The world can be a lovely thing to experience if you have a positive bent of mind. No matter what happens in life, things will always be okay – and if it isn’t, it isn’t the end of the show! Staying positive is half the battle won when it comes to taking on life and its myriad challenges. Here are a few simple tricks and tips so you can remain positive all through:
– Meditate to de-clutter your mind and find solace in concentrated silence, so that you are in tune with your thoughts. When your mind is full, you tend to gravitate towards stress and negativity.
– Yoga helps you ground yourself and ease your body into a state of calmness and peace.
– Read positive content and motivational stories to keep yourself motivated.
– Spend some time each day in your own company, unwind and do something you like.
– Invest in a hobby and give it your full and passionate involvement so that you encourage your creativity to thrive.
– Spend time with nature, especially around greenery. It helps you focus yourself on the more peaceful and positive things around you.
– Avoid negative people and those who bring your morale down. Surround yourself with positive inspiration and influences.
– Smile as much as you can – remember, it takes more muscles to frown!
– Don’t be a victim. You define your life, and you are responsible for it. You can decide what you want to be, and how!
– No one is perfect – so don’t ever hesitate to be accommodating to your flaws. Attempt to improve them, by all means, but don’t push yourself beyond what is acceptable and normal.
– Avoid dwelling on the past. The more you look at the past, the more you polarize yourself with the future.
References:
http://tinybuddha.com/blog/10-tips-to-overcome-negative-thoughts-positive-thinking-made-easy/
http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/sex+relationships/wellbeing/how+to+make+a+fresh+start,17911

Becoming confident in life can be a challenge for many. Not everyone has the natural inclination to stand up before a room full of people and take on the demands of any public engagement. For some, even the task of walking into a room full of people might feel challenging. Anxiety is a very common occurrence in many cases, and a lot of people tend to struggle with it. As much as a challenge that it is, anxiety can be overcome with some effort on part of the person facing it. Here are some ways to build confidence:
– Love yourself and accept yourself as you are. Half the time, we battle with our own identities and lose ourselves in our negative perceptions about ourselves.
– Indulge in some me time, and give yourself a chance to take a break and unwind by doing things you enjoy most. In a day, make sure that you have at least an hour for yourself.
– Don’t avoid doing something because you feel anxious. When you avoid something, it reinforces your anxiety and doesn’t allow you to escape the pressures of attending to something. By force, you will be obliged to attend to obligations – and avoidance many times sets a precedence of inability.
– Indulge in meditation and breathing exercises that help you de-clutter your mind and de-stress. Breathing deeply helps you ease out the tensions that run in your mind and eases out the anxieties you feel.
– Surround yourself with people you trust and feel comfortable with. Never allow other people’s negativity to bog you down, as it only augments your anxiety.
– Allow yourself the luxury of believing in yourself. Self-doubt plagues everyone – it is but natural. But don’t let it overwhelm you.
– Maintain a journal and ensure that you write out your thoughts and issues on your mind so that you have a route to vent.
– Avoid taking to substance abuse such as cigarettes, caffeine and drugs. While some may claim that it makes one feel better, it is really damaging to your body and mind.
– Don’t hesitate to take professional help when it gets too much to bear. Anxiety can be treated with counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). A professional who intervenes to help can assist a person’s thinking and help them find direction and a way out of anxiety.
References:
http://healthmeup.com/photogallery-healthy-living/beat-anxiety-how-to-become-confident-in-life/15061202/8

