selfcare – Ja's Lifestyle

How to switch to plant based diet easily

As of Tuesday’s post, we talked about the benefits of switching to a plant based diet. So this is your guide to doing so the healthy and easiest way!

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Here are seven simple strategies to help you easily transition to a wholesome, plant-based diet:

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1- Start slow

Pick a few plant-based meals and rotate them through in a week. “Start with meals you have always enjoyed that just happen to be plant-based.

2- Cut down meat and processed food intake.

Instead of going cold turkey from the beginning, start by changing the proportion of plant and animal-based foods on your plate. This will give your mind and body time to accommodate to the new diet. Make simple changes like adding a large portion of salad or a fresh fruit bowl to your daily meals.

3- Go for plant-based breakfast.

Once you’ve tested the waters, you can take the next step by committing to eat at least one plant-based meal every day. A wholesome, vegetarian breakfast is a good place to start.

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4- Stock up on healthy foods.

Take time to explore vegetarian and fresh produce aisles at your local supermarket. Stock up your kitchen with nutritious, plant-based foods and keep healthy snack options in easily accessible places like your bag, desk drawer, kitchen counter and fridge.

5- Keep your meals fun and exciting.

Focus on foods you like and ones that are easily accessible to you. Then learn new ways to make those simple recipes more fun and flavorful. Try out new recipes every now and then!

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Lastly, keep in mind that any transition takes time. So try, make mistakes and test the waters to see hwta works for you and helps you keep your body in harmony.

For more check the complete article here.

November 26, 2021November 9, 2021

Joe AssaadLeave a comment

The importance of closure

When things break and end, it’s always hard to move forward and past this feeling of loss, but there’s an important process that helps us cope with the situation and move past it which is closure. In this article we’ll discuss the importance of closure in situations that ended suddenly or ones that seem hard to move past.

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So what does closure mean?

Getting emotional closure means that you can “close the book” on your situation and its associated pain and start working on moving past this painful situation. It helps you learn the lesson, heal fast and let go.

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So how do we get it?

There are different ways for closure, and each individual has their own way of coping. But here’s some of the ways that you can do to get the needed closure and move on with your life.

1. Take full responsibility for yourself.
It’s ultimately up to you to take the necessary actions to help move you forward. Have conversations with yourself, both asking and answering your own questions in a form of a “self-dialogue.”

Being as honest as you can be will pay off in the long run. The pain, hurt, anger, and disappointment will diminish once you’ve cleared the way to a better, more realistic understanding of the situation.

2. Grieve the loss.
Take plenty of time to do this. There is no set amount of time and no prescribed way; it’s totally up to each person to find that for themselves.

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3. Gather your strengths.

Focus on the positives. Make a list of your talents, gifts, and assets.
Surround yourself with people who know you well, encourage and support you.
Shift the emphasis to what you need, what makes you happy. Don’t worry about pleasing others.
Assess where you can make positive change in your life.
Define and affirm what you’re able to do something about now.

4. Make a plan for the immediate future.
Determine what’s most important for you moving forward. If necessary, reorder your priorities to allow you to explore different possibilities and opportunities that may present themselves to you.

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5. Create a ritual.
Believe it or not, performing a ritual is a powerful tool to help gain closure.

For example, when a relationship is over, what do you do with all of the meaningful items and objects, such as letters, pictures, etc., that were part of the relationship? A “fire ceremony” is a way to consume the past, but any number of rituals that you personally create can provide symbolic finality and closure.

So in the end closure comes from within and not necessary from others. Grief, cry, and enable yourself to feel all your emotions of sadness and loss, but make sure to always re-climb your state to the happy version at all time.

for the full article visit Psychology today.

November 19, 2021November 4, 2021

Joe AssaadLeave a comment

How to spend a “Me day”

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Life’s been hectic these past few months, running around, fixing ourselves after the chaotic year we just survived. We all deserve a “me time”, but this time let’s make it a whole day for just ourselves. Because yes we deserve it, and no it’s not selfish.

Let’s start by defining what Me Time is:

Taking some time off, or enjoying some Me Time, is all about a self-care, self-check-in, self pampering time to regain your energy and recharge yourself after being exhausted for some time.

It’s a unique plan for each one of you, but these are the main and some inspiration for you to plan the perfect Me Day!

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Add your day to your calendar: It’s important to be reminded of this day at all time, and not forget about it or postpone it.

2. Remove your super early alarm and wake up naturally, unless you tend to over sleep. ( you don’t want to sleep all day long and miss your “Me Day”).

3. Ditch Your Daily To-Do List.

4. Start your day with water, meditation and some stretching. This will provide your body the energy it needs to take care of itself today.

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5. Go for a walk in nature, plants and flowers tend to relax your stress and anxiety. going for a walk will give you the opportunity of breathing some fresh air, and look at something other than your screens.

