The Dark Side of Self-Improvement

 

Like anything in life there is always going to be the good and the bad. Roses are beautiful and they have a wonderful fragrance. However, many have thorns that can pierce even the thickest of leather gardening/ work gloves. 

 

There are two main points that comprise the dark side of improvement. 

 

First

 

Understand that there is no magic pill for self-improvement. Self-improvement is a process which takes time, effort, and planning. It can’t be as simple as taking the red or the blue. 

 

We are creatures that have evolved from an early man and woman that had to fight to survive. Therefore, we learn best from pain. When you were a child, first learning how to ride the bike, your parent likely did all she could to prepare you for that first ride. She showed you how to balance the bike, pedal, and control its direction. However, despite her best attempts at keeping you balanced, you probably fell a few times before you got the hang of balance. 

 

Pain doesn’t have to be bad, nor dysfunctional, as long as we learn from it- and as long as it’s not willfully inflicted on us by others. 

 

As you move through your plan for self-improvement, expect to fall down so that you can get back up stronger. 

 

Disappointment

 

Every year we make resolutions, only for most of us to give up on them before February rolls around. You start with all of the enthusiasm you can possibly have to support your optimistic belief that this will finally be the year you accomplish… 

 

Only, in the end, you end up with disappointment as your enthusiasm fades, or you fail to end up where you wanted to be. 

 

Understand that while the concept of self-improvement can turn into something of a rabbit hole for us, it can be a powerful tool. 

 

One of the fundamental aspects of our humanity is that we feel a need for improvement. It’s possible that this comes from some archaic evolutionary survival tool for ancient men and women. While it is a useful tool, it can become toxic for those of us who see this need for improvement as a flaw. 

 

Going back to the bike analogy: That child, be they you or someone else, approached that bike ready to learn how to ride without training wheels. He was excited. However, the first time he fell off, he probably felt a twinge of discouragement. 

 

It’s important to remember that he didn’t approach that bike with the physical practical knowledge of how to balance it. He likely knew how to operate it mechanically thanks to the safety of his training wheels. But just because he could still improve on his ability to ride without training wheels doesn’t mean he was fundamentally flawed. It just means that he had room to grow, and something to learn. He had a way to improve. 

 

Growth

 

Also, bear in mind, that like the child learning how to ride a bike with training wheels, the point of growth in self-improvement doesn’t occur when the goal is reached. It occurs when we learn. 

 

A child who is learning to ride her bike without training wheels is probably going to fall. For older generations, this entailed some form of knee skinning. Regardless, the entire experience is a teachable, and learning moment passed down from one generation to the next. For those who teach themselves such things, the experience is added to. 

 

We tend to see our goals just beyond our reach. When we stumble while reaching it’s important to remember that the stumble, or trip-up is a learning moment. Not a failure. The dark side and toxicity come when we throw in the towel when we stumble rather than getting back up. 

 

Avoid Self-Judgment

 

As a side note, remember that you are always going to be your strongest critic. This doesn’t mean that you should judge yourself. The process of self-improvement requires honest assessment, not self-judgement, and there is a big difference (Handel, S. (2011, May 28). The 10 Commandments of Self Improvement: A Basic Introduction to the Core Principles of Self-Help)

 

Why Exercise Is The Magic Bullet For Boosting Your Metabolism

 

There’s a lot of talk about enchanted pills, smoothies, and diets that can amp up your metabolism but believe it or not; exercise is the magic bullet for boosting your metabolism. Think of your metabolism as a powerhouse that converts your food into energy and propels from one minute to the next without missing a beat. 

 

Factors that Affect Your Metabolism

 

Multiple factors may affect how well your metabolism operates. Let’s take a moment to examine a few of the things that may get in the way of our bodies functioning at optimal levels. 

Age

 

Studies show that with age, our metabolism begins to decline. This change often leads to extra pounds that are difficult to shed. We lose anywhere from three to five percent of our muscle mass, and we are less active. These two things combined make it easier for the pounds to begin accumulating, especially around the waistline area. Blame it on a slower metabolism. To counteract the effects of aging, we should burn 30 to 50 percent of our calories through exercise activity. 

