BuzzFeed Shopping writerEmma Lordalso swears by this. She writes: "I use this on my skin and definitely have noticed results! While it didn't help completely kick my stubborn pre-period hormonal acne,it has done *wonders* with reducing redness on my face, particularly around my nose, and in dealing with my pores.Since I started using it, my primer and foundation goes on a whole lot smoother, andI'm struggling a whole lot less to cover my pores.After using it a few weeks, I read the advice of one reviewer toput this on when your face is slightly moist from washing, rub it in, let it dry, and then put your moisturizer on top of it I've found that it's what got me the best results!"

Promising review: "Recommended from a dermatologist, which is very important when choosing skincare. I use it in the morning after toner then follow up with a light moisturizer, vitamin C, then SPF, and my skin is glowing. Ive received manycomplimentsafter incorporating this into my routine." E. Rice

Get it from Amazon for $13.88.

More:
22 Self Care Products For A Night In - BuzzFeed

Mental Health Monday: Self care tips to help combat the winter blues  FOX 2 Detroit

See the original post:
Mental Health Monday: Self care tips to help combat the winter blues - FOX 2 Detroit

INTRODUCTION

Lebanon has been battling with a series of unprecedented crises that have intensified pre-existing structural weaknesses as a result of years of neglect, political deadlock, and budget mismanagement with minimal capacity of the government to respond. The Government of Lebanon was not prepared to respond to shocks, let alone an economic crisis ranked among the most severe crises episodes globally since the midnineteenth century, with inflation rates recording highest in the world at 139% followed by Zimbabwe and Argentina , The COVID-19 pandemic rated between the top 6 worst pandemics in history 1 , and the Beirut port explosion rated as one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions in history as stated by the BBC.

In July 2022, the country was downgraded to a lower middle-income country for the first time in 25 years. Over the course of those crises, the local currency has lost more than 98% of its value since its economic collapse began in 2019 recording an all-time high devaluation of 70% between May 2022 and May 2023 leading to high inflation rates, mostly affecting the North Governorate. That said, Lebanese and refugee households face major challenges in accessing food, healthcare, education, and other basic services leading those households to increasingly rely on negative coping strategies such as child labour, child marriage, withdrawing children from schools, excessive debt, undereating to make ends meet.

To address the current situation, the INMAA consortium including Save the Children, Plan International, Akkarouna and LOST, is delivering an EU funded project under the title of Sustainable Social Protection and Livelihood Solutions for Severely Vulnerable Households in Lebanon implemented in Akkar and Baalbek. The project targets vulnerable Lebanese and Syrian refugee households supporting them to become less reliant on social protection schemes, paving their way to sustainable pathways out of extreme poverty through focusing on productive inclusion (graduation) by bridging social assistance and livelihoods/ resilience pathways and promoting self-reliance.

For this, the program has four primary results for participants, linked to outcomes in social protection, livelihoods promotion, financial inclusion, and social empowerment.

Visit link:
Self-Reliance Composite Index Monitoring Round 2 Report | Sustainable Social Protection and Livelihood Solutions for ... - ReliefWeb

As the new year begins, theInstitute for Local Self-Reliance(ILSR) announced today its latest tally of municipal broadband networks which shows a dramatic surge in the number of communities building publicly-owned, locally controlled high-speed Internet infrastructure over the last three years.

Since January 1, 2021, at least 47 new municipal networks have come online with dozens of other projects still in the planning or pre-construction phase, which includes thepossibility of building 40 new municipal networks in California alone.

Ry Marcattilio, Associate Director for Research withILSRs Community Broadband Networks Initiative, said the latest wave of new municipal networks runs the gamut fromconduit-only networkslike the one inWest Des Moines, Iowathat brought Google Fiber, Mediacom, Lumen and local ISP Mi-Fiber to town to offer residents a choice of broadband providers; institutional networks such as theI-net the city of Alexandria, Va. builtto serve local government operations, setting the stage for the city topartner with Tingin providing fiber-to-the-home service citywide; to open-access networks likeYellowstone Fiberin Bozeman, Montana; as well as the massive municipal fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networkunder construction in Knoxville, Tenn.