6. Cook your favorite food or try some new recipes, and have a quality time listening to some happy music while at it.

7. Catch up on a book you’ve been meaning to read for a long time. You’ll get lost in the wondrous world of that story that you”ll forget time.

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8. Write on your journal: some positive affirmations, some grateful quotes.

9. Pamper yourself with a Hot Bubble Bath.

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10. End your day with a face mask and your favorite/current show, and Sweet Dreams!

If you’ve tried this, Me day, Tell us what was your favorite part and what did you add as your unique touch and taste.

May 11, 2021April 29, 2021

Joe AssaadLeave a comment

Home Office

Working from home created a new chaotic household disaster. Moving your office, files, laptop, and your work stuff to your home has become a tricky business.

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But no problem has no solution at Ja’s Lifestyle! We had the honor of re-interviewing Jessica Abou Jaoude and get some ideas and a simple focus-list to turn your home into a more suitable office, that ensures your well-being, and helps you get your work done.

Stability

Stability comes first in this list as to its big importance in this process. Having a constant “Stable” place in your house that you can use all the time as your office, helps you get your work done faster, more efficiently, and so much easier.

Stay away from dining tables, the bedroom, and a very busy living room. Any place that can trigger unwanted distractions even falling asleep, should be avoided as much as possible. A closed balcony can do the work. It is spacious, bright, and isolated.

Location

After deciding on the area of your new home office, it’s important to filter your choices based on 2 important things: A window in front of the desk, and behind us a wall and not another room.

Having a window right in front of your desk will help get the sunlight directly into the room, which will increase the room’s brightness to protect your eye vision. If there’s no window, choose a room with a painting in front of your desk. It is important to have a painting or a view in front of you, so you can look away and shift your focus to something natural other than your screen.

Ambiance

Choose an ambiance for your new home office that suits your style, but is comforting and professional at the same time. Who said you can’t be comfortable in your office while being focus and dedicated to finishes these files.

A coloring range can vary between white, light grey. oak. Some color that is light and sight comforting. Light colors make you feel in a wider space too, which can boost your motivation.

Decoration

For decoration, you need to keep it simple as an office, but fuller as a house. You can add some plants, flowers, a piece of art hanging, or for example, dispose of a collection that you own of your interest. It is highly recommended to add a cactus next to your laptop, it can absorb the toxic radiations. The plants should be limited to oxygen providers ones.

Organize

Because it is your current everyday office, you need to keep everything organized and unmovable from the desk. For example, those files, these pens, papers, anything that you work constantly with, should always and never leave the desk. Plus you should buy yourself an office/desk chair it will help keep your posture straight.

Light

Light is important, the more light there is in a room, the more energy it will provide you. The room where your new office is located should always have access to an abundant source of light. Natural and artificial. During the day, the sun will do its work of lighting the room, but working at night requires lots and lots of light to keep the work environment healthy.

You’ll need general lighting, and task lighting. General light will do the sun’s work during the day, (ceiling lamp), and task light is the focused light you put on your desk for details and no shadow over your paper. And go for cool lights and not warm light. Cool light will keep your brain awake while working at night, while warm light have the tendency to make you sleepy.

April 2, 2021April 2, 2021

Joe Assaad1 Comment

Home Remedy For Immune boost.

Coronavirus has made us all paranoid and scared about our immune system’s strength. Vitamins, a healthy diet, and exercises are the most common ideas and practices to come to mind.

While vitamins and medications come in handy with boosting your immune system and keep you safe from viruses, homemade remedies and foods are essential to boost your immunity and fight off bacteria stronger.

Most of our vitamins are taken from food normally, but adding a few smoothies of different fruits and vegetables to your diet is essential for your immunity boost.

The first one on the list: Citrus fruits.

Go ahead and squeeze that orange, beat that lemonade, and drink it as an addition to your breakfast. Fresh Vitamin C is highly recommended.

Second addition: Garlic.

Adding garlic to your diet is highly recommended. Garlic has a variety of strong immune-boosting properties. It is antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial. If you hate garlic as raw, there are supplements that you can use but, one important ingredient that should be available is the allicin.

Third addition: Lemon Ginger tea

This “magical’ soothing tea has so many benefits. In addition to the benefits provided by the lemon, Ginger is known for its medicinal properties, including a high level of antioxidants and antimicrobial elements. A warm cup of lemon ginger tea is effective for boosting your immune system and keep you feeling healthy.

Fourth addition: Stay active

Staying active can help your immune system gather some energy and fight germs and viruses. Adding regular workouts to your day is essential in improving your wellbeing.

fifth addition: Sun

Sun is one of the Universe’s great gifts. Getting sun regularly and, if possible daily, can help boost your immune system big time.

Sixth addition: Essential oils

Especially: eucalyptus, peppermint, tea tree, lemon and, rosemary. This combo of essential oils is helpful when it comes to boosting your immune system:
Eucalyptus, peppermint, and tea tree will purify the air while lemon and laurel leaf eases breathing and opens airways, reinforcing your immune system.

