The COVID-19 crisis has brought the whole world to a standstill. First off, it has posed a risk to public health and lives. It has also disrupted livelihoods, jobs, businesses, schools, social interactions, and relationships. Not only has it compromised physical health, but it has also affected people's mental state and overall well-being.

As such, there's a need to practice self-care, especially during this pandemic. It is what it sounds like - looking after yourself. Sure, you must seek help from other people and even health professionals when feeling unwell. However, you can take crucial steps to foster your health and wellness. As they say, an ounce of prevention is always better than a pound of cure.

Once you practice self-care, you can cope with this pandemic and even rise above this crisis. When you take good care of yourself, you can also care for others like your family. That said, here's how to practice self-care in the new normal:

The end of the pandemic remains nowhere in sight, but cases are getting milder and milder, thanks to the vaccines. Aside from getting vaccinated, you can give yourself and your loved ones more protection by leading a healthy lifestyle. Exercise, leaving bad vices behind, and sleep can only contribute so much to your journey to health, and to win half the trip, you also need to switch to a nutritious diet.

If you're not a fan of greens and fruits, eating healthy is a challenge, but when you turn it into an activity you and your family can enjoy, you can grow your love for wholesome meals. To begin, here are some food ideas you can try. 

Drink Your Fruits

Fruit smoothies are an excellent way of making your little ones love fruits. When you ditch processed juices and commercially-sold shakes, you also save yourself and your loved ones from copious amounts of sugar.

By making smoothies with fresh fruits like blueberries, bananas, and mango with the milk of your choice daily, you get to benefit from antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals. You can also add a dash of chia seeds or flax meal and even a scoop of collagen to make them healthier.

**Image from pexels.com

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death in America. Although it can be difficult to prevent diabetes, many steps can be taken to reduce your chances of developing this condition. If you want to live a longer, healthier life, here's what you need to know.

What are the Types of Diabetes?

The three main types of diabetes are Type 1, Type 2, and gestational. Here's how they differ:

Type 1 Diabetes - An Autoimmune Disorder

This occurs most often during childhood or adolescence. The pancreas does not make insulin, the hormone that moves glucose from the bloodstream into the body's cells, where it can be used for energy. Instead of being transported to the cells, sugar builds up in the blood, causing various symptoms.

Type 2 Diabetes - A Lifestyle Disease

This is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for about 90 to 95 percent of all cases in the United States. The pancreas still makes insulin, but the body does not respond to it as well as it should. Type 2 diabetes is associated with lifestyle factors such as being overweight and lack of exercise.

What's the difference between leadership and management? The answer to that depends on whom you ask. For many people, these two concepts overlap so much that it can be difficult for them to tell where one ends and the other begins.

However, as with most things, there is a consensus that can be drawn from those who study this field. Generally speaking, those in management positions tend to focus on organization and planning, while those in leadership positions tend to focus on inspiration.

Although both are necessary for a company to function, it is often in their best interest that they are separated into different positions. Too much management can stifle creativity and reduce productivity, while too little can leave employees confused about their tasks and responsibilities.

When looking at this difference between leadership vs management further, it becomes apparent that there are two very different mindsets at work.

Those infected with COVID-19 often report a loss of taste and smell as a primary symptom. Although those vaccinated are less likely to be infected by COVID-19, immunity is not available to everyone. With over 300 million cases worldwide, you probably already know someone who is or was infected- including yourself.

Hospitalization due to COVID-19 is both emotionally and physically stressful. It is also expensive. Aside from the medical bills, the cost of food, lodging, and medicine can all add up to a lofty some but it should not be a matter of concern for the infected individual. They ought to focus on recovery and find distractions that can improve their mental health, which might have a positive effect on their physical health.

Food intake tends to vary greatly from the first notice of losing your appetite to recovery. The virus might not let you consume any food, making it difficult to eat anything no matter how hard you try. But, as you recover, your appetite will improve. Here is some advice to help you overcome the changes to your food intake as you recover:

You look at the mirror, and you don't like what you're seeing. You feel heavier than usual. You feel like you're moving slower than you used to. You're not used to this, and you're starting to feel bad about yourself.

It's been over a year, and you realize you gained weight during the pandemic. And you're starting to hate yourself for it.

