. Instead of returning to the start position, hold the position for 30 seconds.
Windshield Wipers
Lie on your back, lifting your legs into a table position and spreading your arms flat to both sides. Without lifting your shoulder blades, rotate your hips so your left knee touches the ground to the left. Repeat to the right. That’s one repetition.
Split Squat Iso Hold (left leg)
Perform a forward lunge with your left leg. Instead of returning to the start position, hold the position for 30 seconds.
Mountain Climber
Start in a pushup position. Keeping your head in line with your body, bring your right knee to your chest, then back to starting position. Alternate rapidly with the left leg.
Glute-Ham Bridge
Lie in a traditional situp position. Lay your arms face-up in a “T” to each side of your head. Press your heels into the ground and lift your hips and glutes off the ground, creating a triangle position with the body. Return to start.
Stepup
Place one foot on a step and push down through your heel to lift your other leg up. Return to the starting position and finish all reps with one leg before repeating the exercise with the other leg.
Piston Crunch
Lie in a traditional situp position, with arms straight at the sides of the body. Pull your shoulders, head, and back into a traditional crunch position, and hold it. Now move your left fist toward your left ankle, moving your left shoulder down and right shoulder up. Repeat to the other side, creating a “piston” motion.
Pushup
Assume the classic pushup position: legs straight, hands beneath your shoulders. Now brace your abs. Keeping your body rigid, lower yourself until your chest touches the floor. Then push back up until your arms are extended.
10 Basic Truths About Keeping Your Relationship Healthy
I think it’s easy to make things more complicated than they need to be. Here are some basic rules of the relationship road that will keep you headed in the right direction.
1. Successful relationships take work. They don’t happen in a vacuum. They occur when the couples in them take the risk of sharing what it is that’s going on in their hearts and heads.
2. You can only change yourself, not your partner. If you love someone and think that after a while he or she will alter behaviors you find uncomfortable, think again. If you want changes, put them on the table, so your partner knows what you need.
3. All arguments stem from our own fear or pain. When upset occurs, check out what’s going on inside you rather than getting angry with your partner. Truth is that we usually aren’t upset for the reasons we think we are.
4. Understand that men and women are very different. We’re not from Mars or Venus; we’re not even in the same solar system. Understanding and celebrating our differences will make living together more peaceful, interesting and fun.
5. Honor each other in some way every day. Every morning, you have the opportunity to make your relationship sweeter and deeper by recommitting to your mate. Feeling respected and cherished by the one you love makes life much nicer.
6. Anger is a waste of time. Anger also is a relationship killer because it makes you self-absorbed and won’t allow you to see the good. If you are annoyed with your mate, give yourself some time to calm down and then gently discuss what’s going on for you.
7. Get regular tune-ups. Go to a couples workshop, talk with a counselor or read a relationship book together at least once a year. Even if you don’t think that you need ideas, and the process alone will strengthen your connection.
8. Find a way to become and stay best friends. For some, this sounds unromantic, but for those who live it, most say it’s the best part of their time together.
9. Be responsible for your own happiness. No other person can make you happy. It’s something that you have to do on your own. If you feel that it’s your partner’s fault, think again, and look within to find out what piece may be missing for you.
10. Give what you want to get. Our needs change with time. If you’d like to feel understood, try being more understanding. If you want to feel more love, try giving more. It’s a simple program that really works.
There are no guarantees, but couples who practice these techniques have longer and stronger relationships than those who are not proactive in their love.
75 Ways to Show Love in Relationships
Image via Wikipedia
If you’re married or in a serious relationship, you’re no stranger to the phrase, “I love you.” You can say those 3 little words to your partner one million times, but we all know that it has to be followed up with action.
Showing love isn’t an exact science. We all speak different love languages, so you may show love in a way that your spouse doesn’t understand (and vice versa). Well, it doesn’t have to remain that way.
Happy couples’ love for each other and dedication to the relationship lead to many adjustments in the way they show love to each other. If what you’re doing isn’t working for your relationship, it may be time to change your approach. Use this list of75 ways to show love as a guide to loving your mate in a way that may save your relationship or just take it to a new level of awesomeness.
