In aΒ new study published in the journal Physiology and Behavior, researchers at the University of Georgia’s College of Education found that 10 minutes of walking stairs was more likely to make participants feel more energized than drinking caffeine coffee or soda.
For the study, participants on separate days either ingested capsules containing caffeine or a placebo, or spent 10 minutes walking up and down stairs-about 30 floors total-at a low-intensity pace.
Neither caffeine nor exercise caused large improvements in attention or memory, but stair walking was associated with a small increase in motivation for work.
Improved Circulation: A wet sauna’s high temperature and humidity cause blood vessels to dilate, leading to increased blood flow to muscles and organs.
Stronger Immune System: The heat and sweating in saunas help eliminate toxins and waste products from the body, thereby supporting the immune system.
Improved Recovery: Sauna’s stimulate the release of endorphins, which are natural pain-relieving and mood-enhancing chemicals in the body.
Improved Sleep: The sauna’s calming effects and the subsequent drop in body temperature after use can facilitate a more peaceful transition into sleep.
Life can throw us all kinds of different curveballs. Stress can manifest from anywhere. However, itβs up to us to keep ourselves above the waves of stress. Focusing too much on our stress means that weβre not focusing enough on the good things in our lives. And we have so many good things! Even when life seems like it canβt possibly get worse, thereβs always a silver lining, and thereβs always something positive to look towards.
Social media never shows the whole picture. Perfection is a lie.
We can all be a bit more compassionate with ourselves and others if we remember that the photo doesnβt capture it all. It would help us let go of the judging, the comparing, and the guilt. Snapshots of our lives are beautiful glimpses into our truths and our lies. We show people what we want them to see. But we do this to ourselves too. We overlook unhappiness in relationships with a fun date night selfie. We post vacation photos and ignore the debt. Or we visually showcase all the complaints while choosing not to see the goodness in our lives.
The reality is that nothing is as good or as bad as it seems. Photos can never tell the full story, so we shouldnβt put too much weight into the volumes we think they speak.
There are four Native American Indian Spirituality Laws that say nothing happens for no reason in life. When you do understand this, it’s very easy to handle and you confidently look at what’s happening, thankful for what was there and happy for what’s going to happen.
The 1st law says:
β²β²The person you meet is the right one.β²β²
That is, no one comes into our lives by accident, all the people around us who interact with us, stand for something, either to educate us or to help us in our situation.
The 2nd law says:
β²β²What happens is the only thing that can happen.β²β²
Nothing but absolutely nothing of what happens to us could have been different. Not even the most insignificant detail. There just isn’t β²β² If I had done it differently… It would have been different…” No, what happens is the only thing that can happen and needs to happen, so we can learn our lessons to get ahead. Everything, yes, every situation that happens to us in life is absolutely perfect, even when our spirit resists our ego and doesn’t want to accept it.
The 3rd law says:
β²β²Every moment when something starts is the right time.β²β²
Everything starts at the right time, not sooner or later. When we are ready for something new in our life, it’s already there to begin with.
The 4th law says:
β²β²What’s over is over.β²β²
It’s that simple. When something ends in our life, it serves our development. That’s why it’s better to let go and move forward, bestowed on the experiences that have now been gained.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you’re reading this here. If this text meets you today, it’s because you meet the conditions and understand that no rain drop anywhere in the world accidentally falls in the wrong place.
Your mood is influenced by many things β the good, as well as the bad. Spending time with a loved one or friend can improve it. Sitting in an hour of unexpected traffic can ruin it.
But your mood is more complicated than the situations and environments you encounter. There’s brain chemistry to consider, too.
In between sensing a situation and responding to it, chemicals called neurotransmitters and hormones help your brain understand, evaluate and communicate what you’re experiencing. These various neurotransmitters and hormones have specific jobs β each being activated in a certain way, signaling certain emotions and stimulating certain areas of your brain.
When it comes to happiness, in particular, the primary signaling chemicals include:
Sometimes the chains that prevent us from being free are more mental than physical.
Never underestimate the power of your own mind, for it can be the chain that holds you back, or the secret weapon that propels you toward reaching your greatest potential.