12 Tips to Overcome Boredom and Loneliness

 I am like a knot tangled in a grim circumstance were to loosen it,  is not easy. Deep down in my thoughts, I want to get out of this muddled situation, but something is preventing me from unraveling what I used to have. I want to untangle every link I had and free myself from everything that keeps me doing things I badly want to do. I want to fix each tousled situation in my own peculiar way. But, how? If I don’t even know where to start?  If I can’t even secure my thoughts from thinking all the glumness I feel within this tanked-up heart of mine? I am like a mislaid cat looking for its path, worn-out and lost in the dark,  didn’t even know where to go. My life is indeed full of conundrums I don’t even know how to fix and handle.

You probably feel the way I do, but it is just a complex mental and emotional phenomenon that has survival value for people, especially those teenagers that suffer from depression, loneliness, and boredom in life. All of us, probably have experienced some degree of abandonment or all the painful and scary feeling that goes along with it. This can be a bit of confusing and can put off your game if you don’t know what’s going on and how to handle it. However, there are some exciting tips where you can follow in order to overcome boredom and loneliness.

1. Hang out with friends.

If you’re feeling lonely and bored with your life, why not try going out of your house and hang out with your friends? This will help ease the loneliness and boredom you’re feeling inside. You just need a little attention to keep your mind out of focus from all the negative vibes. Also, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to simply chat with your friend over a cup of coffee, a good conversation and simple food on the table are already enough to lessen the burden you feel.

2. Find a new hobby.

Find something to do that you’ve never before, for enjoyment purposes only. You don’t need a practical reason to do new things, the purpose of hobbies is for fun and enjoyment only. So, look for something that works for you. Keeping yourself busy will help you get out of the things that are bothering you.

3. Get a camera.

Get a camera, either your phone or a DSLR, then go out and start taking pictures of the things around. Aside from you are able to practice your photography skills this will help you see how beautiful the world is. Imagine the sunset, blooming flowers, a laughing baby, or even a barking dog as your camera captures it, filling your life with wonderful things can take your mind off of boredom and loneliness.

4. Go for an adventure.

Grab a ticket and have a vacation to escape from the lonesome and boredom you feel. Separate yourself from your regular routine, get out of the box and explore the world. Nothing beats boredom and loneliness like planning a great holiday vacation

5. Explore new career options.

Probably, you’re already too bored doing daily routines in your office so why not try to explore new options? There are surely a lot of new opportunities you’ll find online. Do some research on the field you’re interested in. Never be afraid to explore new possibilities because that will help you grow more. If you discover something that excites you, grab it and create a plan that will help you make the transition in a realistic way.

6. Watch funny videos online.

There are a lot of funny videos online, you can check them on YouTube or Facebook. You can easily watch clips of stand-up comedians and enjoy the whole day with laughter. Laughter will make the hours pass effortlessly.  The more you laugh, the more you forget your problems in life.

7. Meet new friends.

For some people, loneliness and boredom are more about not feeling connected. Connect with different people and being involved in activities create a sense of belonging and connectedness. Thus, meeting new friends, creating new memories with strangers and doing activities wholeheartedly means you are not stuck in your head.

8. Be a volunteer.

You have the power to offer a generosity of spirit to all you come into contact with. It isn’t awkward to be kind to strangers, however, it is still your choice to have a good heart.  Focusing on the needs of other people clears up your mind from all the negative and sad thoughts.  Feeding the street children and helping the less fortunate will fill you with immense gratitude.

9. Be optimistic.

Nothing is much better than viewing life on the positive side. You’re maybe going through a lot of struggles in life, probably tired of the state of the world and the unkindness you see around you. And there is indeed no doubt that it can be tough to stay positive during rough times. However, becoming optimistic can empower you to overcome problems in life and strive for happiness.

10. Find someone with whom you can share your thoughts.

It is better to find people with whom you can share interests, problems and whatever thoughts you have in mind. If you want to lessen the burden you feel, find someone you can talk to. Sometimes the only thing a person needs is someone you can burst out all your rants about life.