Gender

 

Females tend to have a lower metabolism than men due to a variety of factors including oestrogen levels and a lower resting metabolic rate which helps to determine our overall total daily energy release and plays a vital role in the regulation of our energy balance. 

Hormones

 

Hormones can wreak havoc on your metabolism. Too much cortisol can lead to weight gain and increase our risk of heart disease and diabetes. Working out before consuming a meal can help to drop those cortisol levels and improve your metabolic functions. 

 

Testosterone levels also decrease and can trigger a bit of weight gain and leave us feeling fatigued. Daily workout regimens can help to keep your testosterone levels at healthy and stable levels and allow for a healthy metabolism. 

 

Estrogen is another hormone that triggers metabolism malfunction. An imbalance in this hormone can cause your weight to increase rapidly, giving testimony to metabolism that may not be operating in a way that is most beneficial to you. 

 

Finally, thyroid hormone imbalances can disrupt the overall effectiveness of your metabolism. Thyroid hormone helps to control metabolic processes in the body that are necessary for growth, development, and metabolism. 

 

Hyperthyroidism or a thyroid that is in a hypermetabolic state can cause your metabolism to go into overdrive, leading to weight loss, excessive use of your resting energy. On the other hand, an underperforming thyroid caused by hypometabolism can create a reduced resting energy expenditure, and cause weight gain. 

Exercise and Your Metabolism

 

Figuring out all the ways to regain control of your metabolism can be overwhelming but there is one thing you can do to move the needle, and that is to exercise. Working out helps your muscles to use a fair amount of energy and burn calories. The great thing about exercise is that even after the workout is over your muscles can continue to burn fat and helps to keep your metabolism functioning at optimal levels. 

Which Exercise is Best for Your Metabolism?

 

Is there one single exercise that works best for a healthy metabolism? The short answer is ‘no,’ but there are a couple of activities that when paired together can do wonders help get to put your metabolism into overdrive. 

Lift Weights to Burn Fat

 

Lifting weights is a fantastic approach to helping you not only build muscles but burn fat as well. Muscles use more calories at rest than fat cells. Don’t worry about becoming a gym rat. You only need two days a week to perform two sets of repetitions (12-15) working on those major muscle groups (back, arms, legs, and abs).

Aerobic Activity

 

Aerobic activity is another must-have ingredient for boosting your metabolism. Interval training is particularly useful and yields positive results. Walking, swimming, kickboxing, jogging, or even Zumba are excellent options for enhancing your metabolism. 

 

In summary, there may be a few options you cannot control when it comes to your metabolism, but exercise is the magic bullet. Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you. 

 

Top Natural Home Remedies

 

You don’t always want to go to the doctor when your illness isn’t bad or have to take harsh medicines to treat them when it seems unnecessary. For many, the answer to this problem is natural home remedies. These remedies are typically easily concocted in the home to cure common, everyday illnesses and ailments.

 

We’ve researched the absolute best home remedies that are actually effective in treating certain illnesses. If your ailment is not on this list, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a natural remedy for it. Research may show you creative and effective options for a wide variety of other ailments. 

 

Natural Home Remedy for Anxiety

 

If you suffer from anxiety, there is a home remedy that’s getting a lot of attention for its effectiveness. If you make a turmeric lemonade using filtered or sparkling water, honey, fresh lemon juice, and freshly grated or powdered turmeric, it not only tastes delicious but will also help with your anxiety.

 

Turmeric has proven to be highly effective in treating both depression and anxiety naturally. Its antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties allow it to reduce your stress hormones and increase the happy hormones like serotonin.

 

Natural Home Remedy for the Common Cold

 

A simple combination of local raw honey, cinnamon, and a pinch of either pink or gray sea salt taken two times a day for a period of three days should shorten and ease your cold symptoms. This combination can also help to cure other illnesses as well, such as bladder infections. 

 

 A 2015 study found that just a tablespoon of cinnamon each day could help to prevent or even eliminate colds in humans. Honey also contains healing and antimicrobial properties that help to shorten colds and other illnesses. Together, the combination leads to a cure the common cold doesn’t stand a chance against.

