Everyone knows the feeling of looking in your closet and feeling like you have nothing to wear.  Even though it may be full to the point that you can hardly close your closet doors, there comes a point where you start to feel frustrated and bored with what you have.

Not everyone has the budget to able to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe.  Being limited on resources can start to make you feel like there’s nothing you can do to update your look.  However, sometimes all it takes is knowing a few shortcuts to switching things up without spending much at all.  Here are some of the best ways to update your look without breaking the bank.

Accessorize

The same outfit can completely transform depending on what you pair it with.  Accessorizing can be a great way to make an outfit that you already have, take on an entirely new form.

Try to pair what you have with a long necklace, for example.  This can make even a basic t-shirt suddenly a chic yet relaxed look.  Wearing a watch with a sweater with rolled up sleeves can make your outfit pop and give it a little sparkle.

Since many accessories cost less than clothing, making a trip to the store and filling up your cart full of accessories can cost much less.  Not to mention, unlike clothing, you can wear the same accessory every day without having to wash it.

Thrift Stores

Going to second-hand stores can be a great way to update your look for a fraction of the price.  A common misconception can be that if something has already been worn before that it must be outdated or worn out.  However, the minute that something is purchased even without ever having been worn it’s considered second hand.

Therefore, you can potentially buy something brand new for a fraction of the cost simply because it was purchased by someone and never worn.

The nice thing about second-hand is that you can buy it online as well.  Try checking out sites like eBay to find second-hand treasures.

Trade With Friends

Trading with friends can be a fun way to upgrade each other’s closets for free. Sometimes the things in your closet which may seem old and outdated can be a huge score for someone else.  Sometimes things which you’ve been looking at for too long can just seem old and drab.  However, when someone else sees them for the first time it may be a special gem that adds something new to their wardrobe.

You can make a girls night out of it by planning a clothing trade amongst friends.

 

Just about all of us can identify things in our lives that we’d love to change. We all have a tendency to fall into bad habits, even if we operate with the best of intentions. It’s usually not possible to snap your fingers and improve your whole life overnight. Instead, self-improvement happens gradually and involves a combination of hard word and patience. If you want to make some improvements in your life, then follow this guide.

If You Look Good On The Outside, You’ll Feel Better On The Inside

It’d be nice if what we looked like on the outside didn’t matter. However, we live in a culture that is very obsessed with image and appearance. This means that what we looks like matters when it comes to how we are treated by others. When you feel confident in how you look, this tends to make you more confident in general.

The first step in improving your appearance is to simply commit to putting in more effort in how you present yourself. This means taking care of your clothes and sticking to a good grooming regimen that enables you to present your best face to the world. If you aren’t confident in your body, then consider going on a full body cleanse for weight loss.

You’ll Do Your Best Work When You’re Organized

It’s very rare that you’ll meet a very successful person who lives in a cluttered or dirty home. Our surroundings can greatly influence our thoughts and habits. If you live in a state of disarray, then the odds favor that other things in your life are also chaotic. People who live in messy homes tend to procrastinate a lot and forget about important appointments.

If you want to improve your life, you have to get your home in order. This means cleaning up any messes in your home and creating a daily cleaning schedule that you stick to no matter what. Getting organized at home can help you to get organized in other areas of your life.

Improving yourself isn’t easy, but it’s a journey that is completely worth it. Follow these tips to improve your life.

When it comes to being healthy not only at home but when you leave the door and go to work, it can sometimes be a challenge.  Work can be full of temptations like treats that coworkers bring or nearby restaurants which seem to be calling your name.

In order to be the healthiest version of yourself, it’s important to be consistent wherever you are. Not just at home.  Here are some of the best tips for continuing your healthy lifestyle at work.

Bring Your Lunch

One of the biggest culprits for a little extra padding around the belly is eating out in restaurants.  When you eat out at places other than home, there can be all sorts of hidden fats and sugars which you are unaware of.

When you prepare your food yourself you can cut your calorie consumption significantly down since you know exactly what’s going into your lunch.  You can pack a healthy lunch and snack which will keep you going all day rather than loading up on junk which will make you hungry sooner.

Not only will you consume fewer calories packing your lunch, but your checkbook will thank you for it as you will spend much less.

Don’t Touch The Vending Machine

It can be tempting having a vending machine nearby which has delicious treats and temptations.  Rather than seeing bags of chips as innocent ways to indulge while you earn it with your hard work, instead, recognize that all these calories add up.