The latter network is already offering service to Knoxville residents and businesses, though it will take seven to 10 years before theKnoxville Utilities Board(KUB) finishes building out the entire KUB Fiber network passing all 210,000 households in its 688-square-mile service area. Once completed,KUB Fiberwill be one of the largest municipal broadband networks in the nation, rivaling its Chattanooga neighborEPB Fiberand the multi-state footprint ofUTOPIA Fiber.

Inside The Numbers: Enough is Enough

From the Midwest to the Deep South, East Coast to West, weve seen an incredible amount of new energy by cities over the last two years, said Marcattilio, Associate Director for Research with ILSRs Community Broadband Networks Initiative.

Dozens of cities, ranging from five thousand and a hundred thousand residents alike, have decided that enough is enough. Instead of pleading with, or giving additional handouts to the monopoly ISPs, theyve decided to invest in themselves. Its exciting to see so much happening, especially since we know our numbers are not completely exhaustive as there are no doubt cities building networks that have not yet become active or reported service to the FCC.

The latest ILSR tally does not include the plethora of other community broadband networks such asmember-owned electric cooperativesdeploying fiber networks in many hundreds of rural communities across the nation. It also does not include therising number of Tribal Nationsbuilding and operating their own networks to bridge the digital divide in some of the least connected parts of the country.

ILSR last tallied the number of existing municipal networks in 2021. At that time, there were approximately400 municipal broadband networksserving some 600 communities, with nearly 1 in 3 serving nearly every address in the community.

The 47 new municipal networks have been added to ILSRs database, as an increasing number of local communities look to build publicly-owned, locally controlled broadband infrastructure amid a growing public demand for choice and competition among Internet service providers (ISPs).

Christopher Mitchell, who has spearheaded ILSRs effort to track the birth and development of community broadband across the U.S. for the past 16 years as Director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative, said:

The monopoly cable and telephone companies frequently claim that there are no problems with broadband in the U.S., even as millions of students cannot access the Internet from their homes, whether in rural or urban areas. These cities remind us of the work that has to be done to make sure everyone can take advantage of modern technologies.

Overcoming Challenges

The growing success of local communities in establishing municipal broadband systems to deliver ubiquitous, affordable, high-quality Internet connectivity hasnt gone unnoticed by Big Cable and the Telecom Titans who consider municipal broadband an existential threat to their bottom lines.

Dark money campaigns, often funded by the big monopoly incumbents, have been popping up across the country in an effort to persuade local officials and residents to reject municipal broadband proposals, prompting theAmerican Association for Public Broadbandto issuealerts to shed light on the misinformationat the center of these campaigns.

Yet, despiteefforts to undermine municipal broadband, in the years to come we expect more communities will join the rising tide of local leaders, residents, and businesses calling for an alternative to the private monopoly model in addressing local connectivity needs.

Here are a few snapshots of new municipal broadband networks that have been lit up for service over the last three years:

Sherburne, NY (Sherburne Connect)

One offour municipalities in New York State splitting $10 millionfrom the states initialConnectALLmunicipal grant program, the Village of Sherburne (est. pop. 1,300) along with three other municipalities (the towns of Nichols, Diana and Pitcairn) were awarded the funds to build municipal-owned fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks.

In Sherburne, the villages municipal utility, Sherburne Electric, worked with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to extend NYPAs existing middle mile fiber network to bring last-mile fiber service to the villages 1,800 homes and businesses.

The open access network, known asSherburne Connect, offers residentstwo different ISPsfrom which to choose: Fybercom and FiberSpark. Both offer a symmetrical 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) service for $10/month or symmetrical gig speed service for between $30 and $45/month.

With village residents now getting service, thetestimonialsare beginning to pour in with one couple saying the network has brought us to the 21st Century, giving them affordable access to high-speed Internet.

Waterloo, Iowa (Waterloo Fiber)

Construction of theWaterloo Fibernetwork began last summer with agroundbreaking ceremonyhosted by Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart.

