Even a highly motivated person can sometimes feel uninspired to hit the gym or their own personal workout equipment and dig in for a few hours. When that’s the case, the best solution you can utilize is music. For many, music is  a motivational tool to not just get them out of bed in the morning, but also to put on their running shoes and go for a morning jog. For others, it could be that one specific song that helps them push themselves just a little harder. Whatever the role music plays in your life if you’re feeling unmotivated or uninspired to start working out, consider adding some of these songs to your fitness playlist.

1. Work – Iggy Azalea

This song is beat-heavy and the lyrics are motivational to make you jump out of bed and hit the equipment. Whether you choose to fall into the rhythm or use its lyrics to grit through some weight lifting, this song is a must-have on your playlist.

2. Run The World – Beyonce

She’s a Queen for a reason. For the lady out there, this song is more of an anthem than anything else. It’s sure to give you the energy boost you need to tear up the treadmill or race up against that hill. Run the world and run your exercise.

3. Harder Better Faster Stronger – Daft Punk

Oldies are goodies, and this one from Daft Punk is a perfect song to push yourself with some strength training. High-paced with a rhythm that helps you dig in, you can be sure to push through your weight lifts until your arms are shaking.

4. The Monster – Eminem, Rihanna

For those who are looking to make themselves monster-tough, then they can do no wrong with this song on their playlist. With the spitting lyrics of Eminem and the slower rhythms of Rihanna, this song gives a push when you need it and moments to relax and cool down between.

5. Shoot To Thrill – AC/DC

Popularly used in Iron Man 2, you too can prepare for your own personal iron man by adding this song to your playlist. With guitar riffs to send you flying through your routine and lyrics to keep you focused on your goal, it’s a must-have.

6. Safe With Me – Sam Smith

If your preferred method of workout is some yoga and meditation, then try the calmer and smooth tones of Sam Smith. This song encourages safety and comfort, and you can utilize those feelings to perfect your form. It can also work as a cool down song after your workout.

Want to change up your workouts? Check out these six unique ones that you have to try.

 

1. Barre

 

Barre incorporates small movements, inspired by yoga, Pilates and ballet, to strengthen your muscles and tone your body. A barre, like with ballet, is used to help with posture and balance. This workout shows that small exercises can make a big difference. For best results, do barre workouts 3 to 4 times a week.

 

Best for: Those who like a low impact, high intensity workout

 

2. Spinning

 

Spinning is such an effective workout that it only needs to be done for 20 to 30 minutes at a time to make an impact. Spinning on a bike at a high intensity is mixed with low-impact cycling. Move to some of your favorite songs, and burn some fat while you are at it. If you already spin regularly, and want a twist on your go-to routine, try aqua spinning. This involves moving in the water, on and off the bike. The water creates some resistance, and is a more intense way to do the workout you love. Plus, the water keeps you cool in the warm months, making it popular for summer.

 

Best for: Biking and cycling enthusiasts; people who like elliptical training and stair climbers, but want something different

 

3. Bootcamp

 

Do you like to do a mix of different exercises? Try bootcamp, which combines interval and resistance training. Short, high-intensity periods are mixed with plenty of time to rest. This workout provides a balance of strength and cardio, provided you have proper form. Ask an instructor to help you determine which moves are right for you.

 

Best for: Those who want to get in shape fast; former student-athletes; PTs and athletic trainers

 

4. Aerial Silks

 

If you think using aerial silks is just for circus performers, think again. Using them not only makes users feel like they are flying, but conditioning exercises help your core and arm strength, stamina and tone your body overall.

 

Best for: Enhancing your upper body; dancers or gymnasts

 

5. Hooping

 

Hoops are not only for kids. When doing a hooping routine, heavier hoops, piled around a user, are swung in circles to music. Class attendees follow an instructor’s moves, and end up feeling exhausted in no time.

 

Best for: Kids at heart; former dancers

 

6. At-Home and On-Demand Workouts

 

Life gets busy and stressful. With at-home and on-demand workouts, you can bring fitness-class worthy routines to your house. Try prerecorded cardio, strength, spinning, barre, dance or toning routines, whatever you feel like.

