Lifestyle | Live Happy

7 Tips to Travel On a Budget and Still Make Happy Memories

Studies show that spending money of experiences rather than material objects will make you happier. You’ll not only be able to create positive memories that will last you a lifetime, but it’s also an opportunity to strengthen your relationships with friends and family too. But if you are currently living on a tight budget, you may feel like you don’t have the means to take those trips that bring so much joy to your life. You will be pleased to know that visiting unique places around the world and having a fun holiday does not always have to be costly. You can still enjoy a meaningful vacation if you budget and plan well. Here are seven useful tips that you can use to take the trips that make you happy without breaking the bank. 1. Plan Your Trip Random and spontaneous trips may sound exciting but if you are traveling on a tight budget, planning is the way to go. You will need an itinerary that clearly defines where you wish to go and for how long, so research on the countries and cities you want to visit and the amount of time you are going to spend in each place is key. Pro tip: Travel During Off-Season. Not only do trips during peak seasons cost more, but you will also be in the midst of heavy crowds and loads of tourists. Summer holidays are something you will want to avoid. You can get quite a bargain on plane tickets and hotel stays during low-season period. 2. Choose Your Accommodations Wisely Opt out of expensive hotel stays and look for dorms, hostels, and guesthouses instead. If you are traveling with your family or friends, sharing rooms can also lower costs. If you are up for it and feel safe, sharing a room with other tourists can also be a good idea. You can make use of popular booking platforms (like Airbnb) to book apartment/home rooms ahead of time at nearly half the cost. Take advantage of any friends, family members, and colleagues who live in the area you are visiting to see if they would let you stay at their house during the trip. Plus, your trip may be less stressful on you if you are around good company. 3. Book Flights Ahead of Time Booking flights ahead and getting a good bargain on return flights will save you added hassle, time and money. Getting tickets nearly a year or even a few months ahead is a good idea if you do not want to worry about running short of money during your trip. When booking your flight, you can always: Pick a flight during the middle of the week such as Tuesday or Wednesday to get premium lower prices. Traveling midweek also makes checking in at the airport easier due to shorter queues. Book economy class instead of business to save up on those bucks. Pick a lower-budget airline with cheap deals and shorter flying times. Pack light luggage as hold luggage costs extra money. If possible, opt for a bus or train instead of an air flight to reduce costs even further. 4. Watch What You Eat If you choose to eat every meal from a fancy restaurant, you’ll burn a hole in your pocketbook quickly. Make sure to explore the area to see what you wish to eat and what it should cost on average. You can buy cheaper food and dishes from grocery stores or local markets. Cut down on unnecessary drinks and sweets and stay hydrated with water instead. If the place where you are staying has a kitchen, you might want to save money by meal planning beforehand and cooking something on your own. 5. Earn During Vacation Working while on a vacation or getaway is a brilliant way to recover money spent during the trip. Doing so can allow you to travel for months on end and explore to your heart’s content. A few ideas to earn extra money include: Turning into a travel vlogger to earn money through social media. You can resize video for Facebook or use other software to make your content more interesting. Offer to host other tourists. Teaching travelers skills like skiing during the winters. Teaching a language. Freelancing 6. Get Travel Insurance Travel insurance can be expensive but is worth it. You can get coverage for financial losses and minimize your financial risks during your traveling period. A good travel insurance plan will cover: Lost baggage. Stolen items. Emergency medical expenses due to an illness. Trip delays and cancelation. Missed flights or vehicle trips. Legal costs incurred due to accidentally damaging property or causing injury. 7. Seek Out Fun for Free Looking for free things that you can do while you are traveling to can help reduce your expenses significantly. For example, many museums or walking tours may be little to no cost as all. You can also reduce costs by carpooling with your friends or other tourists. This way the fare will be reduced by half or even three to four times the cost. Traveling for leisure should be full of fun and doesn’t need to be burdened by the constant worry of running out of funds. If you follow the tips above carefully, you can travel to nearly any part of the world without it costing you an arm and a leg.