11. Entertain other people and make them laugh.

Sometimes, people feel bored because they find the people around them to be boring. They are just waiting for somebody to entertain them and make them laugh. But what if you will be the one to start making them laugh? Sometimes, we consider other people boring but we never asked ourselves if we are also boring for them. If you want to beat boredom and have fun, consider transforming yourself into being fun to be with. When there’s no one who’s starting a joke, why not be a resourceful one to start it and make your own environment a jolly one?

12. Help a lonely friend become happy. 

Loneliness can happen to anyone, you might have a lonely friend or acquaintances and considering the fact that you already felt loneliness, you would be sympathetic to someone who is feeling that way too. Sometimes, the best way to get rid of loneliness is to lend a  helping hand to people who are in the same boat as you. It is a great feeling to extend that blessing to people who really need it.

Most of the time, due to the circumstances we encounter leads us to loneliness and boredom. However, it is still our minds and thoughts that create loneliness and boredom, we may find ourselves in that situation but it’s easy for our thoughts to drift that away.

Marydel Mitch Flores

Can Aging Be Reversed? Scientists Are On The Verge Of Turning It Into A Reality

 Thanks to extensive research in the anti-aging field and funding by billionaires, a number of scientific startups are on the cusp of delivering age-reversal solutions.

The newest entrant in the biotech world is Altos Labs. Launched earlier this year, it boasts four Nobel prize winners as its board members. With a funding of $3bn, Altos Labs has some high-profile investors like Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

"Ageing is not the same as rust accumulating on a car, it's not just breakdown," Prof Horvath, one of the reputed academics at Altos labs, told SkyNews. "Rather, there are processes that can be manipulated, you can tweak it. In certain ways, I interpret aging as a software error."

Unbelievably, the oldest human to have ever lived was Jeanne Calment, who died aged 122 in France in 1997.

"There are no hard limits imposed by biology or by physics that says that we can't live better longer," Kristen Fortney, CEO of San Francisco-based BioAge Labs, told the outlet. Focused on discerning the markers of aging, BioAge Labs is using large amounts of biobank blood and tissue samples to do so.

The company has already found a drug target that slows aging-linked muscle loss in mice.

"There is a protein called apelin that circulates in the blood, and we saw that middle-aged people with higher levels of apelin in their blood were living longer, with better muscle function and better cognitive function as they age," Fortney said, according to Express.

"So, we gave this drug to really old mice and we showed that it could improve their muscle function. It helped them run faster in their wheels, it increased their muscle size, it improved their grip strength," the BioAge Labs CEO added.

All that's left is to mimic the same results in older humans, and a trial is underway to this end.

Another participant against the race of time is Salk Institute for Biological Studies, a scientific research institute in California. Scientists at the institute reversed the aging in middle-aged and elderly mice through their experiments and a method called cell rejuvenation therapy. The process involved the use of reprogramming molecules that turned back the cells to a younger state.

"We are elated that we can use this approach across the lifespan to slow down aging in normal animals. The technique is both safe and effective in mice," Juan Carlos, professor at Salk's Gene Expression Laboratory, said.

The traction anti-aging is receiving is only going to grow. According to a report by P&S Intelligence, the global anti-aging market is expected to see an astronomical rise from the current $191.5 billion to a mind-blowing $421.4 billion by 2030, as per Express.

Urja Kalyani

How To Overcome The Holiday Stress Cycle With Quick Meditation

 Between all of the social obligations, family duties, and end-of-year work responsibilities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the perceived lack of time for wellness practices during the holiday season. However, neglecting self-care is part of what perpetuates the holiday stress cycle and can negatively impact overall wellbeing. Fortunately, even quick wellness practices can make a huge difference in turning the holidays into a time of year to embrace instead of dread.

Vedic Meditation Teacher Susan Chen teaches people how to experience deep rest and harness a deeper sense of peace through meditation. As a former Wall Street research analyst, she underwent her own transformation from being over-stressed to guiding others to center themselves and enjoy the same sense of presence she has since discovered through meditation. She especially loves helping people with “big lives” figure out how to turn feelings of stress and busyness into excitement and fulfillment—without compromising ambition. Here’s what Chen had to share about taking on the holidays with mindfulness instead of overwhelm.