1. A kiss on the forehead
2. Uninterrupted quality time
3. A note under the pillow
4. Tell him when he looks masculine, sexy, or hot
5. Turn a regular day into an All-About-You day just for your mate
6. Breakfast served in bed
7. A romantic picnic indoors
8. An unexpected dinner cruise
9. Propose marriage on one knee
10. Don’t complain when he leaves the toilet seat up
11. A rose on the pillow
12. Tell her she’s beautiful
13. Pour on the chivalry (open doors, pull her chair out)
14. A bubble bath with rose petals and her favorite scented candles
15. Verbalize what your relationship means to you
16. Surprise her with her favorite flowers and candy
17. An “I love you because…” list
18. PDA (public displays of affection)
19. Heart shaped pancakes or cookies
20. A walk in the park together
21. Hold your beloved a little tighter and longer than usual
22. Do some of his/her chores
23. A handwritten card sprayed with your scent
24. Spoil each other
25. Renew your marriage vows
26. Be first to say “I’m sorry” after an argument
27. Personalize (i.e. engrave) gifts
28. Place an “I love you” flyer under the car’s windshield wiper
29. Send a surprise gift to his/her workplace
30. Support each other’s dreams
31. Make love slowly, passionately
32. Run his bath water
33. Give your spouse space when needed
34. Buy her feminine hygiene products (before she asks)
35. Bring him a cold beer while he watches football
36. Put a love note in her purse
37. Hold hands
38. Take showers together and wash each other’s back (or whole body)
39. Look deeply into your lover’s eyes
40. Always kiss goodbye and goodnight
41. Boast about your mate and your relationship to mutual friends
42. Arrange for a babysitter so you can have an unexpected date night
43. Say how much you love each other even if you think it’s known
44. Use cute pet names for each other
45. Rub your noses together
46. Remember to say thank you (often)
47. Excuse each other’s mistakes
48. Meditate together
49. Sleep in his t-shirt
50. Wash her hair
51. Step outside of traditional gender roles to help each other (Cook dinner for her; take the trash out for him)
52. Verbally reassure your lover
53. Take photographs as a couple
54. Give up the last piece of food on your plate
55. Write a short fairy tale using you and your mate as the characters (Once upon a time…”)
56. Listen more intently
57. Flirt with each other
58. Sing your significant other a love song
59. Get up early to help him/her get ready for work
60. Say “I adore you”
61. Watch a chic flick with her
62. Kiss your mate somewhere you never thought to kiss before (i.e. elbow, knee, toe)
63. Initiate affection (hugs, kisses, spooning)
64. Take good care of yourself so that you’re at your best for the one you love
65. A handmade gift or card
66. Write a sweet message on a fogged-up mirror so he/she will see it after exiting the shower
67. Cook your significant other’s’ favorite meal
68. Feed each other chocolate covered strawberries
69. Cuddle by the fireplace
70. Laugh and have fun with each other
71. Rub his/her feet
72. Create a scrapbook together
73. Start a hobby together
74. Dance indoors to your favorite song
75. Ask about each other’s day
Healthy relationships survive because both partners keep trying. They know the secret–that love is a verb. Loving your spouse or lover means taking action to help keep love (the feeling) alive and flourishing.
What are some of your favorite ways to show love? What are some ways you’d like your partner to show love? Do you agree that love (the action) is as important as love (the feeling).
Conversation Starters People Love
Below are 101 types of conversation starters you can use on your first date, at a party, in business, with guys or girls, or on family and friends.
The 101 great conversation openers are simple, yet don’t be fooled. They’re effective. The most important point to remember when using any conversation starter is they aim to start the conversation. “Ice-breakers” break the ice; they don’t heat up the planet and make mother nature flourish.
Conversational openers are not intended to make people laugh or get people to like you. Guys, you can make a woman think you’re a primal beast to be captured in the later stages of a conversation. Attempting to impress someone with your first words makes you nervous, which discourages you from starting a conversation. It also makes you look like a try hard in need of approval.
What Makes a Great Conversation Starter?
The best conversation starters are situation-specific. Most openers given by dating experts, communication trainers, and bloggers are limiting because there’s little chance they’d work in your situation. Try asking someone, “Have you ever been snorkeling?” or “Who’s your favorite Star Wars character?” and the conversation may end as soon as it began (unless you’re in a diving class or at a nerd function… I’m mean, Star Wars convention.)
While generic openers and stock material can be used in most situations, use proven formulas like opinion openers to construct your own ice-breakers for situations you find yourself in throughout the week.
Here’s an exercise to help you develop excellent openers. Think of the top three situations you find yourself in like a coffee shop, supermarket, or place at work. Now think of 10 things to say in each situation.
Having done that, you already have 30 amazing conversation starters. Do that exercise to alwaysknow what to say to anyone. I encourage you to go over the massive list of openers revealed in this article applying the simple exercise you just did.
Alright, before we get started, you’d say “Hey” or “Hi” as your first words for most of the 101 starters. I’ve left them out because it’d be redundant. Lastly, keep in mind some openers placed under one category like “Funny Conversation Starters” can be used in situations filed under other categories like “Conversation Starters for Guys with Girls”.
Let’s get talking and working through this gigantic list of ways to start a conversation based off myBig Talk Training Course. We’ll start off basic because that’s all you need in many situations:
Conversation Starters Anyone can Use in Any Situation
- “I’m [your first name].” Most people reciprocate an exchange of information. Give them your name, they’ll give you theirs.
- “How are ya doing right now?” “How’s ya day been so far?” Slightly vary the question, “How are you?” No one answers that trite question or gives it any thought.
- “How’s your [the day of the week] been?” “What’s happened for you today?” “How was your trip?” “How’d you sleep last night?” We’re happy to talk about simple events when they’ve recently occurred. We love to blabber about our delayed flight, the traffic jam, or the sunburn on our arm within a day or so of it happening.
- “Hey.” Smile then walk away. Repeat each time you meet the person and build towards a casual conversation. Say it in an environment like a gym when you meet someone over and over. Eventually you’ll feel like friends and have something good to talk about. When you have something else to say, have the confidence to say it.
- “What do you think of that book?” “Looks like a great drink. What is it?” “I love this place because it’s got great energy.” These examples are situational openers – the most common type of conversation starter. Simply comment on your surroundings.
- “Where are you from?” This is best if you think the person is not from the area or the location is something like a seminar, convention, or university where people from diverse towns come together. Let the conversation spread from their as you talk about the city’s sporting teams, cultural icons, and famous landmarks.
- “This might seem a little weird, but I like your posture. It makes you stand out nicely.” “Nice shirt. Where did you get it?” “I love your style!” These examples are compliment openers.
- “It’s so hot today.” “The great sun is burning this afternoon.” “It’s freezing! Do you know the temperature?” Talk about the weather. “Don’t knock the weather,” said American cartoonist Kin Hubbard, “nine-tenths of the people couldn’t start a conversation if it didn’t change once in a while.”