Picture Courtesy :confidencecoachinginternational.com

Exercise has great benefits for the body – it helps bring your body into shape and keeps it supple and flexible, while also encouraging good health. However, the impact of exercise on your mind cannot be underestimated. While exercise helps strengthen your body and bones, it is as important and vital in helping strengthen your mind. Here are a couple of ways in which exercise keeps your mind in great shape.
– Exercise is often recommended to patients who suffer from depression, anxiety and other mental health ailments because it helps them divert their energies to a more positive outlet.
– Exercise helps boost your mood by releasing something called endorphins, which helps your mind achieve a feel good state. This helps keep anxiety and depression in check.
– Improving your memory and keeping you sharp, exercise helps your brains achieve comfortable blood circulation and also settles circulation into a wholesome and comfortable pattern so that no part of the body is deprived.
– Exercise helps keep the brain and mind sharp and helps one focus and concentrate on tasks at hand better. It increments the individual’s cognitive capacities by keeping you sharp and well honed in your brain capacity.
– Science shows that memory is enhanced with exercise. A good exercise regimen can also keep Alzheimer’s and Dementia at bay.
– Physical exercise helps you make smoother changes into your lifestyle and retain a sharp and responsive mind to adapt to change.
– Exercise encourages value of team playing and leadership, as it helps in building a cognitive and cooperative mindset.
– It also helps improve creativity and attention to innovation through the boost of adrenaline.
– Exercise helps you reduce stress levels by helping channel your energy levels comfortably.
– Physical exercise makes you look and feel good, and that translates into self-confidence.

References:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/fitness/5-ways-exercise-help-improve-your-mental-health/articleshow/47722525.cms http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/27/mental-health-benefits-exercise_n_2956099.html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in

Picture Courtesy : embodyfitnessclubs.com

Being brave is exceptionally important when you take on life’s challenges. But to be brave, one should resolve to be mentally strong and well pruned towards emotional strength to deal with life’s many curveballs. Here are a couple of things you can do to ensure that you remain mentally strong:
– Always look at failure as a springboard to success.
– Remember, every setback is a lesson, so learn your values and lessons and then use it for the future so as not to repeat a mistake.
– Never compare yourself to others. You do not have their difficulties and skills, and they do not have yours.
– Never allow yourself the need to feel jealous or hate someone else for their successes. There is place for everyone under the sun!
– Embrace every obstacle you face in life, and always remember that you can take every challenge that comes your way. It is exactly why it comes to you.
– Stay positive to the best extent possible – cultivate a lifestyle that encourages a positive mindset and allows you to thrive under it.
– When you encounter negative people, always remember that you need not take their negativity. Stay positive always.
– Surround yourself with people who believe in you and respect you and your goals in life. Never succumb to unfair criticism.
– Be in gratitude all the time in life, and welcome abundance in your life by de-cluttering your mind. Encourage yourself to look at life through a positive lens.
– Don’t indulge in worry about the future. Of course, it is uncertain as to what the future holds for you, but who in the world is absolutely certain of what their future holds for them? Remain in a place of peace and know that whatever will be will be, and make sure that you do your part to the best extent possible.
– Look for solutions, don’t look for complaints and stay in a negative frame of mind.
References:
http://www.jongordon.com/blog/20-ways-to-get-mentally-tough/
http://www.wikihow.com/Be-Mentally-and-Emotionally-Strong
http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/13-things-mentally-strong-people-dont.html

Picture Courtesy : tinybuddha.com

We live in an era where having one profession is no longer enough. People are under tremendous pressure work wise, not only to hold down a job, but to also earn sufficiently for the present and the future. This puts them in a bit of a tough spot, as the demands of work stress them out. Incremental work hours leave very little time for one to enjoy life. Penciling in ways to catch up with life is not the way. Here are a couple of tips you can use to ensure that you remain in a place of work-life balance.
– Always invest in yourself and make sure to put yourself and your needs in line with your priorities. When you feel that you cannot take on more tasks, or that you need to have an extension of an unreasonable deadline, make sure to speak up.
– Make sure to be smart about how you work. Working hard is one thing, but working smart is important. Make good to-do lists with reasonable number of obligations to check off, and make sure that you utilize your work time well.
– Always take sufficient breaks while at work. Don’t work for hours and hours at an end, always make sure that you get up, go for a walk, or grab a light and healthy snack and then resume work.
– Set aside some me time each day, and make sure that you do not compromise on it whatsoever. Always ensure that you work at work and rest at home. Never bring work home unless it is absolutely necessary.
– Indulge in a peaceful and unwinding pastime, such as yoga, relaxation and meditation, or dance and music. Always keep this part of your schedule and avoid slacking off. It is these moments of unwinding that retain your productivity levels.
– Keep a clean and comfortable work environment. Your cubicle or cabin should be well lit, and not filled with clutter. The more you clutter up your spaces, the more stress you wind up experiencing.
– Always plan your day in advance. While this might seem a little difficult if you are in a job that is largely unpredictable, make an attempt to establish certain constants around your day, so that you achieve them.
– Never set unrealistic targets or bite off more than you can chew. Always allow yourself breathing space with deadlines and work pressures.
References:
http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/help-information/mental-health-a-z/w/work-life-balance/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/work-life-balance/art-20048134

