I love inspirational quotes and random advice.  I hope you do too because this is what this site is all about.  Enjoy the tips and inspiration on this site, but most of all, enjoy life.

Brittany Bryan

A Person Just Like You

Keep Your Mind in Shape

Living With Tinnitus

10 Tips to Boost Your Health

There are so many simple things you can do to enhance your health that don’t require money or a trip to the doctor.

Healthy people make more healthy choices each day than unhealthy people.

Your health isn’t entirely under your control, but you still have a lot of influence on the matter. Simple habits, repeated consistently, can profoundly impact your health in a positive way.

Use these strategies each day and reap the healthy benefits:

1. Be active

Active people are healthier and live longer. That doesn’t mean you have to spend all day at the gym. It just means that you can’t spend all day sitting around. Get moving - your body will be so glad you did!

● Have some activities planned each week that require you to think and move. For example: Plant a garden. Volunteer. Walk around the park. Learn to roller skate. Take a dance class.

2. Drink more water

Too many people fail to drink enough water each day. There are a lot of options more exciting than water, but water is what your body requires. Over half of your body weight is water, so drink more of it and skip the other beverages 90% of the time.

● Some healthy options, such as green tea and watery fruits like watermelon, will help hydrate you as well.

3. Get sufficient sleep

Over one third of the adult population fails to get enough sleep. In a society that prides itself on working harder and getting less sleep than the next person, it can be challenging to make sleep a priority. However, getting enough sleep - 7 to 9 hours for most adults - will strengthen your health.

4. Manage stress

Stress is one of the primary obstacles of good health. It detracts from the amount and the quality of your sleep. The hormones and other chemicals produced during stress are damaging to the mind and body.

● Find relaxation practices that work for you and use them each day. Healthy options include meditation, listening to soothing music, partaking in hobbies that make you happy, and warm baths.

5. Stay away from sick people

People with communicable diseases like a cold, flu, coronavirus, and more can make you sick. Some communicable diseases can permanently destroy your health.

● When others are sick, stay away as much as possible and use precautions such as masks and gloves around them. Of course, washing your hands thoroughly when you’re around them and when you leave helps immensely to stop the spread of the germs.

6. Be sociable

With very few exceptions, everyone needs to have some social contact to stay emotionally healthy. How much social contact is needed varies greatly from one person to the next.

● Find the right level for you and ensure that you’re maintaining it.

7. Keep your brain active

In today’s world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of mindless internet surfing, watching TV, and playing silly games on your smartphone. Do something that challenges your brain.

● Playing chess, sudoku, Go, crossword puzzles, bridge, and other mentally challenging games can be a great way to keep your brain healthy and sharp.

8. Eat real food

Real food is anything you can buy and consume in its natural state. Fruit, vegetables, nuts, meat, and beans are examples of natural foods. Eat what your body was designed to eat, and you’ll be much healthier.

● Cookies, chips, cereal, candy and other pre-processed foods are full of chemicals that are detrimental to your health.

9. Drop unhealthy habits

Your health isn’t just influenced by doing the right things - it’s negatively impacted by unhealthy habits. Smoking, overeating, staying up too late, drinking, and eating a low-quality diet are a few examples of bad habits that can harm your health. 

10. See your doctor

See your doctor regularly, regardless of how you feel. That includes the dentist, too.

● There are plenty of serious diseases that don’t impact how you feel until they’ve done damage to your body. Diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol are just a few examples of serious issues that frequently don’t present any symptoms at first. You don’t have to exercise for hours, drink magical protein concoctions, or limit your diet to raw vegetables to be a healthy person. Do the simple and relevant things religiously and good things will happen. Good health can be a simple matter.

Tinnitus refers to a ringing in the ears that often accompanies hearing loss.

An estimated 50 to 60 million people in the US experience these symptoms, especially as they grow older.

While tinnitus rarely indicates a serious condition, it can be challenging to live with. Most forms of tinnitus are caused by your nerves reacting to abnormal electrical signals that your ears are sending to your brain.

While it's usually called ringing in the ears, it can be any kind of sound, including whistling, buzzing, or roaring.

If you think you have tinnitus, it's important to see your doctor to determine what type of tinnitus you have and what your options are. Meanwhile, take a look at these tips for eliminating the symptoms or minimizing their impact on your life.

Treating Tinnitus That Has a Known Cause

Tinnitus can have many causes. Your doctor will perform tests and ask about your medical history to determine what's appropriate for your symptoms.

These tips may help:

1. Wait it out.

Tinnitus that follows exposure to a loud noise is usually temporary. To prevent future damage, avoid loud noises or wear protective gear.

2. Check your medication.

A number of common drugs can trigger tinnitus. That includes aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and some antibiotics and cancer drugs. Talk with your doctor about changing your prescription.

