stress Archives - Strange Daze Indeed

Gaming, Meditation and Peace

May 12, 2021 By Debra Pearlstein 3 Comments

As we’ve all learned too well over the past year, life can get very serious very fast.

Stress is harmful to the body and mind in so many different ways. Stress can weaken your immune system, contribute to fatigue, depression, anxiety and heart issues. It can manifest as digestive problems, low energy, headaches, and insomnia.
It can also really affect your perception of the world. And, that’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Due to increased stress, I’ve been seeking ways to relax and chill whenever possible.

Sometimes that means getting out in nature or just going for a long walk wherever you are. I’ve found that walking even just 20 minutes a day can improve my mood and outlook, increase my energy, clear my mind and help me sleep better.

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I’ve really been enjoying walking meditation.

“Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh

Other times, yoga or a hot bath with my favorite aromatherapy oils and epsom salts soothes away the cares. When your body is relaxed, you are more likely to unwind and sleep better as well.

I’ve found that staying in the present truly helps. I still have to remind myself of this and can usually bring myself back to this moment because it’s truly all there is. That doesn’t mean not to plan or be prepared; it just means not to dwell on the past or the future.

As one of my teachers, Ram Dass, always said: “Be here now.” Sounds simple, but it’s profound in its simplicity.

Over the past year, I’ve got more into games, whether they be board games, video games or apps on my phone.

I don’t look at them as just a distraction, but, rather, a way to be present. When you are immersed in the experience of a game, you aren’t thinking or worrying. It’s a form of meditation, a gaming meditation if you will. Because if we can focus on something completely, our mind is not jumping about.

Speaking of games, I remembered days when I was young and going to a specific movie theatre where they had the Addams Family pinball machine. I loved the feeling of the balls clinking against the glass, the bright lights, the way you had to be completely focused. I loved the competitive nature of wanting to get that free game and hear the ball pop and, most of all, the sounds, those wonderful visceral sounds.

I looked online to find pinball games and found one that gave me the experience of playing pinball but also wasn’t too complex from a digital standpoint where it seemed less tangible somehow.

Currently, I’m enjoying Space Adventure Pinball
on plays.org.

While there, I’ve discovered so many of the arcade games that bring back a wonderful sense of nostalgia and simpler times.

They have Plants vs Zombies types, Zuma types, Pac-Man types, Tetris types, mini-golf. You name it and you can probably find it there or they will look for it for you. Games are truly their passion and all games are free with no ads at all, which is a nice respite from being bombarded with them daily.

I like to take a break in a busy day to play for a while or unwind in the evening.

Pleasure in simple things.

“There is no path to Happiness, Happiness is the path.

There is no path to Love, Love is the path.

There is no path to Peace, Peace is the path.”

– Dan Millman

5 Ways to Reduce Stress When Moving to a New Home

February 23, 2021 By Debra Pearlstein 5 Comments

Anyone here love a good moving job?! Not me! It really stresses me out because there are so many moving parts (literally). When I move, I am a constant ball of stress, but you can learn from my mistakes and don’t have to repeat them because now, you can utilize these tips to help you reduce anxiety when moving to a new home. Check them out:

Sell Your Home First

If you are moving to a new home and you already own a home, you might be very concerned about what the buying and selling process looks like when it is intertwined. Throw in a move on the same day of closing – for both homes – and you have a really stressful day ahead of you! That’s why I always recommend selling your current home first. I saw a couple on Instagram that sold their previously current home when the market was at the peak. Then, they rented a townhome for about 6 months (maybe a bit longer) while they were searching for a new home and throughout the closing process of that new home. Finally, they rented the townhome for about a month after they closed on their new home so that they could swap out the flooring, paint the home, and give it a good clean before moving all of their stuff in. Although moving twice in such a short time frame was not ideal, it was honestly so much less stressful for them this way, compared to selling and buying a home at the same time, which could have left them with reduced funds, a super quick move on the same day as both closings, and more.

Save the stress and sell your home before you find a new home if renting is an option for you short-term. Honestly, you could even take an adventure, move most of your things into storage for a few months, and get a beach condo or mountain condo for awhile as you house hunt. The only downside to this is not being able to see the homes in person, unless you come back from your vacation rental.

Start Weeks In Advance

I know that you see this piece of advice on literally every moving article known to man, but that is because it really does make it easier and reduce anxiety a ton! If you are planning a move, make sure to start weeks in advance so that you don’t get stressed out along the way. The earlier you can start, the better!

Roll With The Punches & Stay Positive

No matter how great and organized your to-do list and packing job is/was, something will always come up last minute to throw you for a loop. When it does, make sure that you roll with the punches and stay positive. A lot of the time, your stress comes from yourself and how you handle situations. While it is easy to feel out of control sometimes, slow down and try your best to recover as you focus on what you can do to get back to your positive state again. Rolling with the punches is not always easy, but it is a great way to reduce stress throughout the moving process.