- “I don’t know anyone around here so I thought I’d come talk to you.” “I’m a little nervous talking with strangers, but I just had to come say hi.” “I know no one here so I thought I’d introduce myself to you.” These examples are what I call the “vulnerable introduction”. Make your opener a disclosure of what’s filling your body with anxiety and you’ll endear people.
- “I’m out meeting new, interesting people tonight. Mind if we chat for a minute?” “You guys look like you’re having fun. That’s so cool that I just had to come talk to you.” “I had to come talk to you because your shirt made me laugh.” Reveal your reason for approaching the person or group.
- “What about the game last night!” “Yankees aren’t doing so well this season.” “You’re flowers are looking lovely.” Talk about something you know the person is interested in.
- “I was just listening to radio on my way here and can’t believe what happened in Africa. Have you heard about the flying frozen fish?” Study the news before an event to learn what’s hot.
- “Normally people start a conversation by talking about what’s in the news, but I haven’t been paying any attention. What’s been going on? Is the President dead?” If you’re like me and never consume the daily news (it’s mental pollution from corporations wanting readership), ask about the news. Use humor whenever possible to release tension.
- “I believe we saw each other at James’ party.” “I think we ran into each other at the trade event last month.” “Did we meet last year at Church?” Start by talking about previous brief interactions.
- “How’s your Christmas preparations going?” “How’d the New Year go for you?” “Spring Break has been crazy. What’s happened to you at Spring Break so far?” Talk about holiday preparations, experiences, and fun times. The person is guaranteed to do something for holidays like Christmas making it a good opener.
- Wear a big talk people-magnet. As described in my Big Talk book, big talk people-magnets are items people will approach you to talk about. Such items include earrings, jewelery, tattoos, an unusual hair cut or color, a pinned item on your shirt or top, or a slogan t-shirt. People want to talk to you so help put words in their mouth.
11 Awesome Hangover Cures
Hangovers are the worst. That nasty combo of headache, nausea and gut-pain can cost you precious hours of your life. While there are certainly preventative measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of a hangover (headache medication, food, lots of water before bed, etc.), inevitably you’re going to get stuck with a dirty hangover that you need to crush before it kills your day. Here are 11 awesome hangover cures that you can turn to when you need to ease the pain.
11. Ginger
Ginger is an all-purpose digestive aid. You can eat it with sushi, drink some ginger tea or mix ginger juice with water for a nausea-reducing elixir that’ll balance your gastric fluids and calm your system. This powerful antioxidant and anticoagulant can work wonders, but don’t consume fresh ginger on an empty stomach. Mix it up with something else.
10. Honey
Honey is a great antioxidant that’s loaded with fructose and glucose. In Poland, people mix honey in with pickle juice for a hydrating, salty hangover-recovery treat. If the idea of honey pickle juice sounds foul to you, just take a couple table spoons of the magic bee sauce and enjoy the fresh coat of healing goodness.
9. Prickly Pear
For desert drunks, the prickly pear is a solid morning option that’ll help take the edge off the hurt. The extract from the prickly pear cactus can help reduce nausea, loss of appetite and dry mouth. You can find prickly pear extract in a bunch of different dietary supplements.
8. Eggs
Yep, eggs. Eggs have cysteine in ‘em. Cysteine is an awesome amino acid that breaks down acetaldehyde, a toxin that’s a byproduct of the oxidation of ethanol. Acetaldehyde causes hangovers and eggs break down the acetaldehyde. So get over the fact that you don’t want breakfast and scramble that hangover out of your system.
7. Coca Cola
Oh the sweet, sweet nectar of Coca Cola can do wonders for a messed up belly. Some say that Coca Cola was originally invented as a hangover cure. I don’t know about all that, but whether you’ve eaten a big meal or you need to turn down the volume down in your stomach, a cold Coke just feels good.
6. Greasy Diner Breakfast
Whether you’re pounding pancakes at IHOP, feasting on French toast at Norm’s or plowing through Moons Over My Hammy at Denny’s, greasy-ass diner food will help you booze-coated belly correct itself. Greasy food sticks to the stomach wall and help slow down the process of alcohol absorption. That’s not to say that you won’t feel like trash afterward, but it’ll be a different kind of trash – a much more manageable form of discomfort. If you have the chance to close the night out with some greasy food, that’s a solid hangover prevention method, but if you miss the prevention window, reach for some bacon in the morning.
5. Gatorade + Banana
Electrolytes. You need ‘em, man. When you’re recovering from a night of drunken excess, you’re bound to end up dehydrated. Drinking lots of water helps, yes, but a steady stream of electrolytes will hydrate you more quickly. Your hung-over body also needs an influx of Vitamin B and potassium. Drinking alcohol drains your levels of Vitamins B6 and B12. Bananas will calm your gut-hurt and expedite the metabolism of alcohol.
4. Bloody Mary
If you’re head is pounding and your stomach is sloshed with whatever god-awful combo of drinks you consumed last night, drinking more sounds like the last thing you wanna do. But more booze can actually help you right the ship. A nice breakfast cocktail like a Bloody Mary can serve the dual purpose of a breakfast and hangover remedy. This is a great option if food consumption is totally out of the question, and the tomato juice will help you metabolize alcohol more quickly.