 

Best for: Busy people

 

Incorporate these workouts into your routine for more variety in your fitness regimen. What are you waiting for? Get moving!

If your doctor has recommended that you seek occupational therapy, he will send you to a specialist who can set up appointments for you to come in and get the help you need. They will put you on a program in order to increase your movements and will also offer you many ways of doing these exercises at home. There are a number of things you can do yourself in order to increase your recovery.

Balancing Exercise

In order to get your balance back in line, you will want to stand with your feet set shoulder length apart. Slowly raise one leg and keep your knee slightly bent. Stand on the other foot as long as you possibly can. Lower the raised foot back to the floor and rest for approximately 10 – 15 seconds. Repeat this activity with the other foot.

Rotate Your Upper Body

Standing with your back straight, place your hands on your hips. Move only the upper portion of your body first to one side and then the other. As you turn to each side, hold the position for 10 seconds. You can also do this by crossing your arms and placing your fingertips at your shoulders. This exercise can also be done several times a day.

Walking

If you are able to walk on your own, it is recommended that you do so at least three times a week for 20 minutes at a time. This will increase the blood flow through your body. If you need to use a treadmill, many of them will come with harnesses and support bars that you can hold onto while walking.

Body Movement Using A Broom Or Cane

While holding your arms out and bent at the elbows, use a cane or a broom stick to slowly turn from left to right. This can be done either sitting or standing. With each turn, hold the position for a few seconds before moving again.

Working On Fine Motor Skills

In order to get more dexterity in the hands, you may want to use dough in order to squeeze and shape it. Use a tweezer to pick up small objects or pieces of paper.

Developing Gross Motor Skills

Gross motor skills include most of the muscles in the body working together. Using a ball to catch and throw back is a great way to develop these skills.

Stretching Exercises

Any type of stretching is good practice in occupational therapy. It can be done in many ways and either in a sitting or standing position. Take your time and rest in between each stretch.

No matter what type of exercise you use, be consistent. You must do them in order to recover from your injury.

Sleep allows the body and brain to recover from daily stress. People can sleep for extended periods, without experiencing the benefits of healthful sleep. This type of sleep includes full body relaxation, plus the occurrence of REM dream states. This type of rest is deep, and results in many body and brain benefits. During REM sleep, virtually every body system is given the opportunity to enter into a recovery phase.

Without deep restful periods, anyone can experience symptoms of sleep deprivation. These symptoms include lack of focus and concentration, longer healing periods during common sicknesses, irritability, depression, and health problems like weight gain. Once a person has entered into a state of sleep deprivation, it is very difficult for them to recover.

People who understand that they have problems with sleep quality have options for improving their rest periods. Here are several ways to gain control of your rest.

Change Eating Patterns

Many people experience interrupted sleep because of metabolic digestive functions. Try eating the last meal of the day a few hours earlier. This will prompt the body to digest food ahead of rest periods.

Soothing Drinks

Some people experience interrupted sleep patterns because of food that is present in the digestive tract when they go to bed. Other people experience the opposite. Some people need added nutrients for the body to enter into a completely relaxed state. For these people, herbal teas are a great option. Try drinking warm chamomile, lavender, and licorice teas before sleeping to coax the body into a relaxed state.

Exercise can be Helpful

Some people do not sleep well because they have stored energy. Adrenaline is a powerful hormone that can remain in the body throughout the day. Having too much of this hormone during sleep periods will result in restless sleep patterns. Try 15-30 of cardiovascular exercise before going to bed. Recumbent biking, and swimming are ideal exercises for pre-sleep stress relief.

The Spinning Mind

Some people have very active minds that work even when they are asleep. Cognition and intelligence exercises just before bed can trigger responses in the brain that lead to calmness. Try reading a heady novel, finishing a crossword puzzle, or watching game shows before bedtime. When the brain is satisfied in cognitive ways, it will be more prone to being idle during sleep.

