Being there for your loved one who is battling addiction can help them achieve a healthier life. You will not want them going through therapy alone, especially if there is risk that they may relapse. If you’re there for them every step of the way, then this will encourage them to achieve complete recovery. Here are more tips on how to help a loved one battling addiction. 

Be there for them no matter what

It can be physically and mentally tiring for you to be there for them all of the time. But it might be what they need to achieve complete recovery. There may be times when it becomes challenging. But, if you acknowledge that being there for them no matter what will help them, then it will be worth it. 

If your loved one experiences a relapse after inpatient drug rehab, understand that it can happen and it’s important to be there for them. Instead of rejecting them and feeling like your efforts and care have been a waste of time, you should help them seek the help they need. 

Set boundaries

It can be difficult for the person going through addiction therapy to set their own boundaries. Thus, it can be useful to set the boundaries for them. You can restrict the times they go out, what they do, and how long they go out for – especially if they insist on going out alone. 

If you monitor their movements and ensure that they’re participating in positive and beneficial activities for recovery, then you can support them through their addiction battle. They may feel like it’s unfair if you have control over them, especially if they are a mature adult. But, it is for their own good and they will appreciate the boundaries when they have achieved full recovery. 

Educate yourself

You may be unaware of the issues that come with addiction. Thus, educating yourself on it can help you understand better what the person is going through. Although you will not be able to attain complete understanding, it’ll give you an idea of what may have caused the addiction and how to help them when they are going through tough times. 

Join a support group

An option to get more involved, you could join a support group. There, you can share your tips and attain tips from others who are helping their loved ones who are battling addiction. You can confide in new friends who are going through the same battles as you and motivate each other to keep supporting your loved one, no matter how challenging it is. 

Put them first

No matter how many issues you might have to face when helping your loved one battle addiction, it is important to put them first. You might want to be selfish at times, but it could make matters worse for them. If you put their feelings before your own needs, they will be able to stay on track and achieve full recovery quicker. 

Incorporating weight loss habits into your life doesn’t sound like an easy thing to do. Yes it can be challenging, especially if you’re busy or you recently had a child.

The good news is that there are weight loss habits you can implement that will help you lose and keep the weight off. Your lifestyle and the choices you make daily matter. They will impact how successful you are in the long run at dropping unwanted pounds. Think of incorporating weight loss habits as a challenge and one that you can overcome if you put your mind to it.

Get Enough Sleep

One weight loss habit that will help you stay healthy is quality sleep. Sleep allows your mind and body to repair themselves, in turn helping you to maintain a healthy weight. Lack of sleep is a recipe for gaining weight and not reaching your weight loss goals. You may make unsavory choices when tired, like choosing coffee with a lot of sugar in it and skipping workouts. You may end up going to bed late because you’re too full. This turns into a vicious cycle. You’ll make better decisions and have more natural energy to get through your workouts when you get enough sleep.

Exercise & Track Calories Burned

You must add exercise to your daily to-do list if you want to lose weight. Get in the habit and you’ll soon discover that your clothes fit better, you’re in a better mood, and that you feel full of energy. Commit to working out more often and find activities that help you burn more calories and get your heart rate up. For example, you may be wondering how many calories does biking burn? Openfit has all the answers you need to this important question and can help you figure out which biking exercise and intensity level might be right for you.

Maintain A Food Journal

Consider maintaining a food journal and you write down what you’re eating at each meal and throughout the day. This particular weight loss habit will help you quickly and clearly see what you’re putting in your body and what changes you might need to make to lose weight. It’s an excellent way to be more open and honest with yourself about your diet and to truly see where your problem areas may exist. While it can be annoying to document all you eat at first, it’ll become easier and second nature once you get into the habit of doing it.

Drink More Water

Drink more water throughout the day to stay hydrated and as a way to help you lose more weight. You’ll look and feel better for it and may feel fuller longer so that you don’t eat as many calories. Focus on drinking more water and choosing it over other options such as sugary drinks or coffees and alcohol. Remind yourself that liquids also have calories. So drinks such as sodas may be hindering your weight loss progress. Water will make you feel more energized and you’ll begin to remove any toxins that may be lingering in your body. Bring a water bottle around with you throughout the day and consider adding fruits or vegetables to your water if you don’t like the taste of it plain.