A year ago, the city was putting the finishing touches on a plan to spend $115 million to build a fiber network that passes all 67,695 Waterloo residents, after locals approved the city issuing general obligation bonds to fund the start of the three-phase project.

Waterloo officials recently launchedtheir first limited fiber trial with plans to connect its first commercial customers in February.

The project is on target to deploy affordable fiber service at speeds of up to 10 gigabit per second (Gbps) citywide by 2026.

Competing against the likes of CenturyLink and MediaCom, Waterloo Fiber isoffering residential subscriberssymmetrical 100 Mbps service for $30/month; 300 Mbps service for $50/month; symmetrical 1 Gbps service for $70 a month; or symmetrical 10 Gbps service for $110 a month. Business subscribers have the option of symmetrical 300 Mbps service for $110 a month, symmetrical 1 Gbps for $250; or symmetrical 10 Gbps for $290 a month.

Central Vermont Communication Union District (CV Fiber)

The Central Vermont CUD, one of the states10 Communication Union Districtsestablished to provide telecommunication service to most towns across the Granite State,connected its first fiber-to-the-home subscriberin October 2023 in the town of Calais.Construction crews have now built outthe network into East Montpelier and Worcester, now moving on to Woodbury and Middlesex before expanding into the other 14 towns in CVFibers service area.

In late 2022,CVFiberbroke ground on an ambitious plan to build a 1,200-mile fiber-optic network to bring affordable gigabit broadband access to 6,000 rural Vermont addresses deemed underserved by commercial broadband providers. Total network construction is expected to cost $60 million, $27 million of which is being paid for by federal grants made possible by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

The remaining cost is expected to be funded by network revenue, loans, and future grant opportunities.

CVFiberoffers subscriberssymmetrical 100 Mbps service for $79 a month; symmetrical 500 Mbps service for $99 a month; symmetrical gigabit service for $129 a month; and symmetrical 2 Gbps service for $199 a month.

Read the original:
New Municipal Broadband Networks Skyrocket in Post-Pandemic America As Alternative To Private Monopoly Model - Institute for Local Self-Reliance

SHOPPERS are clapping back after changes at self-checkout kiosks have them even more frustrated than before.

Customers at Walmart are especially fed up with the rise in employees assisting at self-service checkouts.

1

Theft has become a major issue for Walmart, and the company's CEO warned that shoplifting is higher" than it's ever been The U.S. Sun previously reported.

Now, shoppers are feeling the strain as stores take several preventative measures against it.

One Walmart customer recently took to X, formerly known as Twitter, after a shopping trip gone sour.

In a post, she wrote, "Walmart getting beside themselves. now yall got employees at each self checkout register because people stealing too much."

The store did not respond to her complaint.

According to Walmart's website, the retailer is looking for new ways to offer choices at the self-checkout while saving customers time and money.

"Over the past few years, we have rolled out new Hosted Checkouts in a number of our stores," Walmart says. "Our associates working in the Customer Host role can show customers to available registers, help them through the checkout process and answer any questions they may have."

Walmart claims the new checkout process is designed to "help customers complete their shopping even faster."

The store also offers checking out with a cashier.

Walmart+ members have the option to use our mobile Scan & Go feature, which allows for a contactless checkout experience using the phone to scan items during a shopping trip.

The U.S. Sun reached out to Walmart in a request for comment.

In a further effort to prevent theft, Walmart is having employees check customer receipts at the door following their self-checkout experience.

And the checks have similarly riled customers, with several taking to social media tocall out employeeswaiting to confirm their purchases.

Many haverefused to stopfor the checks, with some arguing they're not legally required to do so, andmany lawyershave confirmed customers' suspicions, perLegal Definitions.

Meanwhile, others have tried creative ways to bypass the policy system, including getting a digital receipt on their phone instead of a physical copy at self-checkout.

In most cases, shoppers aren't required to stop for a receipt check atWalmartand can not be forced to.

Shoppers are shielded by privacy protections and may be able to avoid showing a receipt.

But Walmart can still take action if the company believes shoppers are stealing.

It's important to note that receipt check refusals cannot be legally performed at membership-based stores likeCostcoandSam's Club.

