Lifestyle, Health, and Communication Concerns -

Alternatives to the Peloton Stationary Bicycle

Indoor cycling has always been popular, but now during this stay at home period, it is increasingly common to see people with indoor gym equipment. Also, it is a great way to avoid costly gym memberships while still staying healthy. While children may not be able to use them, parents will be setting a good example for their children when they exercise.

Peloton stationary bikes are one of the most in-demand stationary bicycles, but there seems to be one issue with them; the cost. A Peloton Stationary bike costs from $2,200, and not many can afford this. If you are looking for the same experience but at a lower cost, you should check out these Peloton alternatives.

NordicTrack Commercial S22i Studio Cycle

The NordicTrack S22i stationary bike is a good Peloton stationary bike alternative. At $1,599, it is cheaper and still comes with all of the features you want. The NordicTrack features a mechanical shaft to simulate the inclines and declines of actual bike riding. There is a 14-inch HD touchscreen with iFit on-demand and live studio workouts. It costs between $33 and $36 to subscribe to the iFit programming annually.

ProForm Smart Power 10.0

The ProForm Smart Power 10.0 is a high-end stationary bike that comes at a cheap cost. Sold for $999, this bike has a steel body and a 10-inch HD color capacitive touch display. There is handlebar adjustability, full seat, and a water bottle holder. ProForm comes with the iFit membership service enabled.

Echelon Smart Connect EX3

The Echelon Smart Connect EX3 is $1,400 cheaper than Peloton and comes with outstanding features. It offers certified trainers via the Echelon app and your mobile device. The bike doesn’t come with an attached screen. However, there is a little spot on the handlebars that allow you to slide in a phone.

The Myx

Last but not least is The Myx. At $1,199, the Myx features in-house fitness programming and a 21.5-inch screen. It comes with reversal pedals and shoe-clips. There is a monthly membership fee of $29, making it comparable to Peloton at a slightly lower cost.

There you have it! These are the Peloton Stationary bike alternatives you can get today to keep yourself fit while staying indoors. During the shelter-in-place period, indoor cycling can be an excellent way to stay fit or blow off steam. These alternatives mentioned above come with all the features of the Peloton stationary bikes and even more. They are guaranteed to offer you a great indoor exercise experience. You can get them online or visit a brick-and-mortar store to purchase one.

Family Hobbies to Help Keep Kids and Parents Healthy

August 27, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

It is a gift when parents get to spend quality time with their kids. You do this not just to enhance bonding, but to keep people mentally and physically healthy. But what are family hobbies you can try with your kids to stay healthy? Let’s find out.

Painting

Painting is a great activity to express creativity and develop fine motor skills. It is easy and cheap to do. You can get plastic aprons and inexpensive painting materials to start painting with your kids.

Gardening

Gardening is an activity that will enable you and your kids to appreciate the gift of nature. Gardening is a therapeutic activity that instills a sense of responsibility into your kids. You can engage in this fun activity with them outdoors or indoors using potted plants. Plant some seeds and watch it with your kids come to life.

Dancing

Do you think dancing is just for having fun? No. Dancing is always a means of achieving body fitness. The beauty of dancing is that you can switch up different dance styles with your kids. It’s a win-win situation for your family.

Magic

Get ready to pull some aces from out of your sleeves. Children love surprises,and magic is a way to offer it to them. You do not need to attend magic school to perform magic. There are simple magic tricks you can try and wow your kids. You can find them on YouTube.

Photography

Photography is a skill and activity that teaches your children to appreciate the beauty around them. Also, it is an activity that will help you capture fun moments with your kids. You can use an advanced camera or smartphone camera to get this fun hobby going.

Hiking

The taking in of fresh air and amazing views and sharing of moments with your kids, while you walk through hiking trails, are all part of the beauty of hiking. Not only will hiking expose your children to new things, but it is also a way for you to stay healthy. Don’t forget to take the sunhat, sunscreen, and water along with you.
Parents are often advised to spend quality time bonding with their kids to get to know them better and to open lines of communication. Partaking in activities such as hiking, dancing, and gardening can help improve the health of every member of the family. If you are still struggling to hit your health and fitness goals, adding a supplement to your daily routine can be a good way to help fill gaps. Zahler Prenatal, Nordic Naturals, and Livon Labs are a great way to support your health each day.

5 Suggestions for Rekindling Passion in a Marriage

August 20, 2020 / Mallory Robertson / 0 Comments

Do you think a couple losing passion for each other is a myth? It’s real. After tying the knot, couples are bound to, at some point, have the flame of passion ebb way. The good news is that this can be rekindled. To maintain a happy and long-lasting marriage, let’s look at a few ways to reignite a marriage’s passion.

