Tracey Edmonds, Author at AlrightNow

About Tracey Edmonds

Tracey Edmonds is a mother of two, television/film producer, and health/wellness advocate who seeks to empower others with a combination of pertinent, enlightening, and inspirational information. She practices yoga, daily meditation and believes in self-cultivating wellness at every level: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Tracey is the editor of Alrightnow.com and can be contacted at [email protected]

How to Nurture Friendships

Our friendships are fragile, and keeping them strong and successful is part of what relationships are all about. It is not uncommon to take our friends for granted, and when we don’t nurture our friendships, they can sadly fall apart. Putting forth a conscious effort to maintain close connections is something we should value, particularly when we want to ensure our relationships last a long time. This means paying attention to the details, being attentive always, and weathering the ups and downs that will test your bonds and beliefs. I love my close friends as though they are family. We share secrets and stories and have been one another’s rock when times have been tough. Through good times and bad, we have had each other’s backs, been the shoulder to cry on, and the sounding board for unforeseen scenarios and life’s struggles. We have also celebrated the milestones, major life events, and miracles. In order to keep these friendships solid, I make it a point to evaluate the status of our relationship from time to time. I make sure I do my part to prove I’m a true friend – I put their needs high on my list, I make time to talk, and I give them space when they need some solitude. I never judge or criticize, and I’m patient and protective. Here are two ways you can nurture your friendships, so they don’t get damaged beyond repair. Good friends are hard to come by, so cherish yours and hold them close to your heart. Be Generous Generosity goes a long way. This doesn’t mean you have to spend lots of money or make your friends feel less-than due to your good deeds. What you can do is think of your friends, what they may want or need, and give without them having to ask. It’s all about consideration. For example, when you are out running errands one day, pick up a friend’s favorite cupcakes and bring it by their house. Sit down and enjoy the cupcakes with them while you chit chat about your day and what’s going on in your lives. It’s a simple (and sweet) gesture and gives you an hour or so to connect. Perhaps your friend is out of work. You can’t be expected to pay their bills, but you can help contribute where you can. Offer to pay for their gas when they pick you up or grab the bill when you go for lunch. Things add up, and your kindness will go a long way as they get back on their feet. You can also lend a hand in terms of giving a friend some extra time to tend to their to-dos. Pick up their kids from soccer practice or babysit so they can run errands without the hassle. Your help will be appreciated and enjoyed. Don’t expect anything in return, but a good friend will be the first to do you a favor when you [...]

2020-12-18T14:45:09-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

4 Important Reasons Why You Should Supplement with Vitamin D

Most of us only know Vitamin D as a choice in milk, but it’s actually a multi-purpose calcium absorber that helps form new bones, helps them grow, and prevents them from being brittle. Anyone who has raised children probably knows the basic benefits of Vitamin D from their pediatrician. With more of us staying inside and absorbing less Vitamin D than ever before, it’s going to become an even more valuable addition to a healthy parent’s arsenal. Even if you only have yourself to worry about, Vitamin D’s physical and mental benefits will come in handy. Here are 4 reasons why you should be supplementing with Vitamin D (and how to do it). 1. Bone Strength Calcium promotes healthy bone growth and prevents them from getting brittle. If you’re at risk for osteoporosis or other bone density problems, calcium is the solution. But even if we consume calcium, we can’t use it without Vitamin D. With Vitamin D, our guts can absorb calcium and mineralize our bones. Especially for growing children, this is a huge reason that a regular source of Vitamin D is a dietary must-have. It’s also the most known reason to take it. Read on to learn about some of the hidden benefits. 2. Immune Support Many of us are looking for ways to strengthen our immune systems for fear of infecting ourselves or our loved ones with COVID-19. Simultaneously, cold and flu season is upon us as well! Suffice it to say that anything that supports a healthy immune response is a welcome addition to our medicine cabinets. Vitamin D has been shown to prevent viral infections (COVID is one) and reduce the risk of respiratory infections like influenza. 3. Mental Health A little-known benefit of Vitamin D is that it can help you fight depression. Neurologists have long since discovered a link between lacking Vitamin D and depression. Even though they’re not sure if the vitamin deficiency is a cause or a result of the mental health problems, Vitamin D supplementation remains an easy way for people dealing with depression to take a small step back towards normal function. 4. Diabetes Prevention Not only can Vitamin D reduce inflammation, a major factor in prediabetes and diabetes, but it can also lower hypertension. Lacking Vitamin D has been shown to increase blood pressure and cause targeted damage to vulnerable organs. Combining calcium, Vitamin D, and sunlight has been shown to lower the user’s risk for type 2 diabetes, even while it lowers blood pressure. How to take Vitamin D Vitamin D is not the most common mineral in modern diets. I usually have to go out of my way to get a good supply of it. Most people get it through whole milk and fortified cereals, but those may not be the healthiest options. The foods you want to look for are those that are rich in soluble, healthy fats. This is why fatty fish like [...]