3. Pho
Vietnamese rice noodles with broth and beef (or tripe or chicken) will hydrate you and fill your gut with a nice layer of nutrition, exfoliation and toxin-fighting spices. Don’t go too crazy with the hot sauce though. Under normal circumstances, unreasonable amounts of Sriracha in your Pho would be a great idea, but when you’re dealing with a tender tummy, you gotta keep it mellow. Add some lime, basil, sweet Hoison sauce, cilantro, onions and bean sprouts, and go to town with a soup spoon and chopsticks in hand.
2. Pad Thai
More rice noodle love here. Pad Thai will fill that void in your stomach with a tender helping of noodles, eggs, tamarind juice and some light protein like shrimp, chicken or tofu. I don’t know the science behind it, but it works like a charm.
1. Matzo Ball Soup
The medicinal healing powers of the matzo ball have been well documented throughout history. Known as Jewish penicillin, matzo ball soup can kill a hangover, eliminate pink eye and in some cases, even cure cancer. Embrace the power of the matzo. It’s the most comfortable comfort food ever invented.
8 hair care treatments you can make yourself
88 Important Truths I’ve Learned About Life
Everyone gets drilled with certain lessons in life. Sometimes it takes repeated demonstrations of a given law of life to really get it into your skull, and other times one powerful experience drives the point home once forever. Here are 88 things I’ve discovered about life, the world, and its inhabitants by this point in my short time on earth.
1. You can’t change other people, and it’s rude to try.
2. It is a hundred times more difficult to burn calories than to refrain from consuming them in the first place.
3. If you’re talking to someone you don’t know well, you may be talking to someone who knows way more about whatever you’re talking about than you do.
4. The cheapest and most expensive models are usually both bad deals.
5. Everyone likes somebody who gets to the point quickly.
6. Bad moods will come and go your whole life, and trying to force them away makes them run deeper and last longer.
7. Children are remarkably honest creatures until we teach them not to be.
8. If everyone in the TV show you’re watching is good-looking, it’s not worth watching.
9. Yelling always makes things worse.
10. Whenever you’re worried about what others will think of you, you’re really just worried about what you’ll think of you.
11. Every problem you have is your responsibility, regardless of who caused it.
12. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time.
13. If you never doubt your beliefs, then you’re wrong a lot.
14. Managing one’s wants is the most powerful skill a person can learn.
15. Nobody has it all figured out.
16. Cynicism is far too easy to be useful.
17. Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.
18. Whenever you hate something, it hates you back: people, situations and inanimate objects alike.
19. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s works alone can teach you everything you need to know about living with grace and happiness.
20. People embellish everything, as a rule.
21. Anger reveals weakness of character, violence even moreso.
22. Humans cannot destroy the planet, but we can destroy its capacity to keep us alive. And we are.
23. When people are uncomfortable with the present moment, they fidget with their hands or their minds. Watch and see.
24. Those who complain the most, accomplish the least.
25. Putting something off makes it instantly harder and scarier.
26. Credit card debt devours souls.
27. Nobody knows more than a minuscule fraction of what’s going on in the world. It’s just way too big for any one person to know it well.
28. Most of what we see is only what we think about what we see.
29. A person who is unafraid to present a candid version of herself to the world is as rare as diamonds.
30. The most common addiction in the world is the draw of comfort. It wrecks dreams and breaks people.
31. If what you’re doing feels perfectly safe, there is probably a better course of action.
32. The greatest innovation in the history of humankind is language.
33. Blame is the favorite pastime of those who dislike responsibility.
34. Everyone you meet is better than you at something.
35. Proof is nothing but a collection of opinions that match your own.
36. Knowledge is belief, nothing more.
37. Indulging your desires is not self-love.
38. What makes human beings different from animals is that animals can be themselves with ease.
39. Self-examination is the only path out of misery.
40. Whoever you are, you will die. To know and understand that means you are alive.
41. Revenge is for the petty and irresponsible.
42. Getting truly organized can vastly improve anyone’s life.
43. Almost every cliché contains a truth so profound that people have been compelled to repeat it until it makes you roll your eyes. But the wisdom is still in there.
44. People cause suffering when they are suffering themselves. Alleviating their suffering will help them not hurt others.
45. High quality is worth any quantity, in possessions, friends and experiences.
46. The world would be a better place if everyone read National Geographic.
47. If you aren’t happy single, you won’t be happy in a relationship.
48. Even if it costs no money, nothing is free if it takes time.
49. Emotions exist to make us strongly biased towards or against something. This hinders as often as it helps.
50. Addiction is a much greater problem in society than it’s made out to be. It’s present in every person in various forms, but usually we call it something else.
51. “Gut feeling” is not just a euphemism. Tension in the abdomen speaks volumes about how you truly feel about something, beyond all arguments and rationales.
52. Posture and dress change profoundly how you feel about yourself and how others feel about you, like it or not.
53. Everyone thinks they’re an above average driver.
54. The urge to punish others has much more to do with venting frustration than correcting behavior.
55. By default, people think far too much.
56. If anything is worth splurging on, it’s a high-quality mattress. You’ll spend a third of your life using it.
57. There is nothing worse than having no friends.
58. To write a person off as worthless is an act of great violence.
59. Try as we might to be otherwise, we are all hypocrites.
60. Justice is a human invention which is in reality rarely achievable, but many will not hesitate to destroy lives demanding it.
