Cannabis & Self Esteem: 5 Things You Should Know About

Personality is all about your way of communication and the amount of self-love you inculcate. Most of the people possess low self-esteem due to a variety of reasons. Past traumatic experiences and bullying might affect your mind and take a toll on confidence levels. As a result, you end up blaming yourself for everything. Along with this, the lack of self-worth is quite prevalent amongst such people. With proper natural treatment, you can gain the self-worth and self-love back. Cannabis supplements show promising results in boosting morale, confidence, as well as self-respect.

Here are the top ways in which cannabis increases your self-esteem and creates room for self-love.

1. Prevents Anxiety

Anxiety

Psychological distress affects your personality and makes you disrespect yourself even more. One such psychiatric manifestation that increases the self-loathe is anxiety. It might occur in a variety of forms and lead to many effects on your mental health. However, social anxiety often causes a reduction in self-esteem and instills self-doubts in your mind. It also makes you anxious around people and affects your social life up to a great extent. You must consider the herbs like cannabis to keep the anxiety in check. Cannabidiol acts on your brain and interferes with the functioning of the endocannabinoid system. It stimulates the receptors and increases the levels of neurotransmitters in your body. Along with this, the chemical might reduce cognitive abilities and control negative thoughts. To procure Cannabis, simply google “cannabis dispensary and order your favorite strain.

2. Regulates Sleep

People who are low on confidence might suffer from sleep-related troubles as well. Due to the low self-esteem, you are likely to get flashbacks and nightmares. It also predisposes you to inconsistency and disturbed sleeping patterns. Make sure to seek a natural treatment like CBD for sleep for countering such effects. In case you end up being sleep-deprived for a longer duration, it causes a variety of symptoms. You might undergo excessive confusion, dizziness, lethargy, and weakness. Cannabidiol acts on your brain and stimulates the pineal gland. Also, it boosts the secretion of melatonin hormone. As the hormone levels increase, your sleep cycle becomes way better than before.

Also, it induces a refreshing and consistent sleeping pattern. With better sleep, you gain better composure and improve your personality upto a great extent.

3. Dermatological Aid

Dermatological Aid

Do you experience regular acne and related breakouts? If yes, then it’s about time that you seek proper treatment. Most of the people with skin ailments are quite prone to low self-confidence. Also, the dermatological diseases take a toll on self-appreciation and cause you to underestimate yourself. With reliable cannabis therapy, you can get rid of the breakouts in no time. It acts on the skin follicles and cleanses the pores that tend to clog due to environmental hazards. Along with this, it reduces the inflammation and limits the replication of the bacterial reservoir. One of the causes of acne breakouts is increased levels of P.acnes, the bacterias present in the follicles. CBD helps in controlling the microbes and reduces the blemishes.

This, in turn, increases your self-esteem and confidence levels. Make sure to grab the right CBD product and experiment with the modes of administrations.

4. Improves Mood

Do you remember the times when you felt low and couldn’t focus on the tasks at hand? Your mood and self-esteem levels are somewhat correlated to each other. In case you suffer from some psychiatric abnormality, you are likely to degrade yourself. With the right therapy like CBD, you can elevate your mood and induce a sense of well-being. Cannabidiol directly affects your brain tissues and increases the neurotransmitter levels. The chemical acts on specific mood-related receptors of the brain like TRVA1 and CB1 receptors. Further, it enhances the production of serotonin in the body. With an increase in the serotonin levels, you experience a sense of well-being.

Cannabidiol also alters the functions of the emotion center, i.e., Amygdala. It improves brain pathways and enhances your emotional perceptions. That way, you are likely to stay happy, content, and confident.

5. Alleviates Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-Traumatic

Yet another reason behind lower levels of self-esteem and self-appreciation is stress-related disorders. Due to some past experiences, you might experience frequent flashbacks and nightmares. Also, it affects your personality and lowers the confidence levels. Cannabidiol shows promising results in psychological disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder. It alters the chemistry of the brain and increases the replication of neurons. Further, it also induces a better sleeping pattern and keeps the stress at bay. With an increase in the neurotransmitter levels and regrowth of brain tissues, you come out as a confident and responsible being. Grab the best CBD products and use the same for incorporating top-notch personality.

Final Verdict

Natural therapy is the mode of treatment that incorporates negligible side effects. Apart from the physical ailments, you can also correct the personality-related issues with the right herb. One such herbal supplement is cannabis that contains high levels of cannabidiol. It helps in alleviating the stress levels and improves your personality in no time. Also, the chemicals present in the herb are effective in countering anxiety. You might use the herb for acne troubles and sleep disorders. Such ailments might affect your confidence levels and reduce mental well-being. You can find many modes of usage for cannabis products like oral, topical, and inhalation.

Party Planning 101

Everyone loves going to a party, as they are a great way to have fun and socialize with friends. However, planning a party is a completely different story, as a party planner has many tasks to complete and roles to fulfill. In addition, if a party ends up flopping then the planner is the one who is usually blamed, adding a lot of pressure. So how can you ensure that everything goes according to plan when throwing a party? Here’s a guide to ensure you plan the best party possible.

Venue and Location

The first thing you should think about when planning a party is the venue and its location. You want to have a venue size that matches the party’s size. For example, if you’re having a large party you’ll want to have a large venue so that there’s enough room to accommodate all your guests. If you’re having a relatively small party, then there’s no need to waste money renting out a large venue, as you’re likely just wasting money on a venue that will make the party seem empty and lifeless. You also want the party to be in a convenient location, because if it’s too much of a hassle for guests, then they simply won’t come. Finally, you’ll have to handle things like parking or alternative transportation in order to make things easier for your guests.