2020-12-18T14:35:24-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

4 Important Reasons You Should Use Probiotics

If you’ve been reading health blogs or visiting your doctor, you know to fear the word “inflammation.” We now know that inflammation is a root cause of many of the modern world’s most lethal chronic conditions, from heart disease to cancer. Uncontrolled inflammation stresses you out, messes with your mood, makes it harder to absorb nutrients, and can lead to chronic pain. But did you know that an imbalanced gut is one of the major causes of inflammation? Our digestive system contains a lot of bacteria, many of which are good for us. They are the main source of our immune system support. They fight off bad bacteria and prevent major diseases. These good bacteria are called probiotics. If we don’t have enough, our bodies can become imbalanced, leading to oxidative stress, indigestion, and inflammation. Read on to learn 4 reasons why you should use probiotics (and how to get them). 1. Digestive Balance The bacteria in your gut are in a state of balance when you’re healthy. But illness, bad diet choices, and antibiotics can throw it out of whack. The result? Anything from indigestion to full-blown mental disorders can result from having an imbalanced gut for a long time. You should consider taking probiotics to keep your “flora,” as it’s called, in balance. 2. Heart Health Probiotics actually maintain your heart’s health as part of this balancing act. They’ve been known to reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, making your body calmer as a result. If you have out-of-control LDL cholesterol levels (the “bad” kind), consider taking more probiotics as a precaution. 3. Diarrhea Treatment Diarrhea is inconvenient, demeaning, and even painful. It disrupts your eating schedule and makes you feel a constant, low-grade level of sick. Often, diarrhea can be caused by antibiotics because of how they kill off the good bacteria in your digestive system. If you’re taking antibiotics now or have in the past, you should consider supplementing with a steady stream of probiotics to keep your systems in balance and prevent or treat diarrhea. 4. Mental Health As I mentioned, an imbalanced gut can contribute to decreases in mental health. This works both ways. You can potentially improve the symptoms of mental health conditions by supplementing with probiotics. These conditions include depression, autism, anxiety, OCD, and even memory problems. By decreasing inflammation and balancing hormones, probiotics show great promise in the management of chronic mental health conditions. How to Take Probiotics Probiotics can be taken as a supplement in pill form that you have to keep refrigerated. On the bottle, they will list the number of cultures and the types of bacteria present. It’s best to get a variety of types and to make sure it says “live and active cultures” on the bottle. However, many people prefer to take probiotics through food. I find that this is a more natural way to get your supply and easier to keep up throughout the year. Yogurt [...]

