We are at a time in history when it has never been quite as important to look after the natural world. Although we now all know this, it can be quite tricky knowing what steps we should actually take to make sure we are doing our bit. The truth is that there are many amazing ways in which you can help out the natural world, and the more of these you are aware of the more likely it is that you will be able to take some positive action in your own life. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the best ways in which you can hope to help the natural world in your own life.

Pic Credit – CCO Licence

Help Create Reserves

One of the best ways that we as humans are capable of looking after nature somewhat is by creating nature reserves. These are areas which have a lot of nature and are kept to be looked after specifically, often with a group of people assigned to the area to do just that as a full-time job. You don’t have to become such a person in order to help out, as there are many other ways to do so. For instance, you can even go to Celtic Titles and become a Lord or Lady in return for helping to create a new nature reserve in a beautiful part of the world. As you can see, sometimes helping nature can be easy and fun.

Keep A Garden

Although it might sound straightforward, the truth is that keeping a garden is one of the very best things you can possibly do in order to do your bit for nature. With a garden in place that you are really looking after, you can ensure that you are helping to boost the local ecosystem in your area considerably. This will be even truer if you are planting mostly those plants which are native to your area, as these are what are most required for the ecosystem to continue to work in a strong way. So think about this, and start planting more and more in your own garden, wherever that might be. You’ll be amazed to learn how much of a difference you could be making in this way.

Pic Credit – CCO Licence

Travel Responsibly

How do you currently get around, get to work or go shopping? If you simply make some small changes here, you could find that you are doing so much more for our planet in no time at all. It can be as simple as swapping out one car journey a week for a cycle ride, or making a point of taking public transport to and from work. These steps are bound to help improve and boost the natural world, and to do your bit to stop the destruction of the planet that is underway. It can be a simple change in your life, but it can really make all the difference in the world – and to the world – if you do so.

Conserve Water

Do you generally make a point of paying close attention to how much water you are using? If you don’t, it might be worth starting to think about this now, so that you can ensure you are going to use less and less in the future, which – as it turns out – is one of the simplest and most effective things you can ever do in order to help improve the state of the natural world. There are many ways to conserve water – taking shorter and fewer showers, using the washing machine less often, being more frugal with how you water the garden, and so on. All of these are small changes that will nonetheless add up to make a huge difference, so it is important that you are focusing on adopting these kinds of changes in your life as and when you can.

Pic Credit – CCO Licence

Get Composting
A lot of people want to try out composting, but feel threatened or intimidated by it somehow. However, it is something that can actually be quite straightforward to get right if you are keen to get into it. Composting is simply taking food scraps, kitchen waste and waste from the garden and storing it in a pile so that it breaks down over time and creates soil. It’s a great way to manage your waste, and you will be doing great things for the environment just through the simple act of starting a compost pile in your backyard.

How A Dog Can Help You Lose Weight

Keeping your weight in check is an integral part of staying fit and healthy, but trying to lose weight isn’t always that easy, especially when you’ve got into some bad habits that it’s hard to get back out of. There are all kinds of diets, lots of different exercises, and plenty of advice, but sticking to these things or even trying them in the first place can seem impossible. 

Yet there is something that some people can do and others can’t when it comes to losing weight and having an advantage. Dog owners have a lot more around them to help them lose weight than those without a dog. It may sound strange, but it’s true, and here are the reasons why. 

Image from Pixabay

Exercise 

When you have a dog, you have to walk it. That’s the one big rule about dog ownership; a dog must be walked. Some dogs need more exercise than others, older dogs and smaller dogs won’t need long walks like younger, larger dogs will, for example, and some breeds such as collies and Labradors need a lot more exercise than others like pugs and dachshunds. Yet no matter what kind of dog you have, it is still going to need to be exercised at least once a day, and sometimes more. 

That means you will be exercising just as much as your dog, and that’s good for you and will help with your weight loss. Even if you don’t have time to visit the gym or the finances to join a class, taking your dog for a walk is excellent exercise that non-dog owners won’t get. 

Good Food Choices 

Taking good care of a dog is going to help you lose weight in other ways too. As well as exercise, you’ll need to eat healthily and make good food choices. Combine this with your exercise, and you will lose weight. 