January 22, 2021March 12, 2021

Joe AssaadLeave a comment

How to draw a bath?

Baths are one of the most relaxing things you can prepare for your comfort. But a lot of times, something does not feel right when we draw the bath for ourselves. So here’s a guide to a very satisfying and relaxing experience in a bathtub.

First: Make yourself a drink. It could be; wine or tea.

Second: Put on some music to set the mood. You can lit some candles too. (Or use aromatherapy)

Third: Fill your tub halfway with warm water and sea salt, or you can put a bath bomb of your choice.

Fourth: Before getting into the tub, dry brush your full-body to make sure that your blood is fully circulating to be more relaxed in the tub soaked in soap and warm water.

Fifth: Put a face mask on.

Sixth: Lose your warm robe and relax in the bathtub.

Seventh: Don’t forget to bring a book or something to enjoy your time and don’t get bored quickly.

Eighth: Make sure that your water is still warm. You can add a little salt too.

Ninth: When you feel like it or that you’re bored, take a quick shower to clean your face and your body from the dirty/soapy water.

Tenth: Drain the tub and apply some moisturizer on your face and body. So, you will feel fresh and more relaxed after giving your body a massage.

Enjoy your bathtub ritual and self-pampering time, and prioritize self-care.

It is not recommended to stay in the bath for more than 30 minutes.

December 17, 2020May 9, 2021

Joe AssaadLeave a comment

Important lifestyle addition: Self-talk

When you are alone or phasing out, you practice a lot of self-talk, analyzing speeches, pep-talks, the bad ones specifically. So in this article, we will see how healthy self-talk is for your mental health and well-being.

Let us see what self-talk means:

Self-talk is the combination of words and sentences we tend to say to ourselves. While thinking about something, analyzing our current situation, or what you are about to do in the future. Self-Talk tends to be negative because, as I said before, we tend to be hard on ourselves due to society.

The importance of Self-Talk:

Only you can motivate you. Self-talk reflects your self-image. How you truly feel about yourself, how you see yourself, and what you believe in yourself. People’s opinions and comments can influence your self-talk.

The brain is like a machine. Whatever data is entering its system, it will adapt to work thoughtfully. So an example of negative self-talk: I am not good enough, I am not beautiful enough, I’m not worthy… ” your brain will automatically think nothing but these things about you. You will always feel drained, tired, unmotivated, and “unworthy”!

But on the other hand, if your self-talk is positive: I’m lucky, talented, worthy, The whole universe will switch in your favor because you will see the universe from another perspective. You will feel more energetic, happy, motivated, and getting your blessings one after the other!

Positive self-talk is essential for one’s survival. It doesn’t come easy but, once it shifts from the negative, this is where you will get going in life. Choosing the right words when describing yourself always comes in handy and, your life will automatically change for the better. Your performance will boost so will your well-being. Your healthy mind will blow you away with its creativity and the potential that it will give you in return.

Practicing positive self-talk is essential for you to live a healthy life with a boosted well-being. Listening to good music, surrounding yourself with mentors and positive friends helps with your self-talk and your self-image.

December 15, 2020May 9, 2021

Joe AssaadLeave a comment

Aromatherapy home version

Aromatherapy takes advantage of the effect scents have on us by using plant essences and essential oils to improve psychological and physical well-being.

While it’s more known as an “essential oil massage,” aromatherapy can be used by yourself and enjoy the benefits at home.
It’s not a necessity to have a relaxing aroma-massage to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy. There are plenty of easy-to-use products that can help you diffuse the essential oils and scents that you need in your house

Reed Diffuser

Electrical Diffuser

Diffusers:
There are two different types of diffusers that you can try: Electrical diffusers and reed diffusers. These two types of diffusers are easy to work with; you just put the essential oil in the water of the electrical diffuser and the reeds in the “reed diffuser” and done!

Oil burner

Oil burners:
here the process is also easy; you light a small candle and put it underneath the ceramic surface of the burner. Add your desired amount of essential oil to the top. And voila, let the magic begins.

Scented candles

Scented candles:
I think these are the easiest to find anywhere. They are fast and efficient. Light the candle and set the mood. Your whole day will get better!

Potpourri

Scented boxes:
Or a modernization to potpourri, these are simple just buy them, decorate your room and enjoy the scent.

Aroma-Bracelets

Aroma bracelets:
We’ve all seen these new stylish bracelets that you can add essential oil to the surface and, the oil will sink into your skin and, you can benefit from the wellness they will provide.

Caution! Some essential oils might not be for you; they might cause irritation for people with pre-existing conditions like allergies and asthma. For everybody else, even if you don’t like it or don’t feel any difference after trying it, there’s no harm.

November 26, 2020March 16, 2021

Joe AssaadLeave a comment