Snack Smart

You may get hungry throughout the day and grab whatever is easy or closest at the time. However, these snack calories will also add up over time and you might struggle to lose weight. Therefore, another habit to consider is to always snack smart and pay attention to what you’re eating in between meals. Buy healthy snacks that fit easily in your purse and that you can carry with you when you’re on the go. This way you can avoid eating out as much or eating whatever treats are in the break room at work. Almonds and fruits and vegetables are excellent options to have with you and will be more satisfying long term than potato chips.  

Have Healthy Weekends

Avoid giving up on your healthy habits on the weekends or it may set you back all week and stall any progress you’re making currently. You can lose weight faster and more effectively when you have healthy weekends too. Carryover your good habits even though you’re on a more relaxed schedule. You may have the urge to eat unhealthily or skip workouts on your days off. Remind yourself that it’ll only make it harder to lose weight during the week if you give in. Keep busy by filling your schedule with various activities and taking your mind off of food. Stick to your healthy routines and you’ll discover that you feel better on Monday morning as well.

Reduce & Manage Your Stress

Too much stress and anxiety is not only debilitating but can also cause you health problems over time. Get in the habit of finding healthy ways to cope with and reduce your stress and you’ll likely find that you lose weight faster. Stress not only makes you feel lousy and tired but your body also produces more cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels over time may promote overeating and weight gain. On the other hand, low cortisol levels may lead to weight loss in some instances. Stress may cause you to make poor choices and ignite the urge to practice unhealthy habits and coping strategies. Stay ahead of it and keep your stress under control so you can feel good and make wise choices.

Weigh Yourself

You may not always like what the scale reads but that’s not a good reason to not get on it. One habit that will help you lose weight is, to be honest with yourself about your current weight and set a goal for how much you want to lose. Weigh yourself often (at least once a week) so it’s top-of-mind for you and you’re always focused on what you need to be doing each day to lose weight. Getting on the scale is a good reminder of what you’re working toward and you can make adjustments to your routine if you notice that you aren’t losing as much as you prefer.

Practice Mindfulness

Mindfulness is when you live in the present moment and don’t worry too much about the past or present. It can help you make better life choices, eat healthier, reduce stress, and allow you to feel calmer most days. Give it a try by eating more slowly and waking up with a mindful approach by setting a daily intention to continue your positive habits. You may not only begin to lose the weight but mindfulness is known to help keep it off too. You can actually discipline your mind to lose weight and help you change your habits for the better.

Limit TV Time

Watching too much television may be contributing to you living a more sedentary lifestyle and not moving as much. You may tend to exercise less and eat more if you’re always sitting in front of the TV. Therefore, if you want to lose weight then make it a habit to limit your TV time and choose to fill your schedule with other activities instead. For instance, you may want to go out for a walk, work in your garden, or clean the house which will burn more calories than you lying on the couch for hours. It’s good for your health and well-being to take a break from technology and your electronics every so often and get out and experience life.

Wear Jeans Often

Another habit you may want to give a try as you focus on losing weight is to wear jeans often. You may be avoiding it because sweatpants are more comfortable and you know your jeans may be a bit tight. However, putting them on regularly is a good reminder to yourself that you want to lose weight because you want your jeans to fit better. Instead of getting rid of old jeans that no longer fit, keep them around, and challenge yourself to fit back into them by a certain date. You’ll likely be able to achieve your goal and you can save your money and wear jeans you already own.

Conclusion

These are a few useful habits you should consider adding to your routine if you want to lose weight. They’ll not only help you lose weight but they’ll also make you feel better overall. When you have healthy habits to fall back on you may soon discover that it becomes easier to leave unhealthy behaviors in your past and not repeat them going forward. Be patient with yourself because change takes time. It may be a while before you’re able to maintain your new lifestyle and you don’t have to think or try so hard to remember to practice your healthy habits. Focus on what is going well and be proud of yourself for giving it a try and any weight you do lose.

