Archive for Uncategorized

Clutter Does a Number On Your Mind And Body

December 21, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

Is clutter just a bothersome part of your life? Something you’ll get to someday?

Today GenuLines points out that clutter can be a physical and mental problem, too.

(You can hear this article by clicking here)

Clutter Does a Number On Your Mind And Body

Clutter is a real nuisance for millions of us. What you may not realize is that it can affect your mind and body.
 
How does your living space make you feel when you walk in the door at the end of the day? Do you feel peaceful and glad to be at home because it’s your sanctuary?
 
desk with clutter
 
Or, do you feel dread because there’s a mountain of unfolded laundry on the chair? Or there’s a stack of magazines spread all over the floor and a sink full of this morning’s dishes?
 
 
 
 
 
Mind Control
Research finds that the state of your house reflects the state of your mind. Disorganization tells you that there’s something out of balance.
 
The trick is learning what’s off-kilter and how to set it straight.
 
Living in a cluttered home is stressful – for everyone. Mom’s pulled away from what she needs to do to help someone find their homework.
 
Dad’s late for work because he can’t find his car keys. As the pressure to find those misplaced things mounts, so does the tension.
 
Before long, something or someone snaps.
 
Lost And Found
Think about how you feel when you’ve misplaced something. You may berate yourself for being careless.
 
You may feel frustrated and ready to give up. When your child comes in to ask a question, you may not respond in a loving manner and feelings get hurt.
 
Clutter drains you of energy and makes you feel tired. And that can leave you feeling overwhelmed.
 
You know you need to do something but you don’t have the energy.
 
Take time to clear the mess from one small area. It can help you and your family feel more energetic.
 
And they’ll be more inspired to work on decluttering in other areas.
 
Body Of Clutter
Did you know clutter could be making you physically sick? No one wants to think about it, but clutter can be the breeding ground for germs, dust, mold, and mildew.
 
It could even hide a problem with mice. If you don’t believe clutter can make you sick, think of the stress mentioned above.
 
If you have too much stress, you may develop high blood pressure. Dust and mold can cause allergies or worse.
 
Clutter can also affect your body weight. People with clutter are usually sedentary.
 
In an uncluttered home they’re more active. Part of this may be because the clutter in the home makes it hard for you to move.
 
You may also be using clutter, like being overweight, as a means to protect yourself. Clutter keeps people at bay and so there’s less chance of getting hurt.
 
Get Started
Now you understand some of the ways clutter can affect your mind and body Consider what you’re going to do about it.
 
Will you take a step forward and begin decluttering? Or will you let it continue to ruin the lives of you and your family members?
 
JohnK 12-21-2020
 
stick figure man hears about clutterOverheard: “Good order is the foundation of all things”
                              ~Edmund Burke
 
 
 
Article image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay 
 
 
disclaimer for clutter
 
 
 
 

Foods That Help Your Brain Focus Better

December 14, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
Your brain isn’t something you usually consider when you think about holiday meals. So GenuLines gives you some things to think about before you dig in with family and friends.
 
 

Foods That Help Your Brain Focus Better

Unnecessary distractions can slow down your day. Regardless of what you do for a living or the hobbies and pastimes you enjoy.
 
Improving your ability to concentrate on the task at hand could give you a big advantage.
 
people see brain
 
A healthy diet is a solid way to improve most aspects of life in general. There are lots of healthy dietary choices that can improve cognitive functions.
 
Here we’ll look at a few of the many dietary options that help you focus on whatever it is that is important to you.
 
 
Salmon
To improve focus you need good brain function.

This is why foods that contain high amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, are a great option.

Omega-3 actually improves the amount of oxygen available to the brain. And it increases new information retention.
 
Foods Rich In Vitamin D
Research tends to find that a LACK of vitamin D leads to greater levels of cognitive impairment. This is especially true in older folks.
 
Exactly how this happens is uncertain. But a recent study in the journal, Trends in Neuroscience, gives us clues.
 
A sort of netting surrounds healthy neurons in the brain. These nets work like supportive structures.
 
They help maintain the connections between various neurons. This allows them to continue to relay information via synaptic pathways.
 
The researchers felt that low vitamin D could make these nets more vulnerable. The result could be degradation by certain enzymes.
 
And this could result in various cognitive deficiencies such as focus and concentration.
 
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is an ancient herb used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Users say this dietary supplement helps focus and information retention.
 
And there’s been a resurgence in its popularity.
 