 

Natural Home Remedy to Help Digestion

 

A concoction referred to as “apple cider vinegar detox tea” is said to be magical in promoting healthy digestion. This concoction isn’t really tea at all; it’s a mixture of apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice, warm water, honey, a generous dash of cayenne pepper, and some cinnamon. 

 

Apple cider vinegar has long been known to help reduce gas and help your body to better break down its food. The acidity in apple cider vinegar helps to raise the acid levels in the stomach, easing digestive issues.

 

Natural Home Remedy to Treat Eczema

 

You can make your own, all-natural eczema cream in your own kitchen. All it takes to make this effective topical treatment is coconut oil, shea butter, vitamin E oil, organic oats, and lavender oil. It’s safe to use on adults and children alike but be sure to dilute the essential oils you use when the treatment is intended for children.

 

Similar to the idea behind oatmeal baths as a soothing treatment for chicken pox, the oats in this homemade eczema cream contain zinc which helps to speed up skin healing and repair. The oils contained in this cream also help with healing dry and cracked skin. 

 

Natural Home Remedy to Treat Insomnia

 

Many of those that favor natural remedies swear up and down that drinking homemade banana cinnamon tea one hour before going to bed will work better to cure insomnia than a sleeping pill. You make this tea by submerging a peeled banana in a small pot of boiling water. You add a pinch of cinnamon and then strain. 

 

Potassium and magnesium are well-known natural muscle relaxants, both of which are found in bananas. The cinnamon works to regulate the blood sugar in your body so that you can fast the whole night through.

 

You don’t always want to go to the doctor when you’re sick or have to rely on harsh medicines and antibiotics if it’s not that big of a deal. That’s where natural remedies come in. All of the remedies we mentioned above are entirely natural, effective, and easy to make on your own in your own home.

 

If we didn’t mention your ailment in this list, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a natural remedy that will work for it. We were limited on our space and included only the top five all-natural at-home remedies that are actually effective. More research may lead you to interesting, creative, and effective at-home remedies for all sorts of ailments. 

GMO Food 101

 

GMO food has been quite a hot-button topic for quite some time, but what is GMO exactly? People are led to believe that it’s some abomination people are putting in our food; a simple internet search will turn up thousands of confusing results like dense data, frightening images, etc. all with a healthy dose of skepticism.

 

So what is GMO? Is it good for us, bad for us, or does it matter in the slightest? In this article, we’re going to probe those questions and a few more to help you fully understand GMO once and for all.

 

What is GMO

 

GMO stands for “genetically modified organism” and it refers to “the process by which changes occur in an organism’s genome,” according to Michigan State University. Brad Day, professor and associate department chair for research at MSU, said: “It’s important to understand that all organisms - not just those that are the basis of foods - are genetically modified in some way, shape, or form.”

 

In fact, the process of genetic modification and selection is to thank for modern dog breeding and plant breeding. It’s a common practice found naturally and unnaturally in our world. All of the GMO stuff you hear about gets its roots in genetic engineering and are not only common but also naturally occurring to some degree.

 

Are GMOs Safe

 

One of the top things you’ll see surrounding GMOs is whether or not they’re safe. GMOs have been accused of being “unnatural,” “dangerous,” and even “toxic.” 

 

Rebecca Grumet, of the MSU Department of horticulture, said: “Modification through genetic engineering. In terms of alterations to a plant’s genome, what’s important is not the method that was used. It’s what genes or traits have been introduced. 

 

“The idea behind genetic engineering is that it’s more precise, and it lets scientists take advantage of traits present in a given species to better another.”

 

Grumet went on to say that “hundreds of independent research studies” have found no larger risk “associated with GM crops” and that there is “scientific consensus on this topic.”

 

GMOs are every bit as safe as other crops; misunderstanding and fear-mongering have led to the mass confusion on this topic.

 

Do We Need GMOs

 

The fact of the matter is that the US is spiraling towards overpopulation. We’re going to need new, creative ways to sustain our population. Genetically modified crops could be the solution to this problem. GM crops could allow for agriculture to grow to a more industrial scale fitting for the increasing population. 

 

GM crops are also more affordable. They can be manufacture more GM crops for far cheaper than traditional agriculture. This makes it more sustainable for more of the population, not just options for the upper-classes. 