The U.S. Sun has also reported on anti-theft measures at Walmart, including one by a shopper whosaid it "made the shopping experience terrible."

Plus, here's what happened at a Walmart checkout that left an elderly shopper upset.

View original post here:
Walmart shoppers slam new self-checkout policy that's led to more need for help - The US Sun

Now that the chaos and busyness of the holiday season is over, the new year has us reflecting on our routines, daily habits and more so we can set ourselves up for success in the year ahead.

If your New Year's resolution is to slow down and carve out more "me" time throughout your day or week, you're in luck. Makho Ndlovu stopped by the 3rd Hour of TODAY to share some items that can help.

Whether it's treating yourself to a new pair of fuzzy slippers or enjoying a self-stirring cup of joe, these practical self-care items make for relaxing additions to any routine.

Seen on TODAY | More self-care essentials

Before bed, wind down with a self-care step that only takes 10 minutes. For smooth, soft and well-nourished hands, slide these gloves on for visible results after that timer turns off.

Made with oats and shea butter, both ingredients well-known for their soothing and smoothing capabilities, these fragrance-free gloves are drip-free as well, meaning you won't be stressing about a mess.

Eliminate time during your morning (or night) routine with this auto-stirring coffee mug. Whether you're mixing coffee and milk, blending together different tea bags, or protein shake powders, this mug does it all with just the push of a button.

This stainless steel mug also comes with a travel lid, making it easy to take while on-the-go. The brand also notes that this kitchen item should be hand washed only, as it's not dishwasher nor microwave safe.

If it's time to retire your pair of beloved fuzzy socks, upgrade to this pair that can be popped in the microwave for an hour's worth of warmth.

These faux-fur slippers promise to provide comfort, thanks to their lavender scent, memory-foam insole and "one-size-fits-most" features.

For fresh flowers on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or bi-monthly basis, treat yourself to a flower subscription that delivers on its promise of fresh, bountiful stems.

The Bouqs Co. offers three different-sized packages, that can be customized with your favorite flower combinations. Shipped from eco-friendly farms, the brand promises that they'll stay fresher for longer.

Even better? TODAY readers can get $20 off your first subscription delivery with the code TODAY20 now through Jan. 24.

There's very few things that invoke a feeling of extreme coziness more than wrapping yourself in a warm towel post-shower. Luckily, this towel warmer can give you exactly that. Not only does it heat up in a single minute, it also heats it up evenly (no cold spots!) so you'll be enveloped in perfect warmth each and every time.

If youre looking for the tools that can help you get some much needed R&R, lifestyle expert Amy E. Goodman previously stopped by TODAY to reveal everything you need for a little bit of self-care. Whether you enjoy retail therapy or prefer to indulge in your skin care routine, keep scrolling to discover all of the self-care essentials worth considering.

TODAY editors love scalp massagers not only because it feels like the ones you get at the salon, but because of the benefits it brings as well.

It helps hair last longer between washes, promote better scalp health and actually helps your hair grow by increasing blood flow and oxygen to hair follicles.

If you like to treat yourself to a hot cup of tea every now and then, these innovative tea drops can help to make the brewing process that much easier. Rather than using tea leaves and a bag, you can toss one of these drops in a hot cup of water and stir, then sip away.

Journaling can help boost your mental health, experts told us. If you're ready to build the ritual into your morning routine, Papier makes journals that are just as aesthetically pleasing as they are functional. You'll find a spot to detail your thoughts, habits and check-ins to keep in tune with yourself.

Another one of Goodman's picks that can help you relax is this hot and cold eye mask, which can help relieve eye strain, muscle tension and stress, according to the brand. The weighted eye mask is also filled with clay beads, which the brand says applies a gentle pressure and blocks out light.

Need some help putting your goals into action? Wishbeads designs jewelry to help you keep your goals within reach, so you can work on achieving them. Once you write your intention on a special slip of paper, you can roll it up and place it inside the bracelet and wear it daily as a fashionable reminder.

Have you ever thought about the role your towels and sheets play when it comes to your mood? Goodman picked these lightweight towels that feel good in more ways than one: The waffle weave keeps it airy while the soft cotton retains its shape and feel over time.