Guest List and Invitations

The next step you need to take in your party planning is planning out what your party’s guest list is going to look like. Inviting the right guests to your party will have a huge impact on the success of the event. You want to invite fun people that know how to have a good time and will socialize. You also want to be careful of inviting people that may have bad blood or don’t speak to each other. If you get these people that have dislike for each other in the same room with alcohol involved, then there could be a large amount of drama. As a result, you need to be smart with who you’re inviting. As for the invites themselves, you’ll want to ensure that the details of the party are clearly stated in order to eliminate any potential confusion. You also will probably want to make the invitations look nice and special, as they will set the tone for a great party.

Food and Beverages

Another important part of planning a party is providing the right food and beverages for all of your guests. Not only do you want to have a large quantity of food in order to feed your partygoers, but you will also want to have high-quality food as well. No one wants to eat bad tasting food, especially at a party when it can be a major mood killer. As for drinks, the same rings true, as you’ll want to provide plenty of beverages like water and soda. You’ll also want to have plenty of alcohol on hand for those that are old enough to drink it. Having high-quality alcohol at your party can make people more social and relaxed, adding to a great party environment.

Entertainment

Although it’s one of the last things you likely plan, the entertainment you provide at a party is still extremely important. The entertainment you choose is often the life of the party. If you choose an entertainer that flops, likely the party will as well. As a result, you may want to use a special form of entertainment like live entertainers. Now you may think “Where can I find live entertainment near me?”, but there are actually lots of places where you can look. You can check talent websites or get in touch with agencies that may be able to point you in the direction of some suitable clients. Finding the right form of entertainment can be a huge boost to your party, so it’s extremely important that you plan it out correctly.

5 Ways Marijuana Can Enhance Your Yoga Practice

In recent years, the world of medicines has experienced an enormous shift. People nowadays have become more skeptical about consuming prescribed medication because of its long-term side effects. Moreover, with cannabis entering the mainstream market and being sold by retailers like Wonder Buds, more people worldwide have started consuming it to alleviate pain, anxiety, and depression symptoms. While some users incorporate the natural supplement for its medicinal properties, others love to experience its recreational properties. For most users, the pot is an epitome of a rounded lifestyle, including work-life, fitness, and nutrition.

No matter how often you eat healthily or work out extensively, essential ingredients to supplement your health are detrimental. When it comes to marijuana, especially indica heavy hybrids or indica can put you in a state of euphoria. Even if you are getting a sound sleep before going through a tough day at work or a power nap before your yoga or workout session, marijuana can help you and your body significantly.

Globally, several private teachers and yoga studios have now turned towards the use of marijuana to enhance and support their practices. Moreover, people who believe in yielding their marijuana often have a trusted source of premium marijuana seeds. Microdosing is one of the fundamental ways of consumption such studios and individuals adhere to. Taking a meager amount of the supplement and blending it with deep stretches or yoga sessions can help you synergize the entire experience and accommodate it to the next level.

Let’s do a quick rundown of some of the best ways marijuana can further enhance your yoga practice.

1. Marijuana can relax your mind and body.

Focus is pivotal while working out or practicing yoga. Since people perform yoga to eliminate negative energies from their bodies, they must go more in-depth into practice and reap considerable yoga benefits. Marijuana, with its THC levels, can help in reducing anxiety, physical discomfort, and stress. This not only enables you to experiment and test your limits coupled with new poses but also allows you to get more engaged while manipulating the body into several asanas (yoga postures).

To supplement your yoga practice, start with a dose of 0.25ml. You can later increase the dose, depending on your experience and practice. Consume cannabis oil, tinctures, or CBD-infused products before beginning your yoga practice. The supplement interacts with your brain receptors and helps in increasing focus and concentration levels. However, consult an expert before introducing yourself to the supplement.

2. Marijuana can alleviate pain.

Are you practicing yoga while on the road or merely exploring it after a tough day on the field. You might be a recipient of pain and aches at the end of the day. Since yoga allows you to stay calm, pain can play a vital role in hindering your practice. Interestingly, marijuana can help. It is also essential to know that the possession of cannabis in the US is illegal. However, for medicinal marijuana, some regulations might differ. In that case, buy cannabis-infused or CBD products to support your workout and yoga sessions.

The supplement can help alleviate neuropathic pain, with the amount of analgesia, usually contingent on the THC amount. Marijuana tends to interact with the brain receptors and affect the ECS to alleviate chronic pain. This not only soothes your muscles before your yoga practices but also supplements it. However, start with small doses in the initial period.

3. Marijuana can regulate negative emotions.

Negative emotions are one of the factors that can hinder your ability to think and stay calm. People often practice yoga to lessen the impact of stress and depression. However, when it comes to malicious thought processes, you sometimes do not have enough control over your emotions. Such an approach can negatively impact your yoga practices. In simple words, if you cannot keep your emotions intact, performing yoga will not benefit you and your body.

Furthermore, the brain produces anandamide. However, only a neurotransmitter can perform such a process. After a specific period, such a system breaks down. Marijuana, on the other hand, subdues the enzymes, which impact the anandamide to break. This interaction helps in keeping your emotions in pace and promotes positive thinking. You do not feel stressed or anxious about such a practice.