 

So, in short, we do need GMOs. We need them to procure a sustainable future for all. We need genetic modification to survive.

 

GMO foods are not as dangerous or scary as some like to make them out to be. Genetically modified crops are actually a huge advancement to ensure sustainability for our ever-increasing population. It is not harmful to our bodies; in fact, every living being goes through the process of genetic modification, at least to some degree, as the body adapts to its surroundings in order to survive.

 

If you are still foggy on the topic of GMOs and genetic modification in general, we encourage you to research this fascinating subject further. It could be the way of the future and, perhaps, the only way to a sustainable future if we keep going at the rate we are.

Anatomy Of A Really Great Day For Your Wellness

Life is indeed a beauty to behold every other day for a person with the right mindset and an enabling lifestyle that promotes robust wellness. In fashioning perfect days for the long run, there is a certain standard you have to uphold. Today your vital organs could be at their best, but it is not a guarantee of perfect health tomorrow. With the right practices however, your days can be glorious. 

 

Wholesome health does not only entail responsible eating habits and maintaining a physical workout routine. Without an enabling attitude to life and a positive mental disposition, most days will be doom and groom stealing the fulfillment that comes with hard work. 

 

Sustainable Seeping Patterns

 

Sleep cycles have to be consistent for your body to be invigorated before embarking on your daily routine. Without enough sleep, your vital organs get into overdrive which leads to fatigue and loss of mental sharpness. This makes you ineffective in any work environment and a couple of hours end up feeling like a lifetime. 

 

Poor sleeping patterns often cause people to binge eat leading to complications like obesity, diabetes and heart diseases in the long run. It will definitely show on your physique with visible bags under your eyes, grogginess and premature aging. A good night sleep for a minimum of 7 hours goes a long way to set your day straight. 

 

Morning Stretches

 

Not everybody is a morning person and for most people, they struggle to wake up and when they do, they are like zombies around the house. Stretching is beneficial for different muscle groups and joints. It also improves blood circulation to the entire body and stimulates a pleasant mood. 

 

According to the American College of Sports Medicine, stretching lets you start your day with a burst of energy, makes you more flexible and also enhances your coordination. Stretching is an instinctive response for all human being and helps you attain a great posture. 

 

Wholesome Meals and Hydration

 

How you feel through the day is greatly influenced by the food you eat. Balancing between proteins, fiber, nutritious carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins readily found in fruits will sustain your energy levels all day. If your hours only allow for one complete meal a day go for a heavy breakfast as it will keep you full for the better part of the day.

 

It is Important to plan ahead for meals to avoid fumbling over menus or stuffing yourself with junk food. There is no nutritional value in eating processed food and due to their high salt content, they leave you susceptible to high blood pressure. Junk foods, on the other hand, overwork your vital organs and make you feel hungry and fatigued after a short while.

 

Your healthy diet should include proper hydration throughout the day. Drinking 2-3 liters daily is not only refreshing but also elevates your moods. All organs depend on water to function smoothly and great days demand efficiency from all your systems.

 

Routine Exercise

 

Workout is the secret to a long happy life. It also improves the quality of your lifestyle. Having an exercise routine that you actually enjoy gives you the vigor to handle any challenges coming your way and lets you look good while at it. Exercising also increases your bone density and boosts your overall immunity. Breaking a sweat after a long day in the office is a great way to unwind and stay healthy.

 

Managing Stress

 

An active life is often characterized by stress which may take a toll on you if you lack functional coping mechanisms. There are multiple ways of dealing with stress as it happens. Breathe regularly and stay composed to have a clear mind that can solve problems rather than escalating the situation. 

 

A great day is the sum of all the little efforts that create the right environment for you to thrive. It is vital to maintain a positive self-image and treating yourself like loyalty as loving yourself makes life worth living. 

How Raising Self-Esteem Makes You Independent

 

Many swear by the effectiveness of raising their self-esteem in establishing their independence. Have you been curious as to what this could do for you and how you could work to boost your self-esteem? Let us help! 