61. Kids will usually understand exactly what you mean if you keep it to one or two short sentences.
62. Stuff that’s on sale usually has an annoying downside.
63. Casual swearing makes people sound dumb.
64. Words are immensely powerful. One cruel remark can wound someone for life.
65. It’s easy to make someone’s day just by being uncommonly pleasant to them.
66. Most of what children learn from their parents isn’t taught on purpose.
67. The secret ingredient is usually butter, in obscene amounts.
68. It is worth re-trying foods that you didn’t like at first.
69. Problems, when they arise, are rarely as painful as the experience of fearing them.
70. Nothing — ever — happens exactly like you pictured it.
71. North Americans are generally terrible at accepting compliments and offers of help.
72. There are not enough women in positions of power. The world has suffered from this deficit for a long time.
73. When you break promises to yourself, you feel terrible. When you make a habit of it, you begin to hate yourself.
74. A good nine out of ten bad things I’ve worried about never happened. A good nine out of ten bad things that did happen never occurred to me to worry about.
75. You can’t hide a bad mood from people who know you well, but you can always be polite.
76. Sometimes you have to remove certain people from your life, even if they’re family.
77. Anyone can be calmed in an instant by looking at the ocean or the stars.
78. There is no point finishing a book you aren’t enjoying. Life is too short for that. Swallow your pride and put it down for good, unfinished.
79. There is no correlation between the price of a brand of batteries and how long they last.
80. Breaking new ground only takes a small amount more effort than you’re used to giving.
81. Life is a solo trip, but you’ll have lots of visitors. Some of them are long-term, most aren’t.
82. One of the best things you can do for your kids is take them on road trips. I’m not a parent, but I was a kid once.
83. The fewer possessions you have, the more they do for you.
84. Einstein was wiser than he was intelligent, and he was a genius.
85. When you’re sick of your own life, that’s a good time to pick up a book.
86. Wishing things were different is a great way to torture yourself.
87. The ability to be happy is nothing other than the ability to come to terms with how things change.
88. Killing time is an atrocity. It’s priceless, and it never grows back.
11 Tips for Better Sleep With Fibromyalgia
1. Crossing Out Sleep disorders
The first thing you can do on the path to better sleep is to cross out and address any sleeping disorders that could be behind your difficulties snoozing. Disorders such as insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, or bruxism, are all symptoms of fibromyalgia and may be causing your never-ending fatigue.
If you think you may have a sleep disorder, consider talking to your doctor or taking part in a sleep study, suggests About.com Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue blogger Adrienne Dellwo.
2. Create a Sleep-Friendly Bedroom
One thing you can do to help yourself get to sleep is make your bedroom “sleep-friendly.” Limiting any sources of noise and light in your room can do wonders. For example, make your alarm clock face away, or banish your TV from the foot of your bed. Using an eye mask can also help with enhancing the darkness of the room, WebMD advises.
Finding the just the right bedding can also be key to getting a good night’s rest. Nowadays, pillows and mattresses are made to fit the way you sleep. Memory foam or the Sleep Number bed may be options to try, suggests Dellwo.
Another way to prepare your bedroom for rest is to keep the room temperature at a comfortable level. If you find yourself sweating at night or curling up from the cold, simply changing the thermostat or getting a fan or heater will do the trick!
3. Leave the Bedroom
When you’re tossing and turning in your bed whether from stress or pain, it’s best to just leave the room.
“Don’t lie in bed, worrying and stressing. Get up, go to the other room,” Dr. Mary Rose, a clinical psychologist and behavioral sleep specialist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, tells WebMD. Then, go back to the bedroom when you feel more tired and relaxed.
4. Take a Bath
Take a warm bath in the evening. Pamper yourself and soothe your muscles by brushing your body with a loofah or long-handled brush. This relaxing activity can also lull you into the mood for getting some sleep.
5. Massage Tender Points
Use a self-massage device to ease some of the more painful tender points that keep you up at night. Even something like a tennis ball, says WebMD, can be used as your massage tool. Soothing your muscles can help you get some much needed relief and will encourage you to snooze.
6. Maintain a Schedule
Maintaining a regular schedule can help regulate your body and encourage sleep at night when the time comes.
One key point to keep in mind is to not take any naps that can throw off your sleeping schedule. “A lot of patients have circadian rhythm problems. Napping can throw you off. Any sleep during the daytime will be taken from your sleep at night,” says Rose.
Another thing to keep in mind is to not outpace yourself while tackling daily activities. By the time night falls, your extra energy is gone and you’ll feel completely drained. Taking things in moderation is key,
7. Regular Exercise
Part of your daily routine should be to get exercise. Even though you may be in pain because of your fibromyalgia keep in mind that, according to Rose, “Exercise has a profound effect on mood, weight, and fatigue. Water exercise is easier on joints so it’s a lot more tolerable for fibromyalgia patients.” Regularly stretching and doing yoga exercises can also do the trick.
“Even though you feel a lot of pain and discomfort, pushing yourself is important. Exercise helps reduce stress, and that helps sleep and reduces fatigue,” Rose adds. Ultimately, that short time of pushing through the pain during working out can help greatly in the long run.
8. Relaxing Activities Before Bed
Taking part in relaxing activities before going to bed will get you into the mindset for sleep. Try meditating, listening to calm music, or reading a book to propel you towards a state of tranquility.
9. Antidepressants or Other Pain Medications
If you aren’t already using them, antidepressants or other medications can do a lot to help manage your fibromyalgia pain during the day and night, says Dellwo. Consider talking to your doctor about Lyrica, Cymbalta, or Savella, drugs which have all been approved by the FDA to treat fibro.
Caution: Do not take sleeping pills. They are only a temporary solution, and are not meant to help with chronic long-term use, advises Rose.