4. A healthy immune system.

A synchronized immune system lets you enjoy yoga even more. For instance, let’s take your immune system is weak, or you have a low-level count of white blood cells. Such a condition will not keep your body robust against every severe condition. Your immune system lets you enjoy your tasks, daily routine, and promotes healthy living. Hence, you need to keep a check on your body. This would not only help you in rejuvenating your senses but will also keep you on track. Some people tend to take prescribed medication while others resort to alternative supplements like marijuana or several compounds.

Cannabis can impact specific receptors in the body to increase the count of white blood cells. One of the studies also shows that cannabis helps keep a balance in the body, affecting the immune system to fight against unknown pathogens and viruses. This allows the body to stay in healthy shape and ultimately enables you to enjoy yoga practices without hindrances.

5. Marijuana can help you stay connected spiritually.

Staying connected spiritually while practicing yoga is pivotal. Not only does it allow you to reap the most of yoga but also enables your body to perform and react better to such practices. Marijuana, however, accommodates an extensive amount of THC that can make you experience euphoria and bliss. This creates more space for you to stay spiritual.

Consuming such a supplement can help you stay calm, alleviate pain, stress, and depression symptoms. Since marijuana allows you to engage with a new self, it can help you stay spiritually connected while practicing yoga.

Final Thoughts

In the modern age, several things have changed around the use of marijuana for routine practices. More people worldwide are consuming the supplement to enhance their workout and yoga experience. If you have racing thoughts, negative emotions, or cannot connect spiritually, start with small doses of marijuana. However, consulting an expert or a doctor before incorporating the substance is essential.

Why the Number of Personal Injury Claims Is on the Increase

In many countries, the number of personal injury claims made has been gradually rising for some time now. As you will see, there are several underlying reasons for this. You can find more about injuries and how to heal them by visiting Meds News.

Some of them are fairly obvious, but others less so, which is part of the reason we decided to look at the subject. Personal injuries cover a wide range of accidents, including slips, trips and falls, road accidents, falling objects and more – if you have found yourself victim of any of these, you may want to speak to someone with experience handling a similar situation, like this personal injury lawyer

Human behavior is a contributing factor

The most obvious underlying reason for more personal injury cases being made is the fact that more people are getting hurt in accidents. As traditional risks are being addressed new ones are replacing them.

For example, in many countries, the number of car accidents that lead to serious injuries or death has fallen. Yet, at the same time pedestrian deaths have started to creep up. Exactly why that has happened is not fully understood. But what is known is that a significant percentage of these accidents have happened when people have stepped in front of cars while using their phones. Drivers texting or making calls is also leading to more accidents. So, while better traffic controls have been making the roads safer, our behavior has been creating new risks.

Some risks just cannot be completely mitigated

Plus, some risks that have always been there simply cannot be eliminated. No matter how hard we try to do so. Take working at height as an example. The number of serious accidents that occur when someone falls off a ladder is understandably high. For many years, governments have legislated to try to minimize these incidents. Yet, as you can see here, despite making sure everyone who uses a ladder is fully-trained and having every workplace usage risk-assessed, the number of at height injuries is not being reduced.

People are more aware that they can make a claim

In the not so distant past if you had an accident you generally accepted that you had been unlucky. Then, you did your best to recover from your injuries and pick up the pieces of your life. If it were a road traffic accident your insurance company would usually seek compensation for your injuries. For a workplace injury, it would be your union rep who would help you to file a claim.

But, if you had an accident outside of those scenarios, the idea that you could file a personal injury claim simply would not cross your mind. You would have only been vaguely aware that such a legal mechanism exists. Plus, even if you were aware you would automatically assume you could not afford the processes involved in making such a claim.

That is no longer the case. Today, more people know their rights and realize that they can pursue their claim without losing money.

Most Desirable Outdoor Kid Equipment

Playtime is the most fun and memorable time of one’s childhood. Outdoor play help improve your child’s emotional and social skills. It is also smart to get to know your child’s character and figure out what measures to take if you discover he or she is a bully. This is because outside play allows the child to express themselves and learn. It also has a considerable impact on the child’s physical development. Owing to the many play equipment, it can be daunting to figuring out the best and most desirable equipment.

Below are a few pieces of equipment that your children will enjoy and benefit the most from.

Treehouse

Treehouses are suitable for all ages as it provides a variety of games with different levels and difficulty. They allow the children to be creative and choose their own play experience. Treehouses with slides enable the children to slide down together. Slides make a considerable part of the excitement and fun of having a treehouse. A treehouse fitted with slides helps improve the gross muscle and coordination of your child.

Trampoline

Trampolines are mostly designed for younger kids. They are very secure with soft rings to prevent the child from falling off the trampoline and hurting themselves. They have unique and colorful designs to attract kids. Trampolines provide your child with hours of fun and improve their confidence as they learn to trampoline. If you are looking to get a piece of outdoor play equipment, you should consider buying trampolines online or in malls to provide your children with excellent social skills as they play.

Swings

Swings are perfect outdoor play equipment. They improve your kid’s balance and a natural tone. Moreover, swings are perfect for any age, even adults. The rotary effect is therapeutic and helps manage hyperactivity and aggression. It allows children to play and interact together, improving their social and communication skills. It also enhances equilibrium reactions in kids.

Seesaw

Seesaws are perfect for kids above three years. It is fun for kids to move up and down. This allows them to interact with other kids making new friends. The equipment is also secure and won’t injure your child. Seesaw also helps improve communication skills in your child, physical endurance, and balance.