Fresh Start – The Moving Crew

Best solution when it comes to reducing stress while moving to a new home? Utilize Fresh Start – The Moving Crew because they are residential movers Worcester. Even when it comes to packing, they can be a huge life saver! They say, “We find that underestimating the time and energy required to pack for a move is very common and it can be one of the most stressful aspects of planning for a move, which is why we include packing services as part of our full service moving offering. Our professional, careful movers and packers are expertly trained to pack and crate items of any quantity, value, or fragility, from a library of books to a cabinet of fine china. You’d rather not worry about packing at all. We will send a team of experienced movers and packers to your home to pack up the attic to the basement. Of course, we will leave out any items you’ll need on the night before moving and quickly pack those up on moving day. Professional packing services from Fresh Start – The Moving Crew will ensure that your items are packed efficiently and transported safely.” They can pack for you, move your fragile items, move all other items, and so much more.

Unpack Quickly

Have you ever heard anyone say that unpacking is the best? Nope. I hate it. You probably hate it too. So, that’s why you should just do it quickly and get it all over with. Unpack as fast as you can (safely, of course) and you will be glad that you did it that way in the long run. Once you unpack, you are done, and you can focus on the more fun things that a move brings your way.

Why I Love #NuCulture Probiotics – It’s a Gut Feeling!

June 24, 2016 By Debra Pearlstein 19 Comments

This post was made possible by iConnect and AlternaScript. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

In life, it’s all about balance — whether we are balancing family and work, balancing mind body and spirit, balancing in the yoga tree pose or balancing our digestive systems.

Our gut is a delicate balance of microorganisms that can be out of balance due to diet, stress, environment and medication. This balance affects our health, mood, and quality of life.

While most of these microorganisms are helpful, when the bad bacteria outnumber the good, we can get unwanted side effects including decreased energy, bloating and digestive issues.

This is where Probiotics or friendly bacteria fit in. To help rebalance the digestive system, supplements like NuCulture by Alternascript reintroduce specific bacteria strains into your gut to crowd out the problematic ones. NuCulture is the new kid on the block, launched on June 6th, 2016. NuCulture also contains prebiotics which are food for the probiotics.

NuCulture is the probiotic of the future, containing 5 probiotic strains, extensively studied clinically and formulated to effective amounts of colony forming units (CFU) per dose. It combines its probiotic strains with powerful prebiotic strains in a patented, delayed-release capsule. Unlike some others, NuCulture survives passing through the acidic environment of the stomach and arrives intact in your GI tract to optimize its effectiveness.

Recent research has called the gut the “second brain” because it houses over 100 million neurons, more than is found in your spinal cord! These neurons influence neural, immune and endocrine function. In fact, there are over 30 neurotransmitters found in your gut as well. I find that utterly fascinating. No wonder when my stomach is upset, I’m upset! It really casts a pall over all my activities and influences my mood.

I recently tried NuCulture for a few weeks. I am a big proponent of Probiotics and have been for over 10 years. They are a major part of my wellness routine.

The NuCulture capsules are small and easy to swallow. You only need one a day. My experience has been very pleasant. No digestive issues and my tummy which occasionally has a tendency to bloat has been quiet and flat (which is great for summer especially). My energy is consistent throughout the day without any sugar cravings or major ebbs, and I feel a sense of balance overall. I’ve had no sinus issues and my immune system is strong.

Now, of course, I can’t attribute all of this to NuCulture, but, I do believe that the gut influences the entire ecosystem of the bodymind. I also believe that the occasional digestive issues I’d been having are now calm.

I’m really glad that Probiotics have become so popular. I’ve studied holistic health for many years and was always suggesting them to family and friends, especially when they were taking antibiotics or had stomach issues, gas or nausea.

What I find particularly wonderful about Alternascript, the healthcare company behind NuCulture is their genuine care for the customer. In May 2013, Lucas Siegel and Matthew Piskorz founded the company with one simple purpose: “to specifically design products that actually work and are accessible to everyone.” Lucas and Matthew wanted a change from often overpriced supplements that didn’t work, so they found an alternative — an AlternaScript.

Connect with Alternascript on Facebook

FREE TRIAL

So, would you like to try NuCulture for yourself? NuCulture, along with all AlternaScript products, can only be purchased through a subscription through the AlternaScript website. They do also offer free trials of their products. You can check it out here.

Probiotics are found in yogurt, sauerkraut, miso soup, kefir and other foods, so you are not introducing anything foreign into your body with Probiotic supplements. They enhance and support the beneficial bacteria that line your digestive system and improve the absorption of essential nutrients in foods optimizing overall health.

I have had no side effects from taking Probiotics, except energy and calm. I love Probiotics and, if I could, I’d shout it to the world.

It’s a gut feeling!

So, how do you keep your gut healthy and happy?

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Results may vary. Although this product helped me with my digestive system and overall stress, it is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.