If you need some budget health hacks to get you back into a good place, we’ve got you covered. Start feeling your best right now. Make the most out of your life by taking care of yourself. No need to break the bank to live your best life. I’ve put together this handy list of budget health hacks to get you started.

Meditate with Insight Timer

If you want to lower your stress levels, alleviate symptoms of depression, lower your blood pressure, and generally improve the state of your health overall, meditate. You can spend money on books, courses, and apps that will teach you to meditate. But if you’re looking for free alternatives, try something like Insight Timer. Tis app houses hundreds of different meditations for all sorts of things. It’s completely free. Of course, you can also opt for the paid-for version that offers a few extra bells and whistles. However, the free version is amazing and it can help you to manage your own mental health very effectively.

Buy medications online

If you require medication to help you stay healthy, get your prescription filled online for cheaper prices. Of course the price depends on where you’re purchasing them online. Do a price comparison between online prices and your local pharmacy.

Purchase optical insurance

If you wear glasses or contacts, caring for your eyes can be expensive. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Optical insurance is a thing, and it means that when you need to get new glasses or contacts, you can make optical claims for the cost of your eyewear. You can also claim a discount on glasses and contacts before you need to make a claim too.

Do online therapy

Online therapy services like BetterHealth and TalkSpace can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy. They are far cheaper than most alternatives. They’re also very convenient. So if you need a little help with your mental health, it’s a great way to save money.

Bulk Buy

Eating a healthy diet can be pretty expensive. Stretch your budget further by buying healthy non-perishables like rice, lentils, and legumes in bulk for a discount. If you live near a farm or good farmer’s market, you may so be able to buy produce in bulk for a discount. You’ll need a freezer to store them, however. Storing properly in this way will enable you to eat well for weeks or even months on a tight budget.

Exercise

If you exercise, you’ll keep your body and mind healthy. This means you’ll be less likely to get sick and have to deal with all of the expenses that come with that particular experience. This is why exercise is the ultimate budget health hack.

Here’s to staying healthy!

Helping a loved one who is in a bad relationship is difficult. You care about them. From the outside, you can see that the relationship is unhealthy. They can’t. All you want is for them to be happy and you know that ending the relationship is the right thing to do. They won’t listen. 

Often, people take the wrong approach to this situation and they can sometimes make it worse. But if you deal with it in the right way, helping your loved one is possible. Here’s how: 

Don’t Be Judgmental 

If you go to somebody and say that their partner is awful, that’s not going to open them up. Telling someone they should leave their partner will come across as judgmental. From their point of view, it seems like you’re telling them that they can’t make their own decisions. When you take this approach, it will only create divisions and push them away. They will be less likely to listen to you. Instead, you need to remove judgment from the situation and take a more cautious approach. Let them know that you care about them and you are concerned. Don’t make accusatory statements, Simply ask them if everything is ok. Let them know you’re there to talk. This encourages them to think about the situation themselves and lets them know that if they do want help, you are there for them. 

Provide Resources For Help

When somebody is in a bad relationship that becomes abusive, they feel trapped. There is a lot of emotional manipulation going on. It’s hard to know how to escape that situation. So you should be ready to help them when they need it by researching resources. Speak with a domestic violence lawyer and seek out some local charities that help people in abusive relationships. Knowing that help is out there will make things seem more manageable for your loved one. Then you can put a plan in place to help them when they come to you. 

Don’t Distance Yourself

This situation can cause rifts between you and your loved one. They will be upset if they feel that you are attacking them. You’ll feel frustrated that they’re not listening to your concerns. If you don’t like their partner, you won’t want to spend time around them. So it’s common for people to distance themselves. But this doesn’t help the situation. Your loved one could lose you, the one important source of support. As they become more isolated, the bad relationship will only get worse. So, it’s important that you don’t change anything about your relationship with your loved one and you continue to be there for them. 