Picture Courtesy:popsugar.com.au

Forgetful much? Or would you rather just have sharp memory? The need to ensure that you are sharp mentally, and in remembering things that you’ve learned or come across is definitely important in a day where information is available on the go sooner than one can account for. Boosting your memory through mind exercises and staying alert is one thing – but the smarter way to approach it is to ensure that you sharpen the mind with nutritious food. Here is a range of food options for a sharper memory.
– Whole grains are a perfect option for a strong memory and for alertness. With complex carbohydrates and Omega 3 fatty acids, rich fibre content and strong nutrient values, whole grains help increment blood circulation and flow to the brains. Sprouted grains are exceptionally rich resources and are the best kinds of whole grains to indulge in.
– Coconut Oil, which is rich in medium chain triglycerides, is useful for boosting one’s memory because it helps increment glucose supply to the brain, while also increasing the resources one’s brain needs to keep Alzheimer’s and Dementia at bay.
– Tomatoes comprise lycopene, a rich and powerful antioxidant, helps keep one’s mood uplifted and to also do away with the risk of dementia. The antioxidants help release free radicals that increase circulation of blood to the brains.
– Nuts are rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, and are treasure troves when it comes to vitamin B6 and vitamin E content. They release free radicals into the brain, which helps increase a strong sense of keenness and improves memory thereby.
– Legumes and Beans are rich in fibre and proteins, which keeps the brains supplied with glucose without spikes in sugar.
– Fish, particularly Salmon and tuna, are considered rich brain foods, what with tremendously high deposits of Omega-3 fatty acids which boosts the memory power and helps prevent Dementia.
– Red Cabbage, or purple cabbage, are perfect for the memory. They comprise a range of antioxidants called polyphenols, which improve the brain’s sharpness and the capacity of the heart to remain free of disease.
– Dark Chocolates contain rich reserves of nutrient value that are perfect for brain health. They improve the mood, ease pain and increase the blood vessel function, which in turn helps to enhance memory and the cognitive function. Dark Chocolates also help increase the feel good hormone, which encourages the brain towards retention and sharpness, and in turn increments its capacity to keep memory related diseases at bay.

References:
http://fitnesskites.com/foods-that-help-boosting-up-your-memory/

PC: bbc.com

In an era where stress is virtually the norm, and a mind free of it is the exception, it must come as no surprise that one in every four Indians are affected by anxiety disorders, and one in ten are depressed. Our ancestors might be quick to blame our times, and our lives, but they aren’t far from the truth: the levels of competition, the obligation to perform, the imposition of pressure from higher levels and from peers makes life a lot less easier to chart, work wise and lifestyle wise.

Easing out from a state of anxiety is not an automatic task: it isn’t about pressing a button and watching the change happen. However, there are some simple life-hacks that you need to be focusing on in a way that will give you the freedom to escape from the burdens of an anxious mind.
– Indulge in a hobby. Often, when you do something you like – it need not be creative, as long as it is recreational – your mind is given a boost of feel good hormones which helps calm your nerves. Try to make this a regular part of your day or week, and ensure not to cut back on attending it no matter how tired or bored you may feel.
– De-clutter your spaces. A cluttered space reflects a cluttered mind. You tend to feel bogged down by the energy of your space, so it is vital that your space allows you to breathe so your mind breathes comfortably, too.
– Keep a journal: Work on taking things off your mind so that you can keep your energy flowing. If you bottle up emotions and thoughts and don’t speak your mind, you wind up building up on the anxiety. With time, these things gain so much force out of the suppression that they burst out, which can be a dangerous thing. If you cannot always speak out and express yourself to the people concerned, journaling can help you get your feelings off your chest.
– Read! It is a good thing to read regularly, whether it is a self-help book or an inspirational memoir, or even a piece of light-hearted fiction. Reading gives you the freedom to escape into a parallel world and to imagine on a flight of fantasy. It isn’t an escapist’s route to solving anxiety, but rather a sound and well grounded way of channeling your energies.
– Spend time with nature. There is really nothing better than being one with nature – especially since the peace you can derive from your surroundings gives you a clear mind.
– Eat well. Nutritious food is a very important route to keeping your mind healthy. Ensure that you get enough vitamins and minerals – a lot of vitamin deficiencies can cause depression and deprivation of calmness in the mind.
– Meditate. Meditation is a very comfortable way to calm your mind and to wind back on your thoughts. Worrying about the future is often one of the biggest factors that cause anxiety and depression. If you can dial back on it, you virtually cut back on anxiety. Meditate for a few minutes by yourself, or indulge in a guided meditation or some meditative music.