Rest Supplements

Unproductive sleep patterns are sometimes caused by the lack of certain nutritional compounds in the system. Many people lack levels of branch chain amino acids that are necessary for body repairs during rest. Try taking beneficial supplements like GABA just before bedtime. This amino acid triggers strong muscle relaxation, and is absolutely safe. Many people feel the relaxation necessary to enter into deep sleep within seconds after drinking GABA.

The type of sleep a person gets affects every aspect of their life. Not enough quality sleep results in the loss of focus and some severe health problems. Restful sleep provides a person with the mental clarity and physical rejuvenation to handle daily stress. Many natural and easy remedies for improving sleep patterns result in an improved outlook toward life.

If your child has a crooked smile, the orthodontist will strongly recommend braces. While it’s an incredibly effective option to align the teeth again, many people don’t like the look of braces. These people also include children. If you’re a parent of a child who’s reluctant to wear braces, try these three ways to help them feel more confident.

1. Exposure/Representation
For most people, representation is very important and has a huge impact on the way they view themselves. This is why movies like Blank Panther mean so much to the African American community. When people can look at the images in the media and see someone who looks like them, it does wonders for self-acceptance and self-esteem. Start to pay attention to celebrities who wear braces. Make sure to show images of these people on a regular basis. You can point the celebrities out. You can change the channel to shows that feature people with braces. It’s even wise to find cartoon characters who wear braces. Even if the effort is subtle, it can make a difference in a child’s subconscious mind.

2. Encouragement
As much as people would like to believe that words don’t make an impact on their lives, words really do matter. As a parent, your words can have a huge impact on your child. Your words can either make or break their experience. Since they’re young and impressionable, your job is to be the cheerleader. Build up their self-esteem by reminding them of how special they are. Tell them that their braces look amazing and fun. Find positive ways to encourage them so that they can feel confident during the process. Highlight the fact that it’s tons of fun to try different colors of rubber bands. Make the process seem really interesting. It can be really tempting for a child to look forward to the time when the braces come off. This process can take months or years. That’s a long time to feel like your beauty is on hold. Instead, encourage your child to embrace the look of braces right now. When this happens, they’ll be able to enjoy the journey more. Plus, once they have the confidence to rock their braces, that aura exudes and is magnetic. Before you know it, more kids will be asking their parents for braces because your child made it look cool.

3. Additional Features
Everyone possesses their own unique attributes that make them beautiful. Figure out what your child’s signature features are and play those features up. If your child has stunning eyes or luscious curls, make sure to emphasize that. Find curly hairstyles that are different and pull the hair off of the face. Find sculpting products that will elongate and define the curls even more. If your child is a teenager and is allowed to wear makeup, choose eyeshadow colors that will compliment the eyes. If your child has a love of wild colors, choose eyeglasses with frames that will stand out and make an impact.

Although more common in older men, urinary incontinence can wreak havoc in the life of a man of any age. The embarrassing condition is not a disease, but simply a problem occurring when urine leaks from the bladder. Most incontinence issues are treatable and last only temporarily. These issues signal distress with the urinary tract.

1- Prostate Conditions & Treatments

Swollen prostate issues may impede the passage of urine out of the bladder. This problem usually causes the man to feel a sudden, frequent urge to urinate. Prostate surgery can weaken the muscles in the bladder, causing stress incontinence, or involuntary leaks during laughter, coughing, etc. Prostatitis, a painful inflammation of the prostate gland, is also a leading cause of urinary incontinence.

2- Full Bladder

Failure to completely empty the bladder during bathroom visits can result in leakage of urine. Known as urinary retention, the condition is extremely painful and often requires a visit to the doctor for immediate treatment. Leakage may also occur if pressure is placed onto a full bladder

3- Urinary Tract Infection

A Urinary Tract Infection, or a UTI, is a painful infection occurring in the urinary tract. It occurs when bacteria isn’t passed through the kidneys after urination. More women than men experience UTIs, but they’re nonetheless possible for men to endure. Pain is the biggest complaint of UTI suffers, though other signs and side effects of a UTI include frequent urination, sudden urges to go, and blood in the urine. If you suspect a UTI, schedule an appointment with your doctor who can prescribe an antibiotic treatment that rids the infection in a matter of days.

