Category: Guest Post

The Benefits of Learning a New Skill and How to Get Started

Learning a new skill may seem intimidating, but the fact is, it can open up a whole new world to you. Whether you want to become a dancer, learn a new language, or start painting watercolors, there are so many opportunities out there that will allow you to grow, broaden your horizons, and get social. Pushing yourself to learn how to do something new is a great way to meet new people and form connections that could last a lifetime.

Photo via Pixabay

Guest Post by: Cheryl Conklin of Wellnesscentral.com 

Of course, there can be financial benefits that come with learning a new skill. Depending on what you take on, you may be able to make money doing it, or it might even become your primary source of income. It’s important to stop thinking of this venture as something to be nervous about and simply tackle it head-on. After all, you are your own worst critic! Starting out slowly will take some of the pressure off and allow you to just enjoy the experience.

Stacy Reuille-Dupont, PhD, offers some great tips on how to get started with a new skill and why it’s so beneficial.

Get Social

Once you’ve settled on the skill you want to try, it’s important to think about where and when you’ll do it. You might decide to take a class, where you’ll meet like-minded people who are all starting off on the same level as you. Whether you want to try ballroom dancing, learning a new language, or making pottery, the possibilities for forming new connections are limitless.

Use It as Therapy

Many skills and hobbies are of the creative kind, which means you can use it to your advantage when it comes to your mental and cognitive health. Being able to channel your emotions through an expressive medium — like painting or dancing — can be especially beneficial. Also, starting a garden, which might involve planting trees or bushes, is a great hobby for seniors, as it provides a moderate amount of exercise and plenty of fresh air. You can also improve your mental and physical health by joining Stacy Reuille-Dupont’s 30-Day Reboot Program, which gives you the tools and guidance needed to maintain a healthy diet and commit to a workout regimen.

Take Your Hobby to the Next Level

Your newfound pastime may have the potential to generate revenue, either on the side or as a replacement for your full-time job. Before you start to market your product or service, you’ll need to take the proper steps to set up and promote your business. Choosing a name, designing a logo, and creating a website are probably the first things that come to mind, but they aren’t actually at the top of the list. First, you’ll need to create a legal business entity to operate your small business. Many first-time small business owners choose an LLC because of the limited liability, tax advantages, and overall flexibility. As an added benefit, a Colorado LLC is easy and inexpensive to set up online, saving you money on an attorney. You’ll also need a separate business bank account and a way to keep track of your income and expenses, like an inexpensive do-it-yourself accounting software.

Boost Your Brainpower, Reduce Anxiety

One of the best benefits of learning a new skill — and practicing it often — is that it boosts your brainpower and memory function while reducing stress and anxiety, making it the perfect way to help your mental health along. If you’ve suffered from depression, stress, or a mental health disorder such as PTSD, learning something new and focusing your time and energy on it will help you work on feeling better.

Learning a new skill can quickly become something that changes your life in the best possible way, but it’s important to keep in mind that some hobbies aren’t for everyone. If you find that you aren’t getting anything out of your new skill or that you don’t enjoy it as much as you thought you would, move on to something else. Don’t be hard on yourself! Hobbies should be fun and should reduce stress, not add to it.

Inexpensive Ways To Take Care Of Yourself, Even During A Pandemic

Have you been feeling the stress of COIVD-19 and restrictions the pandemic has placed on your life? Here are some inexpensive ways to take care of yourself while you ride out this strange time in our lives.

Guest Post By: Justin Bennett of http://healthyfit.info Justin can be reached at jbennett@healthyfit.info

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

When the World Health Organization officially declared COVID -19 a global pandemic in March, the world as a whole effectively shut down. And even closer to home, most of us have had to change the way we live and act each day.

There is a high probability that you’ve shifted your efforts from self-care to caring for your children, spouse or significant other, or aging parents. And although you are right to do your diligent duty, you can’t forget about yourself. Remember, you have to take care of yourself so that you have the physical and mental energy to get through this pandemic with your health and sanity intact. Here are some resources that can remind you how to do just that—without overspending.

Wellness coaching from one of Studio B’s Professional Health Coaches can make a huge difference in adhering to healthier behaviors.

You are just as important now as you were before the crisis. Treat yourself that way. From meditating and exercising to eating well and avoiding social media, these inexpensive ideas are a great start.

For expert therapy, wellness coaching, and personal development and growth strategies, connect with Stacy Reuille-Dupont today!

Enjoyable and Invaluable Skills 
You Can Learn Online at Any Age

Many people spend a good portion of their free time watching TV or mindlessly browsing the internet. But when you have an exciting and productive activity you can enjoy outside of work, you can finally feel like you’re using every second of your day to its fullest. Plus, learning something new or taking up a hobby can be great for one’s mental health.