References:
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-18674/10-lifestyle-choices-that-have-eased-my-anxiety.html
http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/natural-treatments
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/One-of-every-four-Indians-affected-by-anxiety-disorders-10-are-depressed/articleshow/23599434.cms

Picture Courtesy: smerete.com

In a world that is filled with stress and so many burdens on one’s mind, what with work and life and the myriad demands of both. You often feel bogged down by thoughts of work, thoughts of the future, and the fact that there are tremendous pressures to deliver despite all the odds. Step back a little, and find a way to de-stress, so that you can recharge and get right back in order. One of the best ways to do this is to meditate. When you meditate, you attempt to find a way to a clear state of mind, where the cloudy mix of thoughts lifts and lightens things up for a bit. A long-standing and time-tested method, meditation has a long track record of success.
– Meditation keeps you calm. Just spending some time and dispelling all the thoughts in your mind can ease you out of confusion and tensions, and let you sit back a little. The calmness that meditation gives you helps your mind ease itself out in a way that lets it see things with clarity. A calmer mind is a far more efficient mind than a cluttered one.
– Meditation Increases your energy levels by allowing you to channel positivity through clarity. By allowing your doubts and confusion to be siphoned out of your mind, you begin to focus on things that are positive, and things that are a useful way to spend your energy. In the process, your creativity expands, and you get to invest your energies in achievements.
– Meditation helps you focus better, and gives you strong concentration levels. When you meditate, you are practicing ways to keep your mind focused on a particular target. With constant practice, this becomes a way of life, where you allow your mind to focus specifically on the tasks at hand and don’t let you get distracted.
– Meditation helps you let go, and avoid any unwanted energies and influences to play a role in your thinking.
– Meditation helps you with observation, perception, and expression, by allowing you to see things clearly, and to act on them with as much clarity. It helps center and ground you in a way that does not allow you to descend into negativity and cluttered thinking.
– Meditation helps your body’s health improve. Through constant practice, your body begins to experience lower stress levels, and encourages your body processes to ease into a more comfortable frame of operation. You sleep better, you digest better and you remain illness free.

For Indian actress and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Sharmila Tagore, meditation has been a very important part of life. To her, it means calming down, and being in touch with oneself despite the daily buzz and coping with stress. When she practiced mediation, she found herself feeling happier and breathing better. It helped her get over panic attacks and calm down overall, while also sleeping and thinking better, thereby becoming healthier.

References:
http://healthmeup.com/news-healthy-living/meditation-for-clarity-of-mind/15050647
http://www.artofliving.org/meditation/meditation-experiences/Sharmila-Tagore