Not only does this steamer look pretty, Goodman says, but it actually works. It can be used as an at-home spa treatment to help give your skin a little bit of a glow and hydrates your skin by allowing the steam to seep into your pores.

Goodman received these cards as a gift and says they are "amazing." She uses the deck of 50 cards with her kids to prompt them (and herself) to reflect more often. They're organized into four categories: Rest & Balance, Insight & Awareness, Curiosity & Joy and Kindness and offer an alternative to traditional journaling.

To help support your emotional awareness and growth, Goodman says this deck is like a "toolbox for your feelings." The cards can start a healthy conversation that can benefit your mental well-being, but your purchase does some good, too 50% of the net proceeds are donated to The Loveland Foundation, which helps bring opportunities and healing to communities of color.

Jillian Ortiz is a Production Associate at Shop TODAY.

Sierra is an editorial assistant for Shop TODAY.

Go here to see the original:
13 wellness and self-care essentials for 2024 - TODAY

Have you ever heard the saying that comparison is the thief of joy? With the rise in social media consumption and content, it's easy to find ourselves lost in comparison regarding our bodies, lifestyles, things we own, and ways we feel. Social media seems to constantly be depicting a life you should be living, and it feels as if no matter how far you have come, it's never enough, and you should always be striving for more.

Image Credit: Adrian Swancar from Unsplash

Along these lines, social media influencers, self-defined life coaches, and role models always seem to be selling this lifestyle. It sometimes feels as if you could package up happiness and fulfillment in a supplement, a workout routine, or a self-help book and ship it off to an eager customer. Yet, this isn't the case at all. Social media constantly depicts a false reality and is curated to show you content that will ultimately convince you to continue to participate in consuming content and products.

During the absolute most transitional periods of growth in my life, I hardly felt the need to be on social media. It was overwhelming to be constantly flooded with information about other people's lifestyles and their own self-improvement journeys, and I began feeling isolated, hopeless, and left behind. When I realized that self-improvement, and by extension, people's struggles and issues, were being monetized off of, I felt freed from this unrealistic expectation I had set for myself, which was ultimately hindering my growth.

Self-improvement has become a trend, and like anything else that gains extreme popularity online, it only depicts a very surface-level portrayal of the truth of the issue. Everyone wants to seem happier and healthier online, so they often cherry-pick content that doesn't match with the rest of their lives, so they gain views, followers, and beyond that, prove something to themselves and their mutuals. I see this every day: my mutual broke up with her partner, and within a week, she was posting a new person on her story. My friend broke up with their friend group and quickly began posting about being free of toxic people in their lives. Social media is weaponized in so many forms, and outside viewers don't have the context and perspective to understand that what you are being shown is not always true and does not mean that the person posting is living their best life.

Image Credit: Artem Beliaikin from Unsplash

The people I have met who seem the MOST well-rounded, happy, and satisfied overall in their lives do not try to monetize or profit off of faceless strangers on the internet, nor are they constantly talking about how improved they are. That's because true healing means realizing that the work is never done. Self-improvement does not mean you won't have bad days and make bad decisions.

Self-improvement is not linear; failing to react well to a trigger does not mean you're at ground zero again. It's a learning process and its hard and embarrassing, which is why most people who take self-improvement seriously are not posting about it concisely. No one ever reaches this apex of self-improvement where their life is suddenly perfect forever; it is a process that we continue to work through our entire lives, and it takes years. No 25-year-old fitness influencer on TikTok is living a perfect life because she takes greens and does hot yoga - Get real! People who are truly self-improving don't show it by telling you about it. They show it by being their authentic self and letting you feel inspired by how they carry themselves.

Does that mean you should completely cut social media out of your life? I don't think so. I think the internet can be a useful tool in your self-growth journey, but in order to healthily incorporate social media into your life, you need perspective.