Guest Post: Justin Bennett from Healthy Fit Info

Photo Credit: Pexel

Learning something new or picking up a hobby doesn’t have to be a huge, expensive process either. Fortunately, living in the tech age means that the foundations of almost any skill can be learned over the internet. Don’t know how you want to spend your time? Here are some ideas from therapist Stacy Reuille-Dupont.

Learn How to Make Music

Learning an instrument isn’t just an extracurricular activity for kids. Many adults discover their desire to play a certain instrument after hearing a piece of music that they really enjoyed. Once you know the instrument you want to learn, the next hardest part is mastering your patience. Learning music requires dedicating plenty of time to practice. If you expect to become an expert overnight, you’ll be severely disappointed. Understand that practicing music requires your brain to work harder, as you use your hands and various parts of your brain all at once. Because of the patience and dedication required, older students may actually be able to learn music more easily than younger peers. There are many instrument-learning apps available such as Uberchord and Simply Piano, or you can look to online courses.

Try Graphic Design

Graphic design is a great skill to have that is not only fun and creative but can be lucrative as well. Knowing basic Photoshop skills and how to create simple graphics can help boost the professionalism of anything you create. Format Magazine recommends checking out various free online courses to further hone your design skills. Many of these are offered by universities or other graphic design experts.

Learn At Your Pace, Enhance Your Career!

If you’ve considered pursuing an advanced degree but aren’t sure you’ll be able to keep up with the pace of full-time college, online degree programs offer the flexibility for you to set the pace of your learning. And there are programs for just about any industry: informational technology, business, accounting, teaching – you get it. The beauty of an online degree is having the ability to adjust your coursework to your schedule. If you end up with more time than you thought, you can accelerate, and if you get bogged down by other things, you can slow your pace. And once you finish, you’ll be positioned to not only get your foot in the door of employers, but also ace the interviews and launch your new dream job. 

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Get Crafty with Woodworking

Woodworking is something that many of us dabbled in during a single shop class in high school. However, learning how to work with wood can help you fix things around the house, enable you to create furniture like shelves and chairs, and even improve mental health. Much of the knowledge employed in woodworking can be picked up online from experts who are eager to share their experience. You can learn things like how to use various tools, the basics of measuring, and how to properly finish wood.

Become a Pro Dog Trainer

Learning dog training techniques will allow you to better tame your own pet, help out friends and family with their furry friends, or even make some side cash offering training sessions to clients. Many of the essential commands that dogs need to understand are fairly easy to teach if you have a solid grasp of behavior modification techniques. For the most part, dog training involves connecting signals or words to the dog’s natural behaviors. These connections are strengthened by rewards such as praise or clicking sounds.

Learn the Art of Self-Defense

Self-defense is a skill that can save your life one day. Plus, knowing how to defend yourself from a potential attacker can help you feel more at ease and confident when you’re walking around alone. Although self-defense is best practiced with a partner, you can learn many of the moves on your own by following lessons online or through apps.

Turn Your Social Media Addiction Into a Skill

Many people aren’t aware that social media is one of the strongest marketing tools available today. Reaching consumers is easier than ever before thanks to the prevalence of social media and online communities. If you love being on social media, you can turn that passion into a very desirable skill by learning the basics of social media marketing. It’s easy to find plenty of advice online as well as courses offered by successful entrepreneurs.

From learning the fine details of woodworking to the simplicity of making music, you’ll never regret your decision to learn a new skill. Whatever activity attracts you, take the time to indulge in it and learn how to improve. You’ll soon be able to use your new talent to help others, provide entertainment, and even make some extra money if you’re lucky!

Affordable Ways Women Can Address Their Wellness Needs

Hitting the gym and eating healthy are two essentials in the wellness equation. But for women, the formula isn’t quite that simple. Men often lose weight faster — and keep it off longer — than women, which means ladies need a unique approach to meeting their health goals. Stacy Reuille dishes out affordable advice to help you start living a healthier life.

Photo Credit: Photo by Ayo Ogunseinde on Unsplash

Guest Post by: Shelia Johnson at Well Sheila

Women Versus Men: The Differences

A matchup between men and women is always interesting, but it’s not physical strength or intelligence we want to talk about. The truth is that women have more risk factors than men when it comes to health problems like heart disease, says Cleveland Clinic.

Women’s bodies also react differently to stress than men’s — a woman’s heart pumps more blood when she’s stressed, while men’s blood pressures rise. Different symptoms of heart disease can also confuse things. Fortunately, exercise and healthy habits can help women lower their risk.

But it’s not just physical differences that set men and women apart. Women experience depression — and receive a diagnosis for it — more often than men. Postpartum depression is another issue that’s unique to women, and hitting the gym isn’t a cure-all for baby blues.

The fact is that ladies need a unique approach to wellness — both physical and mental — to stay healthy and empowered. Fortunately, there are inexpensive ways to ensure your health and feel your best. Staying focused, motivated, and on track with your weight loss and wellness goals can be challenging. Try these tips to stick with it:

1. Look the Part

Embarking on a weight loss journey can be intimidating, but overhauling your mindset can help. Look at working out as a new adventure — and one that requires a new wardrobe. You can purchase workout gear to support your goals without breaking the bank with Nordstrom Rack coupons and promo codes.