4- Pre-existing Health Conditions

Numerous pre-existing health conditions share a link to incontinence, particularly those affecting the nervous system. Disorders of the nervous system affect the brain’s ability to communicate with the muscles in the body. Parkinson’s Disease, diabetes, Muscular Scoliosis, and Alzheimer’s are among the nervous system conditions that may cause incontinence issues, though others also exist. Talk to your doctor about your concerns if you’ve been diagnosed with one of these conditions and experience urinary incontinence issues.

If urinary incontinence is affecting your life, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Doc knows best and will provide a proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations, as well as the peace of mind that successful treatment is ahead.

As you probably already know, it is important for you and everyone in your family to be active throughout the week. However, many people live sedentary lifestyles, and once you get into this habit, it can be difficult to make changes. If you are concerned that your spouse and kids might not be getting in all of the physical activity that they should, you could be wondering if there is anything that you can do to help. These are a few tips that can help you do so.

1. Lead By Example

First of all, if you want to encourage your family members to be more physically active, you should make sure that you lead by example. After all, it can be hard for you to tell your kids and spouse how important physical activity is when you don’t make it a priority yourself. Plus, once you start making a point to be more active yourself, you might find that it will help you feel a whole lot better.

2. Enroll Your Kids in Sports or Classes

If you have kids, it is a good idea to get them involved in some sort of extracurricular activity that will help them get active. If your kids are into sports, this is a good option. You could also try enrolling them in dance or gymnastics classes, karate or some other form of martial arts or another class that will get them moving and allow them to learn a new skill.

3. Join a Gym with Your Spouse

If you are married or have a live-in partner, you may want to consider joining a gym together. Then, you can encourage one another to be active, and you can get in some quality time with one another.

4. Go on Walks as a Family

One good idea that you can implement is going on a walk with your family at a certain time each day. For example, consider getting together and going for a brisk walk around the neighborhood after you all eat dinner. This can help you all get in some physical activity, and it can be a great way to spend time with one another as well.

5. Get Outside on the Weekends

On the weekends, instead of being cooped up in the house, encourage your family to get outside and do something active and fun. You could go hiking or swimming, for example, or you could just play a game of flag football in the backyard.

As you can see, if you are concerned that your family is not active enough, you do not have to ignore the situation. Instead, try one or all of these five tips. In time, you might find that your entire family is more active than ever before.

Right now, when you think about working out, you might think about going on a run or hitting the gym on your own. Even though working out alone can be a good thing — after all, it can provide you with some “me time” that you might desperately need — it’s not always the best means of working out. Instead, you might find that working out in classes is a better option. Here’s why.

1. Avoid Missing Your Workouts

As you might already know, it can sometimes be easy to skip your workouts when you aren’t really in the mood. However, skipping too many workouts can lead to you not being able to meet your workout goals. If you are scheduled for a class, you might find that you will be less likely to skip your time at the gym.

2. Meet Others

Another great thing about working out in classes is that it provides you with an option to meet friends. Then, you can meet others who are just as interested in working out as you are and who might share other similar interests as well.

3. Exercise More Intently

If you are the one who is guiding your own workout, you might be a bit easier on yourself than you realize. If you really want to amp up your metabolism, burn more calories and achieve your fitness goals, however, it’s a good idea to get in a more intensive workout. If the others around you are working harder and if the instructor is “pushing” you, you might find that you will really step up the intensity of your workout.

4. Learn More

Many classes are led by knowledgeable instructors who know a lot about the types of exercises that they teach. Even though you might know a lot about fitness, you might be surprised by the things that you can learn when you take a class. This can help you become even more fitness-minded and can help you get even closer to achieving your fitness goals.

5. Have More Fun

Even though you might like exercising sometimes, you might find that you get a bit bored with running the same track or getting on the treadmill every single day. If you take a class, however, you might find that the fun moves, atmosphere and music make things a whole lot more fun. This can make exercising a lot more enjoyable.