Most vending machine items are filled with no less than 250 calories.  When you add up a few of these a week you could find yourself consuming an extra thousand or more calories overall with just this alone.

Stop Snacking

There are many books written on why Europeans are slim.  Americans seem to be fascinated by how they eat bread and pasta and cakes and wine without being obese like a large percentage of the United States.

However, the secret isn’t in what you eat overall, but how much you eat.  When you snack throughout the day you are consuming constantly.  You never give your body a moment to relax and experience a state of not eating.

Try to take a break and only eat meals.  You will end up consuming fewer calories overall by eating 3 hearty and healthy meals rather than grazing throughout the entire day.

Skip The Coffee

In many offices, coffee is an integral part of the process.  It seems like someone is constantly brewing a new pot, and before you know it you’ve got the jitters and have consumed 700 calories in sugar packets.

Try to limit your coffee consumption and you’ll find that your energy will actually increase rather than crash.

 

As the new year comes rolling in, many people have either made resolutions or goals that they’re hoping to accomplish this year. For a larger number of people, their goal likely has something to do with better managing the amount of stress they feel in their life. When you’re too stressed, you can feel a lot of negative impacts on your mind and body. So to help you have a healthier, happier 2018, here are three tips for helping you to better manage your stress.

Pinpoint What’s Stressing You Out

Depending on your lifestyle, the things that stress you out will vary. Additionally, something that used to not cause you stress could now be causing you stress. So to find ways to help de-stress your life, you first have to know what it is that’s stressing you out. This may be your job, your relationships, or a side business you’re working on. According to HelpGuide.org, it’s important not to confuse the thing that you think is causing you stress with the underlying reason for your stress. If you’re able to find the reason rather than just the trigger for your stress, you’ll be much more likely to address that stress effectively.

Give Yourself A Break

Once you’ve pinpointed what it is that’s causing stress in your life, it’s now time for you to find a way to either limit or completely eliminate that stressor. To help with this, WebMD.com recommends that you discover some ways that you can give yourself a break. While this might include just avoiding what’s causing you stress, you might also choose to do something that causes you joy or helps you to feel relaxed. By allowing yourself to slow down and give your mind and body a break, you can better handle the stress you feel in your life.

Practice Meditation

Aside from simply just giving yourself a break from what’s stressing you out, you can and should also find ways that you can manage the stress you’re feeling in the moment. To more effectively do this, the American Psychological Association suggests that you practice meditation on a regular basis. By learning how to be more mindful and relax your mind, you can allow yourself to let go of feelings or emotions that are causing you stress both in your body and in your mind. This will give you the chance to relieve some of your stress and better deal with the stress that everyone goes through from time to time.

If you’ve had too much stress in your life recently, consider how you can use the tips mentioned above to help you better manage this stress and live a healthier, happier life this year.

 

Americans are dying every day from an overdose after misusing opioids. Addiction to these medications that are prescribed to relieve pain is a serious national crisis. Public health, as well as the economic and social welfare of people, is seriously affected. Fortunately, facilities offer an Altoona intensive outpatient program for patients struggling with opioid addiction.

Treatment in a safe, private and clinically supported environment can increase their chances of overcoming addiction before addiction overcomes their life.

Intensive outpatient treatment, or IOP, is a specialized recovery program that provides an intense level of care in a structured environment. The care received is more than a standard outpatient program, yet still accommodates a person’s home and work life responsibilities.

Treatment Goals for an IOP Program

IOP is not a live-in treatment program. However, patients are still required to make a major time commitment. Most programs offer meetings three days a week. Patients can stay at a facility for up to four hours or longer each day. Typically, days and hours are scheduled around school and work schedules.

A major focus during these times is on preventing relapse, but there are other goals patients work toward achieving. Treatment plans may vary, but most goals may include:

• Addressing underlying issues that led to substance abuse
• Identifying psychological problems
• Implementing lifestyle changes
• Making new and positive behavioral decisions
• Learning coping strategies to avoid using again
• Teaching new skills for solving problems
• Introducing discipline and structure
• Achieving and maintaining abstinence from drugs

Most IOP programs will also help patients develop a positive support network outside the clinic. Having and participating in community-based support systems can help patients grow stronger in their sobriety.