Without overspending, you’ll be looking the part in no time — whether you’re walking, riding an exercise bike, or doing yoga. Plus, studies suggest that donning appropriate workout attire can change your attitude and confidence. In short, you can’t go wrong with yoga pants.

2. Care for All of You

Looking at physical fitness under a microscope means you’re missing the bigger picture when it comes to wellness. Physiology is only part of your path to better health. Psychology can also help you meet your goals and make more significant progress. In short, your mindset matters, so an overall healthy lifestyle needs to include self-care and mental health support as necessary.

On the plus side, this step doesn’t need to cost you much — most insurance plans are required to cover mental health support, for one thing, says the National Alliance on Mental Illness. But routine self-care can also be as simple as taking time to relax, indulging in hobbies you enjoy, and spending time with friends.

3. Know Yourself

Knowing that you hate running or that meditation helps you relax is a good start. But knowing yourself also comes down to understanding your physiology and why losing weight may be more difficult for you than men and even other women.

Women tend to have slower metabolism than men, but you may not see the same results by following your BFF’s meal plan or fitness regimen, either. Customizing a routine that works for your needs is essential for weight loss success. That’s one reason expensive fad diets don’t work — they don’t consider how different each person’s physical makeup is, whether man or woman. Save your money and invest in lifestyle changes rather than weight loss gimmicks.

Caring for your body and mind involves far more than counting calories and hitting the gym. To really reap the benefits of a healthier lifestyle, you need to understand why your body does what it does — and how to keep the entire system in alignment. If you’re ready to combine physiology with psychology for a well-rounded approach to fitness and health, reach out to Stacy Reuille for expert advice today.

Self-Care for Those That Prefer to Stick Close to Home

If you enjoy spending time alone and prefer to work independently, you’re likely an introvert. Unfortunately, popular media would have you believe that the only way to be healthy is to surround yourself with others. From fitness classes to group-based travel, it’s easy to find self-care opportunities based around interaction. These, however, are not always right for introverts. Here are some things you can do to upkeep your health, no crowd required.

Guest PostBy: Melissa Howard at StopSuicide.info

Know What You Are Putting Into Your Body

There is no way to deny that what you eat has a profound impact on your overall health. The good thing is that eating well is something you don’t need a group of people to do. What you do need, however, is an understanding of food and ways to make healthy eating a habit. And there is no better way to do this than to learn how to prepare your meals ahead of time.

Meal prep starts by identifying long-lasting staples, like oatmeal and rice. You can use oatmeal to pack breakfasts for the road — Foodies Today recommends sweet potato and oatmeal muffins and chocolate overnight oatmeal smoothies. Both of these can be made ahead and enjoyed for days. Rice, which comes in a variety of forms, including Jasmine and long grain, is a likewise long-lasting meal base. Rice and oatmeal may help keep you from overeating.

Your pre-planned meals should also include lean proteins and produce. A bed of rice with shredded chicken, sautéed peppers, onions, and fajita seasoning, for example, is a healthy and delicious lunch that will reheat well in the right container.

Exercise Your Body Every Day

Food is only one aspect of your overall self-care routine. As Time asserts, exercise is just as impactful and can change the way you look and feel, as well as have an effect on mental health. Don’t let yourself get comfortable on the couch for too long; give yourself at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. If you do not want to deal with people, lack self-confidence, or just prefer your own space, there are many exercise programs online. 

Something else to think about is that you can have fun while working on your abs and agility. If you have a Nintendo Switch, games such as Ring Fit Adventure and Fitness Boxing can keep you moving from the comfort of your living room.

Take Up a New Hobby

Hobbies are not only fun but many, such as drawing, also have mental health benefits. Using the drawing example, putting a pencil to a piece of paper can help you gain a new perspective and may help stave off depression and anxiety. Drawing is also shown to help with your memory. The best part is that with nothing more than a piece of paper or sketchbook and pencil, you can get started today. If you don’t care for visual art, you can take that same paper and pencil and start writing, be it a journal or fiction.

Take Care of Your Home

Are things starting to pile up around your home? Do you often struggle to find the things you need, only to find that they’ve buried under other, less important stuff? If so, then you need to take some time to declutter your home. Not only will it help release any “bad energy” that may have built up in your home as a direct result, but it can help create a sense of peace and calm throughout your property. So, take a hard look around your home, identify areas that need attention, and set to work. You may be shocked at the difference it makes.

How you care for yourself is up to you. However, when your self-care plan doesn’t include crowds, you may need to look for alternative ways to do things like exercise and enjoy your free time. But remember, whether you’re an extrovert, introverted, or something in between, one of the most important things you can do for yourself is to prioritize healthy eating. Once you’ve done that, everything else will fall into place.

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