Olivia O’Bryon: Time feels extra short during the holidays—how can people sneak in meditation and other wellness practices during the holiday season?

Susan Chen: The last six weeks of the calendar year can feel like being on a hamster wheel of never-ending activity and busyness. Between work events, social gatherings, school functions, and family obligations, our calendars are booked from morning to evening. Time not only feels extra short during the holidays… our days feel like they belong to everyone else but us. 

With limited time to rest and recharge, the holiday season causes many of us to feel overwhelmed, fatigued and easily triggered. By prioritizing self-care through rest and meditation, we can avoid holiday burnout and keep our energy levels high, our emotional state bright, and our resilience strong.

Here are a few tips to sneak in meditation and other wellness practices during the holiday season:

1. Meditate first thing in the morning before the rest of the day begins.

There is no better time to meditate than first thing in the morning. Upon waking, keep your phone in airplane mode and enjoy some time for yourself in your practice. I always recommend early mornings as the ideal time to meditate, as the risk of being interrupted or having a scheduling conflict is less during this time. You’ll be able to take the calm and groundedness from your practice into your high-demand day.

2. Sneak out to meditate (literally).

One of the best ways to fit in a meditation or self-care practice when visiting family over the holiday season is to tack on your meditation while out running an errand or going to the store. Meditators often share stories of sneaking in a meditation in their car after running to get groceries, giving themselves a few minutes to reset and rejuvenate before rejoining the family in holiday festivities.

3. Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.

If you only have a few minutes to meditate, then go for it. Any amount of meditation is good for you, and it doesn’t have to be perfect. Setting the intention of prioritizing your wellness amid holiday busyness, if only for a few minutes, can shift your energy into more positivity and resilience.

OO: Why is prioritizing time for meditation and mindfulness so important to our daily routines (even if it's quick)?

SC: All wellness practices, especially meditation, work best as a preventative measure to avoid stress, fatigue, and overwhelm. When we are too exhausted to meet the necessities in our day or unexpected challenges that arise, we launch into stress reactivity which impacts our activities and relationships. By meditating as a part of our daily routine, we can fill up our wellspring of rest and adaptability, and successfully meet the demands of life (especially during the holiday season).

In short, with a regular meditation practice, we get ahead of our demands instead of having the busyness of our life get the best of us. People who make meditation part of their daily routine do not fall into the trap of being a “crisis meditator.” Crisis meditators feel the stress of life overwhelm them, and in a time of distress, turn to meditation as a coping mechanism and release. As daily meditators, we don’t put our minds and bodies at risk of distress. We thrive through life due to regularly filling up in rest and adaptation energy.

As a result, times like the holidays can feel full but cannot overshadow our innate sense of groundedness, centeredness, and well-being. Daily meditators feel at ease in the present moment, even when we’re engaged in the busyness of life. It's ideal for those who want to live big, full lives without feeling stressed and overwhelmed.

OO: You specialized in teaching Vedic Meditation—what is Vedic Meditation, and how can it help those who've struggled with meditation in the past?

SC: Vedic Meditation is a mantra-based, eyes-closed practice with the unique feature of easily taking the mind from the busy, active thinking experience into a quiet, thought-free, relaxed state. In Vedic Meditation, we repeat a personalized mantra silently inside meditation. The mantra allows the mind to turn its attention from the outside world of daily thinking and inward towards an experience of stillness, calm, and sustained happiness.

Vedic Meditation is easy and enjoyable to practice. There is no force or concentration involved. In fact, effort and force work against the mechanics of the practice. Because of its effortless approach, Vedic Meditation is particularly suited to anyone who has struggled with meditation in the past and has felt that they can’t stay with their breath or focus long enough inside meditation.

While many other styles of meditation require lots of time, Vedic Meditation requires only 15-20 minutes of practice in the morning and evening, and is ideal for those who have full calendars and live big lives. Vedic Meditation also has one of the best ROI on time invested in self-care. The level of rest gained inside a Vedic Meditation sitting is profoundly deeper and more restful than sleep. Meditators report that they need to sleep less as a result of practicing daily meditation, which gives them more time back in their day. Vedic Meditation also enhances clarity of thinking and increases energy levels. By building this practice into a daily routine, one can do more in less time, and enjoy increased productivity and efficiency in every aspect of life.