Climbers

If your children climb just about anything, this is the perfect equipment for them. Getting a rock-climbing wall is ideal for the whole family. They are vital in developing muscles in young children and strengthening muscles in much bigger kids. They are usually made with safe and robust materials for safety and durability.

Sandpit

Children love playing in the sand. Building a castle and modeling is fun and exciting for kids. Sandpits are one of the best outdoor kid’s equipment. The sand is used for tactile processing. It is a great tool to enhance creativity, coordination, and hand functions. However, you have to get ready to wash off the mud from the extremely muddy clothes after playing the session.

Conclusion

Having a backyard playground allows the children to run around and burn some calories. It is excellent for improving muscle and mental capability. If you are building a kid playground, consider buying swings, seesaws, and trampolines online to make the playground exciting and fun.

Children’s Bedtime Routine – Dos and Don’ts

Putting your child to bed can seem traumatizing for many adults. You may feel that your child is a holy terror at bedtime, but sweet at any other time of the day. As parents, we have all been there, and hopefully, this article from BetterCleans will offer some useful tips for when you’re faced with this situation. You want to get your child to bed at a decent time, yet he or she asks for a drink of water, 34 bedtime stories, and says I love you 291 times. The other scenario is that your child kicks, screams, and cries until he or she is exhausted and seems to pass out on his or her own. Neither scenario is helpful. You should stop here and realize that you will NOT be a perfect parent because they do not exist. There are some things that you can do to help your child at bedtime, but each child will respond to things differently.

Dos

The following list contains a few things you can do to establish a working bedtime routine. Sometimes flexibility should be allowed when circumstances arise. However, these suggestions will help your child enjoy the bedtime routine.

Be Consistent

This piece of advice is suitable for children, whether they are going to bed or when establishing dinner routines or wake up routines. Children thrive on consistency. They need to know what to do and when to do it. You can establish this routine in whatever way that you need to do it. If you need to brush their teeth and hair before bed, do that at the same time each night. If you have medicine, vitamins, or other health-related routines before bed, do them at the same time.

Have a Bedtime

We ARE talking about bedtime routines, right? However, parents do not always have an established bedtime. It’s extremely important to teach children to enjoy playing with games that help their brain development, like Lovevery Play Kits. Some children will resist sleep and continue playing until they fall over. Having a bedtime will help children’s internal clock establish itself better. Be sure that your child’s bedtime allows them enough sleep to be happy and functioning the next day. Warn your children when they will need to go to bed earlier due to having an activity the next day.

Let Them Have Input

If your child likes to read a book at bedtime, let them choose the book. If you tell them stories, let them pick the story. Choosing pajamas may seem like a silly thing, but children like to have some control too. Let your child decide what they want and do not want at bedtime. Make reasonable accommodations. A stuffed toy or doll may make them feel better about sleeping alone.

Help Them Feel Safe

A security blanket, doll, or night light may make your child feel much safer and happier going to bed. Help them feel safe in their room by offering one of these things. If your child sometimes gets up at night, place a nightlight in the hall or bathroom to help them navigate. If your child gets up often at night to use the bathroom, you may want to limit their food and drink intake in the evening.

Don’ts

While some parents and children have different needs, the following things should be avoided at bedtime. However, you should keep your child’s individual needs in mind. While most people do not suggest eating or drinking near bedtime, some children have medicines they must take at night and may need a snack to take them with. These suggestions are simply to help establish a routine. You should always do what is best for your child.

Stimulation

An exciting story, cartoon, or song will not usually help your child to sleep better. You should avoid stimulation as much as possible, leading up to the bedtime routine. Children can sing a song, listen to a story, or possibly watch a show, but the last things you do before beginning the bedtime routine should be calming.

Food and Drinks

Avoid sugary or caffeine-laden snacks and drinks in the evening. Juice may be okay for some children, but stimulation should be minimal near the end of the day, as previously noted. Snacks and foods should be as nutritious as possible. An occasional bowl of ice cream might not break your routine, but choosing these things regularly might not be the best idea.

Let Them Run the Show

While you can give your child some choices, do not let them run the bedtime routine. Make sure that your child knows how important a good night’s sleep is and lead them through the routine. Letting them choose a book or stuffed animal to sleep with is fine, but you should not let them push you into extra time, stories, or snacks.

Make the Routine Hard

If the routine has too many steps, your child will not be able to complete them consistently. Make the routine simple and calming. A bath, oral hygiene, and a bedtime story are all that is needed for a bedtime routine. Medicines and other health-related activities can be included.

Final Thoughts

Don’t worry too much about the order of the routine. Yes, your friend may give their child a bath, then brush their teeth, and then tell a story. Some children may want to brush their teeth before a bath. These things are not as important as establishing a consistent routine and avoiding bedtime stimulation. Be careful about staying with your child until they fall asleep. This behavior can create dependence. However, if your child is experiencing anxiety, you can stay for a few nights and ween them away from the back rubs at bedtime. The important thing here is to teach your child the importance of rest and establish a working routine with them. Some nights, you may need to change the routine to meet the needs of the child or family. Do not worry about the night here or there. The important thing is that most nights are on a routine, and the changes are for reasons the child understands. A visit from grandma might change the routine, but an extended visit should not impact the child’s routine for more than one day. A well-rested child is usually a much happier child.

7 Parenting Tips to Help Your Baby Sleep Well Through the Night

One of the biggest struggles that all parents, both new and old, experience when they have a baby in the house is the significant lack of sleep. Since the baby is adjusting its sleeping schedule all the time, it can often wake up in the middle of the night. Therefore, a lot of parents would want to prepare for ways how to avoid this.