Consider An Intervention 

Even though it’s important to approach the situation carefully, there are some instances where you need to take direct action. If somebody is in an abusive relationship and you have serious concerns about their danger, you should consider holding an intervention. Gathering a group of people that care about them and showing that you are all there to help can sometimes be the push that they need to end the relationship. 

Helping a loved one in a bad relationship is difficult. It’s important that you approach the situation carefully so you don’t push them away.  

When it comes to helping a friend overcome struggles, you have many things you can do. Let’s face it, life is full of both problems and fantastic, problem-free times. Thriving becomes a case of balancing things to ensure we have the right equilibrium. For some, however, life is a little more difficult and they’ll face more negativity than happiness. This isn’t great, but it’s the life we live. Not everyone goes through sunshine and roses every single day. 

If you’ve ever had a bad month, six months, or year, then you’ll know all about how hopeless a friend feels when experiencing the same. Whether they have health issues, personal life problems, or issues at work, things can really get them down. Helping a friend becomes crucial when life shovels challenges on them.

None of us want to see someone we love muddle through problems. It’s not your life so you cannot directly fix it. But you can support them as they take control of their own life. The good thing is that helping your friend is possible as they battle any kind of mental, physical, or social problem. Here’s how: 

Always Stay Positive

Mentality is everything. If you have a positive mindset, then you’re going to have a much better life. This is applied magnificently to this kind of situation, too. If you can keep your friend or family member in a good place while they look to beat whatever’s bugging them, then they’ll have a head start over the problem. Even when things go a little south, they’ll still feel as though they’re going to win. That really is a hugely important thing. 

Never Patronize 

Don’t ever talk down to them in any way. It’s quite hard not to at times, especially if you’re used to behaving a certain way. They’re not worse than you overall and they’re not any different. They’re just going through something that anyone can at this moment in time. Never forget that and always treat them equally. 

Actively Seek A Resolution With Them

You’re not going to have all the answers on your own. In order to get help quickly and efficiently, you’re probably going to have to solicit professional help. Speaking with a professional psychiatrist, if they’re struggling with their own head, will help a lot. Places such as American Addiction Centers are great for those with historical substance abuse, too. Perhaps they need some home care as they recover or battle a particular illness. Whatever it is, be sure to be productive and actively seek out the right solution. 

Helping a Friend by Being Trustworthy

One thing you need when you’re down is a friend you can trust. It’s probably the single most important tangible facet a person can have. If you feel as though you can trust someone, then that becomes a great reinforcement. Be that friend to them. 

Be Present And Consistent 

Consistency is a friendship is important, too. If you’re there most of the time, then they’re going to feel a lot better about living life. You won’t be able to be at their every beck and call, but you certainly can have a significant impact. This could literally save them. So think about how important your presence actually is. 

If you want a healthier body and soul, you’ve got to remain committed to that goal. To stick to this healthy goal, our routine must make us happy. When it comes to our daily lives, focus on living a a balanced lifestyle so you can stay fit and healthy as you grow older. Ultimately, you want to fill your soul with a joy that stems from a conscious effort to have a healthier body.

Let’s explore ways to transform your body and soul for the better and keep you feeling healthy and happy.

Get a furry companion 

Many have suffered a sense of extreme loneliness during the pandemic lockdowns. To help decrease stress levels and isolating feelings, consider adopting a pet in need of a home. Pets offer constant companionship. They are always there to cheer you up when you’re down and provide funny moments to enjoy. They encourage you to exercise more because they need their walks! What could be better than a hike in the woods or a romp around your garden with a furry pet?

Take probiotics for a healthier body

Do you suffer from digestive issues? Changes in your body can impact the way you digest food. This can ultimately affect your health. To ensure a strong and healthy gut every day, take a probiotic drink such as Yakult. These drinks will fill your gut with good bacteria to help break down the food you eat and allow you to get the most nutrients out of them.