The thinking is that Ginko boosts blood and oxygen flow. This logic is often applied to other areas of the body, such as skeletal muscles.
 
Green Tea
Caffeine is a very popular go-to when it comes to focusing and being able to concentrate. But a roller coaster ride comes with ingesting large amounts of caffeine.
 
The result is a mental crash at the end of the ride. Green tea does in fact contain caffeine.
 
But it possesses another chemical that’s great at mitigating this crash.
 
Most forms of green tea contain L-theanine. This allows a slower release of caffeine into the bloodstream.
 
The result is a sustained sense of focus and concentration. And without the unwanted comedown.
 
Works Cited
 
9 brain foods that will improve your focus and concentration. (2018, April 27). Retrieved from https://alifeofproductivity.com/9-brain-foods-that-will-boost-your-ability-to-focus/
 
Rodriguez, B. D. (n.d.). ADHD Diet: Foods to Help You Focus – ADHD Center – Everyday Health. Retrieved from https://www.everydayhealth.com/add-adhd-pictures/what-to-eat-in-an-adhd-diet.aspx
 
Vitamin D and brain health: New mechanism may explain link. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324541
 
JohnK 12-14-2020
Stick figure hears about the brain
Overheard: “The brain is like a muscle. When it is in use we feel very good. Understanding is joyous.”
                                              ~Carl Sagan
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for brain health

What Does Being Productive Really Mean?

December 7, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

It’s tough being productive during a time of lockdown. And not a good time to think about ways you can kick things into gear. 

So GenuLines feels it’s a good time to bring you an overview of how you can make this happen.

(You can listen to this article by clicking here)

What Does Being Productive Really Mean?

productive manIntending to be productive is a worthy pursuit. But over time and with overuse the definition of productive has become a little fuzzy.
 
Now “Productivity” is a sort of buzzword. It’s used in employee training seminars and self-help techniques.
 
 
 
 
If you don’t get the true meaning of this word you might waste valuable time that could be better spent.
 
In a fast-paced driven society we’re expected to produce more in less time. Unfortunately, this can often have the opposite effect.
 
Here are a few things to consider when looking at how you spend your time,
 
Busy & Productive Are Not Synonymous
This might be the biggest misconception about what it means to be productive. Staying busy and on the go doesn’t always mean you’re being productive.
 
Being productive means you are actually getting something done.
 
It’s easy to jump from one task to another. Could be you shift your focus and attention every five minutes, all in the name of “multi-tasking.”
 
Now and then ask yourself if you’re actually accomplishing anything. For example, after a five-hour stint on your computer at work, take a look at the end result.
 
Have you produced something of value that was not there when you first sat down at your desk? Never confuse being busy with being productive.
 
Progressing Towards Something
This kind of piggybacks off of the previous thought. But this tip deserves its own discussion.
 
You can get into a kind of “grind” mentality.
 
You spend hours working at irrelevant things. Again, this may or may not help your productivity.
 
With anything that you dedicate a lot of your time to, there should be an end goal in mind.
 
Have a well-understood plan of how you’ll reach it. Productivity involves a linear path from where you are right now to what you want to get done.
 
If you’re working hard only for the sake of working hard, you run the risk of wasting valuable time and energy. It’s always important to consider your “why” before you commit your valuable time to any task.
 
Balancing Productivity
Achieving anything worthwhile often involves hard work and focus. But it doesn’t mean neglecting every other area of your life in the process.
 
For example, you want to transform your body and get in better shape. Will it help if you neglect your closest relationships and other commitments, too?
 
True productivity includes nurturing every aspect of who you are. Even during the pursuit of something specific.
 
Sure, there are going to be times when more of your time and energy goes toward one thing in particular. But make sure that not ALL of it is!
 
As a human being, you are a lot of things at the same time.
 
JohnK 12-7-2020
 
Stick figure hears productive ideasOverheard: “Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before”
                                           ~Franz Kafka
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for being productive

Declutter Your Mind In 5 Steps

November 30, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
It’s common to declutter in the spring. Throwing away stuff that’s outlived its usefulness feels good. 
 
GenuLines has some ideas on decluttering your mind that will feel pretty good, too. 
 
 

Declutter Your Mind In 5 Steps

When it comes to decluttering your home, you might decide to put everything you throw
out on eBay. But decluttering your mind is a little trickier.
 
declutter sign
 
 
Here are a few ways to declutter your mind.
 
 
 
 

#1: Declutter your space

This one is pretty obvious. With fewer things in your field of vision, you have less garbage to stew over and worry about.
 