kersti bryan directing her first short film, Egg Party

Lifestyle

Actress Kersti Bryan Believes in Holding the Right Thoughts

Whether its starring in AMC’s Tales of the Walking Dead or releasing her new short film in which she wrote, produced and directed, Kersti Bryan has been very busy lately. Using real life as her muse, Kersti’s short film Egg Party was inspired by an egg-decorating party that she attended with her girlfriends all in their 30s where the conversations ranged from break-ups to aging to fertility. Already garnering multiple awards and praise on the film festival circuit, including the Cinequest Film, COVEN Film Festival and the New York Shorts International Film Festival, Kersti hopes her short film of vulnerability, grief and ultimately healing, can serve as a safe place for women to have difficult conversations. She is also a big believer in positive messaging. During the pandemic, while stuck in quarantine and unable to perform, Kersti and her friends pooled their artistic talents to create messages of hope for the frontline workers at New York hospitals who sacrificed so much for other people. Coined The Clear Day Project, the movement gained so much attention it was featured on CNN. Live Happy recently connected with Kersti to discuss the things that contribute to her own happiness, including creating change through art, being there for others and why grieving really is a function of healing. What Inspired the Characters Portrayed in Your Short Film Egg Party? Egg Party was "hatched" out of a real-life egg decorating party in Brooklyn. As a woman in my late 30s, I was going through a breakup and I was on my way to this party and realized I had written: "dying egg party" in my calendar—misspelled. Dying vs Dyeing. I was like: "Yikes! That's BLEAK!" At the party there were several female comedians that were lifelong friends and we were all talking so openly and hilariously about things I couldn't say out of my mouth: Sex, aging, fertility. It was amazing. At that same moment, a number of very close friends (that were not present at the party) were struggling with the very difficult experience of miscarriage. When I began co-writing with my pals Ashton Heyl and Claire Kennedy, we wanted to hold on to that hilarious dynamic. So many of these characters within Egg Party were inspired from those party attendees as well as other friends. IN YOUR OPINION, WHY IS GRIEVING SO IMPORTANT TO THE HEALING PROCESS? In my artistic practice, I am drawn to chiaroscuro paintings—the play of light and dark living side by side. That was our inspiration with the lighting throughout the little film and in the egg portraits that are so beautifully created by our production designer Christina Read. These women are dealing with grief and healing at the same moment. I believe grieving is so much part of joy. To understand one fully, you must understand the other. DID YOU LEARN ANYTHING ABOUT YOURSELF WHILE DIRECTING THIS SHORT MOVIE? Oh, my heavens, yes. This is my directorial debut, so I was in a “learning place.” I learned a great deal about communication and collaboration. I learned how to ask for help and also how to get out of the way! It’s helpful when you have such great talent around you. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE CLEAR DAY PROJECT AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TAKE ON THIS ENDEAVOR? In the early days of the pandemic, The Clear Day Project was an idea my pals Jordan Dean, Dan Amboyer and myself had in an effort to give back front line medical workers in NYC that were sacrificing so much. We each had a Rolodex of Broadway singers, dancers and artists that were just sitting at home because of the pandemic! So, we asked all our friends to share a small video of a song, message of comfort, piece of text or whatever they wished. Jordan, who has a complex heart condition, has a close connection to Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC because they saved his life. We partnered with the hospital to get these messages of hope directly to the staff at Mt. Sinai. We compiled and shared nearly 80 different videos of hope. You can check out some of these amazing messages on our website for a pick-me-up cleardayproject.org. WHY DO YOU THINK THERE IS SO MUCH POWER IN POSITIVE MESSAGING? My grandmother Doris was a major believer in HTRT: “Hold the Right Thought.” Of course, there will always be difficult things we encounter in our days, but I believe what we focus on expands. Putting positive messages front and center and “holding the right thought” keeps those positive things growing. So, HTRT! HOW DOES YOUR CREATIVITY CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR HAPPINESS? It has taken me (and many of us!) a long time to manage our sensitivities to this world. My creative process has helped immensely to digest some of the big feelings and big experiences of my life. Writing poetry, music (I play the harp and piano), painting, acting. These are some of my tools to help me crash around and try to make sense of things. It’s the SHARING of those pieces with the world where the happiness comes. When someone watches and is changed—maybe feels not so alone. That makes me happy. I hope our short film Egg Party does that. WHAT IS THE KINDEST ACT SOMEONE HAS EVER DONE FOR YOU? Forgave me. HOW DO YOU MAKE OTHERS CLOSE TO YOU HAPPY? I love to stay in touch. One of my most precious gifts I ever received was an old-fashioned 1940s type-writer that is the weight of an anvil. So, I write notes of encouragement to my loved ones on it. The last few holidays for my niece and nephew, I created a couple of winter fairies that come during the holidays very early in the morning to leave special treats like buttons, sparkly string and notes for them under their tree. WHERE IS YOUR HAPPY PLACE? My happy place is sitting with my family in front of the wood burning stove with a cocoa at my Uncle Andy’s High Lonesome Hut in Fraser Valley, Colorado when the snow is falling.

Young women on college campus holding textbook

Wellness

Which Bachelor’s Degree Will Make You Happiest?