10. Changing Your Sleep Attitude
Sometimes, just having a positive attitude can do a world of difference, and in this case, an attitude shift towards sleep may be in order. Changing your associations concerning sleep from negative to positive can be difficult, especially if your only experiences with them have been bad.
If you’re really itching to change your views on sleep, cognitive behavioral therapy is an option.
11. Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes may also be essential to getting better sleep. Obvious changes would be to avoid caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and smoking. Less obvious choices include doing more volunteer work, picking up new hobbies, and building a social support network.
“Anything you do to make your quality of life better — to give you more happiness — you can’t lose,” . “Do what brings you happiness, and chances are it will help you refocus, get your focus away from the pain.”
Using mental discipline to lose weight
The quickest way to start losing weight is to start believing that you can. It takes mental discipline as well as a healthy diet and exercise to lose weight and keep it off. Achieving mental discipline is not as hard as one might think and you can start right away. Discipline is defined as “the ability to do the right thing even when no one is watching”. Mental discipline could then be defined as “the ability to control your thoughts when you’re not thinking”. Using mental discipline to lose weight is the ability to stay strong in a moment of weakness. Unfortunately, moments of weakness occur rather frequently when dieting. Imagine that your diet has been quite successful and your target weight is seemingly reachable in less time than previously imagined. Suddenly, just when success is in sight, a weekend from hell occurs and before you know it, you’ve skipped two workouts and consumed every Little Debbie and Pringle in sight, and when no one was watching, you secretly ordered take-out.
Having a strong sense of mental discipline may prevent that disaster from ever occurring. Occasionally we will give ourselves the green light to be bad. Then we make promises to ourselves such as working out harder during the next workout or skipping lunch or dinner, which is extremely unhealthy. Having mental discipline keeps your mind strong and your willpower in tact when you are consistently challenged during the course of a day. By properly programming your mind, you become able to override and overcome ingrained eating habits, and your energy level will naturally increase because you’ve stuck to a healthier diet. Skipping workouts is less likely to occur as well; in fact you’re likely to start looking forward to them.
Create a vision of yourself having already lost the weight you feel you need to lose. Think about what you are wearing. Think about how you would feel. Confident? Ready for anything? Train yourself to think of this vision when you wake up, then keep the vision on your mind when you are in the shower, as you get ready for work. Think about this vision on your bus ride or drive into the office. After a couple of days, it becomes natural and easy. Remember, a belief is nothing more than a series of thoughts. It won’t be long before you start believing this vision is an attainable version of you! Suddenly, eating healthy is easy and working out is no longer the chore it once seemed. Achieving mental discipline will stop the sabotage from occurring and losing weight will no longer be the proposed chance of failure it once was. If you have decided that losing weight is your goal, and you want it bad enough, you must first believe that you can lose weight. Most people program themselves for failure not even realizing it. With mental discipline, and a strong desire to succeed, anyone can lose weight, and keep it off.
8 Things your Dreams Might Be Telling You
There are deep meanings of dreams that we can find in our nightly trip away from reality. Most people find their dreams to be unintelligible scrambles of mixed messages and cryptic symbols from things they encountered in their day. The subconscious mind is a much more remarkable machine than it is given credit for. Precognitive dreams are dreams that are designed by your subconscious mind to make you feel a certain way or even tell you something.
Disturbing dreams are often linked to tragic or traumatic incidents in your life. Situations involving trust can cause you to have bad dreams. However, a disturbing dream can also be tied to a significant risk you are taking. It is possible you are realizing just how bad a particular situation could become. Some dreams might just be reflecting your fundamental fears but others could be warning you that action is needed to prevent the worst from happening.
Some time before he was assassinated, it is said that Abraham Lincoln had a dream that there would be a funeral at the White House. In his dream, he asked an onlooker who was the person that had died. The onlooker replied “The President of United States has died.”
When Lincoln told his wife about having this dream she told him that he was going to be killed while he was in office. Two weeks later, Lincoln was assassinated.
The precognitive power of our minds is a very real phenomenon. The subconscious mind often relays these precognitions through our dreams. Our different interpretations of these dreams may adversely affect the outcomes of the situations they inform us about. The symbols in our dreams can have direct or indirect interpretation when it comes to the meanings of our dreams. That is to say that a symbol can be interpreted directly as it appears or it can be used metaphorically. Most often it is the latter which is true. In any effort to interpret what the subconscious mind is telling you in your dreams, you must be aware of the margin for error within the realm of dream interpretations.
Some of us are as different as night and day. As such our subconscious minds may communicate with us in different ways. Some people fear snakes. Within their minds a snake may be a symbol for fear or danger, where in the mind of someone who respects and idolizes snakes, a snake may be a positive symbol reflecting future accomplishments. What we make of our dream interpretations may reflect the way we deal with challenges in our normal lives.
Because our minds often work differently from person to person, it can be difficult to gauge the meaning of a particular symbol appearing in the dreams of one person to the next. However, there are many inherently similar common dream symbols with distinctive and sometimes surprising meanings. In order to help you understand some of the hidden meanings in dreams, here are eight commons symbols which appear in dreams and their different meanings.
1) Dreams of Death
To dream of your own death or the death of a family member can be very upsetting. If you believe the dream to be prophetic it can seem like cause for concern. Your subconscious mind often looks at death as a stage or phase that is part of life. A dream of death often symbolizes the end of an era or phase in your life. People who are approaching a graduation or certification often have dreams involving their death or the death of a loved one. Likewise people who are considering separation and divorce often have similar dreams.