This frees up space in your mind.
 

#2: Declutter your schedule

Another thing that can drive you crazy is the constant rush from one activity to another. Take a look at your schedule and start eliminating things that aren’t necessary.
 
With fewer ingredients in your stressful stew, you’ll make your day a little calmer.
 

#3: Unplug from the party

Would you be able to get any rest if you were attending a party of several thousand people? I’m talking, like Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
 
That’s pretty much what’s going on with your smartphone, tapped in as you no doubt are to social media networks. The pings, dings, and rings from your contacts are all adding small but unhealthy doses of stress to your day.
 

#4: Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is all about engaging with the present in a fully, alive way. There are lots of ways to practice mindfulness.
 
One is meditation. Another could be fixing your stare at an object (like a candle) and noticing your thoughts.
 
Mindfulness can contribute to increased concentration and a decluttered mind.
 

#5: Let go

Sometimes it’s best to let old memories die. These can range from broken relationships to diabolical bosses.
 
We tend to have a whole lot of backstory spinning in the recesses of our minds. Let it all go, and like a faster-operating computer, you’ll find your mind in a much more free and easy state.
 
JohnK 11-30-2020
 
stick man talks declutterOverheard: “For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned“
                                          ~Benjamin Franklin
 
 
 
 
 
Article image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 
 
 
disclaimer for declutter

A Thank-You Note on This Day of Thanks

November 26, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

 

Thank you for being a part of the CHI FOR YOURSELF and GenuLines communities. You make it all possible!

Be well

 

graphic for thanksgiving

 

JohnK 11-26-2020

chiforyourself.com home

6 Ideas For Teaching Children How to Eat Healthy

November 23, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
Children love Thanksgiving. It’s a chance for them to eat some things they don’t usually see during the year.
 
But GenuLines feels this is also a good time to look at some ways to get kids to eat with an eye toward health and wellness.
 
 

6 Ideas For Teaching Children How to Eat Healthy

One of the leading causes of childhood obesity is poor food choices. Offer kids either vegetables or a cookie and most will choose the cookie.
 
children eating in a parkHey, sometimes even adults do the same thing!  But, with a few strategic lessons and good role modeling, you can teach your children to put health first.
 
Here are some ideas:
 
 
* Help them learn to like healthy foods
Forcing kids to eat vegetables and whole grains gets met with resistance. Instead of preparing a plate of lima beans and telling your children to eat it all, give them a choice. 
 
Prepare a variety of vegetables, side dishes, and whole-grain options.  Encourage your children to try new things.
 
Children generally have to try something several times before they begin to like it.  You’ll have to be patient. 
 
Reward them with verbal praise when they try new healthy foods.
 

If they say they don’t like it, nod your head and praise them for trying it.  Let them know that taste buds change and they might like it better next time or as they get a bit older.

* Make sugar a treat
Many children have become accustomed to sweet foods. A lot of them feel that anything that doesn’t have sugar just tastes bad. 
 
If your kids eat a lot of sweets, scale back on the amount they have available to them.  Start with one treat a day and at some point consider reducing it to one treat a week.
 
Now, make sure that food doesn’t become a reward for behavior.  And don’t forget to check things like cereal which can be high in sugar.
 
Your children’s desire for sweets will decrease. And they’ll begin enjoying a variety of other healthy foods.
 
* Involve them in meal planning and preparation
Children who help you prepare a meal, are going to be much more excited about eating it.  Invite yours to help you choose meals, help with the grocery shopping, and then prepare the foods.
 
While in the produce area, ask them to find and pick out the various vegetables and fruits you need for the meal.  They’ll learn about their veggies, and they’ll be more excited to try them.
 
Consider putting them in charge of the meal choices for one evening each week.  You can provide them with a list of choices. 
 
You can also browse cookbooks together.
 
* Be a good role model
You can’t expect your children to make healthy choices if you don’t. Take good care of your health. 
 
Exercise and eat well.  Show the kids that taking care of themselves and making good food choices is important.

* Embrace other cultures

A great way to help your children appreciate food is to help them learn about what other cultures eat.  You can embrace one country each month and make a meal. 
 
You can call it “cultural night.”  Combine it with family game night, and make trying new foods something to which you can look forward.
 
* Teach your children the “why” behind the food choices
If your children don’t know why they should make healthy choices, they won’t care. Talk to them about how some foods work.
 
Some provide lasting energy, while others burn out quickly and make us feel tired and cranky.  Adjust the conversation depending on your children’s ages.
 