OO: What are your favorite tools for getting into a daily meditation practice? What do you think about using apps for meditation?

SC: My favorite tools for getting into a daily meditation practice are 1) a calendar (digital calendar or paper diary both work) and 2) an alarm clock. A practice that works extremely well is to schedule your meditations, as you would schedule any other appointment for the week. I have all new graduates of my course look in their calendars and schedule their meditations two weeks in advance, so they make time for and block out their meditation sessions in their schedule.

An alarm clock also works well as a reminder to meditate, specifically for morning meditation. Set your alarm for 15-20 minutes earlier than you would normally wake up. That way, you can rise and meditate and meet the day with more adaptability and resilience.

Meditation Apps are a great way to be introduced to the concept of meditation and to try our different types of meditation. Many of my students had their first experience meditating with an app. One of the most common questions I’m asked with app-based meditations is, “How do I know if I’m doing it right? Is anything happening?” In this case, I always recommend learning with an expert teacher who can guide you in personalized instruction and teach you how to meditate independently. This will be a much more rewarding experience, and you’ll learn to meditate easily without frustration or wondering if you’re doing it right.

The journey to feeling happier and more grounded through meditation will be faster and easier by working with a teacher who can teach you a self-sufficient practice (a technique that you can do on your own, without the need for guidance through an app or a class).

OO: For those who dread the holiday season, what's your biggest advice?

SC: The holidays are a mixed bag of excitement, anticipation, fatigue, and overwhelm. So many emotions and responsibilities are packed into a short period of time. Whether it is the dread of meeting for a corporate event, navigating through challenging family dynamics, or feeling grief or loneliness during the holiday season, it is more important than ever to prioritize rest and self-care.

My biggest advice is to take just 30 minutes each day for you and no one else. This will be a non-negotiable time for you to tend to your own needs and recalibrate. Whether it’s sitting for meditation, taking a warm bath, or even taking the time to just be, give yourself the grace of self-love and fill up your cup. By taking this time for yourself, you will feel more calm, happy, and well-equipped to meet the demands of the holiday season.

Olivia O'Bryon

12 Simple Tips to Have a Healthy Life

 Health is wealth because it gives us more strength to work harder, to earn more, and to be persistent in achieving our life’s many goals. It also protects our personal finance, as it prevents us from spending money on medical expenses caused by sickness. Health is wealth because when we are healthy, we have more time to cherish good times and moments with our family and friends. If you care for your well-being, here are 12 simple tips to be fit and have a healthy life.

1. Eat when you’re hungry; stop eating when you’re full.

A healthy life is a matter of having self-discipline. Develop self-control to fight gluttony.

2. Sleep when you feel sleepy; get up in bed when you already feel oversleeping.

In other words, don’t deprive yourself of its basic needs, including sleep. And of course, don’t deprive it of the active life it needs. So don’t overdo sleep.

3. Answer the call of nature without further delay.

Well, if your tummy wants to go to the toilet don’t be a hindrance. Don’t ruin its regular routine.

4. Take a rest when you’re tired; try to work when you’re bored.

Do not torture your own body but protect it – give it the break it deserves. Don’t wait for someone to entertain you. It’s not somebody’s fault if you’re getting bored. Go and do something that will make yourself happier and livelier.

5. Stretch your muscles every day and do exercise regularly.

If you can lurk on Facebook and other social media websites for an entire day, why not give even half of an hour to give yourself a good workout routine.

6. Be alert and take care of yourself to avoid unexpected physical injuries.

Take extra care. Your body is delicate. You’re not a robot made with titanium – you’re a human!

7. Avoid eating refined and instant foods.

If you want instant food, go for fruits. If you want instant drinks, have a glass of pure clean water.

8. Give yourself a series of breaks when using technology.

Don’t spend your whole life with computers, television, video games, and smartphones. Instead, go on a journey with Mother Nature. Do hiking, swimming, running and even walking at the park with your dog.

9. Laugh or smile when you’re happy; cry a tear when you feel like crying.

Do not deprive your heart of its true emotions. Release what you truly feel as long as it will not hurt other people.