Don't. You're not the only person in the world who gained weight during the pandemic. According to a study published in the journal The Obesity Society, 27% of people around the world believed they gained weight following the lockdown. This includes obese people, with 33% of them saying they gained even more weight.

According to the study, this could be due to people's unhealthy behavior in response to the pandemic. Stress and anxiety levels shoot up due to the pandemic, which caused people to eat unhealthily. And, because of stress, people felt a lot better by giving into their sweet cravings. It also causes people insomnia and interrupted sleep.

Because of the stay-at-home orders, people also tend to move less. Because of the remote work setup, there is limited time to go outdoors for physical activity. There is also less time in the daily commute. Because of this, people tend to be stuck in front of their desks and work eight hours a day with limited breaks. The usual hustle and bustle pre-pandemic routine has now turned into a sedentary lifestyle.

This response to a difficult situation like the pandemic is normal. But, experts can't help but worry about the kind of lifestyle people are in these days. It could be high time we all look into our weight before it takes its toll on our mental health.

Image Source: Unsplash

We all know that gold is the very foundation of our wealth system. Much like other natural elements, gold production around the world is slowing, which causes prices to rise. If you are thinking of taking your wealth out of stocks and into gold bullion, the question of secure storage arises.

Here is our list of safe ways to store gold in any form.

The health of your eyes, and therefore the quality of your vision, can naturally decrease over time as you age. Although this is sometimes unavoidable, there are actions that you can take to protect the health of your eyes.

Your vision is a very important aspect of your overall health. When your eyesight is compromised in some way, then this can impact your quality of life and also your independence.

What is CPAP?

Since first being introduced in the early 1980s, CPAP therapy has become the main treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) by those in the professional sleep medicine community.

CPAP therapy helps keep your upper airways open at night so you don't snore or experience apnea. With it, you wear a nasal mask and a small CPAP machine sends the right amount of air through it to your nose while you sleep.

As technology has advanced, CPAP machines have become smaller, quieter, and more sensitive. Now they can detect changing patterns in breathing caused by neurological disorder, as with central sleep apnea. CPAP machines come in a wide range of choices. You can choose between different styles, portability options or data storage features. You can also get them with sophisticated humidity controls for optimal comfort and advanced airflow delivery systems.

SMSFs can be a great way to grow and manage your retirement savings. The biggest advantage of an SMSF is the ability to invest in property and other assets that would otherwise be restricted for self-managed super funds.

An SMSF is not without its disadvantages, however. Setting up an SMSF may require you to get professional advice about the law and tax implications. You will also need someone with experience with superannuation administration to help you set it up and keep it running smoothly.

Can my SMSF loan money to me or my business

No, your SMSF cannot lend you or any of your relatives money. Making this type of loan must be avoided:

There are many misconceptions about SMSFs and one is that it's a way of providing financial assistance to some members or relatives. Section 65 of the SIS Act prohibits superannuation funds, including SMSFs, from providing financial assistance to members or their relatives.

What are the Benefits Of A SMSF

SMSFs are a low-cost, high-return investment option. They offer lower fees and higher returns than many super funds and bank accounts.

No minimum contributions are needed and they're easy to set up. The catch is that SMSFs are not as flexible as public or industry funds and cannot be accessed until retirement.

Can my SMSF loan money to my business?

What is an SMSF Loan Agreement?

SMSF stands for Self-Managed Super Fund. An SMSF Loan Agreement is a type of loan contract that is used when an individual wants to borrow money from their Superannuation Fund.

The SMSF Loan Agreement is a specific type of loan contract that is only available to the members of an SMSF. This agreement provides the borrower with access to their Superannuation Account for funding purposes and must be repaid with super contributions or by withdrawing from the account in later life.

An SMSF Loan Agreement allows a person to borrow funds from their Superannuation Account without paying any tax on it as long as they are over 60 years old - this means, they have reached Age Pension age.

Costs of running your own SMSF fund

The costs of running your own SMSF fund can vary dramatically depending on the size of the fund and a range of other factors. It’s also not easy to get an NDIS Loan using your SMSF

There are three types of accountants that can be used to manage your self-managed super fund:

1) Relevant Member – The accountant who is a member in the same professional organisation as you or has been a member for at least 5 years.