 

In this article, you’ll learn the following:

 

●      How raising your self-esteem can help establish your independence

●      How raising your self-esteem can help ensure you retain your independence

●      How to raise your self-esteem - basic practices to get you started

 

Raising Self-Esteem Boosts Your Confidence

 

The major way that raising self-esteem can make you independent is by boosting your confidence. The more confident you are, the more independent you’re going to want to be. It will inspire you to not only insist on your independence but demand you get it.

 

As you boost your self-esteem and you become more confident, you’ll find that you have more of a command over your independence. 

 

Raising Self-Esteem Establishes What You Deserve

 

With higher self-esteem, you’ll find that you have a better understanding of what it is that you deserve. You’ll find yourself settling less and less and truly going after what it is you want in life. You won’t let others control you, treat you poorly, or take advantage you.

 

Understanding what it is you deserve in life will help you become more independent. You deserve to make your own decisions, live your life how you want to, and enjoy your independence. When you have higher self-esteem and a better understanding of what you deserve, you don’t settle for anything less.

 

Having Higher Self-Esteem and More Confidence Helps You Retain Your Independence

 

When you have higher self-esteem and the influx of confidence that comes along with that, you demand that you retain your independence. You don’t stand for people taking control over what you want, what you do, or any part of your life. You demand the independence you worked so hard to gain.

 

Working to raise your self-esteem helps to not only affirm your independence but also ensure that it doesn’t go anywhere and no one infringes upon yours.

 

How to Raise Your Self-Esteem

 

Now that you know what raising your self-esteem can do for you, it’s time to put the work in to actually raise it. The following are great starter practices to turn into a routine that will boost your self-esteem in no time:

 

Affirming Your Worth

Throughout your day, give yourself a pep talk in the mirror. Tell yourself what you’re worth, who you are, and what you deserve. Remind yourself that you are strong, incredible, and valuable. You’re a unique person with great, unique things to offer this world; remind yourself that regularly.

 

Refusing to Settle

You deserve nothing but the best in life. You don’t deserve to be treated worse, have less, or be in any way lesser. You must absolutely refuse to settle for anything less than you deserve if you ever hope to affect a change in your self-esteem, confidence, and independence.

 

Sticking to Your Guns

You have to stick with these efforts and routines for a longer period of time if you ever hope to accomplish your goals in raising your self-esteem and claiming your independence once and for all. Don’t let yourself back-petal. Maintain the progress you’ve made and continue pushing forward.

 

Raising your self-esteem can most certainly help you boost your confidence, claim your independence, and retain it. Through the efforts made to improve your self-esteem, you will see a vast improvement in your quality of life and mental health. So what are you waiting for? Get started today.

Old World Remedies In The Modern World

 

There’s a lot of holistic, natural, old-world remedies people swear by. They swear up and down that these old-world remedies are far safer than the new world drugs and chemicals and more effective to boot. 

 

While that isn’t true 100% of the time, some old-world remedies do in fact work well and may even work better than their modern counterparts. Luckily for you, we’ve tested these for you and come up with a great, distilled list of the best old-world remedies for your modern world ailments!

 

The Secret Lies in Your Gut

 

Food can be one of the best medicines you’ve ever had. It’s the fuel that gives your body nourishment and gives you the energy to do what it is you want to do. Many people don’t realize how much the food they eat affects their health and how they feel, but they do dramatically.

 

You can avoid certain foods to minimize your inflammation, eat specific foods to increase strength or help treat anemia. The food you eat affects everything in your body and your overall health. We recommend you research what medicinal powers your favorite foods hold and what pitfalls you might be missing because of your diet.

 

There’s a Herb for Everything

 

The medicinal power of herbs was one of the most popular and well-known of the old-world remedies. They had an herbal treatment for everything; they made topical ointments, oils, and ground herbs to treat everything from hair loss and rash to indigestion and fatal diseases.

 

While not everything the old world thought herbs could cure is actually true, there are several remedies that actually prove effective. Things like ginger and a combination of specific herbs to ease nausea or certain herbs to soothe rashes or other skin irritations. If you’re interested in the medicinal powers of herbs, we recommend researching treatments that are proved scientifically to be effective.