Finally, just enjoy food, because it’s so easy to get caught in the trap of being too rigid about food.  That can cause a backlash. 
 
It can motivate children to hide food and to feel ashamed.  Make sure children know that it’s about moderation, not restriction and deprivation. 
 
This will lead to a happy relationship with food that they can take into their adult years.
 
JohnK 11-23-2020
 
Stick figure hears about childrenOverheard: “Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are”
                                 ~Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
 
 
 
 
 

Article image by Wolfgang Eckert from Pixabay

 

 
disclaimer for children
 

How Meditation Can Benefit Your Motivation

November 16, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
 
Meditation might not be your first thought when your motivation is on the wane. But GenuLines knows that it can be a go-to tool for those times when you lose your spark, 
 
How Meditation Can Benefit Your Motivation

meditation momentThe downward spiral of low motivation can seem like an impossible cycle to break. During those times productivity and accomplishment can seem like unattainable goals. 

 
 
 
 
There is one simple tool you may not have considered before that can get you back on track, and that’s meditation. It’s an exercise that goes well beyond providing relaxation.

Focus and Concentration

Focus and concentration are by-products of meditation. But don’t force the issue.
 
This could have a negative effect on your motivation.

Increased Happiness

More and more of us are being diagnosed with depression. It’s no surprise that happy people tend to have more energy and higher self-confidence.
 
And motivation raises happiness by helping release the brain’s “happiness hormones.” When you’re feeling more positive, you’re likely to have more desire to get things done.

Less Stress

Meditation leads to a more relaxed state. This is due to the way it allows the brain to slow down as it receives sensory input.
 
This relaxation and improved processing leads to reduced feelings of stress and overwhelm. With less stress comes a feeling of more control, which then fuels your motivation.

Positive Thinking

One of the biggest killers of motivation is negative thinking. A pessimistic view can come from many sources.
 
Think depression, poor habits, or general life difficulties.
 
The beauty of meditation is that it “rewires” brain patterns. This process encourages more positive thought patterns.
 
The result is a reset that helps you become more motivated.

Clarified Goals and Purpose

Taking time each day for meditation can give you a great deal of insight. This helps with reassessing what’s most important in your life.
 
When you have a better picture of your priorities, your goals and life’s purpose become clearer. Knowing where you want to go kicks your motivation into high gear.
 
And you’ll feel a greater urgency to take the necessary steps on the path to your dreams.
The benefits of meditation for increased motivation are many. There are various types of meditation.
 
You can begin to research on your own or find a teacher who can help you develop a practice that works for you. What’s most important is that you get started.
 
And maintain consistency in your meditation practice to get the most effective results. Soon you’ll be tackling your to-do list and pursuing the life goals that matter with renewed vigor.
 
JohnK 11-16-2020
 
stick figure man hears about meditationOverheard: “When you own your breath, nobody can steal your peace”
                                               ~Unknown
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for meditation

Boost Your Motivation With a Bit of Science

November 9, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
 
Motivation is a key component of success. Sure, talent, intelligence, and money can play a part.
 
But there’s a science involved as well, and GenuLines wants you to put it to work in your path to success.

Boost Your Motivation With a Bit of Science

suggestion to motivationWe all have lists of things we
“hope” we’ll do. But how do we
put these things into the “done”
column?
 
 
 
 
 
Let’s take a look at the science of motivation and the ways to harness it to your advantage.

An Improved Approach to Motivation

Dan Pink wrote a best-selling book, “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.” He says that there are three components of motivation that push us to get things done.
 
And he scraps the old carrot and stick types of reward systems.
 
Instead, Pink argues that a scientific approach gives us a better view of the subject. This, he says, helps us come up with strategies to power up motivation.
 
Three Elements of Motivation
Pink says research shows that autonomy, value, and competence drive motivation. Autonomy refers to the amount of control or independence we feel over a task or action.
 
He says studies point to a connection between input on a task and better follow through.
 
The second component of motivation is value. This is the amount of personal significance or importance you place on a matter.
 
In other words, if something matters to you on a personal level, you’ll feel more motivated to take it on.
 
Competence comes from a feeling of mastery as it relates to practice and hard work. This doesn’t mean you have to have natural abilities.
 
Spending time developing competence seems to increase chances of reaching the goal.
 

Strategies to Increase Motivation

Now you have an understanding of what matters most with regard to what motivates us. So let’s look at some strategies to increase motivation.
 