2) External Member – A person who is not a member in the same professional organisation as you but is otherwise eligible to act.

3) Non-member – A person who is not a member in the same professional organisation as you and does not qualify under any other category.

Teeth whitening is becoming ever more popular in 2021 so we wanted to review the benefits and dangers of teeth whitening as well

What is Tooth Enamel?

Teeth are made up of enamel. Teeth are made of a special type of mineral called, Materia Extablema or “extrinsic substance”. This substance is found in other tissues of the body and also make up your nails, hair, and skin. Teeth don’t really have any mineral body of their own. If they did, like bones or shells, you would notice. This is why it is called “extrinsic substance”. This substance of your teeth isn’t really what’s causing yellowing. It’s the fact that the enamel can wear away and the fluoride used in dentistry can seep into the area and do more harm than good. It is possible that for some people (people with extremely sensitive teeth) things may be more difficult.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, we understand the road to recovery can be a long, arduous process. You may be wondering if you’re entitled to compensation and, if so, how much. That can depend on a number of factors, including the severity of your injury and who was at fault.

It is our goal to help you navigate the process of filing a personal injury insurance claim so that you’re compensated fairly. That starts with understanding the steps to take after you’ve been injured in an accident. Here are some things you should know.

If you’ve ever dealt with anxiety, you know it can be a challenge to manage. You may feel like you’ve tried every pill and remedy imaginable. But have you ever tried CBD? If not, we’ll go over some of the benefits of using CBD for anxiety management.

The first thing to know about managing anxiety is that you’re not alone. In fact, anxiety is the most common mental health disorder within the US.

Secondly, the team at Harmonic CBD is committed to harnessing the benefits of CBD to help women overcome feelings of anxiety and the symptoms commonly associated with it. Here’s how CBD supplements can help you achieve calm, clarity, and balance amid the hustle and bustle of daily life.

When there is too much uric acid in your blood, you end up developing hyperuricemia. Too much uric acid in your blood is not good for your health. It can lead to the development of several diseases like gout, which is an excruciating type of arthritis. In addition to this, if your uric acid levels are elevated, you are at risk of developing kidney disease, diabetes, and heart disease. Therefore, you need to control your body's uric acid so that you will not end up developing health complications that will compromise the quality of your life.

At present, more than 43 million Americans are suffering from hyperuricemia. To understand hyperuricemia, it is important to understand the process that leads to elevated levels of uric acid in the body. When purines break down inside a person's body, uric acid is formed. Purines usually come from seafood, red meat, beans, and organ meat. Your body should rid itself of uric acid every time you urinate.

However, hyperuricemia occurs when your body cannot excreting enough uric acid or if your body makes too much uric acid. Your kidneys play a significant role in eliminating uric acid in your body. If your kidneys malfunction, you are at high risk of developing hyperuricemia.

At some point or another, we have all suffered with tooth pain or looked at our teeth and wished that perhaps they looked a little different. In some cases, people have teeth that have become crooked and start to interfere with the other teeth and their surrounding area. Sometimes, extraction becomes a good idea but why do other people try their best to keep their teeth?

The pandemic is wearing everyone down. Many are putting on unwanted weight from stress eating. Stress also shows up on the skin through worry lines or breakouts.

People are becoming slovenly, not feeling inspired to fix themselves because they stay mostly at home anyway.

If you allow stress from the pandemic to drag you down, you are putting yourself at risk because it impairs your immune function. Shake yourself up and reduce stress by making yourself look good and feel better.

This is a question that everyone asks at some point. You’ll have heard of people that never wash their hair and swear it feels and looks great. At the other end of the spectrum are those that wash their hair once, or even twice, a day.

But how often and for how long should you be washing your hair? 

The skin is the largest organ of the human body, so it goes without saying that we have to take good care of it. However, skincare can get a little intimidating when you don't know where to start. From cleansers to creams to serums, there's a lot to take in, but all it takes is a good amount of research and a better understanding of factors that affect your skin, like your lifestyle and the environment.

This time, we'll be talking about the latter: the environment. Depending on where you live, the care your skin needs to be at its best varies.