Money doesn’t buy happiness — but the right college degree program can. Research into the mental health of students in different degree fields has uncovered that certain programs are almost certain to make you feel happier and more relaxed than other fields, and not just during a student’s time at school. If you are eager to invest in a degree that continues to improve your mood for the rest of your life, you might enroll in one of the following bachelor degree programs: Humanities Though humanities majors are often confronted with the irksome question, “What will you do for work?” it seems that students focused on humanities degrees are some of the happiest on campus. Humanities degrees encompass a variety of studies of the human world, from English language and literature to history and geography, philosophy and religion, law, archaeology and anthropology, arts, modern languages and more. Many humanities studies confront questions about what it means to be happy and how true happiness is achieved, which is perhaps why this degree field is the one most likely to bring joy to students now and into the future. Sports and Exercise Science The human body needs regular movement for proper regulation. In fact, one of the first and best treatments for mental disease is an exercise regimen. Thus, it makes sense that students committed to understanding the physical needs of the human body are often quite contended on college campuses. Certain exercises allow the body to release endorphins that elevate the mood immediately and improve emotional outlook in the long term. Students who are so committed to sports and exercise science that they pursue a degree in the field will likely maintain healthy physical habits, thus all but guaranteeing themselves happiness. Engineering Perhaps a surprising degree on this list, engineering consistently ranks among the happiest degrees — primarily for the job security and high salary awaiting students after graduation. There are all sorts of engineering disciplines for students to explore to find a field that they feel passionate about and capable in. Though engineering programs can be competitive and require exceedingly complex knowledge and skill, students who are committed to engineering are able to find happiness while they pursue their degrees and for decades after. Natural Sciences The natural sciences are a field of study focused on understanding phenomena of the natural world. Some examples of natural sciences include chemistry, physics, biology and geology, though each of these can be further divided into myriad disciplines and specializations. Often, students study the natural sciences because they already feel passionately about them, which means every course offers them more opportunities to explore their passion and refine a skill they know and enjoy. Like the humanities, there are not always clear career pathways for students in the natural sciences, but that does not stop them from experiencing happiness in their studies. Psychology It makes sense that one of the most popular degree programs is also among the most fascinating. A bachelor’s degree in psychology provides students with unique insight into the workings of the human mind, which remains one of the most powerful and mysterious organic tools in the universe. Psychology is a relatively young field, which means there is still plenty of opportunity for students to experiment and innovate new theories to explain human thought, emotion and behavior. When it comes to achieving happiness, psychology students have decades of research to utilize as blueprints, so they are more likely to develop healthy mental and emotional patterns during and after their degree program. Arts and Design Humans have been creating art for far longer than we have been practicing math, pursuing scientific inquiry or writing down histories and laws. There are many theories regarding humankind engages in artistic endeavors, but many art students have a clear and easy answer: joy. Making art involves expressing oneself, and that act can bring balance that leads to a profound and lasting happiness. What’s more, because creativity is often lacking in more career-oriented degree fields, there are plenty of opportunities for success in arts and design after graduation. Plenty of students in degree programs outside of these six experience happiness — just not to the extent of students pursuing degrees in the above fields. If you don’t know what you want to do but you do know you want to be happy, enrolling in one of the above degree programs is a safe choice.