 

There’s an Essential Oil for Everything

 

Essential oils are another great old-world remedy that still has relevance in the modern world. In the old world, essential oils and herbs were used to treat absolutely every ailment, including things like migraines, depression, and stress, too! Nowadays, we know these items aren’t the cure-alls they were once believed to be, but that doesn’t render them useless.

 

Essential oils like lavender, eucalyptus, etc. can help to soothe headaches and pains, ease stress and anxiety, and some can even help promote sleep. Diffusing essential oils and breathing them in deeply can offer some medicinal benefits; we recommend relying on scientific research when purchasing these, so you don’t get suckered into buying ones that aren’t actually effective.

 

Your Mind is Your Most Powerful Tool

 

The mind is way more powerful than we give it credit for. Now, in the old world, they thought the ailments that could be overcome with the mind were either made up in the first place or caused by a demon or some other spiritual antagonizer.

 

Nowadays, we know that our minds hold the power to overcoming or persevering through many conditions or ailments. A positive outlook and hope can make all the difference in a battle with a fatal illness. Positivity, focus, and determination can all help overcome limitations we once thought insurmountable. Your mind can be one of your most effective tools.

 

While some old-world remedies have been proven ineffective, they aren’t all malarky. We recommend that you do your research thoroughly so that you try only the old-world remedies that are known to be effective. We wish you the best of luck in your journey and applaud you on your decision to try a more natural alternative to medication.

How much You Eat Matters as Much As What You Eat

There’s an obsession with counting calories and checking serving sizes that has been driving us all insane. And instead of helping us lose weight, and help us become fitter and leaner, it has pushed us closer and closer to the brink of an epidemic which is known in the medical world as obesity.

 

Young and old, obesity has infiltrated our lives in one way or another; affecting us personally or a loved one. And it isn’t just about the numbers popping up on the scale. Obesity increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, arthritis, and many other types of chronic illnesses.

 

Serving vs. Portion

 

Let’s start by differentiating between serving, or serving size, and portion.

 

A serving is what can be found on a food product’s food label, or Nutrition Facts, on the side of the package. It’s a suggestion of how much you should eat of that particular food product. Each product has different serving sizes and uses various measurements, such as cups, grams, ounces, slices, or pieces. There’s also a servings per container on the label which gives you an idea of how many servings are there in the entire package.

 

A portion is the amount of food you eat per meal. It could be directly from the box, or how much food is on your plate at home or at a restaurant. More often than not, the portion of food you decide to consume won’t match the serving size provided for you on the food label.

 

How much?

 

Knowing what to eat is easy. We all know what’s good for you and what’s not; what we should eat 80% of the time and what we can indulge in 20% of the time without feeling any guilt. The problem now, however, has become not what to eat, but how much should I eat? Even healthy foods should be eaten in moderation.

 

How much food we can consume at each meal is different from one person to the next based on age, gender, weight, metabolism and how active that person is. If you work out regularly, you’ll need more calories than someone who leads a more sedentary lifestyle. Or if you’re in your twenties, your metabolism will be working faster than someone in their fifties, which means you can eat larger portions without worrying all that much.

 

Here are a few tips to help you quickly figure out your portion sizes both at home or on the go:

 

• Use smaller dishes. It may sound simple, but you’ll be amazed at how easily your brain accepts that you’re eating less. And you won’t even feel you’re doing it.
• Use your plate as a measuring tool. For example, if you’re eating salad, that should take up ½ your plate. Protein and complex carbs should take about a quarter of your plate. And if you’re eating foods high in fats, that should only be ½ a tablespoon.
• Use your hands. It’s not an exact science, but the size of your hands usually corresponds to the size of your body. So, protein should be roughly the size of 1 palm for women and 2 palms for men; vegetables and foods rich in carbs should be about a fistful for women and 2 fistfuls for men; high-fat foods should be about the size of a thumb for women and 2 thumbs for men.
• Avoid eating straight from the container. Measure out the serving size in a bowl instead.
• Always start each meal with a glass of water.
• Avoid eating while standing up or while you’re being distracted by something, as a phone call or the TV
• Always focus on how your food looks, smells, tastes as you purposefully chew each bite. Practicing mindfulness will help you reevaluate your relationship with food. It will also feel full quicker, and most importantly, satiated and content.