2020-12-18T11:32:55-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

When and How You Should Talk to Your Kids About Sex

Some conversations aren’t easy, and talking to kids about sex is one of them. Not only is the sex talk hard, what’s even harder is knowing how to start. This may be because you don’t have a model for how things should go or never got a sex talk from your parent. Well, while it is normal to feel awkward and nervous talking about sex to our kids, we must do it. You are probably thinking, so when should I get started? How much should I tell my kids about sex? What’s too much for them to handle? You don’t have to worry, that’s why I’m here. In this blog post, I’ll share tips and strategies to help you learn how to talk to kids about sex. Initiate the Talk Early and Often As a parent or caregiver, you might wonder how old a child should be before you talk to them about sex. Well, the answer is sooner than you probably think. Here’s why. When you speak about sexual matters from when kids are young, you have the chance to ease into things and ensure your child is getting accurate information when they need it. This builds a foundation for open communication and makes you the person they come to whenever they need answers. Use Real Names for Private Parts Start by teaching your kids the correct names for genitals rather than using slang or nicknames. That means naming the genitals at an early stage in your child’s language development. Penis, scrotum, vulva, clitoris, and nipples are all terms they need to be familiar with. Using the appropriate language to talk about body parts reduces the awkwardness surrounding sex talk and lays the groundwork for a more comfortable conversation about sex later. Look for Everyday Opportunities Daily life provides tons of opportunities to start a conversation about sex. Ensure you take advantage of every teachable moment. Dive in and offer accurate information whenever your child says anything related to sex. Don’t wait for the point-blank question to be asked or until they’re teenagers. Try starting the discussions naturally using things that come up on TV (such as ads for condoms, menstrual pads, or birth control). Answer Their Questions Honestly (But Don’t Overshare) Kids are naturally curious. Therefore, you should be ready to answer questions. They may begin to ask questions like, “How are babies made?” While the amount of details you give to their answer depends on how much they can comprehend, it is important to answer frankly and truthfully. If you don’t answer their questions, they might begin to seek information elsewhere. However, if you become askable, you become the go-to person whenever there’s a question. Additionally, their questions give you an idea of what they already know and serve as an entry point for discussing sex. Fill in The Gaps and Debunk Myths When you are silent about sex, you leave a massive gap and kids begin [...]

2020-12-18T10:56:07-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

The 5 Main Factors That Establish Your Credit Score

To most people, explaining a credit score would be like explaining how our lungs work… We know the basic idea We know there are good and bad things that can affect it And that’s about it There are some experts out there that could explain all the ins-and-outs of each, but most of us couldn’t really explain them if we tried. Credit scores are an important part of our lives, but unless you work in Finance, you probably haven’t spent too much time learning the intricate details behind what affects your credit score. Since finances are difficult to discuss and conceptualize, we wanted to break down what a credit score is, how credit scores are calculated, and what factors into establishing your credit score. You don’t need to be an expert in finance to follow this article – this is information everyone needs to be aware of. What is a Credit Score? A credit score is defined by Investopedia.com as “a number between 300 – 850 that depicts a consumer’s creditworthiness.” Just like in most sports, a higher score is better, because the higher your score is, the better you look to potential lenders. Think about opening a credit card or trying to get a loan for a business or house – your credit score tells the company how likely you are to pay back the money you have borrowed in the past. Low credit scores tell companies that you are a risk for repaying the money you borrow, so they could either deny your loan or charge you a higher interest rate for paying it back. In general, a good credit score is between 670 – 739, and a score of 800 or above is considered as “Excellent.” Now that we’ve covered what a credit score is – let’s talk about what factors affect your credit score. Credit scores are sometimes referred to as FICO Scores because it is a tool and formula created by the data analytics company FICO. The factors are listed in the order of how much they impact your credit score (35% of your credit score depends on #1, and 10% of your credit score depends on #5). Payment History Paying bills on time is one of the main factors in either increasing or decreasing your credit score. Making late payments on accounts shows lenders a potential pattern for not paying back the money you have borrowed. This will make them hesitant in giving you a good deal (or even working with you at all). How Much You Owe This factor is based on the amount you owe vs. how much credit you have available. For example, if I have a credit card with a $5,000 limit, and I owe $4,500 on it, then it looks unfavorable to lenders. If you are close to maxed out on the credit you have available, then lenders will think you cannot manage/pay off your credit effectively. The goal of how [...]