How does having a dog help you to make good food choices? It’s because healthy food is going to be much more in the front of your mind. You’ll need to choose the best healthy dog food for your pet if you want them to be fit and active, visit the vet less, and live a long life. With all this in mind, it will be much easier to make good choices for yourself too, meaning that you can more easily lose weight, you’ll be more active, you’ll visit the doctor less, and, all being well, you’ll live longer too. 

Motivation 

If you want to lose weight, you might know exactly what you need to do – you’ll know about exercise and healthy eating. However, without motivation, simply knowing this isn’t going to help you. When you have a dog, that motivation will be with you at all times. 

Not only will your dog remind you about taking exercise, but their very presence and their happiness and the fact that you’ll want to keep them fit and healthy and happy too will be great motivation for you to do what is needed. You won’t be able to skip exercise if it’s raining or you don’t feel like it because your dog needs it, and that’s excellent motivation.  

Pexels – CC0 License

Many of us sigh with a sense of annoyance when someone says we should ‘be realistic’ about the things we most want in life. We often see people settle for situations that are less than they could have achieved if they put a little effort in, and most of us know that if we always listen to our sensible voice, we’ll never dare to dream at all. You’ll hear nothing against that viewpoint in this post.

However, whoever said staying realistic means that you have to give up on your dreams? It could be that if well-measured, staying realistic can help you achieve your dreams and more. For instance, many of us know that being well-informed instead of naive is a good idea in most situations, and that lesson often comes to us harshly after our first heartbreak or when things don’t quite pan out as intended.

So, keeping our dreams realistic can help. But how should we apply this mode of thinking, and what benefits can it have? Let’s discuss that together:

You Can Plan For Alternatives

When you plan for alternatives, you are more able to keep a backup plan. That doesn’t mean it should take your time and energy or that you should learn to code instead of becoming an actor, but it might be that you plan for other paths if your main one takes a little time to develop. It can truly help you live a more coherent and balanced life in this regard, and this way, you don’t have to feel thrown by the whims of other people’s regard for you.

You’ll Consider The Steps

When you plan for your dreams more realistically, you’ll look at them as if a step-by-step process. It’s easy to think that we’ll move to America one day, for instance, but knowing green card facts can help us understand the nuances of putting that into practice, and what is required of us.

Simple efforts can make the most difference. We can all play air guitar and dream of playing our favorite songs, but have you looked for guitar tutors in your area? The journey of a thousand miles really does start with a single step, and it really can’t hurt to try to follow it now.

You’ll Feel More Empowered

You’ll tend to feel more empowered when you realistically plan for your goals. For instance, many people find it easy to put off starting to write their book. It’s not hard to see why. Trying means that your work is open for critique, and that you may not be as naturally talented or trained as you had imagined. That’s perfectly fine. When you begin to know what you can do and why you can do it, you’re much more likely to actually try to progress and to develop. That empowers you. It helsp you take the formless potential you have inside and instead become the person you wish to be, even if only a little part of it right now.

So – what are you waiting for? Keeping your dreams ‘realistic’ can help them become a ‘reality.’ We wish you nothing but the best in your efforts.

If you are having the baby talk with your partner, then you may need to ask yourself these top questions before you try and conceive. If you do, then you will soon find that it is easier than ever for you to come to the right conclusion for your family.

How are you Going to Try for a Baby?

Some people prefer to track things such as ovulation, but others prefer to just see what happens. The last thing that you want is to disagree on how you are going to move forward, so talk things out and make sure that you are both happy with your approach. There are bound to be compromises between your two points of view, but at the same time, it’s vital that you make sure that you are both 100% happy at all times. If you are going to go through egg retrieval recovery then now is the time to really discuss that with your partner so you are both prepared.

Source: Pexels (CC0 License)

Are your Finances Stable?

Babies are expensive, there’s no doubt about that. You should however be discussing whether or not one of you is going to stay home. You may also want to discuss the idea of day care. It may be that the baby ends up staying with a family member or that you hire a nanny. Either way, these are all expensive options. If you can make sure that you have a realistic view of everything, then this can give you a good incentive to save. If you do settle on the idea of day care, then remember that a lot of them have very long waiting lists. This is especially the case with infant care. The policies will also vary, so if you have your eye on a particular place then make sure that you explore the idea of getting on the waiting list as soon as possible. Now may be a good time for you to redo your budget, as there may be things that you can no longer afford for the both of you. This can include lavish gifts or even expensive shoes. If you can come to terms with how you want to spend your money before and after your baby is born, then this will help you to get on the same page with one another.

What is the Maternity Policy Like for your Place of Work?