What to Expect During Treatment

During an IOP treatment program, patients are usually paired with a team of detox and rehabilitation specialists. A doctor, counselor, licensed psychologist and chemical dependency technician make up most teams. Daily meetings are filled with programming such as therapy in group and individual settings, educational lessons and psychotherapy.

Since intensive outpatient settings allow patients to attend treatment and continue living at home, they can implement recovery skills in real-time. They are able to process their experiences in a safe environment while establishing a substance-free life.

Primary services for IOP include:

• Assessment and detox
• sychotherap
• Pharmacotherapy
• Educational sessions

A clinical assessment is necessary to first determine if a person is suitable for IOP. The person is counseled on the different treatment options that may fit their needs best. If it is determined that the person will benefit from medically supervised detox treatment, they will get referrals to suitable services if detox is not offered at the facility.

Psychotherapy sessions are also part of IOP. Individual counseling sessions help the person address immediate problems. Often, these issues are due to substance abuse. One-on-one counseling also addresses how to achieve and maintain abstinence.

The licensed counselor reviews treatment and coping techniques while encouraging the person to talk about issues they could not express during group therapy.

During group therapy, participants are encouraged to share personal experiences that can foster behavioral and emotional changes. Some intensive outpatient programs have community-based support meetings such as the widely known 12-step program.

Research supports involving family members in rehab treatment to improve chances of success. Family members also need counseling and information that teaches them to support their loved one in recovery.

Another important part of treating substance abuse often includes medication management and pharmacotherapy. Medications used as part of IOP target specific substance abuse disorders.

In educational sessions, patients examine, without judgment, ways in which their emotions, behaviors and thoughts contribute to or detract from a life of recovery. They receive information and instructions on topics relevant to their situation. They are provided with a better understanding of drug addiction and relapse prevention techniques.

The goal is to help recovering addicts understand root causes of their addiction and learn how to become part of a sober nation.

Finally, supportive services help patients with employment, legal and/or social challenges that could work against their progress. For example, some IOP programs address barriers to employment. These programs may also connect patients with services to overcome legal issues if they were arrested for drug use.

Continued Support after Intensive Outpatient Treatment

Typically, patients progressing successfully through the program will need less intense professional support. They will begin attending shorter sessions on fewer days each week. Known as the “step down” part of rehab, this phase occurs gradually and in line with recovering opioid users gaining better skills to continue a life free from addiction.

Before being fully released, most programs develop an aftercare plan to continue providing supportive care for a sober life.

It’s always important to maintain some type of activity at all different ages. If you’re a parent, you want to get your kids involved in sports or other active events. And as an adult, you need to make sure that you keep your body moving to stay healthy as well. But in addition to just the primary health factor, you do have to make sure that you avoid injuries so that you don’t lose the benefits of an active lifestyle.

Some of the things that you can consider when it comes to avoiding injuries include buying safety equipment like mouth guards, doing your stretching exercises, getting your calorie input correct, and making sure that you stay at the right hydration level.

Mouthguards

For any sport where you can get hit in the teeth, you need to buy a mouthguard. It’s simply not worth it to have to go to a dentist or doctor and get any major repair work done when you could have avoided it simply by having a piece of foam protecting your teeth. Mouth guards are especially important and hockey, baseball, football, and wrestling. Without this protection in and around your mouth, your dental bill can far outweigh the benefits of being active.

Stretching Exercises

How many people do you know that have gotten waylaid from their athletic activities because they pulled a muscle? And one of the very simplest things that you can do to avoid that kind of injury is to do light stretching before you get started. It only takes a few minutes, but it can mean the difference between a competitive game, and a season-ending injury. If there’s one aspect of a warm-up that you should never miss, it’s the fact that you should do this stretching before every single strenuous activity.

Getting Calorie Input Right

Another thing about staying healthy and avoiding injury in sports is making sure that you get your calorie input correct. All athletic activities require you to use your muscles and your mind. If you either eat too much or too little, you’re lowering the possible efficiency of your performance, and in some cases, you can even cause injury if you go to extremes. An example might be people who try to do rapid weight loss before a wrestling match.

Staying Hydrated

Believe it or not, another one of the significant factors to being healthy and staying away from getting hurt in sports is drinking the right amount of water. There’s a lot of hype around sports drinks and when you should consume them, but if you just stick to plain old water in the right amounts, it will dramatically increase your ability to function at peak level without suffering any sorts of consequences of dehydration.