If this is something you want to avoid, try applying these seven parenting tips to help your baby sleep well.

Create a Calming Bedtime Routine

Even when your baby is still small, you should start creating a calming bedtime routine, which would give them positive associations with going to sleep. Your calming bedtime routine should be all about quieting things down, slow movements, and anything that would be relaxing. You don’t need to make them fall asleep immediately.

The bedtime routine should have steps all about slowing things down and are the steps leading up to the sleep time and not the actual sleeping time.

Creating a routine will make it easier for your baby to realize when it’s time to fall asleep. You should avoid making too many changes with the method, or it will make it harder for your baby to sleep through the night consistently.

Consider a Pacifier

If your baby has trouble sleeping at night or a little fussy, you might want to consider giving them a pacifier. Some parents have concerns about leaving a pacifier to get their babies through the night. However, giving your baby a pacifier when they sleep has significant benefits outside of letting them fall asleep.

The most significant advantage of letting your baby use a pacifier when sleeping is that it helps reduce their risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. Aside from that, it prevents them from rolling too far to their side.

Before you get your baby too dependent on the pacifier, you should make sure that you have a nursing routine already safe. Wait at least four weeks or so, but each baby is different, so base it on your personal experience.

Don’t Give Up on Swaddling.

Sometimes, your baby can wake up because of their startle-reflex or random jerks throughout the night. To avoid this, you should consider practicing your swaddling techniques. Even if your baby might not like it the first few times, you should still try things out. After all, their preferences can change quickly, especially as you get better with your swaddling techniques.

It would help if you also used other swaddling techniques to change things up. The benefit of a good swaddle is that it keeps your babies feeling secure, and they won’t get startled by their startle-reflex in the middle of the night.

Limit the Length of Daytime Naps

Sometimes, the daytime naps that your baby is taking might be making them too alert in the evenings. If it’s not making them too awake, they might be waking up in the middle of the night because they’re hungry. Therefore, you should limit how long your babies get to nap during the daytime.

At most, you should stick to two-hour intervals of sleep. If they’re exhausted, you can stretch it to two and a half hours. However, once the time is up, you should wake them up gently, entertain them for a bit, or even feed them.

Change Your Baby’s Diaper Strategically

When you change your baby’s Pampers or diapers, you should be strategic with the timing. Otherwise, you risk making your baby more alert and awake than they should be. Since changing their diaper requires you to move them around a lot, it’s going to wake them up, which is why thinking about when to change their diapers is crucial.

The best time to change your baby’s diapers during the evenings would be right before giving them their feeding in the middle of the night. When they wake up in the middle of the night hungry, you should first change their diapers before you feed them again.

Since they’re full again from their night feeding, they’re going to feel sleepier. If you move them around to change their diapers after they feed, it’s like you’re shaking them awake. That’s why you should do it before they feed.

Offer One Last Feeding

When it’s time for you to sleep, you should feed your baby before you go to sleep. Wake them up gently and give them one last feeding and then put them back to sleep, so that they’re less likely to wake up again anytime soon.

Since hunger can often wake them up in the middle of the night, doing a pre-emptive feeding might help avoid them waking up because of that. Keep Things Dark and Quiet at Night

When your baby wakes up in the middle of the night, you shouldn’t come into their room loudly, run to them, and turn on the lights. All of these steps will startle them more. Instead, use slow and gentle steps and hush them down and gently. If you want some form of light, night lights are a great option.

Keep your baby’s room quiet and dark. Some parents invest in a white noise maker, so their babies don’t wake up from every noise.

By applying these seven tips, you avoid the most significant challenge that homes with babies have, which is their babies waking up in the middle of the night. When your baby can sleep well through the night, it will also enable you to sleep well. As a parent, you want to be able to handle your baby and yourself, and sleep is crucial.

Therefore, being proactive in taking care of your sleep as well as your baby’s is essential.

How to Plan the Best Staycation Ever

Every summer, many people put aside their work, daily stresses and responsibilities and escape on a vacation, somewhere far away from reality. It may be a secluded retreat in the mountains, a camping trip with the kids, an arranged tour in another country, an Alaskan cruise, or days relaxing at an exotic beach or resort.

However, with the current pandemic including travel restrictions, along with financial constraints for many, those plans may have to be temporarily shelved. But the desire to escape reality – for just a bit – is very much alive. So, with many people remaining in their homes, how can that off-work journey happen? We have some tips for making the best of the situation and creating cherished vacation memories without ever leaving home. It’s called a staycation.

What’s a staycation?

A staycation is, quite simply, a vacation at home. How realistic, how exciting, or how relaxing you make it is up to you. Theme it up for a more authentic “away-from-home” experience.

What makes a great staycation? Well, that depends on what you consider a vacation. Some people want adventure, while others like relaxing with a drink in their hand. Still others use vacation time to unwind by tackling DIY projects such as renovations. So, what would you enjoy doing if you could craft your own staycation? (Which, by the way, you can.)

Commit to it

Once you’ve decided to schedule a staycation – whatever it ends up being – commit to it. Mark it on your calendar. Plan for it. Make concrete plans. If you’re working, ask for those days off of work. Don’t just say you’re going to have a vacation and spend the weekend lounging on the sofa, noshing on Cheetos and surfing the internet, unless a week of rest is the staycation you’ve planned.