2) Drowning and Dreaming of bodies of Water
Many people think that if they are drowning in their dream that it may be a precognitive dream and they should avoid exposing themselves to anything involving water or possible drowning. Water is a symbol in your subconscious mind for the portrayal of emotions. Dreams of drowning may in fact signify that you are overcome or ‘drowning’ in your emotions.
3) Fire
Fire is one of nature’s most destructive forces. People who dream of fire may believe there is some form of disaster approaching. They may even have fears that they will be burned to death. Although it is true that fire destroys, it also acts as a cleansing and purifying agent. Fire can often symbolize passion, intense desire and even sexual arousal.
4) Predatory Creatures
Although we often associate animal predators with fear or danger, different animals may have different interpretations. If you dream of a wolf which is in a peaceful state it could signify coexistence with a potential threat. However, dreaming of a wolf on the prowl may indicate possible treachery. Some creatures indicate a clear threat and the best way of judging the type of threat the symbol represents is by the attributes of the predator itself. A shark is a clear indication of an emotional threat, as their natural habitat is water and water represents emotion. Spiders, though they have the power to harm you, are tiny creatures who’s bite typically produces an irritating effect. Therefore a spider can signify small annoyances or irritants going on in your life.
5) Cats and other non-threatening Animals
Cats often represent femininity. A large cat, such as a lion or tiger can symbolize a woman in your life who holds a position of power or respect. With some animals it might be a simple metaphor. Dream about a rat: I smell a rat!
6) Falling in your Dreams
Almost everyone has had the falling dream in different forms. Some people have all different forms of falling dreams and there are several ways to interpret what it means. Falling can symbolize the loss of something. It can symbolize the loss of control or it can mean the loss of a material object. You might feel like you are losing out on a significant bonus at your job or you might be more deeply affect than you think about the loss of your teddy bear.
7) Cheating Spouses
It is more common than you think to dream about your spouse having an affair or cheating on you. Your first instinct might be that your dreams are telling you to suspect your lover of cheating on you. These dreams can actually be your subconscious mind’s way of reaffirming your commitment to this person. Your dreams could be telling you that you care about this person by invoking one of your strongest and most primal emotions: Jealousy! 
8 ) Sleeping with your Friends
We’ve all had weird sex dreams about someone we know and felt strange or even creeped out about it. People often wonder what a weird sex dream means. Sometimes you dream about sex as a way of expressing certain affirmations in your mind. It can often indicate that people on some level satisfy an emotional need for you.
An important thing to understand is that you experience hundreds of dreams every night and you could very well go through all of these dreams in one night. When you go to sleep you have three stages of sleep. The first stage is a period between awakening and unconsciousness. You may start to dream a little in this phase but you can be awakened easily. The second phase is REM sleep. REM stands for rapid eye movement and this is the phase where your subconscious mind is rapidly showing you dreams. The third is a phase of sleep is a deep sleep where your body rejuvenates and replenishes itself. During sleep you frequently drift back and forth through the latter two phases of sleep. During REM sleep very detailed and seemingly lengthy dreams are experienced in a manner of seconds. You could potentially dream up to a thousand times a night.
The dreams you remember are the ones which are most significant to whats going on in your life. When you are deeply affected by a symbol in one of your dreams it can likely be telling you of a major problem in your life that needs dealing with. Either physical or metaphysical.
What weird dreams have you pondered the meanings of? Have you ever dreamed of your spouse cheating or had the falling dream in a more extreme than usual way? Have you interpreted any of the dreams you’ve had?
How to Hack Your Brain
My body is incompatible with Earth.
It has a daily sleep-wake cycle that lasts about 28 hours instead of 24 hours, which means each day I stay awake about four hours longer than most people. In the middle of the week, I sometimes find myself waking up at 11PM and going to bed in the early afternoon the next day. When I was younger, people thought I was insane. The only thing I remember of elementary school is being tired.
Eventually, I discovered that if I stuck to a 28-hour schedule, my body was happy; I woke up rested, went to sleep tired, and everything worked great. Except, well, that my life was incompatible with the rest of the world. Living with a normal schedule was going to be tough, so I had to find a solution.
After some research, I discovered that what I probably have is called non-24-hour sleep-wake syndrome. There’s a way to fix it using a hack called polyphasic sleep, which is really fascinating and can be used by anyone. It can shave 6 hours off your normal sleeping time (with a catch, of course).
But first, about sleep…
A lot of people believe sleep has been proven to repair or rehabilitate the brain and body, but this is not necessarily true. We don’t really know much about sleep. There’s no clearly. defined biological reason for it, and it is intuitively an evolutionary disadvantage.
In the late 1930’s, a wealthy amateur scientist named Alfred Lee Loomis and his colleagues watched an EEG monitor for brain electrical activity during sleep, and they made a pretty remarkable discovery: there are actually five main parts to each of several phases of sleep that occur during a normal night. One of these stages is called REM (rapid eye movement), and it is where most of the benefit of sleep comes from. Ironically, it is in REM sleep that the brain looks the least asleep. In fact, it looks awake. This is the phase where dreams occur.
It seems that all you really need to survive and feel rested is the REM phase, which is only a tiny portion of your actual sleep phases at night. You only spend 1-2 hours in REM sleep during any given night, and the rest is wasted on the other seemingly useless phases. This is where the opportunity to hack the brain presents itself. What if you could find a way to cut out the other phases and gain 4-5 more hours of productive wakeful time?