Corn tortillas filled with meat and veggies

Lifestyle

Yes, Tacos Can Brighten Up Your Day

When it comes to foods that make you happy, I bet it doesn’t take long for tacos to make your short list. According to a survey conducted by OnePoll (commissioned by the meal kit delivery service HelloFresh), researchers asked participants about the foods that can instantly brighten up their day. Tacos topped the list, followed by the breakfast staple of bacon and eggs, and steak. That’s high praise for the traditional comfort food that originated from our neighbors to the south. October 4th is National Taco Day and Yelp—the website and app that lets users sound off on local businesses with reviews, photos and other information—recently released its Top 100 Taco Spots in the US. Depending on where you live in the country, from Texas to California, the choices for a good local taco joint are abundant, such as Mami Coco in Dallas or Taco Nazos in L.A. But this list proves you don’t have to live closer to the border to still get a good taco. According to the Yelp, you can find some of the best local taco spots in unconventional places, including Shaka Tacoz in Hawaii, Los Tacos No. 1 in New York and Deckhand Dave’s Fish Tacos Alaska. Yelp is also offering a $20,000 sweepstakes to users who love tacos and support local businesses. When the winner of the first-ever Taco Trailblazer award is chosen, they will then embark on the Yelp Taco Trail and visit some of those Top 100 Taco Spots in the United States and document their journey on the site. Whether it’s the simplicity, versatility, convenience or they just plain taste great, tacos seem to offer much more to the soul than just sustenance, but we’ll leave that to the food experts to figure out. We’ll just continue to put smiles on our faces with a visit to the local taco shop. Here are the some of the Top Taco Spots in the United States according to Yelp!: Fernandez Restaurant - San Diego Taco Nazo – Bellflower - Los Angeles Taqueria Mi Ranchito - Los Angeles Granny's Tacos – Austin Los Tacos No.1 - New York Tacos Sinaloa - San Francisco El Primo Tacos - Los Angeles Bajamar Seafood & Tacos - Las Vegas Shaka Tacoz - Hawaii Mami Coco - Dallas De Cabeza - San Diego Deckhand Dave's Fish Tacos - Alaska Jazzy's Kitchen - Hawaii Taqueria El Asador – Pensacola Mariscos Mi Gusto Es - San Diego Street Tacos and Grill - Los Angeles Tacos Jalisco – Key Largo Tranky's Tacos - Dallas El Chile Toreado - Santa Fe Birrieria Little Tijuana - Los Angeles/Riverside Cocina Madrigal - Phoenix Edgewater Tacos - Chicago Chicali Tacos - Las Vegas Tacos Aya Yay - Denver La Bamba Mexican Grill Restaurant - Phoenix Taqueria Pollo Asado - Seattle Tlaolli - Indiana Del Seoul - Chicago Str8 Up Tacos - Los Angeles Porque No? Tacos - San Francisco Kiss Pollos Estilo Sinaloa - Phoenix Guerra's Krazy Taco - Ohio Tacos Del Chavo - Atlanta SoyMexican Veggie-Vegan Eatery - Las Vegas Frogtowns Gourmet Tacos - Los Angeles El Gallo Giro Taco Truck - San Francisco Xicamiti La Taquería Bistro - Denver Tacos La Pasadita - Utah Dos Mundos - Portland Tacos Y Mariscos Las Islitas - Hawaii Tacos El Gordo - San Diego TaquerEATa - Hawaii Tacos Los Panchos - Utah Tacos El Chilango Food Truck - Virginia Fish Company Taco - Galveston TACO-BOOK Taqueria - Seattle Benny's Tacos & Rotisserie Chicken - Westchester – Los Angeles Taqueria La Loma - Ohio Tres Amigos - Arizona Birria & Barbacoa de chivo Los Compadre's - Louisiana Sangria On the Burg - San Antonio Tacotarian - Las Vegas Antojitos Izcalli - Alabama Cuantos Tacos – Austin Birria Landia Williamsburg - New York Taqueria Nuevo Leon – Carrollton Los Mariscos - New York Sabrina's West Street Kitchen - Reno Xochi - Seattle Taqueria El Amigo - Boston Maciel's Tortas and Tacos - Memphis El Super Taco – Phoenix Los Agavez Taqueria - Ohio La Lupita Taco Restaurant – Houston Los Bocados – Parkland, Florida Titas Taco House – Humble, Texas Just Tacos and More - Phoenix Chris' Ice Cream - Indianapolis Chino Loco Taqueria - Michigan Lolis Mexican Cravings - Tampa El Cuate - Oregon La Cocina Mexican Street Food - Utah Taco Culture Taco Shop Arizona - Phoenix Tacos Nayarit - South Carolina Arun’s Indian Kitchen & Taco Masala – Lauderhill, Florida Slope & Hatch - Colorado La Calle Taqueria Y Carnitas - Colorado El Taco Feliz - Hawaii Yellow City Street Food - Amarillo Forastero - Chicago Acevedos Hawaicano Café - Hawaii Lane's Quickie Tacos - Arkansas 143 Street Tacos - Arizona Tacos Doña Lena - Houston The Taco King – Houston La Plaza Supermarket - Ohio Nanys Tacos - Arizona J Zapata - Pennsylvania Cafe Nube - New York Flavia's Kitchen – Austin Taco Bamba - Virginia Tacos Pihuamo - Oregon Taco El Chingon - NY State Cinco De mayo Taqueria – Spring, Texas Quesabirria Jalisco Tacos - Chicago Las Palmas - Pennsylvania Dos Hermanos Taco Truck - Alabama El Paisa - New Mexico Alegria Tacos – Oakland Park, Florida La Reforma Brewery - New Mexico

relationships

The Art of Parenting

As the mother of three children under the age of 10, Kate Vastano is used to finding unexpected surprises around the house. But when she discovered that her 5-year-old daughter, Jules, had painted the wall with nail polish, it stopped her in her tracks. She learned that Jules had been trying to paint their dog’s toenails, but when he refused to cooperate, Jules decided to hone her painting skills on the only other available canvas: a hallway wall. Kate’s immediate thought was to paint over it, but there was one little problem. “I had no clue which shade of paint we used on that wall,” says Kate, who lives in Brentwood, Tennessee. “I thought we were really screwed this time.” But she quickly channeled her frustration into creativity. She put a frame around it, complete with a museum-worthy description, and declared it “art.” “It’s on a wall between my home office and upstairs bathroom, so I get to experience it multiple times a day,” she says with a laugh. Not taking situations like this too seriously — and instead finding humorous ways to deal with them — has been essential to her as a parent, she explains. “My husband, Bryan, and I realized shortly into our parenting journey that it’s not worth stressing out over everything. If we can laugh when things get nuts and find the humor, we can make it fun for everyone.”