Whenever you’re going for vacation in your home, try to unplug so your mind’s not on work and responsibilities. Set your work email to the “out of office” setting and write an auto-reply message. Then, don’t check your work emails unless absolutely necessary. Consider NOT telling your boss that you’re vacationing at home. Turn your cell phone off or on silent, and set a small window of time each day to check for messages.

Skip the news. The idea is to get away from stress, away from reality. Just concentrate on your vacation experience. The news cycle can wait for a week. Really, it can. This is the time to be good to yourself.

Prepare

Prepare for your staycation much like you’d prep for any other vacation. Create your itinerary. Decide what kind of activities you would like to do each day of your vacation. What kind of staycation would you like? Cultural learning, straight-up fun, pampering, relaxing? Write your vacation goals down, and then make a game plan. Don’t want to cook while on vacation? Gather menus from local restaurants that deliver, and have them on hand. You could even incorporate different restaurants into the theme of your vacation.

Before your official vacation start time, do all the necessary prep work. Complete all chores in advance. Wash the dishes, dust, pay the bills, scrub the toilets, empty the trash. Do the laundry BEFORE your staycation begins. You don’t really want to be sorting and folding while on vacation, do you?

Set the Mood for your Staycation

Many people have saved money in anticipation of an annual vacation to pay for things like hotel rooms, meals, plane tickets and a rental car. Why not channel some of those funds into your at-home vacation paradise?

Create your staycation space – really, truly, set up a space that exudes the theme of your vacation. Move the furniture, change the lighting, order pillows, fairy lights or scented candles – whatever your theme is, run with it. Look at magazines or online trip websites for inspiration. Think about the destination you want. Paradise under the palms? Set up a piña colada or margarita station at home. Roll up the rugs and go barefoot like you’re on the beach. Set up a hammock between backyard trees or on your back porch.

Dreaming of a mountain retreat? Set out pine-scented candles and decorate the room with cottage home decor. Plan for any purchases you’ll need for your staycation. Does your week require some relaxing pillows, aromatherapy candles, a tent or hammock? Dreaming of an overseas vacation? Hit the international foods section of your grocery and stock up on items from that region to set the mood. Planning a spa retreat week? Buy a set of high-thread-count sheets, a couple of luxurious pillows, scented bath salts, essential oils, and a super-soft robe.

To make your staycation ambiance even more realistic, you can make a vacation soundtrack with music that reminds you of that particular place, or perhaps a past favorite vacation that you’d like to recreate. Going to the beach in your mind? Ramp up some Jimmy Buffet music. Missing that trip to Brazil this summer? Make your own compilation of Brazilian favorites including the likes of Roberto Carlos or Anitta. Or, queue up some internet music mixes.

Think about your favorite luxury hotel amenities and try to replicate some of those special touches at your own staycation. Love peppermints or chocolates on your pillows? Do it. How about a fruit basket, or a water pitcher of cold spring water infused with the subtle flavor and inviting look of cut fruit? Make it happen. This is all about helping you feel like you’re somewhere else.

Self-Care Weekend

How about a pampering week, helping you release all the stress that’s built up this year? Consider a self-care “getaway” with a spa day, a YouTube yoga session, or a self-manicure. Start a journal of self-discovery. Draw a warm bubble bath, adding some calming essential oils like lavender or chamomile. Slip into the welcoming suds as you relax your mind and body. Soft music and candles invite you to soak away the stress. Then, wrap yourself up in the soft hug of a luxurious robe. This vacation is all about being good to yourself.

Retail Therapy Weekend

If you have money saved up that you won’t spend on a vacation this summer and miss shopping, you may want to arrange a retail therapy staycation. Curl up on the sofa with a glass of wine and start online shopping. You could budget what you had already set aside for your anticipated actual vacation, and spend some of that money, or just “window-shop” and dream from the comfort of your favorite recliner.

Plan Future Vacations

You can’t travel much right now, but the future is wide open. You’ve been staring at your walls for quite a while now, longing to escape. Why not start that escape, at least in your mind? Begin planning your post-pandemic road trip (or plane trip). There’s no time like the present to ponder where you’d like to visit – start with the continent or country, and narrow it down from there. Search online for destinations, hotels and fun activities. Jot them down and start planning for next year.

Look online for interesting destinations and then start searching for places you can stay, like at hotels or bed and breakfast inns. What kind of activities can you participate in while there? Take notes, plan your budget, and work out the details so when it’s time to fly the pandemic coop, you’ll have all your ducks in a row for your next adventure.

Cook a fancy dinner

The internet is filled with how-to-cook videos. Zero in on one and cook that meal and impress your spouse or family. See if you can find fanciful foods that fit into the theme of your staycation. Or, ask your family to pamper you and cook (including doing the dishes.). You can also sign up for delivered meal preparation kits. These kits arrive at your doorstep with all of the ingredients, already prepped, along with step-by-step directions. You’ll feel like a professional chef in no time.

Chill

You may be someone who just needs to chill for a vacation. Vacations don’t always have to be about excitement and activity. Sometimes, you just need peace and quiet to de-stress from life.

Create your zen vacation in a quiet place of your home – make it off limits to the children (perhaps you have someone who can take care of them). Then, unplug your clocks or put them in the closet so you can’t see them. Turn off your phone, put on earphones (if there’s house noise you can’t block out) and just…chill.

Fun for the Whole Family

If you’re quarantining with your family and yearning for a vacation, build a staycation with a family-friendly theme or activities. Although you have been in each other’s space for months, there are ways you can spend quality, vacation-esque time as a family and build beautiful bonds.