2020-12-18T10:47:04-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

6 Helpful Tips If You Are Struggling to Make a Mortgage Payment

Are you facing challenges right now? These financial challenges could be any kind – whether you are working on a reduced salary or you’ve completely lost your job. This pandemic has caused chaos in every area of life, but none more so than in our financial lives. What was once an area of general safety is now an area of stress, anxiety, and fear. These times have made us shift our priorities and how we approach our finances. But what if it isn’t enough? You may have already made sacrifices to save money. You may have cut unnecessary spending in all areas of your life. You may have started budgeting in an extremely strict way to help save money and you can. You could have done everything possible to stay financially healthy, but it may be getting to be too much. Now, one of the biggest and most important expenses – your mortgage – is at risk. You are struggling to make payments every month. Some are easier than others, but every month is a challenge. Fortunately, you have options to help stay afloat in these challenging times. I want to share 6 tips for anyone who is in a difficult place financially and is struggling to make their mortgage payments every month. Decide if you want to keep your home Before going through any program or process, you must evaluate your house situation – do you want to keep it, or sell it? If the amount you owe is less than what the home is currently worth, the best option for you may be to sell the house. This can be mentally and emotionally challenging for a lot of people, so it is important to have an honest discussion and decide the best thing for you. If you want to keep your house, then you have other options to help with your mortgage payments. Consider Asking for “Forbearance” If you are struggling with your finances, you can ask your lender (whoever owns your mortgage, like a bank) for “forbearance.” “Forbearance” is when your lender might reduce your monthly mortgage amount or put a hold on it (where you would not have to pay anything). This solution is only temporary and does not mean you don’t have to pay anything back – it just means you can resume paying the normal amount once your financial situation improves. Another option like forbearance is a Loan Modification Plan. Loan Modifications change the terms of the loan you currently have to make it more manageable based on your current situation. Consider a Debt Settlement A debt settlement is where the lender agrees to take less than the amount owed. While this may seem like a good option, debt settlements will lower your credit score and affect any future financial decisions made by companies you want to borrow money from. It’s a short-term fix with long-term effects. Consider Filing for Unemployment If you have [...]

2020-12-18T10:39:13-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

4 Best Essential Oils for Stress Relief

Essential oils provide health benefits that range from relieving the symptoms of chronic pain conditions to reducing anxiety. In order to reap their benefits, however, you have to know which oils help with stress relief, as well as how to use them. Particularly for people who spend more time at home these days, having essential oils on hand can be a godsend. They can’t cure the root cause of stress or slow down your busy week, but they can make you feel supported and strong. I use these 4 essential oils to give my mind the serenity it needs to handle the week calmly and professionally. Hopefully, you will too. How to Use Essential Oils Essential oils require a little guidance, so before I get into the types I use, here’s a little advice on how to use them. In general, you can use essential oils in three ways: as aromatherapy, as a topical, or as an oral supplement. You may have seen diffusers at a spa or therapist’s office, those little machines that pump out soothing steam. They contain essential oils to give the room calming energy and you can use them in your house as well. As topicals, many essential oils cannot be applied directly to your skin. Most require the use of a carrier oil such as coconut or almond to dilute them. So, if you plan on massaging these oils into your skin for pain or stress relief, be sure to mix a few drops with a good helping of organic oil. Finally, if you plan on taking them internally, be sure to research which oils were made for this purpose. Many of them must be restricted to external use. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get into my 4 favorite essential oils for stress relief. Lavender Lavender has been known for centuries for its relaxing properties and that’s no different in the modern age. Lavender can support and restore your nervous system by lowering your heart rate and blood pressure, calming your nerves, and giving you a sense of serenity. This is why lavender is often touted as a sleep aid. By mixing a few drops of lavender essential oil with almond oil and rubbing it into your wrist or the sides of your head, you can get a good night’s sleep or just calm down in the middle of a busy day. Bergamot Bergamot is a citrus fruit bred by combining lemons and limes. It’s a favorite for Chinese herbalists because of its ability to support digestion, but it’s even been used as a mild antidepressant. This is because bergamot improves circulation and helps balance your hormones. This enhances your mood at the same time as it supports digestion. Bergamot essential oil produces feelings of joy as a result of that balance, which is why it’s a perfect aromatherapy treatment to freshen up your home and relieve stress. Rose Rose essential oil can soothe [...]