10. Live in peace.

Learn how to forgive your sinners; learn how to ask forgiveness to those whom you have sinned.

11. Do not waste your money on vices.

Learn how to save so that you can avoid the stresses caused by debt and other financial problems.

12. Get rid of ignorance.

Knowledge is power, which can definitely help you live a healthier life. Hence, read and learn how to be healthy and fit.

Stay humble. Don’t let pride consume your body, mind and soul.

There you are. I know those tips only sound simple but they are difficult to do. However, they are only hard to execute if you are not willing to sacrifice and give up some things. Remember that the more you take, the more you give up. Therefore, if you like to have a healthier life, give up the things that you believe are hindering you from having it. Give yourself time to think and meditate about it.

Victorino Q. Abrugar

This Is the Best Thing You Can Do For Your Heart Health Right Now

 Make these things a part of your everyday life now—and your heart will thank you later.

You know how important it is to have a healthy heart and you know there are things you can do to help ensure that you have one. But knowing those facts and actually doing something about them are two very different things. And that's pretty clear when you consider that heart disease is still the leading killer of both men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—despite the fact that both the CDC and the American Heart Association estimate that 80 percent of cases are preventable. That's pretty staggering. And with that in mind, we've put together the five best things you can do for your heart health, according to medical experts. Incorporate all of them into your daily life—starting now.

1.Avoid tobacco at all costs.

Not that you didn't know this already, but smoking is one of the worst things you can do for your health. It damages nearly every organ in the body, including the heart—where it destroys blood vessels, causes clots, and raises blood pressure. And not only is smoking the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., according to the CDC, even light smokers (about five cigarettes a day) are more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, or lung cancer than nonsmokers. Quitting now can add years to your life. And if you don't smoke, make sure that you also avoid secondhand smoke, and other forms of tobacco, which can be just as deadly.

2.Eat healthy fats.

Despite what some of the fad diets out there may have you believe, not all fats are bad fats. "We need fats in our diet, including saturated and polyunsaturated and unsaturated fats," says Marc Gillinov, MD, chair of Cleveland Clinic's Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. "One fat we don't need is trans fat, which is known to increase your risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke over a lifetime." Trans fats are most often found in "industry-produced fats often used in packaged baked goods, snack foods, margarines, and fried fast foods to add flavor and texture."

3.Take care of your teeth.

Having fresh breath and a nice smile aren't the only reasons to practice good oral hygiene. "Gum and dental health is important for many reasons, your heart included," Jennifer Haythe, MD, associate professor of medicine at the Center for Advanced Cardiac Care at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, previously told Best Life. "Studies have found that people with periodontal [gum] disease have two to three times the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other serious cardiovascular events." To prevent cavities and gum disease, the American Dental Association recommends that you brush your teeth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste and floss.

4.Watch your weight.

Being overweight puts added strain on your heart and blood vessels, the CDC says. This puts you at a greater risk of heart disease and are other serious conditions like diabetes. However, according to Harvard Health: "If you are overweight, losing just 5 percent to 10 percent of your starting weight can make a big difference in your blood pressure and blood sugar." Don't know what a healthy weight is for your body? Visit the CDC's website to calculate your body mass index (BMI).

5.Be more active.

It can't be said enough: Sit less. Move more. Physical activity is essential to living a healthy life. Exercise has countless benefits, not the least of which is the effect it has on your heart health. According to the CDC: "Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Following the recommendations and getting at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity can put you at a lower risk for these diseases. You can reduce your risk even further with more physical activity."

What's more, "regular physical activity can also lower your blood pressure and improve your cholesterol levels," the CDC says. So, the time to get your body up and in motion is now. You'll be happy you did.

Paul Thompson

The 2 Vitamins Dr. Fauci Says You Should Take to Boost Immunity

 The infectious disease expert is recommending this to keep your immune system healthy.