Camping out

Go camping for your staycation – for a night, a week, or somewhere in between – you choose. Set up a tent in the backyard, complete with sleeping bags and camp lights. Don’t forget the mosquito repellent or citronella candles. Pack up snacks in bags for a more authentic experience, and string lights in the trees or at the top of the tent for some extra ambiance. And don’t forget to check this guide for camper brands to avoid.

Snag a couple of bags of ice from the store and fill a cooler with food and drinks to keep with the campout theme. Cook your meals on a grill, or have a fire pit if regulations allow. Roast marshmallows or craft s’mores. Tell stories around the fire. Stay up too late and laugh too much.

If your idea of camping is closer to glamping, or you don’t have a backyard, then move things indoors. Set up a tent or have your kids create a tent by hanging sheets and other fabrics in clever ways. Unleash your children’s creativity with tent-making – they know how to make the best tents and forts. Set up your indoor camping ambiance with flashlights and flameless candles for light sources. Eat from paper plates and make s’mores in the microwave. Search for a campfire video to play on your TV.

Have a family costume night or a themed party during your staycation. Challenge your kids to dress up as their favorite movie character, singer, or superhero, using clothes, props and supplies already in your home.

Love watching movies? Build a staycation around that. Have a themed movie marathon. Each family member picks a movie that you all watch, or you could categorize movies, like comedies, animation, action or another genre. Don’t forget the popcorn. Plan ahead and surprise your “movie audience” with their favorite movie theater candy and sodas.

Music or Karaoke Party

Use some of the money you would have spent on lodging, meals, attraction fees and more – and buy a karaoke machine. You may find your family singing until they’re all hoarse and falling down in laughter. Learn a new song on an instrument you play, and hold a “recital” in your living room. If more than one member of your family plays an instrument, work on a performance together.

Virtual Travel and Games

You could also spend the summer vacation money on virtual reality headsets. This marvelous technology is a fantastic way to virtually leave your house and go on vacations together, using 3D travel apps. Want to walk the streets of Paris? Climb mountains in the Himalayas? You’re only a VR headset away.

Backyard Water Game Day

Beat the summer heat on your staycation with a day of water games in your backyard. Ask your kids to plan games and gather the necessary accessories like water hoses, kiddie pools, sprinklers, soaking guns, water slides, water balloons (be sure to pick up the broken balloon pieces) and plenty of sunblock. You can go all out renting an inflatable water play set, or you can keep it budget-friendly. Bring on the popsicles and laughter.

Night in for the Parents

Parents may just need a vacation from their kids. Try to set up a cozy, romantic room or patio area for your loved one. Group candles around your backyard. Flameless candles4 are great and there’s no fire hazard. Set up a hammock or pillows or some other way to relax. Chill a bottle of wine, soda or whatever happens to be your favorite beverage. Make up a cheese tray. It can be fancy, or it can be laid-back. Pour a bag of chips into a bowl if that’s your style. Set some mood music, relax and kick back.

Learning Vacation

Many people love to travel to new locations and learn about culture, architecture, art, languages, food, and more. The opportunity to learn something new during your staycation is limited only by your imagination.

Because of the pandemic, many museums now offer free virtual tours. Spend days in the Louvre, or take an interactive tour of Mark Twain’s house. Visit zoos virtually, or set up Zoom meetings with friends or relatives in different countries so you can practice conversing in a foreign language.

Travel the world for free using your local library card. Libraries have a wealth of e-books available to download from the library’s website onto your own device. Just pick them out and download, prop your feet up and escape into a mystery, thriller, romance, fantasy, or whatever genre you enjoy. Have your favorite beverage and snacks near your reading haven.

Take an online class on cooking, digital art, sewing, or something that intrigues you. This is your staycation. If your goal is to spend more time outdoors, consider starting a new flower or vegetable garden or a compost pile. Set up a rain barrel water collection system, making use of the rainwater rolling off your roof.

You can even make it a learning vacation for your pet. Learn how to teach your pet tricks or a new skill, like sniffing out smells. Or, just chill with your cuddly cat on your lap. For some, that’s a heavenly vacation.

For those who would rather “do” than chill, spend your staycation time learning a new craft. Clear out your schedule and spend that time really digging into whatever it is you want to learn. Use budgeted summer vacation money to order acrylic or oil paints, modeling clay, mosaics or stained glass supplies, whatever strikes your fancy, and learn a new skill you’ll maintain long after your staycation is over.

Renovate a Space in your Home

For those who need to be active during vacations, think about a renovation vacation. Since you’ve been home so much the last two months, no doubt you’ve zeroed in on a corner or a room of your house that’s begging for an update or a redo. Repaint the kitchen and add a backsplash or replace the flooring. Update your bedroom, adding new curtains or blinds. Turn that depressing basement into a new game room, guest room or home office. Browse among the DIY articles from professionals for inspiration and guidance.

Whatever your stay-at-home vacation fantasy is, try to make it happen. This pandemic won’t last forever, and the vacation you take this summer, at your own home, may just spark some of the best memories ever. Don’t forget to take photos!

This article was originally posted on Porch.com.

Homeschooling Hacks that Parents and Students Can Use

With social distancing measures and directives still firmly in place for many locales, many parents are contemplating what the upcoming school year looks like as part of the new normal. Thanks to the use of video conferencing technology, distance learning and homeschooling will be the reality for many families at least for the fall. Your child’s physical campus may be your home, which can be a potential source of stress for parents, teachers and students alike. Here are some hacks that can bring some stress-relieving fun to your household or campus.