With autonomy as a guide, let’s consider ways to add a sense of control or involvement in activities. One way to do this is to take ownership of a chore or add some aspect of self-direction to it.
 
Let’s say you’re having difficulty starting a project such as submitting a paper. It may help to think of all the ways doing this will set you apart as an expert in your field.
 
You’ll see that turning in the paper is a necessary part of sharing your unique views with your colleagues.
 
To add value to your task, you want to make it meaningful or personal. Find a way to add purpose to that item on your to-do list.
 
This involves changing your perspective or the way you look at that item.
 
Doing your taxes is a chore you might dread. Add purpose to it by focusing on the work you’ve done that’s represented by the numbers on the page.
 
Or the contribution you’ve made to your job and community through your efforts. Paying taxes is a symbol of good citizenry.
 
Finally, there’s competence. Feeling mastery over an act requires practice.
 
Try to look at the job at hand as one in which you are working toward an end goal of skillfulness.
 
For instance, you’ll soon see the treadmill as less of an adversary the more workout sessions you endure. As you get fitter you’ll see exercise as a little easier.
 
And, you’ll get a feeling of accomplishment.
 
Motivation is not always easy to come by. But with a little knowledge of science you can be more effective in moving toward your dreams.
 
In time you’ll be mastering your goals. And that will fuel your motivation in the future.
 
JohnK 11-9-2020
 
Stick figure hears about motivatonOverheard: “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
                                   ~Nelson Mandela
 
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for motivation
 

Staying Calm During The Election And Beyond

November 2, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments

A calm mind can be had during pandemic or pandemonium. This GenuLines list of tips can help guide you through rough waters. 

Check out the list then listen to an explanation by clicking on here.

Be well!

 

calm

 

 

JohnK 11-2-2020

chiforyourself.com home

 

 

disclaimer for keeping calm

 

 

Overwhelm And Your Hectic, Stressful Life

October 26, 2020 John Uncategorized No comments
Overwhelm and living a hectic life are two of the most common stresses. But it just so happens that you can control them!!
 
GenuLines looks at how these two things skyrocket your stress level and what you can do about it.

Overwhelm And Your Hectic, Stressful Life

A hectic life forces you to stay in a constant state of stress. You go and go with little to no break.
 
This is not good for the human body.
 
Time out
man showing overwhelmYou need to take a break, allowing you to calm your mind and body, starting anew with fresh energy. Keeping yourself in a constant state of busyness is horrendous for your stress level.
 
This, in turn, is bad for your health.
 
If your life seems too hectic you can start delegating. This will help you to reduce your stress and feel less overwhelmed.
 
 
 
What to do about it
There are some hectic and overwhelming things that are out of your control. Yet there are things you can do to help calm things down and reduce your stress.
 
First, get your priorities in order. Make a list of everything you have to do in descending order of importance.
 
When you’re done, see what you can cut out or delegate to someone else.
 
Get better organized
Organization can help reduce your stress. Keep a well-detailed calendar.
 
Divide your day into what you have to do and the time you’ve allotted in which to get it done. This will help you to feel less overwhelmed.
 
Finally, ask for help. It might surprise you to know how much your loved ones want to help you.
 
So let them. Start delegating tasks and try to make your life less hectic.
 
Delegating can help make all the difference
It can be hard to let certain things go, but sometimes, when it comes to your health, you have to. Delegating can help you keep a handle on the hectic parts of your life.
 
It can help you to reduce stress and prevent you from feeling so overwhelmed.
 
Delegating means allowing others to do some of the work for you so you have time to do other important things. You can delegate chores to others in your household.
 
You can have someone else drive your kids to their extracurriculars. These can take some weight off your shoulders.
 
Why you should bother
You need to know that stress kills. It can cause heart attacks, strokes, and other life-threatening conditions.
 
Minimizing your stress can help you think clearer, sleep better, and be healthier. It can help lessen your anxiety, as well.
 
So why, given an easy way to lessen your stress, would you not try it? It could mean a life and death difference for you.
 
Final Thoughts
We all deal with stress daily. But that stress builds up and could cause some serious health problems.
 
Being overwhelmed and living a hectic life are two of the biggest stresses in a lot of people’s lives. It’s good to know that with some practice you can manage them.
 
JohnK 10-26-2020
 
Stick figure hears about overwhelmOverheard: “If I cannot overwhelm with my quality, I will overwhelm with my quantity”
                                 ~Emile Zola
 
 
 
 
disclaimer for overwhelm
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