 

The bottom line is that it’s important to have a healthy relationship with food. Just like in any relationship, neither side should have the upper hand. There should be a sense of balance and respect without that negative hold that food can sometimes have on you. 

 

5 Really Bad Consequences of Chronic Boredom

Boredom. 

 

Medical experts call it the ‘disease of our time.’ It’s not just for children anymore. Everyone suffers from it. What used to be something you temporarily went through until your lecture was over or it’s finally your turn at the doctor’s office has now become a disease. That’s how serious it is.

 

Maybe the main reason why boredom is now a chronic disease is due to the endless array of stimuli that bombard your every waking moment, making it difficult to concentrate on any given topic. We’ve been programmed that we wake up and expect to have information thrown at us, and we know we’re supposed to sit there and take it. We’ve stopped interacting and engaging. Consequently, we get bored.

 

Boredom is annoying and frustrating. And it may even get to the point when you feel like you’re slowly suffocating. As defined by the German psychologist, Theodor Lipps, boredom “is a feeling of unpleasant arising out of a conflict between a need for intense mental activity and lack of incitement to it, or inability to be incited.”

 

This can mean different things to different people. An introvert, for example, would find pleasure between the pages of a book or any other type of solitary activity. On the other hand, an extrovert may seek more thrilling activities as well as more social encounters.

 

But no matter what your personality type is, there’s a direct correlation between boredom and self-awareness. When you have a clear idea of your strengths, weaknesses, motivations and beliefs, and are comfortable in your own skin, you’re better prepared with the tools required to make yourself less bored. You can gauge your moods and feelings, and understand what it is you really want out of life. It also better prepares you to deal with others, and respond accordingly.

 

But having a clear understanding of your personality can be a real problem in this day and age with the world at our fingertips 24/7. The idea that we turn off the noise for a few seconds to ourselves, to just close our eyes and be at peace, is now a foreign concept. 

 

No one wants to sit there and do nothing! That’s why full grown adults are transfixed on playing games or browsing through their social media every free millisecond. Downtime can be scary.

 

But it’s in those moments where we really feel our presence, tune in to our thoughts, and get in touch with our feelings. It’s also when we are at our most imaginative and creative. It’s how we evolve, discover and invent.

 

Suffering from chronic boredom can make it easy to fall into a rut of negative habits, resulting in a powerlessness to finish tasks, puts a damper on the quality of your life, and exacerbates physical pain. It comes with a slew of negative ramifications, the 5 most common are:

 

·       Obesity

If you find yourself constantly snacking even though you’re not hungry, then the culprit is probably boredom. Eating, especially foods high in processed fats and sugars, makes you feel calmer and happier. Dieticians refer to this as emotional eating, which is often brought on by boredom.

 

·       Depression

Boredom can be a symptom of depression, and it can also trigger it. Working long hours, having a stressful work or home environment, or working dull, unchallenging jobs can all boost stress and result in deep bouts of depression.

 

·       Stress and anxiety

Living day to day in an environment that doesn’t give you what need can be emotionally exhausting. Load on top of that work responsibilities and financial strain, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for chronic stress triggered by boredom and redundancy.

 

·       Alcohol and drug abuse

In an attempt to break through the boredom spells, it’s common to find people reaching for alcohol and drugs. They’re known for their addictive nature, but in the moment, all people really see is how they allow them to forget the aggravating effects boredom has on their lives.

 

·       Heart disease

When boredom strikes regularly, your brain releases toxic hormones into your bloodstream. These hormones create problems for your heart. Moreover, those who suffer from chronic boredom tend to skimp out on exercising and eating right. In fact, they’re more likely to turn to bad habits, like smoking and drinking - all of which can take its toll on the cardiovascular system, resulting in premature death.

            

A great way to break the boredom cycle is to step back and look at the big picture. Make lists of all the good in your life, as well as all the things you’ve wanted to try but never found the time and start from there. 

 

Take control of your life and try to work your way around the things you cannot change. Form new, healthier habits. Try something different each day. Volunteer your time to helping others who are in need. And, most importantly, find something that piques your interest.