Constantly consuming self-improvement content is one extreme, but totally isolating yourself is the other extreme. Time and time again, I have seen people claim that they're healed and protecting their peace by cutting off people in their lives and self-isolating. In reality, they are not putting themselves in positions in which their wounds are triggered, and they are forced to react in a healthy and self-serving way. Isolating yourself puts you in a position in which you are never forced to exercise important self-growth skills such as conflict resolution and reactionary behaviors, and language. Cutting off the outside world is not the solution - community is an essential part of growth; it's just about how you utilize your community and resources.

Image Credit: Darius Bashar from Unsplash

In most cases, you don't need to buy a subscription or a meal plan. The resources you need are usually already available and for free, which is why I say the internet and community found there can be a useful tool. Texts and TED Talks about self-improvement are great and freely available, as is access to research about nutrition and exercise, planning and time management, academic resources, and tutoring.

Most of the products marketed to us by influencers are targeted and hyped up to be seen as quick fixes when the sad reality is that there is NO quick fix for healing. The long and hard process and the patience and discipline required are a part of the value of undertaking the journey.

You cannot hate yourself into loving yourself. The actions you take to self-improve must come from a place of love for every version of yourself, including the past, present, and future. If you are trying to hate yourself for improving your life, it will never consistently last.

The solution here is not to go to one extreme and drop a few hundred on workout gear and self-help books. Nor is it to delete all socials and lock yourself in your house. The solution is to refocus the lens.

Understand that you should not be comparing yourself to the people or lifestyles that you see on social media, but rather, you should be comparing yourself to yourself. Compassionately look back at the worse versions of yourself and thank them for getting you where you are today. Redefine the term self-improvement and the frame through which you perceive and achieve it. You are the only standard - the only bar- that you should be setting for yourself.

See the original post here:
Self-Growth: What It Means to Cultivate Balance - The Teen Magazine

In our new series, Bazaars multiplatform beauty director speaks to inspirers in the wellness world about the rituals and routines that work for them. Here, Bridget March meets Elle Macpherson, the world-renowned supermodel and founder of WelleCo, which produces premium plant-based supplements born from her personal self-care journey. Below, the 59-year-old reveals the things that make the biggest difference to her wellbeing.

Elle Macphersons moniker The Body may have originated as praise of her physicality, but its long been a business asset for the supermodel with body wellness brands central to her career off the catwalks. Since finding fame as one of the original 'Supers' in the 1980s, the Australian star went on to produce a series of workout videos, front her own lingerie collection and launch a range of bath and body care products. But its her brand of wellness supplements, WelleCo, thats her most personal project to date. Founded in 2014 with formulator Dr Simone Laubscher, she started WelleCo to share the solutions that helped her flourish Macphersons health upon starting out being less desirable than one would imagine...

When I went to Dr Laubscher [a functional nutritionist and naturopath], I was sugar- and coffee-addicted, malnourished yet putting on weight, and bloated. I wasn't sleeping well, didn't have energy and was uninspired, she tells me. A specialist in longevity, Dr Laubscher curated a multivitamin and mineral supplement packed with nutrients for Macpherson, which materialised as WelleCos hero product,

From self-loving affirmations to infrared saunas, here Macpherson reveals what it is exactly that makes her feel so well.

Elle Macpherson (right) with supermodels Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and Christie Turlington in 1995

I start the day with self-loving affirmations. Its a sensation of gratitude, really. I say things to like: I am awake, I'm vital, I am inspired, I'm excited for my day, rather than immediately just scrolling through Instagram, which so many people do. I don't touch my phone until I'm ready to address whatever is there.

I get up and drink a big jar of water that I prepare the night before with freshly squeezed lime and a quarter of a teaspoon of Celtic sea salt so before anything Im completely hydrating my body. And then I like to make an oat-milk matcha (Elmhurst Barista has a really good clean oat milk, with a ceremonial grade matcha) and then I go and sit out in the sun at around seven oclock for 10 minutes. I put my face up to the sun, close my eyes and listen to the sounds of nature, preferably with as little clothes on as possible depending on the weather.

And then I might do some yoga poses like sun salutations. Zach Bush has a fantastic four-minute workout [shared below], which releases nitric acid into the body, so it helps your muscles function properly. I also try to put my bare feet on the ground not cement.

