Aldis Hodge’s Cross Lives Up To The Hype & We Can’t Stop Watching
Book-to-screen adaptations are a risky endeavor, leaving fans holding their breath in anticipation. Will the magic translate? Cross, the new Amazon Prime Video thriller, proves that it can! Starring Aldis Hodge, the show delivers a gripping and faithful adaptation of James Patterson’s novel. From the […]
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The 23 Best Black Friday Mattress Deals To Shop Now
.disclaimer{width:90%;margin-bottom:1rem}.disclaimer__lines{width:100%;margin:0 auto;border-bottom:1px solid #999;padding:0;max-width:150px}.disclaimer__copy{width:100%;max-width:355px;font-family:Brown Regular,sans-serif;font-size:.9rem;font-weight:300;line-height:1.3em;color:#333;padding:0 0 .4rem;margin:1rem auto;text-align:center} All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. With winter’s early sunsets, you’d think it’d be easier to get a solid slumber. But research […]
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Earth911 Podcast: Peerby’s Daan Weddenpohl Accelerates Circular, Sharing Economies
The sharing economy can be a platform for keeping products in circulation and out of… The post Earth911 Podcast: Peerby’s Daan Weddenpohl Accelerates Circular, Sharing Economies appeared first on Earth911.
EcoTech
Beauty Sleep
Getting plenty of rest is an essential component to overall physical and emotional well-being. From soft bamboo sheets to a mattress devoid of nontoxic materials, here are 10 items we’re eyeing for a dreamy, sanctuary-like bedroom. Rest and RelaxationMade entirely of upcycled beechwood in an […]
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Guide to a Socially Distanced Fourth of July
After months of self-quarantine and social distancing, many of us are craving human contact with our loved ones. Zoom calls just don’t seem to do it anymore. As the days get longer and the sun heats up, summer parties are typically in full swing. But […]
UncategorizedAfter months of self-quarantine and social distancing, many of us are craving human contact with our loved ones. Zoom calls just don’t seem to do it anymore. As the days get longer and the sun heats up, summer parties are typically in full swing. But right now, our world is anything but typical. Here’s some good news: by following social distancing and other Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, we can think about hosting small get-togethers, and the Fourth of July is a great time to start.
In June, the CDC shared their “Considerations for Events and Gatherings.” Obviously, events carrying the lowest risk, according to the CDC, are virtual-only, such as Zoom or Skype. Those with “more risk” are considered to be “smaller outdoor and in-person gatherings in which individuals from different households remain spaced at least 6 feet apart, wear cloth face coverings, do not share objects, and come from the same local area (e.g., community, town, city, or county).”
To help you find a balance between hosting a fun summer party and maintaining the safety of your guests, here are a few things to think about beforehand.
INVITATIONS
As cute as they are, paper invitations can become contaminated by anyone who physically handles mail. For a gathering during this uncertain time, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Consider using online invitations such as Evite and Paperless Post, or simply call and text your guests, which is more eco-friendly, anyway!
Think about the nature of your get-together. Do you want to have a cookout and serve dinner? Or would you be more comfortable simply having drinks with family and friends? Do you want your guests to congregate inside your house or would you prefer that they stay outside? Gently but clearly communicate your expectations beforehand.
GUEST LIST
Limit the number of guests attending. The more people you and your guests are exposed to, the higher the risk. Consider whether potential guests have recently traveled, work in a public setting such as a grocery store or have been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive for COVID. Clearly, this is not the time to invite your out-of-state relatives and everyone from the soccer team! Be mindful of your immuno-compromised or elderly guests, who are at a much higher risk. Be sure to check the news in your local area to see any restrictions on guest count.
FOOD & DRINK
The CDC states, “There is no evidence that COVID-19 is spread by food. However, people sharing utensils and congregating around food service areas can pose a risk.” Choose to opt out of a traditional BBQ buffet, where guests will be in close quarters and touching the same surfaces over and over. Encourage guests to bring their own food and drinks. Or hand over the role of designated server to the cook (or Master Griller), who will wear gloves while cooking and serving.
Encourage guests to bring their own plates and utensils–bonus points if you use biodegradable options, such as Susty Party or Transitions2earth! Ask guests to bring their own cups or reusable water bottles. They can even color-code them with tape or stickers. Or serve single-serving canned or bottled drinks. Provide disposable paper napkins or ask guests to bring their own reusable napkins. Try: Tea North Organic Carbonated Iced Tea, Kitchen Crafted Non-GMO Project verified and gluten-free Grill Spices and Dips.