Hello, polyphasic sleep
One of the ways to force your brain into REM sleep and skip the other phases is to make it feel exhausted. If you’ve gone 24 hours without sleep, you might notice that you drift away into dreams straight from being awake. This because your body goes instantly into REM sleep as a protection mechanism. The way to hack yourself into entering REM sleep without being exhausted is to trick your body into thinking you’re going to get a tiny amount of sleep. You can train it to enter REM for short periods of time throughout the day in 20-minute naps rather than in one lump at night. This is how polyphasic sleep works.
There are actually six good methods to choose from; the first one, monophasic sleep, is the way you’ve probably slept your whole life. The five others are quite a bit more interesting.
MONOPHASIC SLEEP
POLYPHASIC SLEEP
The catch
How awesome would it be to sleep a total of two hours a day and feel rested? Very awesome, of course, but there is a catch. The more naps you have (and thus the less sleep you have total) the more rigorous you have to be regarding your nap times. You can’t miss a nap by more than a couple hours in the 2 and 3 “Everyman” methods, and you must have your naps within 30 minutes of their scheduled times for the Uberman method. If you miss a nap, the whole schedule is thrown off and you’ll feel tired for days.
Thankfully, when I can keep to one of these schedules, I’m able to ignore my body’s abnormal internal clock and just stay awake all day and all night with minor 20-minute interruptions.
The rigor of keeping the schedule makes most of these methods unrealistic for most people. But if you have a flexible schedule and can manage to pick a method and stick with it for several months, you’ll find that you feel amazing and you have a seemingly unlimited amount of time during the day to get things done. It’s the ultimate brain hack. •
Further reading
I haven’t included all of the material required to start these alternative sleeping methods in this article. If you really are interested in trying them, there are tons of resources online. Here are a couple places to get you started.
• The Wikipedia article is a concise and excellent introduction: Wiki on Polphasic Sleep
• And this is a good article about Everyman and Uberman: The History of Everyman
Healthy Fruit Remedies
That wicker basket in your home can contain a healthy remedy, along with a tasty snack.
31. Pomegranate
- : This super fruit can help with everything from anti-aging to fighting cancer. Simply choose a product that has pomegranate as one of the top three ingredients. This
- from WebMD has more.
32. Acai Berry : Long before Oprah was touting its benefits, Acai berries were well known for their antioxidant content. These can help with free radicals, disease, and are often found in juice or granola.
33. Watermelon : Containing high levels of glutathione, the pulp in water melon is another powerful antioxidant. Because it is made up of so much water, it can also help with dehydration.
34. Grapefruit : The amount of Vitamin C alone found in this fruit is reason to eat it. However, it also contains flavonoids and other nutrients. But this fruit can also be bad for you if drenched in sweeteners.
35. Cherries : If you have arthritis or any kind of joint problem, cherries are sweeter than you think. The Arthritis Foundation recommends drinking tart cherry juice mixed with water three times a day for its anti-inflammatory properties.
36. Orange : Not just a high boaster of Vitamin C, oranges also have other uses. In fact, the peel of an orange can be rubbed against rough or dead skin as a healthy remedy.
37. Apples : It’s true that this fruit actually does keep the doctor away. Conditions it can help include prevention of cancer and Alzheimer’s, along with diabetes and cholesterol management.
38. Berries : Both raspberries and blueberries contain high levels of antioxidants and other nutrients that can help a number of conditions. Those with allergies should definitely give a daily dose of this fruit a try.
39. Tangerines : If you want to slow the growth of cancer cells, take a look at this home healthy remedy. Like many other brightly colored fruits, they contain the cancer fighting substance flavonoids.
40. Papaya : This fruit’s high levels of Vitamin C, E, and others help it combat a number of ailments. Anyone looking to combat a cold or cancer should reach for this.
Healthy Cancer Remedies That Are Right In Your Home
Although there is no cure for cancer, use the below to both fight and prevent it without ever leaving your home.
61. Legumes
- : Use this hearty
- as a meat substance to get the protein benefits without the price. You can also use beans,
- , and the like as well.
62. Soy : This substitute also has the same benefits as the above. Varieties such as tofu and miso also contain cancer combating nutrients called phytochemicals.
63. Tomatoes : Because they contain high levels of lycopene, they can reduce risk of cancer. Try a tomato paste or sauce to get the most amounts.
64. Fish : Healthy varieties such as wild salmon, tuna, and halibut contain many cancer fighting substances such as oil. They also contain cancer fighting selenium that can be dangerous as a supplement but useful in fish.
65. Orange Juice : Containing high levels of folate and Vitamin C, it can help combat cancer. Be sure and get a healthy variety that isn’t overloaded with sugar.
66. Curcumin : This spice is also part of the turmeric family. Sprinkle a little into your next dish to enjoy it’s cancer fighting and anti inflammatory aspects.
67. Walnuts : The antioxidants and oils in these nuts can help prevent or stave off cancer. You can also substitute pistachio, pecan, and other nuts for similar benefits.
68. Cauliflower : Along with broccoli, this vegetable helps create sulforaphane in the body to protect healthy cells from cancerous ones. It is also recommended to grow it in your own home.
69. Sunshine : Get your dose of Vitamin D right from your home with this simple remedy. Simply expose at least 40% of your body to ten minutes of natural sunlight to get it.
70. Tea : Containing nutrients called kaempferol, a cup or four of tea a day can help combat cancer. To find out which kind are the best, see the below.