Picture Courtesy: art of living &womenplanet

The love for fair skin has been a considerably significant undercurrent in the Indian social milieu. Whether it is in the many Bollywood song lyrics or in the portrayal of women on screen, the emphasis on fair skin became something of a norm. This went so far, that a whole industry of fairness creams, bleaching products and skincare pivoting around melanin reduction mushroomed and grew from strength to strength. In the cultural backdrop that was built up around this, dark skinned, wheatish-skinned and brown women had no elbow room whatsoever.
The science behind one’s complexion is very simple: melanin. The actual skin colour of different humans is affected by many factors – but the most important one that lends colour to one’s complexion is melanin, which is produced within skin cells that are called melanocytes. There is a direct correlation between the geographical distribution of UV radiation and the extent of skin pigmentation around the world. In a country like India, which has a tropical climate by and large, it is but common for plenty of people to have a brown, wheatish or dark brown skin tone. This is not to mean that one’s complexion cannot be changed – for bleaching agents and powerful chemicals can wind up cutting the melanin down. However, doing so comes with the unsubtle undercurrent of racism.
Recently, Kangana Ranaut refused to endorse a fairness cream brand on account of the fairness bias that prevails across the fabric of the country. There are plenty of prejudices that pivot around one’s skin tone: many women testify to being considered “dowry burdens” because of their dark complexion. Still other women face a lot of flak for being dark skinned – not only from their families which tend to think that their daughters are incapable of being married off because they are dark skinned. And this, it appears, has been a regular occurrence for many years together. When girls are born, apart from communities that berate the birth of a female child, there are whole communities that ask if the girl was born fair, first, before anything else. Skim through any of the listings in the classifieds’ matrimonial section and you’ll find the prerequisite for brides being fair, more often than anything else.
Against this backdrop, Kangana Ranaut’s stand has come as a breath of fresh air. However, before Kangana’s outright act of defiance of the norm, Nandita Das has been a crusader for the cause of women with a dark skin tone through the “Dark is Beautiful” campaign. The fight against the colour bias and prejudice on one’s skin tone has a long way to go – but with influencers and prominent artistes in the limelight making a strong statement against the mainstream perspective, things are definitely looking up.

References:
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/kangana-ranaut-turns-down-offer-to-endorse-fairness-cream/article7244344.ece

Picture Courtesy: scoopwhoop.com

Monday Morning Blues are a real thing: but it needn’t be something that should bring you or your morale down! Understandably, after a good weekend where you unwind – or sometimes, don’t get to quite do that – you tend to want to prolong the idle time rather than to rush back to work after the break. But here are some tricks and tips that you can keep in mind, so you can waltz back to office on Monday and start your week off on a good note!
Be weekend wise: Sure, your weekend is a good time to relax, unwind and pretty much do nothing. But the more lethargy you indulge in, the tougher it is to get out of the idle state back into work. Think about adding a few chores on your weekend, especially those that can make the rest of your week less stressful. For instance, make sure that your clothes for the week are in order, pay up any bills that are pending, catch up on meetings that you know might be impinging on your weekdays, so that you can comfortably get into the weekday mode with lesser on your mind.
Disconnect from tiring work over the weekend: The inadequacy of a weekend hits you hard when you see your weekends packed with a lot of demands. Try not to pack your weekend with too much to do, that you wind up spinning like a top. To relax, you really need to give your mind and body the space and freedom to do just that.
Cook ahead for the week: Let’s face it. Cooking can be a chore when it is not for an artistic, hobby centric pursuit. Putting meals together for the day can be harrowing, especially when you know that you need to be at work at a particular time. The easiest route you can take is to cook in advance on a Sunday evening, and stock up all the food in containers in the fridge, ready to be re-heated and eaten.
Approach Mondays with an open mind: Half the time, just the sheer thought of Monday can be a looming threat of annoyance and dullness. The best thing to do is to keep an open mind about the day: well, it’s only just another day in the week, and true, you’re working, but it’s also taking you closer to the next weekend! Listen to music on the way to work, or catch up on a happy feel-good radio show or an audio book, and you’ll do just great!
Prepare for Monday on Friday: Oftentimes, you head back to office with a huge load of pending tasks and unfinished obligations from the past week. Before closing down on work on Friday, keep track of the things you can attend to before Monday, or even space out through the week. While working through the week, try to look for ways to minimise the burden of work you will be carrying along with you into the next week.

How do you beat your Monday Morning Blues? Share it with us in the comments below!

References:

• http://www.popsugar.com/smart-living/How-Productive-Monday-5679691#photo-5679691
• http://www.forbes.com/sites/jacquelynsmith/2013/02/25/11-ways-to-beat-the-monday-blues/

Picture Courtesy : www.huffingtonpost.com