Then I'll have my shower and get dressed for the day.

I just like movement; I do what I feel like on the day, which could be hiking, biking, swimming, yoga I have a gym at home so sometimes I get on the elliptical or the bike and put on a documentary. Then I'll maybe hang upside down, do squats or use my chi machine, which moves your body, circulating your lymphatic system. I don't really work out to sculpt my body I work out because I believe that breath and movement is so important for our health and wellbeing. And when you do that consistently, it really shows.

Something I much prefer to do over a workout class is a Russian banya. If I'm in London, I like to go to The Bath House. Ill do a steam and cold plunge and the Parenie treatment, where they gently brush your body with birch leaves to improve circulation and the immune system. Its kind of a tribal experience.

After getting dressed I have my greens The Super Elixir, which combines 50 multivitamins and minerals, adaptogens, probiotics and prebiotics. Then from 10am I have a snack of something light but nourishing, like a chia pudding, coconut yogurt or fruit with sprouted almond butter. Then I take supplements for whatever I'm working on: good hair or skin, or immunity, for example.

At around 2pm I often have a big smoothie with everything I can find to put in it, like frozen banana, protein, coconut milk, chia seeds, flax, toka. And then I have my major meal around 4pm. I'm plant-based and follow an Ayurvedic type of diet. I do this not for any weight control, but because I love to be easy on my digestive system and I want the nutrients I consume to be readily available. So, I might have a big brown-rice bowl with avocado and sprouts and sunflower seeds, a curry, pho or sushi. I try to support regenerative farmers and choose things that are organic the quality of the food that I have directly affects the way I feel.

I work quite late with WelleCo because of the time difference with living in Miami, and my head office being in Melbourne. After I finish, I sit in my Therasage portable infrared sauna for an hour. I find this the best time to do body brushing. And then after I've done that I'll do a cold plunge. That's great for the immune system.

The winding-down process at night is important; you cant go from hero to zero quickly. I have a self-loving routine at night which includes turning off devices or wearing blue light-blocking glasses, which is really important for your circadian rhythm. I also make myself The Evening Elixir, which is part of that sleep preparation.

I read a book in bed and then, just before I go to sleep, I fill my whole body with thoughts that support me, such as I'm in perfect health, I am loving consciousness. I also go through the day and recall things that made me laugh, or that touched me, and congratulate myself on the little things that I've accomplished. Don't fill yourself with what you didn't do: fill your heart and soul with all the beautiful things that you want to percolate on while you sleep. They say that the last five minutes before you sleep, and the first five minutes before you wake, are the most important for resetting your subconscious.

Meditation is really just finding that quiet, still space within yourself. I used to do guided meditations because I didn't know how to do that. Now I close my eyes and I practice Reiki; I often go to sleep breathing into the Reiki positions.

Some people like 'box breath' meditations; some people like listening to a piece of classical music and just being transported by it. There are lots of different modes of meditation, but for me meditation is really about connecting with yourself, and with the divine.

Investing in WelleCo! And not just for my health, because there's a purpose to it thats greater than my own wellbeing I want other people to experience the life-changing understandings that I came into 10 years ago. When we are truly nourished from within with high-quality ingredients, we not only have better digestion, better sleep, better hair and better skin; we become more vibrant in our life and therefore more beautiful because we are inspired, courageous, confident and energetic. When we bring that into the world, the world becomes a better place.

WelleCos The Evening Elixir is available now from retailers including Harvey Nichols and online at harveynichols.com. To find out more about WelleCo, visit welleco.co.uk.

See the article here:
Self-care rituals with Elle Macpherson - Harper's Bazaar UK

We live in a soft world where the slightest sign of discomfort can be regarded with concern and even panic.

Did someone say something you found hurtful?

Time to go to a therapist, who can make you feel worse about your issues because now youre talking about them emphasizing them.

Therapy has its place, especially if you need that initial pull out of the quagmire of overthinking by someone who can provide a third-party view.

Most of us have been so conditioned to avoid conflict that we skip having needed conversations with people out of habit.

But the difficult, open, and honest discussions often solve your problems.

