How to Avoid Sinus Pain and Congestion

Sinus pain is usually triggered by colds, flu, allergens, and pollutants. While some people suffer seasonal allergies others have a bad time throughout the year. Studies show that allergies top the list when it comes to listing the causes for sinus infections and congestion, closely followed by the common cold and flu.

Here are tips to avoid a sinus infection and the congestion it causes, or at the very least, keep an infection at bay.

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The secret to being more productive and happy

Relax.

One of my favorite words for the last two weeks has been “hectic”. Okay, I also like “leverage” and “relax”. When life seems like a bit of a tsunami sometimes, and you feel like you’re lagging behind, you know you are stressed – and that you have to relax.

There can be multiple daily stressors at work – maybe you were leaving for a meeting, dressed in a white shirt – and spilt coffee on it. Maybe you are trying to focus on some emergency work but can’t seem to hear yourself think over the noise of the kids yelling at each other. Maybe you’ve got to get somewhere real quick, and are stuck in a traffic jam.

If you go through these things they can be enough to make you feel you are ready to be certified. Here are some simple relaxation tips...

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Is Yoga enough as a fitness routine?

Over the last decade, yoga has begun to become the preferred form of working out for many people. It is an ancient practice that, unlike the typical gym, treadmill or weight lifting routine, gives you all round fitness that includes strengthening, breathing control, stretching, and balance. This makes it the complete package for physical, mental and emotional fitness.

While most of us might presume that lying on a mat and practicing Yoga might not really achieve that full body workout, it is important to know that....continue reading...

Do you power nap?

You've most certainly heard of siestas in the middle of the day in many cultures. Fact is, everyone feels a bit of a slump in energy levels by the time they're half way through the day and could do with a short nap that will refresh and revive.

It is called power-napping. I never believed in it - because the idea of a "short" nap always seems odd to me. I assume I'll just sleep off for several hours and waste the day. I come from a family where even the octogenarians do not believe in dozing in the afternoons, so it is a difficult habit to adopt.

Still, I've been reading a lot about the power of ...continue reading...

Looking Back with Love

Was a little sentimentally caught up with numbers yesterday. As I posted on Going A-Musing, I was surprised to realize, on the dashboard, that it was my 500th post there. So I checked to see where I stood here, and found it was the 200th. Okay - so no big deal - but there's something about a big round number that seems significant. How? No idea. Just makes you want to make a bit of a sound about it. At least in your own head, eh? :-)

Still - I was musing about the...continue reading

So - are you in a good mood today?

Yesterday's post featured five ways to raise your mood. Here are five more:

6. Think of something you're grateful for.

It is surprisingly easy to think of something you're grateful for. It only takes a few moments. And as soon as you think of something, you feel noticeably better. If the first thing you think of doesn't raise your mood enough, ask yourself what else you're grateful for. We naturally have our attention on our goals and what we'd like to attain in the future, and the mind naturally compares what we have with what we want to have. That's motivating sometimes, but it can also make you feel demoralized or frustrated. It is equally legitimate — and ought to....continue reading

A friendly fight

For some people, this is a truly radical idea:

There is no need to fight with your partner. Ever. Accusations, recriminations, character assassination, threats, name-calling, and cursing, whether delivered at top volume or with a quiet sarcastic sneer, damage a relationship, often irrevocably.

Nobody needs to be a monster or to be treated monstrously. Nobody who yells will ever be heard. In the heat of a moment, it is always a choice whether to go for a run or run your partner down.

On the other hand, continue reading...

One Family Affair To Avoid - Chronic Kidney Disease

Today is World Kidney Day.

I am writing a post because my mother suffered from CKD and one of the reasons she passed away was because of the complications of CKD. I am probably at risk for it, with a family history of diabetes.Here are some facts about this scary disease.

CKD = Chronic Kidney Disease
CKD is the permanent loss of kidney function. Possible Causes: physical...More

Happy Republic Day!

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments  ...More

I debut-ed on "Ginger Chai" today!

Hi Folks! I debut-ed on Ginger Chai today with my first post as a member of their Author Panel.
I intend to write there regularly. 

Here is the post. Enjoy!

Popeye Had A Point

Rather, Popeye the Sailor Man had several points! But let's talk about the main one - Spinach!

This super food packs a healthy punch.  It's no coincidence that Popeye's strength had its foundation on a diet rich in spinach.

The health benefits of this easily-available green leafy vegetable are tremendous, and it is a powerhouse of energy. Spinach is chock-full of vitamins like Vitamin B, Iron, and Folate. Best of all it is....MORE

A Tale About A Donkey

One day a farmer's donkey fell into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. The farmer thought - the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He got his neighbours to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement....More

A Mouthful

One of the worst things in life is a mouthful of ulcers.  And it's a fact that at some time or other, almost everyone gets mouth ulcers. I hardly need to tell you that the larger these are, the more painful they turn out to be. Can't eat, can't talk and can't just about anything! Add to it a rotten mood ! Women, in particular, develop ulcers mostly when they are exhausted or premenstrual. Sometimes, if you are allergic to something or have nutrient deficiencies, mouth ulcers turn up. Stress also causes mouth ulcers.

Okay, so enough of rubbing it in. What can you do to prevent these ulcers?

You can: MORE

Your Choice

Thought for Today
"I believe that when you stop renewing, and are no longer open to change and the possibilities that continually unfold, you stop being alive and are just getting through the years. Transformation doesn't happen unless you're willing: It's your choice."
- Oprah

An exit could be moving up, not out

There's a trick to the graceful exit. It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, or a relationship is over, and let it go. It means leaving what's over without denying its validity or its past importance to our lives. It involves a sense of future, a belief that every exit line is an entry, that we are moving up, rather than out.

--Ellen Goodman

Goodbye Clutter, Hello Happiness!

De-cluttering = Health, Wealth and Happiness 

It is. Getting rid of clutter is equal to freedom, both mental and physical and I am enjoying this everyday. After probably months and months of reading tips about Feng Shui, and how de-cluttering improves life, I have finally begun to act on it. Of course, I did plan to do a certain set of things before the New Year began, but hey, I did get a pretty good score of 32 out of 40 things done. That's a major achievement for me...considering my routine since the last few months.

However, I managed to do the following...MORE

From Darkness To Light

Burrp!!

Apparently you can choose the intensity of your hangover based on the color you choose to drink!

It's winter - and the cup that cheers is most likely booze, followed by that unmistakably nasty hangover.

While most people might have their patented cure for a hangover, the good news is, you...MORE

Taking A Mental Vacation!

Of late, I've gotten into the habit of feeling a teeny bit envious of people who keep talking about going on vacation during the weekend or during - well - vacation time. It has been a while since we went out anywhere - because of our domestic situation.

My mom's been sick for a long time, and since the last three months, she has been advised complete bed-rest to heal her back (spinal tb) and I have been... MORE

On Thanksgiving Day, I Thank...

God, of course...and

I also thank...(in no particular order...)

1. My...MORE...

That Son Of An Itch

Winter's here. Most of us may not feel the cold - but I can assure you that the skin, the largest organ in the human body certainly does - in varying degrees.  It shows it by becoming dry. And the worst thingabout dry skin is that temptation to scratch. It is a vicious cycle, you know. It itches, you scratch. You scratch - and it itches!! Let's not even talk about how it looks, socially when you have to sneak a quick scratch in that embarrassing spot - instead, let's look at a few easy steps to relieve it. Of course, this is not medical advice and you'd do well to consult a qualified dermatologist if your problem is severe - but by and large, these precautions...More