As you can see, there are quite a few reasons why it can be a good idea to work out in classes instead of by yourself. If you check out a gym near you, you can find out more about the fitness classes that might be available.

Even if we consider ourselves to be in good shape, many of us look for ways to do better. These six tips will help you reach your goal of a vibrant, healthy life.

STRETCH

We all know about exercise benefits, but stretching is often overlooked. Stretching helps lengthen muscles, increases range of motion, and reduces stiffness and soreness. Stretching should always be gentle. Never stretch to the point of pain. Stretching is best done when muscles have had a chance to warm up. Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi are exercise forms that promote stretching.

MEDITATE

Meditation has many wonderful benefits for the body as well as the mind. It slows the heart rate, reduces the stress response, and strengthens the immune system. Even a 30-second break to focus on the breath helps to calm and center. Meditation is simple in concept but can be hard to practice. Beginners may want to start with a class that can clear up misconceptions and provide support.

DRINK MORE WATER

Water is the largest component of our bodies, essential for every organ. If you wait to drink until you feel thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Although most American municipal water is safe to drink, disinfecting chemicals may give it an off taste or smell. Don’t buy bottled water! Buy a filter pitcher or under the sink system and fill a reusable water bottle. Start the morning with eight ounces or more and continue drinking throughout the day, as recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control.

EAT MORE FIBER

Dietary fiber keeps our digestive systems working smoothly and can reduce cholesterol levels in the blood, but many of us don’t get enough, as government studies have found. Women should get 25 grams a day, men 38 grams. Eat fewer processed carbohydrates and more whole grains, fruits including berries, vegetables, legumes, and nuts. To avoid digestive problems, increase fiber gradually.

SLEEP

Most adults need 7 to 9 hours a night, but many of us make a priority of everything except sleep. The blue light of glowing screens stimulates the brain. Turn off electronics at least an hour before bedtime.

SUNSHINE

Being outdoors in the sunshine not only improves our mood but also allows our bodies to make Vitamin D, a nutrient with many important benefits. If you live in a climate with short days, plan to head out on your lunch break. Even a few minutes will help clear your head and give your body a boost.

LOOK FOR THE POSITIVE

News programs, print media, and news feeds that trumpet disasters and conflicts depress and stress us, which can affect our physical health. Turn the news off. Pay attention to what makes you happy and grateful.

If flood waters have entered your home, it is important that you take care of them as soon as possible. Failure to do so could lead to significant damage to your entire home. What are some of the problems that you may encounter if you let water from a flood linger in your home?

Pests Could Infiltrate Your Property

Pests are one of the biggest problems that you may encounter if you don’t take care of water right away. In most cases, they will gravitate toward water in the walls, in dark corners of the basement or in the attic. Mosquitoes may also make their way into your home during the summer months, which could result in a multitude of health problems for yourself and your family.

Unclean Water May Create Health Problems

If the water is contaminated by human waste or other garbage, it could get you or others in your home sick. Symptoms could range from an upset stomach to coma or death. If there are syringes or other sharp objects in the water that gets into your house, you could step on a needle or otherwise create a cut that may become infected.

Wooden Surfaces Can Become Rotted Beyond Repair

Wood tends to rot or become especially weak when it is inundated by water. If the wood is not dried within 24 hours, it could be permanently damaged. This means that your wood paneled walls, wooden beams used to hold up your roof or the frames around windows and doors could be lost forever. The cost to repair the damage could range from a few hundred dollars to several thousands of dollars. Furthermore, a portion of those costs may not be covered by your homeowners insurance policy.

Mold and Mildew Could Grow and Spread

Mold likes to make a home wherever there is water and an absence of any sort of light. It also likes to spread quickly through the air. If mold gets too close to your HVAC unit, there is a chance that it takes over the entire house. In addition to the potential health hazards, it smells terrible, and will make it harder to rent or sell even if potential buyers or tenants can’t see the mold.

If your home is invaded by flood waters or even a few drops from a leaking pipe, you should have it taken care of immediately. A plumber or a professional water remediation company will be able to stop the damage from getting worse and work on restoring the home to its previous condition.