2020-12-18T10:32:13-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

How to Handle Your Partner’s Family When Things Aren’t Ideal

Your relationship with your significant other may be beautiful, but when their family isn’t on board, it can be crushing. No matter the reason or who’s right, dealing with less-than “perfect” relatives is far from pleasant. Perhaps they think you’re “not good enough” for their beloved. Maybe they don’t like where you’re from or what you do for a living. It could be that they’re snobby or unsophisticated. They may be “testing” you or trying to show you that you’ll never be #1. There are a million scenarios that could be at play, from family squabbles to straight-up sabotage. You may know why they’re on your case or have no clue why they don’t embrace you with open arms. They aren’t giving up or giving in, so it’s up to you to find peace in this unsettling situation. You may never get on their good side but getting close is better than being an outcast. Taking the initiative to make the relationship decent is a daring move, but you’ll be better for it in the short term and long run. There’s always hope that they’ll come around and realize that you’re a gem, worthy of the praise they’ve been putting off. Here are some tips to handle the heartbreak. There’s no room for hate, so handle things with an open mind and optimism. Be dignified and direct, and you may just see a ray of sunshine break through the clouds that could potentially ruin your otherwise happy relationship. Don’t Tiptoe Around the Subject – Be Straightforward and Serious It’s time to talk. Take the offenders aside and ask them what’s up. Don’t point fingers or start a fight but ask if you’ve said or done anything that they’ve found off-putting or offensive. If you come out of the gates with blame, it’s only going to cause more tension. If you approach things from the angle of care and concern, they won’t be defensive. Be the one to acknowledge there’s an issue and be willing to work it out. Even if you’re sure you’ve done nothing to spark the situation, be patient and let your guard down. Have confidence, and don’t cave. If they can’t give you the benefit of the doubt, then you may just have to try again when you have the chance. Expecting a 180-turnaround in one conversation isn’t realistic, so take every opportunity to raise the issue when possible. With persistence and a peaceful perspective, your efforts may be recognized. Enlist the Help of Your Partner to Ease the Unrest You need your partner now more than ever to handle this hostility. The stress will put a strain on your relationship, leaving you both feeling exhausted and unhappy. Your partner may love their family deeply, but if they’re treating you unfairly, it’s cause for concern. If your significant other hasn’t already addressed the “elephant in the room,” it’s time for them to step up to the plate and voice their [...]