3. Remove ear wax.

Impacted ear wax can also be a factor. To be safe, let your doctor remove it rather than trying to do it yourself.

4. Treat related conditions.

In rare cases, tinnitus may be a sign of underlying issues, including vascular conditions or tumors. Proper treatment can help restore your health.

5. Recognize pulsatile tinnitus.

Unlike other forms of tinnitus, this one produces sounds that your doctor can hear too, because it's caused by the blood circulating in your body. Your doctor can treat any related conditions, and may recommend medication and lifestyle changes. Treating Tinnitus When the Cause is Unknown In some cases, tinnitus has no clear cause or appears to be related to aging. You may still find significant relief through various treatments and coping methods.

These actions may alleviate the noise:

1. Mask the sound.

Special equipment or an ordinary fan can provide background noise to make the sounds in your ears less perceptible. You might want to test an inexpensive method first before investing in more expensive devices.

2. Wear a hearing aid. Hearing aids can reduce your tinnitus and enhance your hearing. A trained audiologist can help you select a tinnitus masker or any kind of model that you may need.

3. Relax your muscles. Muscle tension can aggravate tinnitus. Tell your doctor if you clench your jaw or grind your teeth. They may recommend massage therapy.

4. Practice self-care. Tinnitus can interfere with your sleep and make it more difficult to deal with discomfort. Make an extra effort to eat well, exercise, and get adequate rest. You may also want to avoid potential irritants such as tobacco, alcohol, and excessive caffeine.

5. Try therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy and tinnitus retraining therapy have both shown promising results. CBT generally lasts a few months, and can help you learn coping skills. TRT involves wearing a special device for a year or more to help your auditory system become less aroused by the noises.

6. Consider medication. There is no drug specifically for tinnitus. However, your doctor may recommend antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs, depending on your individual symptoms. There are many effective treatments for tinnitus and hearing loss. Talk with your doctor about your options, consider wearing a hearing aid, and try other remedies that can reduce the ringing sounds and help you to hear well.

A lot of us are concerned with the size of our biceps or the girth of our waist. Having a fit body is important. However, keeping your mind in shape is critical to enjoying your life at the highest level.

Give your brain the attention it deserves! Keep your mind healthy, active, and in shape with these strategies:

1. Exercise regularly.

Roughly 30% of your brain's volume is composed of blood vessels. It's important to keep your blood moving! Exercise will get your blood flowing and help to control your blood sugar. High blood sugar is harmful to blood vessels. That's why so many diabetics die of heart disease or stroke at a relatively young age.

2. Read each day.

Reading requires a lot of your brain. It's not easy to transform symbols into words and meaning. Spend some time each day with a book that makes you think. You might learn something useful, too. * Avoid reading the same types of books on a regular basis. Read well-written articles. Read the classics. Try a new science fiction novel. How about a book on theoretical physics? Reading the sports page every day doesn't count. The same goes for romance novels by your favorite author. Mix it up.

3. Eat well.

A healthy diet will help preserve your brain function. Do a little research on the best diet for longevity and attempt to make a few changes to your eating habits. A few, small changes each month will go a long way toward keeping your brain healthy.

4. Meditate.

Meditation is powerful for several reasons. You'll learn to focus like a Tibetan monk. You'll also learn how to relax. Both are wonderful for your brain. Meditation is hard work. It's like a decathlon for your mind. * Find a good teacher in your area and meditate in a group. You'll make some new friends, too.

5. Challenge yourself.

Learn something new. Learning to paint, speak a new language, or dance are a few great examples. Learning something new forces your brain to create new neural pathways. Your brain's ability to change is referred to as its "elasticity." * This can be very challenging at first. If you've been living the same day repeatedly for several years, learning something new is similar to going jogging for the first time. It's painful, and you don't get too far. Be patient and give your brain a chance to wake up.

6. Do something that requires a lot of brainpower.

It might be solving cryptograms or writing a computer program. Take a multivariate calculus class. Study chess. Push your brain to the maximum.

7. Remember the past.

As we grow older, it's more challenging to remember facts from the past. When you can't remember something, avoid giving up. Take all the time you need to remember. You might finally remember the name of your high-school English teacher while you're mowing the grass. Keep at it.

8. Get out and socialize.

Spending too much time alone has been shown to increase the likelihood of developing dementia. Have an active social life and spend more time with others. You'll enjoy your life more, too. There are many benefits to keeping your mind in tip-top condition. You'll enjoy better mental health and preserve your mental faculties longer.

Keeping your mind healthy requires attention. Challenge yourself to learn new information and skills. Your brain is highly elastic. Give it a chance to use that ability.