It’s well worth looking into this now so that you have a good idea of how much time you are going to be allowed off. You also need to explore what your pay is going to be when you go on leave. Maternity policies tend to vary quite a lot so you need to try and make sure that you know what the rules are for your company. It’s a good idea for you to check out the paternity policy so that you can find out what the rules are with this. If you can get paternity leave, it may be wise to time this with when you go back to work, so that your partner can stay at home. If you have a seasonal profession such as a teacher, then it can benefit you to plan your birth around this.

How’s your Relationship Right Now?

If your relationship has been very rocky for quite some time, then you need to see a counsellor. Don’t go into your pregnancy thinking that a baby is going to solve anything or improve your relationship. It may well bring you closer,  but at the same time when your baby arrives, there will be a lot to think about and there will also be a lot of work that needs to be done. You need to have solid communication skills and you also need to be able to negotiate. If your relationship is going through a serious snag, then you may want to rethink your idea of having a baby. If you don’t then this could lead to bigger problems in the future.

Are you Both Ready to do Chores?

Some people joke that they are never going to be the ones who are changing nappies, but now is the time for you to find out how serious this is. You need to do this before your baby arrives. It’s a very good idea to discuss the idea of midnight feedings too, so you can find out who is going to be doing the laundry and who is going to be doing the runs to the store late at night. It’s helpful for you to look at any household tasks that may seem to double when you welcome a baby into your household too.

Are you Prepared to Give up “You” Time?

Motherhood really is one of the most selfless jobs that you will ever have to do. It is something that you have to be prepared for. If you are not quite ready to give up hours for your friends or even time in the gym, then you may want to reconsider if having a baby is going to be the right thing for you. It may be that you have some life goals that you want to achieve or even that you intend to travel the world.

What Religion do you Want your Baby To Follow?

If you follow a religion, or if your partner does then it may be worth having a conversation regarding this. You need to discuss what faith you want your baby to be raised in and you also need to talk about any ceremonies that may well accompany this.

Are you Going to have to Move?

Tiny babies might not take up much space at all, but the stuff you’ll need to care for them will take up your entire home. You need to discuss whether you need to move into a bigger home and when you would like this to happen. At the end of the day, nobody wants to be packing up a kitchen when heavily pregnant. Things like this may not seem important, but when you have a baby on the way, you will soon find that they are more important than ever to talk about.

Relationships go through phases, especially long term relationships. In the beginning, any new relationship can seem like sunshine and roses. Once the infatuation period has worn off, whether this is in a few months or a few years, arguments can start, and many couples struggle to keep the flame burning. However, everybody knows that long term relationships take consistent effort. If you’re going to keep your relationship alive long after the honeymoon period has worn off, try the following ideas. 

1. Kiss Everyday – And Prioritize Other Types of Physical Contact

Kissing is something that many couples stop doing once they have been together for a while. However, it can bond couples closer together, especially if they dedicate some time to it everyday. Quick kisses are fine when you’re about to leave for work, but see if you can dedicate a set time of day for kissing your partner. Just enjoy it and see what happens. If you and your partner don’t feel like kissing much at the moment, try to address why. It could simply be because you have gone so long without this sort of intimacy, or it could be because you are no longer right for one another. Only you know the answer. 

As well as kissing, it’s important to prioritize other types of physical contact. Holding hands, hugging, and even just laying together can be a good way to feel closer together. Many couples get so absorbed in their day to day lives that they forget to spend time touching their partner. If you were very touchy feely in the beginning and you’re less so now, see if you can introduce it again. 

Some couples may not be as ‘into’ physical contact, and that’s fine. Each couple is different. In cases such as this, aiming to make more eye contact with one another can have a positive effect on how bonded you feel. You might find that when you make an effort to use your phone less, watch less TV, and consume less media via technology in general, you are able to properly focus on one another, have a conversation, and make eye contact. 

1. Enjoy The Novelty – Find New, Fun Things To Do Together

Novelty is important in any relationship. Experiencing new things together as a couple provides brand new bonding experiences, and actually has an effect on the happy chemicals in the brain. These things really do bond you closer together, whether you choose to go to a cookery class or decide to try out a skydive. Novelty can also come in the form of fun little surprises for your partner. You could leave your partner love notes to find around the house, surprise them with a little gift, or find other ways to make them smile. Little surprises can stop a relationship from going stale. 