Establishing a Routine

When working from home, it’s important to establish a routine for each weekday morning. Now that your kids are back to school, you need to set a schedule to keep them on track. Make it a fun activity by using art supplies such as colorful markers, crayons and poster boards to create a weekly schedule. Use construction paper or index cards to color-code the schedule based on the days, or the children themselves. You can use your entryway or a mudroom as a kind of homeschooling control center which not only features the schedule, but also assignments and chores to be completed.

Prepping Meals

A fun activity might include incorporating meal prep for the week into your Monday routine. This is a great hack for teaching your younger kids how to make their own lunches. Using colorful pens, markers, notebook paper and plastic storage bins, you can organize non-perishable lunch and/or snack items in your pantry and perishable items in your refrigerator. Kids can learn to make healthful choices in putting together their lunches for the week or on a daily basis.

Organizing School and Art Supplies

An important consideration for school at home is to make sure there are dedicated spaces for your homeschooling supplies. Save time and avoid procrastination by using a caddy or plastic drawer sets to organize supplies. Crayons, pens, pencils and other writing utensils can be stored in the various compartments in your caddy. Notebooks, construction paper and drawing pads can be organized in a dedicated set of drawers in a designated area so your kids know where to go for supplies, especially when it’s time for homework.

Designating Homework Notebooks

A little chalkboard paint or paper on the cover of your children’s notebooks gives them a place to write down their daily assignments to keep track of the textbooks needed for homework. Colorful chalks, including chalk crayons, are great for making note of assignments on these notebook covers. It also provides an opportunity for creative expression as kids can draw their names and other decorative elements on the cover.

With a fall semester that looks less and less like what you and your kids are used to, it’s important to prepare. Getting back into the swing of things will be a challenge, but you can make it fun with a few creative hacks that let students use their creativity, imagination and quality school supplies. Establishing routines, maximizing group activities and designating work areas can help everyone get back into a school state of mind.

Everything You Need to Know About the GMAT

The majority of students who hope to pursue an advanced business degree, such as an MBA, have to take either the GRE or GMAT. While some graduate programs have dropped their standardized testing requirements for applicants altogether, the majority of business schools still ask prospective students to report their scores for one of these exams. In addition, some MBA programs will only accept GMAT scores, not GRE results.

While some MBA hopefuls opt to take the GRE, taking the GMAT will allow you to apply to the widest range of programs. If you confidently have your eyes set on a Master of Business Administration degree, then it’s time to buckle down and start preparing for the GMAT.

Test Questions and Format

According to the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC), the GMAT test-makers, the GMAT acts as a predictor of success in a graduate business program and helps applicants stand out from the pack. The exam “measures your critical thinking and reasoning skills, the two most relevant skills to the world’s top graduate business programs.”

Like the GRE, the GMAT is computer-adaptive, meaning the exam adjusts itself in response to your abilities, and questions become more or less difficult accordingly. The GMAT includes the following test sections, which are individually scored:

● Analytical Writing Assessment– This portion of the exam tests your ability to think critically and convey your ideas in writing. You have 30 minutes to answer one question analysis of an argument question—scores for this section range from 0 to 6, with half-point increments.

● Integrated Reasoning– The Integrated Reasoning section measures your ability to understand and evaluate information represented in different formats. Question types include graphics interpretation, table analysis, multi-source reasoning, and two-part analysis. Test-takers have 30 minutes to answer 12 questions. You can score anywhere from one to eight with one-point increments.

● Quantitative– In 62 minutes, you have to answer 31 data sufficiency and problem-solving questions. This section of the test measures your ability to understand data and use reasoning skills to make conclusions based on the given information. You will receive a score from six to 51 with one-point increments.

● Verbal– According to the GMAC, the Verbal Reasoning section “measures your ability to read and understand written material, to evaluate arguments, and to correct written material to conform to standard written English.” You have 65 minutes to complete 36 reading comprehension, critical reasoning, and sentence correction questions. Scores range from six to 51 with one-point increments.

Unlike the GRE, LSAT, and MCAT, the GMAT allows test-takers to choose the order in which they complete the exam. You can select one of the three following options:

– Analytical Writing Assessment, Integrated Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal

– Verbal, Quantitative, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

– Quantitative, Verbal, Integrated Reasoning, Analytical Writing Assessment

Exam and Application Costs

The cost of taking the GRE varies by country, but in the U.S., you can expect to pay $275 for the exam itself. For each additional score report you order it costs $35.

If you want an enhanced score report, you’ll pay an extra $30. This report can tell you the percentage of questions you answered correctly, rank your performance by question type, identify your strengths and weaknesses, show how you managed your time, and tell you how well you performed on questions based on their difficulty.

Recommendations for Test Prep

On average, applicants spend 100 to 120 hours studying for the GMAT over the span of two to three months. Once you choose from the GMAT test dates for 2020, it’s recommended that you create a study calendar. The GMAT test-makers offer a free eight-week study planner that will help you track your progress, develop a strategy to improve your score and create a plan for the day of the exam.

Mastering the GMAT

To improve your odds of acceptance into an MBA or other professional program, you’ll want to leverage the GMAT to show off your analytical, reasoning, and writing abilities. While not all schools require you to take the exam, reporting your scores is an opportunity to prove your capabilities. To master the GMAT, give yourself plenty of time to prepare for the exam and even take the exam more than once if you aren’t satisfied with your performance.