Poor communication will ensure people remain resentful and confused with bottled emotions.

Take some courage, say the hard thing to those who need to hear it, and feel the relief rise.

RELATED:How To Have Peaceful Conversations With People You Totally Disagree With

Reacting to things is allowing external stimuli to guide your behavior without thought.

Someone triggers you, and you fly into a rage.

Someone dumps you, and youre miserable for weeks, crying into endless tubs of ice cream.

To react is to die slowly.

The alternative is always to create and its what humans were built to do. Its the expression of your humanness.

So create and live.

Make something of your predicament. Dont react and die.

Much of the time, if were feeling low and we cant describe why its a sign were allowing fear to control our lives.

Were trapped and limited by our self-imposed limitations.

Dont allow this to go on.

Identify your fears. Call them out by name.

Then ask, Whats one tiny step I can make today that will bring me confidence in this area?

No matter how simple, do it. Practice always diminishes fear.

This is a priority because breaking free of limits always matters.

RELATED:The Singular Fear That's Destroying Your Relationship And 8 Ways To Stop It

A huge chunk of the population believes there is some value to worrying. It keeps them safe.

No. No, it doesnt. It keeps you miserable.

And you already know this. So, instead of ruminating on whats wrong with your life and what you need to fix about yourself, redirect your attention to things youcancontrol.

You can choose gratitude.

You can also choose to quit worrying and take up a new hobby.

You can choose to be present and in the flow of action. Your choice.

Salvation from pain lies here.

Im not talking about being reckless.

But there is something to be said for activities that contain some considered risk.

How can we ever feel alive if we dont ever taste an echo of death?

Be willing to take some calculated and pre-determined risks.

Go on a motorcycle trip to India. Climb a mountain. Ask someone out. Write the book youre scared to write. Run a class. Go on regular adventures that push you out of comfort, leaving you exhilarated.

This is the best kind of vaccine for weakness there is.

RELATED:Stop Worrying About People Who Arent Worried About You

We all have that thing we know we should do that we keep holding off and avoiding.

Maybe you need to finally clean the circus that is your kitchen.

Or perhaps you need to sign up for that class so you can finally get some socializing time this year.

Whatever it is, we all have that thing that eats at our soul because we arent doing it.

What is that thing? Put the dang thing in your calendar, and get it done.

Now THATs therapy.

A sense of sadness or even depression is often attached to the idea that difficult things are happeningtous.

A far more empowered self-vision is to view things happeningbecauseof us.

This is to immediately assume a leadership position, and it instantly feels better.

Dont allow yourself to melt into misery by feeling sorry for yourself.

Why?

Snap out of it.

Life sucks for all of us. Youre no different.

Life is how you make it. So make it great and turn your attention to leading, mentoring, and helping others.

Forget you, for Gods sake, please. If you feel anxious, help others feel calm. If youre lonely, go and make someone else feel good. If you feel stuck, go and help a friend get unstuck.

Its all about where you put your attention. Leaders dont self-obsess they lead.

Photo:Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels

RELATED:Why Having Mentors Can Help Your Career Take Off

AlexMathersis a writer and coach who helps you build a money-making personal brand with your knowledge and skills while staying mentally resilient.

This article was originally published at Medium. Reprinted with permission from the author.

Excerpt from:
7 Unconventional Forms Of Therapy That Will Make You More Alive Than 98% Of People - YourTango

Rebecca Peters, Research Adviser

Rebecca joined the Research team in 2019, specialising in the area of health and wellbeing at work as both a practitioner and a researcher. Before joining the CIPD Rebecca worked part-time at Kingston University in the Business School research department, where she worked on several research-driven projects. Additionally, Rebecca worked part-time at a health and wellbeing consultancy where she facilitated various wellbeing workshops, both externally and in-house.

Rebecca has a masters degree in Occupational Psychology from Kingston University, where she conducted research on Prison Officers resilience and coping strategies. The output of this research consisted of a behavioural framework which highlighted positive and negative strategies that Prison Officers used in their daily working life.

Read the original:
Self-care behaviours for leaders to drive health and performance - Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development