Lifestyle

Balancing Seasonal and Year-Round Decor for a Happier Home

If you love making your house look and feel like a home, then you’re bound to have a collection of different kinds of decor stored up everywhere for different festivals and seasons each year. However, this can also make one feel overwhelmed, given that the decor needs to be often changed to match the aesthetic of the season, not to mention the clutter that’s bound to happen when you have way too much decor stored in the house. Creating and maintaining indoor decor needn’t be that hard - all you need to do is find a good way to balance the decor you use by separating them into two sections: Seasonal decor and year-round decor. Once you’ve done this, things simply get easier. On that note, here are some tips which will enable you to maintain an easier decor process while also keeping your home clean and clutter-free, let’s get started! Choose decor that’s timeless For starters, make a list of all the decor you want to have around the house all through the year - this could include certain candles or candle holders, carpets, photo frames and paintings, plants, chinaware and crockery, lampshades, and so on. These are pieces that are going to be there all year-round, and you’re rarely going to get rid of them. That’s why you need to be extremely picky with the color scheme and objects, because you want them to all blend in with the general aesthetic of the house. Once you’ve figured this out, you can store or give away the rest of the general decor, because it’s best to not have them lying around or taking up too much space since this decor isn’t going to be changed anytime soon. Once you’ve got your year-round decor figured out, you can move on to managing seasonal decor. How to add seasonal decor to your home This is a pretty easy step. Since you already have your year-round decor in place, you won’t need to completely redo your home every time there’s a festival or new season. All you need to do is add tiny accents here and there, which will give the entire home a new look. For instance, when Fall rolls in after Spring, all you need to do is switch out the bright flowers and vases for some warm candles and throws. Small changes like this can make a big difference when the colors match the aesthetic of the home. One of the best ways to keep track of what decor goes where and how you can effortlessly decorate your house each year is by documenting your decor changes each time there’s a change - you can try Memento's video creator to do this and always have the video to refer to each year. Happy decorating! How to manage seasonal decor First things first, make a list of all the seasons and holidays you generally decorate the house for. If you need help, here are some common decoration themes most homes follow: Christmas New year Easter Thanksgiving Summer Winter Spring Fall If there are other holidays you celebrated, feel free to add them to the list. Once you’ve got this down, you need to figure out how to sort out your decor. To start with, find the exact number of cartons you need, depending on the different types of decor you have (for Christmas, Spring, Summer, etc). This way, you can label and store them away with ease, and take them out only when you need them. Once you’ve done this, you can start separating your decor into the different cartons. Keep in mind that you also have year-round decor already in place, which will mostly stay put throughout the year. This will give you an idea of exactly how much decor you need for each season, and how many unwanted things you need to get rid of. Once sorted through, you can store them away in the garage, store room, or loft. For more ideas on how to make fill your home with joy, check out 33 Ideas for a Happy Home.

Lifestyle

Italy’s Secret to Happiness

As a born and bred American, I’ve always believed in hard work, independence, productivity and pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. I loved the rat race. Then I moved to Italy—and culture shock set in. Everything was different—and it all moved so slowly! Yet, somehow, everyone seemed much happier. So I got curious. I decided to find out what was generating so much happiness, so effortlessly. Fortunately, my new Italian friends were happy to share (it’s not much of a secret after all). Here are the top five happiness principles, right from the heart of Italian culture: 1. Embrace Art The famed poet Lord Byron called Italy the “garden of the world, the home of all Art yields.” He was right. Everything in Italy is beautiful, from the ornate cathedrals and pristine marble fountains to the most dilapidated stone alleys bursting with flowers and greenery. Italy’s beauty is not an accident. Birthplace of the Renaissance, Italians know the power of art and culture. For centuries they’ve invested in artists and artisans to surround themselves with breathtaking architecture, intricate frescos, and gorgeous statues, not to mention divine music, theater and opera. They also embrace the art of clothing. From high-fashion Milan to the littlest hamlet, Italians love to look good. This is called “la bella figura,” the art of creating a good impression. Even Italian food is exquisite, composed of colorful herbs, fruits and vegetables arranged with the most artistic flare. Each plate is a work of art. It's hard not to be happy when you’re surrounded by (and creating) so much beauty. *Takeaway: Invite art and beauty into every aspect of your life and spend time in gorgeous places. 2. Walk All the Time, Climb All the Stairs Here in Tuscany, most towns are perched atop steep hills or nested in tiny valleys, with narrow streets and steep climbs. Cars can’t navigate them well and are often not allowed. So, people walk. Everywhere. This gets them outside in nature, breathing the fresh air, interacting with neighbors, and using their bodies. According to blue zones research, continuous movement like this (rather than just stopping by the gym a few times a week) is key to happiness, longevity and overall life satisfaction. *Takeaway: Walk everywhere you possibly can, and stop to chat with people along the way. Make continuous movement your way of life. 3. Eat Little, But Well My Italian friends say, “Mangia poco, ma bene.” This means “Eat little, but well.” Italians are culinary experts but unlike Americans, they don’t eat much. Instead, they savor small portion sizes, with an emphasis on vegetables and hearty servings of antioxidant-rich olive oil. They also follow breakfast and lunch (and often dinner) with a tiny teacup of caffé. It’s not much, usually just a single shot, but this practice stimulates digestion and allows everyone to linger together longer, savoring the atmosphere and company, which is key to the Italian way of life. *Takeaway: Eat really excellent, healthy food but not very much of it, and always share your meals with friends and family. 4. Take Your Time It’s not just meals Italians savor; they love taking their time just about everywhere (except driving). Everything moves slowly, appointments include plenty of time to chat, and it takes a long time to get things done. The work day is punctuated with lots of breaks for socializing and offices are closed frequently for holidays. In fact, many Italians take a whole month off from work each year. “Domani, domani,” is a common saying here. It means “tomorrow, tomorrow,” or “don’t worry about it, there’s always tomorrow.” In America, we do the opposite, we move fast, push hard, and stress about everything – and to what end? At the end of the day, life is short, precious, and meant to be savored. As Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh said, “The miracle is not to walk on water. The miracle is to walk on the green earth, dwelling deeply in the present moment and feeling truly alive.” *Takeaway: Take your time. Allow yourself to enjoy the company of others and savor the sweet experience of simply being alive. Don’t rush. 5. Embrace Community For centuries, Italians have emphasized social life. The very structure of their cities was built around it, with large central piazzas for gathering and socializing. This prime real estate could have been more profitable as residential or business units, but the Italians have long known that gathering together is key to a healthy society, philosophical exploration, robust political discourse, and downright enjoyment. In Italy, community, friends and especially family are everything. They spend as much time together (and supporting one another) as possible. *Takeaway: Build your community. Host meals with friends and family. Invite someone to go for a walk. Spend time outside chatting with neighbors. Take time to connect with others throughout the day, every single day. These five elements blossom from the very heart of Italian culture. They are key to the Italians’ exceptional ability to generate happiness and savor life. So give them a try and enjoy “La Dolce Vita” (the sweet life) yourself. Read more from Andrea Culletto at ExploryTales.com. Self-love wave rings are a gentle (and sparkly reminder) to love yourself unconditionally.