Here is a light, summery cocktail recipe–made with award-winning organic vodka!–for you and your guests to enjoy.
Organic Vodka Lemonade
Humboldt Organic Vodka
Mix 1.5 ounces Humboldt Organic Vodka with lemonade to taste. Enjoy!
FACE MASKS & HAND SANITIZER
The most important goal for you (the host) and your guests is to reduce the spread of the virus during your get-together. Generally, the risk is much lower when you’re outdoors because there is natural airflow and more space to socially distance.
Display several hand sanitizers throughout and encourage guests to wash their hands frequently. Make sure you’re stocked up on soap, paper towels and cleaning supplies. If guests will be inside, clean highly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, tabletops, fridge handles and light switches frequently. For restrooms specifically, encourage guests to use disposable cleaning wipes or paper towels and cleaning solutions on high-touch surfaces, such as door knobs, faucets, toilet handles, and light switches after every use. Feel free to leave specific notes as a reminder.
One of the most important things to remember is to enforce social distancing. Make sure tables and chairs are set up six feet apart before guests arrive. Remind guests to keep their distance as they are moving around. Don’t forget to wear a cloth mask and require your guests to do the same. (You can keep the holiday festive with a Fourth of July-themed mask!) Try: Indie Source Freedom Mask with a blue-and white stars motif, or an organic cotton version from Naturepedic or Avocado Green Mattress.
For the time being, typical hosting etiquette has gone out the window. Staying safe and being together is what counts.
The post Guide to a Socially Distanced Fourth of July appeared first on Organic Spa Magazine.
Dr. Jennifer Ashton: Self-Care Tips
Dr. Jennifer Ashton Photographer: Michael Benabib Dr. Jennifer Ashton, chief medical correspondent at ABC World News, shares tips to make well-being attainable When it comes to the word “well-being,” a yoga class, soothing spa treatment or walk in nature may come to mind. For Dr. […]
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Dr. Jennifer Ashton
Photographer: Michael Benabib
Dr. Jennifer Ashton, chief medical correspondent
at ABC World News, shares tips to make
well-being attainable
When it comes to the word “well-being,” a yoga class, soothing spa treatment or walk in nature may come to mind. For Dr. Jennifer Ashton, the chief medical correspondent at ABC World News, self-care equals well-being. In fact, she sees them as interchangeable. “When you have well-being, you’re practicing self-care,” she explains.
As a solo parent with a high-profile job, a thriving medical practice and demanding travel schedule, Dr. Ashton is the first to admit that carving out time to practice self-care isn’t always easy. For her, “it is about the little things, like drinking more water or adding different types of stretching,” which are easy to integrate into one’s lifestyle to improve well-being.
One of Dr. Ashton’s favorite wellness practices is a cardio workout, but she also knows it is important to be kind to yourself if sticking to a particular routine is hard. “I’m a big believer that things in wellness should be done in moderation. You have to be flexible and can’t expect or require perfection,” she explains.
For the most part, Dr. Ashton’s well-being practices were a style of living until early in the year of 2017 when she divorced her physician husband of 21 years. Things seemed to be going well with co-parenting their two teenage children when the unthinkable happened. Eighteen days after the divorce, detectives arrived at Ashton’s New Jersey home delivering horrific news. Her ex-husband had died after jumping off the George Washington Bridge. “It shattered my world,” she says.
In Dr. Ashton’s powerful book, Life After Suicide, she writes that she also blamed herself for the tragedy. During the days and months following, she did everything she could to support her children’s healing. And she never took time out for her own well-being, because she thought it would be selfish to make herself a priority.
However, in December of that same year, Ashton knew she needed to help herself as well. “I was coming out of the worst year of my life. Healing a tragedy makes people introspective, and it was out of that I decided to experiment with myself,” she reflects.
Ashton’s first experiment came in the form of “Dry January”: no alcohol for the month. To her surprise, the results were stunning. Not only did she feel reinvigorated, she felt a significant and positive impact on her mind, body, mood and attitude. When January came to an end, Ashton decided to extend the dry days into part of February because she felt so good, physically and mentally. She writes in her recent best-selling book, The Self-Care Solution: A Year of Becoming Happier, Healthier, and Fitter—One Month at a Time, that she continued the challenge because she became
“hooked on the idea and practice of challenging myself to be healthier.”