Go for a checkup 

Get a regular checkup with your general practitioner. As you age, avoiding a doctor visit isn’t an option. A trip to your doctor can help pinpoint issues before they become a problem. This will in turn positively help you achieve a healthier body. For example, if you’ve been tired lately, your doctor can dig to find out why and help you improve your energy levels. By understanding your symptoms and acting on them, you can make real change to your body and stop suffering in silence for no reason. 

Eat food that’s gentle for the gut 

Helping the gut with digestion can have a huge impact on your life and make you feel more comfortable and happy. In addition to taking probiotics, keep a food diary and mark when you feel triggered by a meal. Ingredients such as gluten and soy often cause digestive discomfort. So maybe you might choose to cut down on them or certain foods to help you achieve a healthier body.

Get some sun 

Sun is a main source of vitamin D. After spending more time outside, you may notice a healthier lift to your energy. Sun also boosts our mental well-being. Seasonal Affective Disorder is a real issue that causes anxiety and depression during the winter or in dark conditions. By spending more time out in the sun, you’ll not only have a happier body. You’ll have a happier soul. 

Consider your mobility 

Consider making changes for your mobility if you’re getting older and more fragile or have limited physical abilities. Perhaps purchase a walking stick to help you get around or in more extreme cases a wheelchair to ensure you keep your independence. There are some great elevating power wheelchair options available. Losing your mobility doesn’t mean you should refrain from activity. Instead, invest in tools to help you make the most of every day of your life. 

Stay connected 

One thing that many of us have struggled with during the pandemic is the lack of contact with our family and friends. Staying connected to the people you love is so important and now is the time to make up for lost time. Surrounding yourself with people you love will lift your spirits. Soon, you’ll see the real benefits of staying connected to the people closest to you. 

Pamper yourself 

Set aside time once a week or once a month to pamper yourself and give your body some TLC. This could include a facial treatment, a hair oil treatment, a makeover, a manicure, or even a long soak in the bath. Investing the time in the care of your body will not only be cathartic. It will genuinely make a difference to your body and its health. 

Eat fruit in the morning, veg in the evening 

Dieting is one of those things we all battle with throughout our lives. A lot of the time, it’s hard to motivate a positive change that lasts. Yes, nutrition is key. We need food to give us essential vitamins and minerals. If you want to lose weight while focusing on nutrition, eat fruit in the morning, then veggies in the afternoon and evening. Fruit is packed with natural sugars and these often give us a wonderful burst of energy for the morning. But eating fruit after lunch can sometimes overload us with sugar. Then we may store it as fat. To ensure that you are able to lose weight, switch to vegetables after lunchtime. They provide fiber and healthy carbs that are easy to digest. 

Drink lots of water 

To maintain a healthier body, you need to drink plenty of water. Water makes up nearly 70% of our bodies. It’s essential to replace water lost through saliva and sweat as well as other processes. Water not only will give your skin a youthful glow, but it flushes out toxins to ensure the body runs smoothly.

Stretch it out 

Stretch and lengthen your muscles. Yoga, as well as core exercises like Pilates, can help lengthen your joints and muscles. This in turn improves your flexibility. It also helps prevent injury. Stretch every few days and it will soon change your outlook for the better. 

Stay consistent with fitness 

Be consistent with your fitness routine. Whether you exercise once a week, every couple of days, or every day. stay on top of it. Our bodies need to be kept working hard throughout our lives in order to be lean and strong. Find exercises you enjoy and create a timetable for yourself to follow to ensure you stay on track. 

Get more sleep 

Sleep allows our body to rest and recover from the day, as well as repair damage and flush out toxins. If you don’t get enough sleep, your body will not be able to function at its maximum level. This can impact you in a big way. Make sure that you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night.

Eat in moderation 

When trying to ensure a healthier lifestyle, think of food in terms of moderation. Aim to eat healthy for 5-6 days a week and allow yourself a cheat day or meal once a week. By doing this, you’re more likely to stay on top of your fitness and health goals. Make sure to allow yourself the odd treat and it will change the way your body works. You’ll also be happier and healthier overall. 

Here’s to a healthier body!