Lifestyle

7 Happy Benefits of Being a Cat Lover

One of the perks of owning a cat is that you get to have an adorable furball for a friend. But did you know that being a cat lover comes with other numerous psychological benefits? For instance, according to one Australian study, cat owners have better psychological health compared to people who don’t own pets. Also, watching those purr-fect online videos of Sparta cat or Simon’s cat does more than make you laugh. It also improves your mood and mental health according to a recent study published in the journal of Computers in Human Behaviour. Let’s look at more unique benefits of being a cat lover, shall we? 1. Better Sleep If you’re a restless sleeper, maybe you should consider adopting a fur-baby. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 50% of cat owners invite their felines to bed, and for good reason. Several studies report that sleeping with your feline gives you comfort and a sense of security. Besides, a cat purring can also help soothe you to sleep. So, unless you’re allergic to cats or you have a playful feline who is likely to scratch or punch you every time you change your sleeping position, maybe it’s time you considered allowing your kitty into your bed. 2. Lowers Stress Levels Nothing feels better than a warm soft cuddle from your cat on a cold winter evening. Undoubtedly, cats have a way of making us happy and there is science-backed evidence to prove it. Researchers from Washington State University who used stressed university students as participants in a recent study found out that the students' stress levels reduced when they petted a cat or a dog. Cats have also been used in hospitals and addiction centers as therapeutic pets to reduce stress levels among patients. Chelsea Hudson, a therapist at Chicago-based CitySpace Counselling further explains that cats give unconditional love and can provide a safe escape for people looking to find love or those trying to distract themselves from everyday stressors. The good news is that even if you have a grumpy cat, you can make them love you so that you can enjoy the benefits of petting or cuddling with your pet. 3. Helps You Cope With Grief In addition to relieving stress, cats can help you deal with grief. Your pet offers consistent companionship which can help you deal with feelings of loneliness when you’re grieving. Further, a cat won’t expect you to behave in a certain way which is often the case with human companionship. With your furball, they’re no expectations, which helps you deal with grief more naturally. Besides, cats can be particularly beneficial during times of grief as they’re independent animals. In times of mourning, you may be too overwhelmed to do everyday responsibilities such as taking care of your dog. The good thing about cats is that they don’t need constant care. A cat will also quickly adapt to changes in your routine or behavior without a fuss. 4. Companionship Cats make great companions. They’re adorable, affectionate, and have lots of love to offer. According to one study, having a cat for a pet is almost the same as having a romantic partner. Another survey conducted by Cats Protection, most of the surveyed cat owners noted that their pets were great companions. Due to their affectionate nature, cats will often initiate contact. They also know how to reciprocate kindness and bond with their owners. 5. The Purr Helps Heal Joint Injuries A cat’s purr can lull you to sleep. But did you know that the same sound has healing abilities? Cat purring can lower your stress levels due to the release of endorphins, “the feel-good hormones.” Reduced stress levels translate to a quicker recovery for people with injuries. Moreover, cat purring has a healing effect on injured human bones and muscles. Cat purring is associated with certain sound frequencies that have a healing effect on the human body. It’s believed that sound frequencies that fall between 18-35 HZ have a healing effect on injured bones, tendons and muscles. Since a cat’s purr has a frequency of between 20-140 HZ it’s said to have a positive healing effect on joint injuries. 6. Improves Relationships Pets are a wonderful way to start conversations and meet new people. Although cat owners are believed to be more introverted than dog owners, a recent Carroll University study showed that they’re more open-minded, smart, and sensitive. In yet another study, pet researcher Dr. June Nicolls found that men with cats were perceived to be more attractive, nicer, and more caring by women. 7. Good for Your Health As mentioned earlier, petting your pet helps release oxytocin, “the love hormone,” which helps lower your stress levels. Also, a cat’s purr can help lower your blood pressure and calm your nerves. In a study conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Stroke Institute, the researchers found out that snuggling with your cat reduces your risk of suffering from a heart attack. Cats can also prevent allergies, especially in children. A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Allergy noted that teenagers that were exposed to cats in their early years were less likely to be allergic to cats. The theory is that due to being exposed to cats at an early age, a child will develop an immune system that can combat different kinds of allergies including cat allergies. There is a ton of scientific evidence showing that being a cat lover has numerous benefits. So, go on and snuggle next to your fur-baby, as it will not only make you feel safe but you’ll also feel loved and happier.