Create Anticipation

One of the reasons that marriages grow stale is because the couple is accustomed to a particular routine. Abstain from a usual activity and allow anticipation to build. For example, in lovemaking, stay away from it for some time, and you will feel desire slowly return.

Change of Sex Scene

Having sex in the same place and at the same time is one of the reasons why a marriage becomes boring. The best way to avert this is to switch up the place for sex. For example, you can have sex in your kitchen or bathroom. Doing this will see the passion in your marriage coming back to life.

Make Communication a Priority

Lack of communication creates a gap between two people regardless of the distance. Most couples don’t communicate properly what they want from each other, and this creates a divide. For each other to know what should be demanded from the other, communication should be prioritized. Doing this will get your marriage back on track.

Become More Emotionally Involved

Just like physical connections, emotional connections are essential in marriages. This is a major barrier that creates selfishness in relationships. The emotional involvement someone in love has is reflected through the care and concern they show. For example, sending gifts and love texts shows your partner how much regard and love you have.

Bury Your Grudges

Marriages, no matter how happy they appear, are bound to see moments where partners step on each other’s toes. If this happens, do not get angry. Even if you are angry, move beyond it immediately. Sheath your sword, don’t hold grudges, and continue loving your partner to avoid creating marriage problems.

There you have it! Above are some tips to reignite the passion in a marriage. Over time, the thrill of being married gradually reduces. As husband and wife, you must rekindle the love and add more excitement to your union. Using the above tips, you can rediscover the passion and enthusiasm you once had in your marriage.

Why Teaching Kids About Forgiveness is Important

August 13, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

The act of forgiveness is a virtue that you can teach a child. It helps them demonstrate self-love and empathy for others. The act of forgiveness is a skill that every child needs to learn for various reasons.

Improved Immune System

When one is holding on to a grudge, it takes a toll on their immune system. Not learning forgiveness can lead to stress and other problems that weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to diseases. When you teach a child the act of forgiveness, it will help them to boost their immune system and stay healthy.

Lower Blood Pressure

When you haven’t forgiven someone for erring against you, it implies you are still angry at them. This, in turn, increases your blood pressure, which is unhealthy. Teaching kids the act of forgiveness will guide them throughout life and help them to lower their blood pressure and lead a happy and healthy life.

Improved Heart Health

Increased blood pressure caused by grudges and other issues exerts increased pressure on the cardiovascular system. If care is not taken, it could contribute to things such as heart failure. When you teach a kid how to forgive, it will help them improve heart health in the future.

Depression

Begrudging someone sort of leads you to experiencing depression. When you find it hard to forgive someone, it means the wrong they have done against you is still hurting and depressing you. Kids becoming better at forgiving will help them avoid living a depressing life.

Increases Focus

Teaching kids the act of forgiveness keeps them focused and mentally alert in life. An unforgiving spirit has a way of deviating your attention from the things that matter most in life. When you learn how to forgive, you become more focused in life.

Enhances Their Communication

Everybody needs to have an amazing social life, including kids. When kids don’t know how to forgive, they are bound to have few friends and poor communication skills. Choosing to forgive who offends them will enable them to maintain relationships, improve their social and communication skills, and widen their social circle, especially during adulthood.

There you have it! Above are some reasons why it is important to teach kids about forgiveness. To err is human, to forgive is divine. From a very young age, we should encourage kids to forgive those who trespass against them. The act of forgiveness will definitely benefit their mental and physical health.

5 Steps for How to Improve Family Communication

August 6, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

Communication is essential to enhance and maintain family relationships. Family communication is very important and no one wants to deal with a dysfunctional family caused by poor communication. In this article, we will discuss the various ways on how to improve family communication.

Be a Good Listener

When your family members are speaking to you, you should put in great effort to listen actively. This involves taking part in a back and forth discussion. This kind of listening will make the conversation interesting and make them feel highly valued. More so, this way you will understand them better.

Remove Any Distractions

Furthermore, you can improve family communication by eliminating any distraction. Take away whatever form of distraction that will hamper communication with your family. Communication should be done effectively, no more, no less. Are you conversing with your loved one with the TV turned on? Turn it off and give them all the attention they can get.

Eat Meals Round the Table

One way of improving family communication is to eat meals together. It helps people to discuss and learn from each others’ experiences. This way, parents can learn their children’s challenges and talk it over with them.

Show Appreciation

Another tip for improving family communication is by showing appreciation. Supporting each other is one way to foster positive emotions between family members. Show kindness and appreciate one another’s efforts. When one does wrong to another, criticism should be given constructively as this will enable positive communication.

Create Time for Talking

Conversations don’t just happen on their own. If you want to build a strong relationship with your family you have to make out time to be with them. Shuttling your kids from one activity to another does not help to create an opportunity where you will converse with and learn about them.
There you have it! Above are some insightful tips to improve family communication. We live in a world where family communication matters a great deal. Seamless communication with family members and loved ones help promote family relationships. With these communication building tips above, family relationships will get better and every member will live happily. These strategies are highly effective and easy to implement. What are you waiting for? Ensure that you put the above tips into use as from now on. They can help you to save your relationships!

