On Thursdays we take you to “the well”; your source for inspiration and how-to’s.

Mothers these days have complex roles. They have to balance jobs, bills, errands, their homes, friends, and family… all, of course, in addition to taking care of their own well-being. Taking on all of this can lead to an overwhelming sense of stress and sometimes, even sheer chaos. Staying sane with such a hectic life is a daily struggle.

If you’re a mother who sometimes finds herself on overload, you know that the last thing you want to do is translate your problems to your children. So whether you’re going through a big, life change or just trying to get through a rough day, we’d like to share our top tips for helping all you stressed-out moms stay happy and sane:

1. Take a walk

Getting out in the open air is a great way to take the edge off. Even if you can only mange to walk around the block for ten minutes, do it! The change of scenery will help clear and refresh your mind.

2. Call a friend

Need someone to talk to? Pick up the phone and call a friend. When left to your own thoughts, it’s easy to spin the same things around over and over. A heart-to-heart with a good friend can help put things in perspective and will even put a smile on your face.

3. Pamper yourself

After a hard day, when you’re feeling mentally or emotionally beaten down, it’s OK to take a long bubble bath or relish a chocolate chip cookie. Meditation, massage (even if it’s a quick shoulder rub that you give yourself), breathing exercises, or having 15 minutes of “alone time” can do wonders for your happiness and your peace of mind.

4. Don’t stress about dinner

When you feel like you’re just about to collapse at the end of the day and the thought of cooking a full-on meal seems like the straw that broke the camel’s back, be easy on yourself. It’s easy to whip up a meal that’s delicious and nutritious. Spaghetti, grilled cheese, salads, and leftovers are all quick and easy choices. There are tons of simple, healthy meals that can come together in under 20 minutes.

5. Have some fun!

It’s hard to be stressed and worried when you’re busy having a good time. And a great way to forget about stress is to play with your children. Do something fun that you both enjoy and get into their world. It’s okay to give your problems on hold. And, who knows, maybe your problems will even disappear!

Next time you find yourself on overload, take a break with one of these tips. You’ll be ready to tackle anything!

~Jennifer Rosen

Related Articles:
How Is Your Breathing?
Inspiring Benefits of Being A Mother

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam, GlamSpirit, Wellness, Health, GlamNetwork, Parenting, Stress, Relationships, Communication, Mother, Time

Love This Story? Buzz It Up Here!

Stumble It! Save to del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook

Wellness on Wednesday is all about the natural you!

Spring is here, and with it’s arrival comes warmer weather, blooming flowers, and the one thing I dread most… my springtime allergies! I have had allergies for as long as I can remember and my symptoms wreak havoc on my body and my mood. They regularly consist of itchy and watery eyes, a runny nose, sneezing, bloating, gas, and, to top it all off, a flare-up of asthma and eczema. If you have allergies, you know that they can be a complete springtime mood-buster.

In the spring, everyone wants to be outside enjoying the beautiful sunshine, and allergy sufferers should not have to forfeit this joy. If you have allergies but refuse to let them get the best of you (as you should!) there are some things you can do. Even though you can’t control environmental factors such as mold, pollen, flowers, grass, and dust, there are some factors that you can control to prevent those dreadful allergy symptoms.

One of the simplest changes you can make is to your diet. The foods you eat play an important role in your body functioning and how you adapt to your environment. By adding or eliminating certain foods to your diet you can change how your body functions and adapts. With a little experimenting, you can learn a lot about how dietary changes can help alleviate your allergies.

Here are some natural nutritional solutions to reduce your allergy flare-ups:

- Eliminate Dairy – dairy causes a production of mucus in the nasal and throat membranes that can result in a sore throat, hoarseness, bronchitis, and ear infections. Try substituting soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, coconut milk, and hemp milk.

- Increase Your Omega-3s – omega-3 oils and fatty acids are natural inflammatory agents that can reduce inflammatory diseases such as asthma and migraine headaches. They can also help treat a variety of skin disorders. Try adding foods like fish, nuts, flaxseed, and hemp seed oil to your diet.

- Eat Red Fruits and Berries – red fruits and berries are rich in antioxidants that support cardiovascular and respiratory health. They inhibit inflammation which is an underlying factor in allergies and contain an ingredient that helps alleviate pain. Try raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, cherries, pomegranate, blueberries, and blackberries to name a few.

- Add Cayenne Pepper – high in vitamins, calcium, and potassium, this pepper aids in healing the digestive system, rebuilding the tissues in the stomach and intestines, and eliminating bloating or gas. Cayenne can be added to almost any savory foods and it gives an extra kick too!

It is important to remember that all foods can be an allergen. Certain foods may affect certain body systems, primarily the gastrointestinal, nervous, respiratory and skin.