Live Happy's Tips to Say Goodbye to Clutter

Wellness

Say Goodbye to Clutter and Enjoy the Freedom of Letting Things Go

Clutter not only junks up your space, it also seriously messes with your health, happiness and productivity. According to studies from Princeton University’s Neuroscience Institute and UCLA’s Center on Everyday Lives of Families, our overstuffed homes rob us of focus, drain our energy, spike stress levels, invite depression and leave us perpetually searching for our keys. But take heart. You can outwit clutter in less time than you’d think. Start with small steps to embrace the things that uplift you and dispense with those that get in the way. End the Paper Chase Find a basket, bowl or tray large enough to corral all incoming paper—mail, catalogs, school forms, coupons, receipts, invitations and warranties. Then marvel as your counters and tabletops magically resurface, and you can instantly find any paper you need. Go through the contents once a week with shredder, recycling bin and folders close at hand. Scan any info you don’t need in hard copy form, sign up for paperless billing and automatic payments and ditch manuals that can be found online. Edit mail preferences at directmail.com (free) and dmachoice.org ($2 fee). Think Small Choose a space you can clear in one short burst—a single shelf, a drawer, a section of a counter, a dresser top, even a laundry-burdened chair. Once done, declare that area strictly off limits to future clutter. Continue with a new spot each day. (Note: Moving the clutter to another space is cheating.) Lose the Baggage Give yourself permission to let go of incomplete art or craft projects lying around in varied states of disarray. Ditto for workout equipment, supplies from past careers or musical instruments you don’t use. You won’t miss their constant nagging. Trust us. Find a Good Home Shoes will pile by the front door until the end of time if you don’t add a rack, basket or other storage solution. Likewise, perpetually lost items— keys, eyeglasses, phones and wallets—also need a place to go. The National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals reports the average American loses a year of his or her life searching for things. We know you have better things to do. Think Digital You can’t work efficiently if folders, files and icons look like a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle dumped onto your computer screen. Neither can your computer. Dedicate 15 minutes a day for a week to reorganize, delete old downloads, archive folders, clean out your inbox and uninstall and delete apps you don’t use. Trim the Excess Most cooks utilize the same pots, pans and bakeware repeatedly, so edit to your chosen few. Place utensils and small gadgets in a container. If you pull an item out for use, wash it and return it to its original kitchen spot. With the exception of annual helpers like a candy thermometer or turkey baster, anything unused after a month can go. Box It Up Indecision is clutter’s best friend. Whenever you catch yourself saying, “I’ll deal with it later,” place the item in question in a maybe box that you seal and tuck out of sight for six months. (Put a note on your calendar when to check back in.) If you didn’t need or miss anything in the box in that time frame, take it unopened to charity that day. And on that note, if you stumble across a box of things you forgot you had, consider that donation decision already made. Write Away Gather all your pens, pencils and markers alongside a paper pad to test with scribbles. Select 20 winners, then donate the rest. Buy from Home “Shop” your own wardrobe as though you’re in a boutique seeing each item for the first time. Select only those items that you’d buy today. When finished, hang your “purchases” back in the closet; bag unselected items for consignment or charity. Don’t panic if your closet looks spare. You’ve just done yourself the favor of identifying your core style—a feat comparable to upgrading from a department store’s jam-packed clearance rack to the must-have apparel on the mannequins at your favorite boutique. Live with your capsule wardrobe before filling in the gaps. And look for a common thread among your rejects to avoid future error. Clear the Calendar Unnecessary appointments or meetings count as clutter, too. Only spend time on things that matter to you. Celebrate Simplicity After each holiday, cull decor that didn’t make it to this year’s party, whether ornaments, an inflatable yard witch or that whimsical set of Easter Bunny plates. What you do with the surprise discovery of any chocolate treats is up to you. Supply Only the Demand Save time and money by gathering duplicates, such as batteries, sticky notes, lightbulbs and rolls of tape. Keep what you’ll realistically need in the next year and donate the rest. Got 5 Minutes? Nab empty cardboard boxes and grocery bags for recycling. Unsubscribe from three email newsletters (of course you’ll want to keep Live Happy’s). Toss expired products and empty containers from the medicine cabinet. Recycle mismatched plastic containers and lids. Clean the car using one bag for trash and another for items to relocate. Outwit Common Clutter Cons I might need that. If you haven’t used it in a year, it’s not serving your needs. Hypothetical uses infringe on how you really live. It’s an heirloom. You can love Grandma without loving her crystal. Realize the tug is about the memory, not the thing. Take a photo or keep just one goblet, then pass the rest along. I paid a lot for that! Maybe so, but now it’s costing your peace of mind, too. I don’t want to waste. Donating extras is sharing the wealth. I could give that to so and so. With few exceptions, don’t get bogged down in a Plan B. This article originally appeared in the October 2018 edition of Live Happy magazine.