How to Make Friends in a New City

July 30, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

Moving into a new city because you have taken a new job, promoted, or want to a change of scenery can be challenging, especially when you have no friends in this new place. Apart from your work colleagues or neighbors, you need friends who you can share moments and activities with. Below are tips on how to make friends in a new city, or even when you lose a longtime friend.

Visit the Park

A park is a place where you are most likely to meet new people. Here people come with their families, friends, or group to have a nice and quality time. You might bump into someone looking to make new friends in this part of the city.

Join a Group

If you have moved into a new city, one of the best ways of making new friends is to join a local club or volunteer group. Here the chances of finding new friends are high. In the group, you will find people that share similar interests with you,

Gain a Gym Membership

Joining a gym class does not only avail you of a platform to stay fit but also to get social. At the gym, find a workout partner who would eventually become your pal outside the gym.

Join a Religious Group

Becoming a member of a religious group adds a layer to your social prowess. It allows you to meet new people to share your love of religion with. Being active in a local church allows you to meet like-minded people who will support you.

Join a Books Club

Book clubs are not only known as a place for developing your brain and emotional health, but also a place where you can meet new friends. Make time once in a while each month to find that person who you will enjoy a discussion with and share ideas.

Visit an Art Festival

Festivals are fun with activities that encourage sociability. Herein you are most likely to meet friends from the region from any other part. You could consider visiting the art festival coming up in your locality.

Above are some tips to help you make friends in a new city. Settling in a new city can be really challenging. However, you can settle quickly if you have people around. By using the insightful tips provided above, you can make friends quickly when you move to a new city.

What Is a Toxic Person and Why You Should Cut Them from Your Life

July 23, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

What is a toxic person? Toxic people are mind manipulators. A toxic person is unsupportive. They manipulate you into thinking that you owe them something. Chances are that you have encountered a toxic person and you are still with one. The truth is that the earlier you cut ties with them, the better the outcome for you.

Why You Should Cut Them from Your Life

Below are some reason why you need to cut toxic persons from your life:

They Waste Your Time

Toxic people waste your time by creating problems for you rather than being a help. They can be hard to deal with. Getting them out of your life will give you more time time to obtain happiness and emotional growth.

They Cause You Sadness

One of the reasons for working through things with people is to find happiness. A toxic person does the opposite. Their presence is always gloomy. They take and never give. The problems they cause will rob you of any inkling of happiness that comes your way.

You Will Become More Confident

Toxic people want everything their way. This unpalatable trait has a way of subtly eroding your self-confidence and will make you doubt your communication skills. When you give them a wide berth, you will realize that you will have better communication and relationship skills.

Less Stress

When dealing with toxic people, they account for the bulk of problems you face in life. They leave you to worry about things that should not be your concern in the first place. These problems steal your happiness and add huge stress to your life. When you remove toxic people from your life, you will have fewer problems to deal with, and you will become happier than you are with them around.

There you have it! Above are some reasons why you need to cut toxic persons from your life. Toxic persons corrupt manners, cause you sadness and only encourage you to get involved in bad habits. Nutramedix and Amazing Grass are two brands of products that may be ideal for helping you to manage stress and anxiety that can come from toxic people.

If you are a kind and caring type, you want to be treated equally. However, not all relationships are equal. Some people want to take advantage of your kindness for their own gains. If you have such people in your life, remove them immediately and start giving your time to those who deserve it.

What to do When You Lose a Best Friend

July 16, 2020 / Mallory Robertson / 0 Comments

Breakups between best friends can hurt. They may leave you feeling hopeless. After a big fight or misunderstanding, two good friends may wind up going their separate ways if the matter isn’t resolved. Getting through this situation is hard, but not impossible. Here are a few tips on what to do when you lose a best friend.

Accept the Situation

The first step in solving a problem is accepting that you have a problem. Losing the person that you always hung out with, or share your secrets with, sucks. Moving on becomes easier once you accept the situation isn’t the end of the world.

Create Possibilities to Meet New Friends

When the friend you lost was the person you did just about everything with, the need to feel that again will be strongest. Join a community where you stand a great chance to meet new people.

Take Your Time

You might have the urge to find another friend to show your former friend that you have gotten over them. If this urge comes up, resist it. To avoid a similar situation from repeating itself with another friend, reevaluates what went wrong to have clarity on how to sustain future friendships.

Do Something New

After losing your best friend do not sit indoors and sulk all day. Boredom exacerbates the sad feelings. Now is not the time to let your sad feelings overwhelm you. It can possibly lead to depression. On the contrary, staying busy will make you get through missing your former bosom buddy.