As a practicing OB/GYN and nutritionist, Ashton says she also took on this self-experiment because she tells her patients to practice healthy habits. “I wanted to use myself as the experiment and do the things I’d ask someone else to do, and see if I would feel any different doing them,” she recalls.
In February, Ashton decided to take on “another bite-size goal to target.” After carefully considering various options for her second goal, Ashton decided upon the challenge of push-ups and planks because not only would it produce quick visible results if “only done for minutes,” but they could be done anywhere.
Dr. Ashton’s self-experiment continued through the calendar year as she focused on 12 separate challenges, one for each month. She writes about her year-long journey in The Self-Care Solution, where she is both researcher and subject as she guides the reader through each challenge. The book brims with anecdotes about how Dr. Ashton integrated the self-care goals into her daily routines, and the science behind each one. Some days were more successful than others. Ashton says the only month she completed with 100 percent success was January. And it is these imperfections that make her approach realistic and approachable.
Self-Care Success
Like any well-being journey, challenges happen, and sometimes it is difficult to stay motivated. While carving out time and energy for a new or improved
well-being habit may appear to be overwhelming, it can ultimately make a huge difference. Dr. Ashton reflects, “I’ve got a lot of balls in the air, and I can’t do those things when I’m not healthy.”
Here are some of her tips to help you stick with a well-being goal.
TRY A CALENDAR
If you’ve struggled with sticking to a healthy habit, like Ashton did at times, she suggests using a calendar to track progress: “It is a good way to hold yourself accountable and recognize the accomplishments.”
CHOOSE ONE THING
Instead of trying various well-being activities, be choosy and select one thing that you enjoy that you can do the same way each day.
BE PATIENT
Giving yourself time to adjust to trying new things helps when exploring something different, like eating more plant-based meals. “I wasn’t a diversion eater, so this challenged me. I knew I wanted to eat less meat. It takes time. It doesn’t happen in a week. Be patient in our taste buds,” Dr. Ashton offers.
ADD SMALL THINGS TO YOUR LIFE
If you’re re-entering the world after being immersed into a spa retreat where relaxation was simple, Ashton suggests bringing small parts of the spa experience home with a scent or tea, or being in a quiet state. “Maybe it is no tech or doing more stretching. Think about everything that involves the five senses in the spa and try to replicate some of that in your home,” Dr. Ashton suggests.
BE CREATIVE
Dr. Ashton says making the well-being habit you’re trying to adopt be “new to you” is helpful. For example, “If you’re already drinking lots of water, you can add a citrus,” she adds. Or if you’re already in the habit of walking, try a different path.
BE CURIOUS
When you’re trying something new, like a new meditation, and deciding if this is the right fit for you, remember you’re discovering what works best for you. You’re figuring out what helps you to be happy and healthy.
ADJUST YOUR PERSPECTIVE
A slight shift in how you see your schedule can make a significant impact. Dr. Ashton writes, “I know that self-care isn’t a matter of having time; it’s a matter of readjusting what you do with that time…And as I’ve learned, spending just a few minutes every day to take care of yourself actually creates more time.”
PROCESS NOT PERFECTION
Keep in mind, perfection isn’t necessary for well-being. This is a kinder and gentler approach to not only how you look at your results, but how you speak to yourself along the way.
DON’T COMPARE
With social media it is easy to look at someone else, who is doing something similar, and feel like you’re not making progress. “Keep going. Your life isn’t someone else’s selfie,” Dr. Ashton encourages.
The post Dr. Jennifer Ashton: Self-Care Tips appeared first on Organic Spa Magazine.
Building Resilience: How To Emerge Stronger
Facing adversity such as a pandemic, illness or financial uncertainty, while challenging, offers us the opportunity to grow resilience. We pull from our inner resources to cope, and bounce back from sudden, unexpected change. We find fresh ways to respond, emerging stronger as we support […]
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Voices from the Spa
There is a lot of talk among spa owners about when and how to reopen the spa industry these days. With COVID19 top of mind, spas are working around the clock on plans to keep staff and clients safe. The International Spa Association (ISPA) recently […]
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