This year, get your allergies under control naturally. Enjoy your days outdoors and eat the foods that keep your body healthy and happy!

-Michele Diaz

Related Articles:
Are You Allergic To Your Diet?
Top 5 Super Foods for Optimal Health

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam, GlamSpirit, Wellness, Health, GlamNetwork, Natural, Spring, Breathing, Allergies, Skin, Nasal Passages, Berries, Dairy, Omega-3

Love This Story? Buzz It Up Here!

Stumble It! Save to del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook

In today’s Wellness 101 we bring you Life Coaching…

You’ve probably heard of “Life Coaching,” but how many of you know what it is? Well, lucky for you, we’ve got the skinny on this wonderful and rapidly growing practice – and we’re just dying to share!

Simply put, life coaching is “professionally assisted self-change.” Anyone who is looking to improve the quality of their life, to find direction, and to achieve personal goals can benefit greatly from a life coach. Imagine having someone by your side listening to you, believing in you, and motivating you. This is what a life coach does.

Many people can create change for themselves in a short period of time. However, it takes several months to refine and sustain those changes. A life coach will help you define your goals, build structure, and provide momentum to help you achieve them. With a professional coach by your side, you will have results greater and faster than you ever expected.

Life coaching is a very personal experience. If you are interested in working with a coach, it’s important that the two of you connect. Fortunately, most coaches offer complimentary consultations. Interview a few coaches until you find one that you are comfortable with. Word-of-mouth is a great way to find a good coach, but if you don’t have a personal connection you can find a coach here.

~Melissa Risdon

Related Articles:
How To Achieve Set Goals
How To Be Happy

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam, GlamSpirit, Wellness, Health, GlamNetwork, Life Coach, Accountability, Goals

Love This Story? Buzz It Up Here!

Stumble It! Save to del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook

On Mondays we like to kick-start the week with simple but inspirational ideas to improve your life.

Today we’re going to encourage you to breathe better.

Breathe better? Yes. On a regular basis much of our breathing is shallow, which doesn’t allow for our lungs to become healthy and powerful. Deeper breathing brings more oxygen to your lungs – an essential for the production of energy in our body. Learning to breathe better will give you more energy, improve your sleep, and assist in weight loss and self-healing. Are you ready to learn how to breathe better? Let’s start with a simple exercise.

Wherever you are, get comfortable – even if you’re just sitting in front of your computer. Through your nose, take in a long, cleansing breath. Slowly pull the breath into the depths of your lungs and feel them expand. When your lungs are full, hold your breath for a split second, and then begin to exhale. Let the breath out of your lungs, through your nose. As you exhale imagine all of your worries leaving your body and feel your body relax. Now close your eyes and repeat this exercise 3 – 5 times.

Ahhh. How do you feel? You should feel present and relaxed. Conscious awareness of your breathing will bring you to the present moment, and a heightened awareness of your body and will help you relax. This simple breathing exercise will assist in stress reduction and will bring healing oxygen to the parts of your body that need it most. Deep, long, cleansing breaths will also leave you feeling revitalized and will help you think more clearly throughout the day.

This week, try to do this exercise a few times a day (helpful hint: you might want to set reminders on your calendar), and let us know how you feel!

~Melissa Risdon
Related Articles:
Being Present in the Moment
Tips for Cleansing and Detoxing Our Bodies

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam, GlamSpirit, Wellness, Health, GlamNetwork, Breath, Breathing, Stress, Relax, Lungs, Exercise

Love This Story? Buzz It Up Here!

Stumble It! Save to del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook

TGiF! Enjoy one of our top picks in today’s Friday Faves…

I love the idea of having a Rainbow Maker in my home. These quirky, little gadgets bring beautiful color and vibrant energy to your living space. They are also said to improve the quality of Chi wherever they are placed. And, you can have rainbows “on call” to cheer you up any day.

The Rainbow Maker can be attached to any sun-filled window in your home; in fact, the sunnier the better, as this sweetheart-to-the-environment is powered by a miniature solar panel. Once charged by the sun, the cogs of this tiny machine spin a large, dangling Swarovski crystal, which catches the light in its prisms. The result? A sea of glorious, moving rainbows across the entire room!

Dazzle your home energy with this snazzy accessory and bring new meaning to “interior design”!

~Jennifer Rosen

Related Articles:
An Enlightened Light
Feng Shui Your Work Space

Technorati Tags: Glam Media, Glam, GlamSpirit, Wellness, Health, GlamNetwork, Crystal, Solar-power, Chi, Energy, Interior Design, Accessory, Swarovski, Rainbows

Love This Story? Buzz It Up Here!

Stumble It! Save to del.icio.us Digg Email Facebook