2020-12-18T10:21:15-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

4 Health Reasons Why You Should Supplement with Vitamin C

During the busy workweek, getting the right vitamins and minerals from our diet involves knowing what our bodies need most, and shopping accordingly. If you’re like me, you’re only going to the store every 2-3 weeks to stay safer during the COVID pandemic. This means that knowing the vitamins your body needs should be part of your lockdown survival guide. Vitamin C is an essential vitamin because we don’t have any of it in our bodies naturally – we have to take it through food or supplements. You may be most familiar with it as the go-to vitamin for cold and flu prevention, but Vitamin C has a host of other benefits that will not only help you in the quarantine but will help protect you and your family from chronic illnesses down the road. 1. Immune System Support Since this is the most well-known benefit of Vitamin C, I’m listing it first. Vitamin C boosts white blood cell production, which helps your body fight infection, a particularly tantalizing benefit during the pandemic. That’s not the vitamin’s only immune system function, however. Vitamin C also boosts your skin’s defense, which improves your healing time and makes your skin stronger through an effect similar to an antioxidant. Pneumonia is particularly susceptible to Vitamin C’s immune-boosting influence. 2. Preventing Chronic Disease Vitamin C doesn’t just boost your immune system in the short-term. By preventing oxidative stress and removing free radicals from your body, Vitamin C can also shield your body from more serious chronic diseases. By raising the antioxidant levels in your blood, Vitamin C helps you fight inflammation, which we are quickly discovering is the root cause of most chronic illnesses. Metabolic syndromes like diabetes and chronic heart disease are linked to inflammation. Heart disease particularly involves a combination of high blood pressure, high bad cholesterol, low good cholesterol, and out-of-control inflammation. Vitamin C is one way to get back in control. 3. Prevent Iron Deficiencies Iron is a mineral that gives us strength. It does this by helping our bodies transport oxygen to the parts that need it by supporting healthy red blood cell counts. Iron is a well-known benefit of eating leafy vegetables. Many of us are making the sacrifice to get our daily allotment without realizing that Vitamin C is what makes it all worth it. Iron is difficult for our bodies to absorb, which is why Vitamin C, which converts plant-based iron sources into more absorbable forms, is so essential. Healthy iron levels have been linked to lower instances of anemia, which is only possible if you have enough Vitamin C built up to help you absorb it. 4. Mental Health Our mental health becomes more important as we age, as our risk for related memory and personality disorders increases naturally. The same oxidative stress and inflammation that can weaken our immunity can also reduce our memory and mental performance. If it occurs near the brain or spine, [...]

2020-12-18T10:14:31-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

The 5 Best Ways to Deal with Debt Collectors

Almost 80% of Americans have some sort of debt. It could be from medical bills, personal loans, or payments for assets like a house or car. This large percentage shows that if you are dealing with debt, then you are not alone. Managing finances in ideal circumstances is challenging, and now we are going through times where economic hardship is affecting every person and every business. People everywhere are now either taking salary cuts, being furloughed, or are losing their jobs altogether. A sudden reduction or loss of income can cause people to fall behind in their bills and get into debt. Unfortunately, if you do not pay your debts on time, then you will have to deal with a debt collection agency. Debt collectors are third-party companies that are hired by the lenders (like a credit card company) to ensure that they will get their money. Debt collectors are typically hired if a debt has not been paid in over 90 days. Dealing with debt collectors can be a stressful experience – due to your situation, you may have not been able to pay anything towards your debt, and now you have someone calling you constantly to try and get money. Even though debt collectors have a job to do, there are ways that you can handle them so you can protect yourself and create a plan to get back on the right track. Do Not Ignore Them If you have debt collectors calling you, you probably already feel shameful that it had to come to this. This feeling can lead you to want to ignore the situation. However, even though things may seem stressful, ignoring the situation will only make it worse. Not paying towards your debt at all (and ignoring them when they try to get the payment) will damage your credit score because it looks like you are trying to avoid paying anything that you owe. You may be stressed, but you need to face the situation. Figure Out What’s Yours Before you can develop a plan on how to pay your debt, you need to know the exact amount owed and to whom it is owed. When a debt collector calls asking for payment, the first thing you can do is request a letter detailing everything about your debt. Getting this information in writing is part of your rights, and this will show if the debt collector is legitimate or not (legitimate collectors have no problem sending you the detailed information in writing). In addition to the detailed letter, ask the collector for information on how to dispute the claim. Many times, people have been asked to pay back a debt that is not theirs, so you need to know how to challenge any errors you see on the report. Know What They Can or Can’t Do Debt collection is a job like any other – they have a goal, and they want to meet that goal. [...]