Lifestyle

5 Things You Can Do Every Day to Improve Your Mental Health

As the importance of mental health increasing becomes less of a taboo subject and more people are starting to advocate for their own well-being, there is still plenty to do to help bring more awareness to this issue. For example, your employer can offer you mental health days but if you can’t recognize that you need that time off to recover, your mental health will continue suffer. If you experience symptoms such as excessive worrying, lack of energy and social avoidance, these can be warning signs that something is not quite right and you may need a mental health check-up. It’s always good to keep in touch with your physician or mental health provider to find out if you need a simple mental health screening or any additional mental health treatment. Here are 5 things you can do every day to help get your mental health back to a good place. Fight Loneliness With Flow One of the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is that it exacerbated our growing loneliness problem through isolation and anxieties about catching the virus. According to the American Psychological Association, the whole world experienced an increase in loneliness, which can have negative effects on long-term health and well-being, including depression and anxiety. While we found ourselves with unexpected and excess amounts of free time, it seems we didn’t know what to do with it. New research released by Penn State suggests we can fight off those feelings of loneliness by actively engaging in activities that put us in a state of flow. These are meaningful activities that help “stop time” and require active engagement, such as playing music, painting, writing, learning, and even video games. These activities should have healthy balance of challenge vs. skill, giving you a sense of control and a loss of self-consciousness. Researchers believe as the time passes effortlessly, your sense of loneliness will decrease and you will feel more fulfilled, which boosts your well-being. Sleep on a Schedule If the world is giving you plenty of think about, staying up all night with excessive worry won’t help anything. Whatever it is, it will be there in the morning and you’ll have a fresh mind to tackle any problems you may face. There are no shortages of studies touting the many benefits of sleep and the harm from a lack of it, but according to research from the University of Michigan, if you have an irregular sleep schedule, you are actively contributing to your bad moods and even depression. The key is to get into regular sleeping routines. That means the same sleep and wake times so your circadian rhythm will stay balanced. Making your sleep schedule a priority is not only good for your mental health, but your physical health too. To help you stay on track, there are plenty of apps on your phone or smart watch that will give you helpful reminders. Mind-Boosting Benefits of Pets We already know the many joys that pet companionship can bring into our lives, but it may also be good for your brain health, too. A new study released by the American Academy of Neurology suggests that long-term pet ownership, especially for five years or more, has been linked to slower decline in cognition as we age. Our furry friends act as a buffer to stress and keep us physically active which increases those feel-good chemicals in your body that lowers our stress levels and reduces depressive symptoms. Not only is this good for our mental health but contributes to our physical health as well. Practice Mindfulness Daily Daily mindfulness practices, such as meditation, is great for reducing your daily stress and keeping you in a calmer state. This act of self-care gives you time to check in with yourself, find some mental clarity and help you regulate your emotions. The goal is to prevent your mind from ruminating on things of the past that may be wearing your down, but also keep from inventing future events that haven’t even happened. Staying in the present moment, even if just for 10 minutes, can give you a clearer picture about your day and help you make better decisions. There are plenty of apps that offer guided practices of mindfulness, such as Headspace or Calm, but you can also take a moment out of your day to find some quiet time with breathing exercises. A good rule of thumb when you are feeling particularly anxious is to breath in for four seconds, hold for four seconds, then exhale for six seconds. Repeat these five to ten times and you’ll instantly feel the difference. Prescribe a Nature Break The correlation between nature and mental health has long been explored by science. Researchers contend that there are mental and physical benefits to spending time outdoors in nature, whether it’s forest bathing, strolling through a city park or backyard gardening. These short “green” respites help alleviate feelings of stress, boost our moods and give us the fresh air our bodies need to properly function. According to Charles Hall, Ph.D., a professor and Ellison Chair in International Floriculture in the Department of Horticultural Sciences at Texas A&M’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, one positive outcome from the global pandemic is the more people are turning their interest into “plant-related” hobbies, such as gardening and plant care. His research recently published in the Journal of Environmental Horticulture suggests that spending time with and nurturing plants can have multiple mental health benefits, including: improved happiness and well-being; enhanced memory retention; anxiety and stress reduction; increased creativity, productivity and attention; and enhanced self-esteem. Good Mental Health Should be Practiced Every Day With the proper tools in your mental health tool box, you can work on your mental health every day to help temper those negative feelings that add more stress and anxiety to your life. Just like with our physical health, mental health is not something we should ignore. Taking the proper care to nurture our state of well-being can improve our life satisfaction and cultivate more long-lasting happiness.

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