Embrace a Growth Mindset

There could be some good in losing your bestie. This could be an opportunity to use the experience of the breakup to become a more powerful person. Taking some time to reflect on what happened in your former friendship would go a long way in making you a better person.

There you have it! Above are some of the things you can do when you lose a best friend. Losing a best friend can be unthinkable. But it happens to almost everyone at some point and it can be an overwhelming and emotional experience. However, do not be afraid to put yourself back out there. Go out and engage in tasks that will make you get over them. In due time you will have a new pal who will fill the void.

5 Over-Parenting Effects That Impact Children and Teens

July 9, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

Children with parents who are actively involved in their lives can lead to many positive outcomes. However, there is a line that when a parent crosses can lead to over-parenting and negative outcomes. Research has shown that over-parenting does more harm than good for a child. Here, we will be taking a look at the over-parenting effects on children and teens.

Lack of Confidence

Children that are over-parented grow up to have a shortage of confidence in themselves. If kids are accustomed to their parents doing everything for them, they may grow up not knowing how to do certain things and that can be telling on their confidence. The message that they are getting is that they are not competent enough to do anything.

Anxiety

As you are over-parenting your children you are telling them that the world is not a safe place. They can develop anxiety and keep themselves away from taking on challenges or learning new things. The consequences can be far-reaching as it can impede them from progressing in life.

Unrealistic View of the World

Helicopter parents do not present a realistic view of their children. They are not willing to allow them to do laundry, run errands, or socialize. This leaves them with a distorted view of how things should be like.

They are Entitled

Children may grow up to have an entitlement view where they believe a good job or good things should happen to them without any effort. They are here to getting everything done for them throughout their life and feel that it should continue in their adulthood.

No Essential Skills

Not allowing children to challenge themselves and grow hinders them from picking up essential skills that will be handy in the future. Research has identified that one of the negative effects of helicopter parenting is that the children fail to build a self-identity. Allowing kids to take on challenges by themselves will help them flourish in life.
Above are some negative effects of over-parenting on children and teens. Over-parenting does a huge disservice to young people. It can go as far as a straining parent-child relationship. In situations of divorce, this can also crop up and make the situation worse. Understandably, parents don’t want their kids to fail, but over-parenting won’t stop this from happening. You don’t have to over-parent to be the best mom or best dad. Allow your kids to fail. Let them bear consequences for their actions. With this, you will surely see them blossom and flourish.

What Makes a Person Unattractive?

June 17, 2020 / Cliff Robertson / 0 Comments

In life, many of us strive to find people who think of us as attractive. Not in a physical sense, but more in terms of personality. Unfortunately, there are many characteristics that we possess that can rob us of actualizing this goal. Some of these traits can be found below. Read on to see if any of these are things you should look to change.

You are Always Competitive

Always being in the mood to compete with the people closest to you can make you unattractive. If you are the one that berates your friend’s efforts to try and make yourself look better or more accomplished, you should stop. Show more care and empathy to your friends, offer a helping hand, and allow them to enjoy their moment in the spotlight.

You See Your Friends as Enemies

People who always get into fights with their friends are seen as unattractive. Backbiting or always looking for a reason to put them down won’t win you anyone’s admiration. Instead, they will find you repulsive. You should see your friends as your allies instead of enemies.

You are Self-centered

No one dreams of coming close to a self-absorbed person. Many selfish persons do not realize that they are. When you want it to be all about you, then you are self-centered. Always show care to your friends and let them know they matter in your life.

Nagging Repeatedly

Who wants to associate with someone that complains constantly? This attitude reeks of ungratefulness and it’s highly toxic. If you are a complainer, you will always find yourself lonely. To become attractive, you have to be more appreciative of what you have and complain less about what you do not have.

Not a Good Listener

Do you butt into a conversation when your conversant still have words in their mouth? The chances are that people find this rude and unattractive. It shows you couldn’t care less about their opinions. You are not showing respect, and you are imposing your opinion on them. Maintain eye contact and make gestures like nodding your head intermittently during the conversation to show you are paying attention. This is what makes a good listener.

Not Being Presentable

Making sure that you appear presentable and show even the slightest effort to take care of yourself is important. While appearances shouldn’t matter, that doesn’t mean showing up in a stained teeshirt, bedhead, and body odor is a good idea. Make sure to take care of yourself by brushing your teeth, showering, and washing clothes regularly. You can use products from Derma E, Jane Iredale, and Plant Therapy to support your skin, hair, and much more if you find more conventional products found in the store that leaves your body dry or irritated.

The power to become attractive to others lies in your hands. This is why you need to avoid the reasons that make a person unattractive, as mentioned above. With this, you can get on the good side of friends or new people that you meet.