2020-12-18T10:05:08-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

3 Food Types That Can Cause Acne

If you’re struggling with acne, you’ve probably researched skincare and beauty products to soothe your symptoms without addressing the core causes of your condition. If you’re fighting your mirror at the same time you’re running around with work, school, or kids, you may be compromising on your diet to save time. That may be your problem. There’s a demonstrable connection between diet and acne because the food we eat goes right to our skin. The nutrients (or lack of them) can create the conditions that cause acne. These include increased sebum, out of control bacteria and hormones, and inflammation. Read on to learn about the main foods that cause acne. Acknowledging this diet connection may be your first step to clearer skin. 1. Refined Foods Refinement sounds like a good thing, but in modern food production it refers to many nutrient-poor processes. Refined carbs and sugars that have been processed make up a lot of our diet. These foods include store-bought bread, pasta, rice, and cereal as well as soda and artificially sweetened desserts. All these foods hit your bloodstream quickly, raising your blood sugar levels more than natural ingredients would. These blood sugar spikes can cause acne as your system fights to get the sugar out of your blood and to other parts of your body. This affects your hormones, sebum production, and cell growth. All three can cause acne. 2. Fatty Foods There are several kinds of fatty foods that can cause inflammation and lead to acne. We all know fast food is bad for us, but here’s another reason. Those greasy burgers, fries, hotdogs, and yes, even the chicken, can also increase your risk for acne. The milkshakes and sodas contribute to your refined sugars tally too. We don’t even know exactly why fast-food causes acne. We think it has something to do with hormones, but we need more studies to confirm it. Regardless, you already have plenty of reasons to avoid fast food and this is another one. I mentioned that there are multiple kinds of fat you need to avoid. The other one is Omega-6 fatty acids. These fats mostly come from corn and soy cooking oils. Eating them in excess causes, you guessed it, more inflammation. So, if you know these cooking oils come into your life (or if you have to eat fast-food sometimes to save time), be sure to supplement yourself with Omega-3, either from pills or fatty fish and nuts. It may not get you completely back on track, but it might at least push the balance in your favor away from inflammation and acne. 3. Dairy Products Dairy products like milk and ice cream have been shown to increase people’s risk of acne. Again, since acne is such a widespread symptom in our bodies, we haven’t figured out exactly why. The leading theories suggest [...]

2021-04-09T17:44:57-07:00By Tracey Edmonds|

3 Great Tips to Keep A Long-Distance Relationship Thriving

Relationships are challenging and require care and attention to thrive. Add the long-distance element into the mix, and the couple must work even harder for their partnership to stay positive. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and perhaps that’s true. But fondness doesn’t necessarily keep a relationship where it needs to be to work. Long distance couples have to take their commitment to the next level, as it is not nearly as easy to manage the ups and downs all couples face when they are not face-to-face. These tips below can help make long distance relationships more doable, especially when the love and compatibility is already there. It may not be ideal to be miles apart, but when both parties are willing to handle the hurdle, the outcome can be beautiful. Do Dinner You may not be seated at the same table, but nowadays, you can go for a high-tech meal, even if you are on different continents. FaceTime or Zoom as you sit down to dinner, making the scenario as close to the real thing as you can. You may even wish to cook the same meal or “share” a bottle of wine. Discuss your day and spend time eating slowly rather than scarfing it down. Keep the conversation going as you clean up and sit back on the sofa. The time you have to talk is precious, so sidestep the small talk and get serious…or sexy! Send Fun and Flirty Texts Since you can’t see each other all the time, texting is your way of staying connected, any time of day. Whenever the mood strikes, send a love note, a “meme” or joke, a cute emoji, or even a photo of yourself to remind your partner that you are thinking about them. These quick communications may not be especially deep or dramatic, but they keep you both involved and intrigued, and they only take seconds to send. Promise one another that you won’t let too much time lag before responding and get to know one another’s schedules, so you are not left wondering where they’ve been when you don’t hear back. Make the Most of Your Time Together When you do have the chance to see each other in person, make every moment count. Clear your calendar and give your undivided attention to one another. Plan special dates, go sightseeing, or stay home to get reacquainted. You have plenty of opportunities to see your friends and family when your special someone isn’t around, so they will certainly understand why you’re “MIA” when your partner comes to town. There may be pressure for everything to be perfect, so don’t stress the small stuff. The most important thing is that you’re together, so use the time wisely and don’t get wrapped up in things that are a waste of time. Hopefully, your long-distance relationship won’t always be that way, and eventually you can be together full-time. Until then, roll with [...]

2020-12-18T00:10:50-08:00By Tracey Edmonds|

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