Your immune system is responsible for fighting off viruses, but it can only do so properly if it is strong and healthy. And with the coronavirus still spreading, it's more important than ever to make sure your immune system is in tip-top shape. That's why Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), recommends two vitamins you should take to boost your immunity: vitamin C and vitamin D."If you're deficient in vitamin D, that does have an impact on your susceptibility to infection. I would not mind recommending—and I do it myself—taking vitamin D supplements," Fauci said during an Instagram Live interview with actor Jennifer Garner on Sept. 10.And research backs up Fauci's suggestion. After all, a study published on Sept. 3 by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that having a vitamin D deficiency increases your risk of testing positive for the coronavirus by nearly 80 percent. This was after studying 489 subjects, 60 percent of whom had adequate vitamin D levels. Out of that 60 percent, only 12 percent had the virus. But among the among the 25 percent of patients with a vitamin D deficiency, 22 percent tested positive.Another study found that vitamin D could even help those already infected with the virus. The report, published in The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, found that patients treated with a high dose of vitamin D were significantly less likely to be hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU) than those who were not.But Fauci also mentioned vitamin C in his interview. "The other vitamin that people take is vitamin C because it's a good antioxidant, so if people want to take a gram or two, at most, of vitamin C, that would be fine," he said.There is more research on the direct link between the coronavirus and vitamin D than on the relationship between COVID and vitamin C. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) does note that vitamin C "plays an important role in immune function," so making sure you have enough of this vitamin is most likely for the best. The NIH recommends that most healthy adults have a vitamin D intake of 15 micrograms each day and around 75 to 90 milligrams of vitamin C per day.

Keep in mind that there are some things Fauci doesn't recommend. During the interview, Garner asked Fauci if spinach, elderberry, or other supplements could help keep one's immune system healthy as well. Fauci said, "The answer, to the dismay of many, is no." 

Kali Coleman

Researchers Uncover Renaissance Beauty Secrets

 Renaissance was an important phase in European history. It was a period of transition from the Middle Ages to modernity. The period between the 14th and 17th centuries was marked by the fervor in arts, culture, politics and economy. Now scientists are uncovering the beauty secrets of that era.

The enterprise named the Beautiful Chemistry Project is a joint endeavor of art historian Erin Griffey and her colleagues at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Griffey is somewhat of a beauty connoisseur and her interest in beauty products is what led to the birth of this project.

"I'm one of those people who reads the backs of beauty products," she said.

While working on a book regarding beauty culture in Renaissance Europe, she had an epiphany. After scrutinizing books, cosmetic recipe collections, medical texts, health regimen manuscripts, herbals and pharmacopeias, Griffey noticed that the products used in that period were not very different from what we see today.

Two examples of these types of products are rosewater and sulfur. While rosewater is used in modern skin-hydrating mists, sulfur is used in some over-the-counter acne creams.

But there are two sides to these ancient beauty recipes as the latter also listed bizarre or even dangerous ingredients like bile acids, calves' hooves, lead and the poisonous bryony plant.

Griffey wanted to re-create the recipes to get a better understanding of them. She collaborated with scientists from the University of Auckland in New Zealand and the Beautiful Chemistry Project was conceptualized.

The team began with "sticky recipes" because they found references to them in a multitude of sources throughout the Renaissance period. The recipes were rosemary flowers in white wine, myrrh powder with egg white and the velvety covering of newly grown deer antlers with bean flour.

There was a limitation to recreating recipes as there were no clear instructions in the source material. Thus, it was a process of trial and error with chemist Michel Nieuwoudt and her team experimenting with the measurements and procedures while Griffey went through various sources for ingredient types and ratios.

Speaking of the recipe for rosemary flowers in white wine as an example, Griffey said: "We knew we could not re-create it exactly as is. We do not have access to the rosemary plants that grew 500 years ago or the wines and whatever their chemical makeup was."

But Griffey agreed that their efforts "enabled us to get closer to an approximation."

Experimenting on rosemary flowers in round-bottom flasks each filled with a different solution- sweet white wine, dry white wine, ethanol in water, or aqua vitae, researchers found the presence of compounds seen in modern skin care products, such as soothing camphor, eucalyptol and the fragrant alcohol linalool.

The research team is yet to experiment with recipes with dangerous ingredients.

In the long run, the researchers want to perfect their re-creations and get the products to drug store shelves. "I think people will want to go back to something that is natural, and it's also appealing for people to think they're using Renaissance products," Nieuwoudt said.

Urja Kalyani