Date nights should also be a priority, whether you plan them each week or each month. Make sure you mark it on your calendar, and use it as a way to treat one another as if you’ve just started dating. Dress up, flirt with one another, and have a good time. Use your date nights as a chance to start new conversations and switch things up. You can do this easily with card games like ‘We’re not really strangers’, where players are encouraged to dig deep and explore complex ideas, and perhaps even come clean about certain topics. This sort of thing is great for couples who want to be vulnerable with one another, feel closer, and perhaps even see a new side to their partner. This could be just the tool you need to finally feel confident enough to be completely open with one another. 

Travelling together gives couples the opportunity to explore amazing new places and have experiences that they would never have back home – the perfect novelty activity. It’s an opportunity to reconnect away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, work stress, and even technology. While we shouldn’t always feel like we’re waiting for a vacation (if this is how you feel, maybe something else needs to change), vacations can be a great bonding time for couples. 

Taking an interest in something your partner does can be a great way to get close again. Just remember that it might not be a good idea to hijack all of your partner’s hobbies, especially as time apart is also important in a healthy relationship. When you pick a hobby you might like, you can immerse yourself in something brand new, and your partner can have a good time sharing everything they know with you. You could then plan to do the same for one of your hobbies. Even if the chosen hobby doesn’t turn out to be something you want to continue doing, you will learn more about your partner based on the things they enjoy doing and why. 

Author

1. Do Things Separately 

Don’t forget to spend time apart doing your own thing. Doing things separately, no matter how long you’ve been together, is a must. Co-dependent relationships are not healthy, and they give you very little to talk about. When you do things apart, you’ll enjoy the time you spend together that much more. 

Sometimes, it’s not all about improving your relationship or your partner. If you feel unhappy, it could be time to take a look at yourself. Your partner can’t be responsible for your happiness alone, and putting this pressure on them will strain the relationship. Instead, become the boss of your own happiness, and figure out what you can do to improve it. What is lacking from your life? Your partner should be an addition to your life that helps to enhance it, not your sole reason for being. Begin working on yourself, find new things to focus on and become passionate about, and your relationship should improve by default! 

1. Set Rules For Arguing 

All couples argue. However, arguing in a healthy way is crucial. It’s not healthy to lose your temper, scream at one another, and throw insults that you can’t take back. By setting rules for arguing in a calm moment, you can be sure that you’re both on the same page. You’ll both treat one another with respect, and aim to come to a conclusion that is suitable for both, too. Always clarify if you’re not sure you understand something your partner is saying during a disagreement, and rephrase what they have said or ask for clarification if you need to. This will reduce misunderstandings and escalations that could have been avoided. Healthy disagreements can make the biggest difference to the quality of a relationship. 

Work on your communication styles in general and you should stop a lot of arguments from taking place. Make sure you understand where you both fall short. Most people copy their parents’ communication style and don’t even realize it. It will take commitment and practice, but by taking a deep breath and becoming more mindful during disagreements, you should be able to come to more satisfactory conclusions together as partners. 

1. Renew Your Wedding Vows

If your relationship is going to last, then it’s important to choose one another every day. So many couples stay together, purely because they have been together for a long time, and not because the relationship is ideal for them at that moment. As well as reminding yourself why you choose your partner every day, you could consider renewing your wedding vows. When you choose to reaffirm the vows you made the first time around, and even come up with new, more suitable vows for your situation, you will feel more connected than ever. They say you only get one wedding, but renewing your vows could be the exception. This could be just what you need if you’ve returned from the brink of divorce stronger than ever, have found a way to overcome other problems in the relationship, or you simply want to make your marriage more of a priority. You can even bond by planning your vow renewal ceremony together, spending time looking at 2021 trending wedding invitations, perfecting your order of the day, and creating a guest list that makes you both happy. 

Image from pexels

1. Stay Active Together

Enjoying physical activity as a couple can also be a fantastic way to bond. Maybe you could start hiking, biking, or going to the gym. Not only will you both prioritize your health and enjoy many mental and physical benefits, you should find that you feel closer. Studies have shown that couples who participate in an exciting physical challenge or activity feel more excited with their relationships, and more in love with their partner. You’d be surprised at how regular exercise with your love can help to increase your emotional bond. Working out together allows you both to coordinate your actions and rhythm, like when you lift weights or match one another’s running pace. This creates something called ‘mimicry’, which benefits you by helping you both to feel more emotionally attuned.