Tag: work in progress

Folic acid

Photo Courtesy: American Pregnancy Association

In 1988 folic acid was added to bread, pasta, cereal, cookies and crackers as required by federal law. Folic acid is a form of vitamin B, to be specific vitamin B9.

Folic acid can be easily found in natural foods such as – leafy vegetables, okra, beans, mushrooms, brussel sprouts, broccoli, tomato juice, orange juice, eggs, animal liver and kidney.

Folic acid deficiencies include – extreme tiredness, lack of energy, mouth ulcers, muscle weakness, heart problems, psychological problems such as depression, confusion and neural tube defects.

CDC implores women to consume 400 mcg of folic acid for those considering reproduction in order to prevent birth defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida.

A research study finds that folic acid reduces incidents of neural tube defects in infants.

Make wise choices and have a balanced diet! 💚

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Burnout – A quick guide

Photo Courtesy: Luis Villasmil

Burnout has started to become more recognized over the years. The term burnout was coined by Dr Herbert Freudenberger in his book Burnout in 1974. He defined it as — ” the extinction of motivation or incentive, especially where one’s devotion to a cause or relationship fails to produce a desired result. “

Burnout is well recognized and has a medical diagnosis by ICD-11 and WHO. Occurs when our brain and body responds to prolonged stress and feel discouraged and exhausted. It impacts our ability to perform, become highly – critical of oneself and overwhelmed/ irritable.

Here are 5 signs that can help you identify burnout:

1. Inability to sleep adequately/ insomnia/ trouble sleeping

2. Exhaustion

3. Feelings of negativism, or cynicism relating to job

4. Lack of accomplishment and sense of ineffectiveness

5. Brain fog

If you or someone you know is experiencing these signs, I would suggest to take time and seek for early identification and eliminate those stressors. Early intervention is always a good idea.

Stay healthy and happy!

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Rewire Your Brain from Complaining to Compassion

Photo Courtesy: Celine Sayuri Tagami

Remember a day when you just got frustrated with anything to anyone. It could be something at work that engages you for hours and you come home with thoughts that just makes you feel irritatable.

We all have days which aren’t just as sunny. But while I say that it’s important to not forget that all days aren’t rainy either. It’s just like a spectrum which has variations and of course variables.

You will be surprised to know that too much complaining has a negative impact. The more you practice it the more your brain gets rewired. A research from Standford University has shown that — complaining shrinks the hippocampus. Hippocampus is the area of brain that is responsible for critical thinking, learning and memory. 🧠

Here are 2 ways and you can choose either:

1. Shift your perspective towards things you are grateful for because complaining won’t get you anywhere either. Complaining sometimes leads to release of cortisol, too much release of cortisol is not good on a long term. So, try to cultivate an attitude that helps you.

2. Complain but with a solution-orientation. Think about why you are complaining and how can it be resolved. Try to identify the purpose, what are the different ways of looking at it and what are the ways to get over it. Obviously, it’s not a day thing but try a constructive manner.

And lastly, excess of anything always results in danger☠️. When you see yourself engaging in complaining, remind yourself to stop and break the wiring.

Have a wonderful week! 🌻

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Keeping Cool in Angry Times

Photo Courtesy: Google Images

It seems nearly impossible. I am absolutely with you when you say this… because it is really tough or even impossible. At the same time, you do not want to say something and regret later.

Anger is an emotion that is characterized by antagonism or a strong feeling of being upset or being annoyed because of something wrong or bad.

Anger can be used as a way to express negative feelings or help in focusing and finding solutions. However, excessive anger can be problematic not only physically but psychologically too.

While some of you can manage anger, others who are “hotheaded” experience anger at a higher intensity than average. It could be due to numerous factors such as — low tolerance toward frustration, genetic or sociocultural.

So here are 3 ways to help you cool your head when angry:

• Relaxation : simple breathing from your diaphragm. Take a deep breath in – hold – release lungs 🫁, you can pair it with visualization of a calming picture. 🖼️ Here is one for you.

• Restructure your Thoughts : when we are feeling something too intense, logic goes out of the window. But if we think logically it sometimes defeats anger. Try reminding yourself that it could be a rough spot here and shift your perspective. 💭

• Use Humour : as a child you would sometimes burst in laughter when angry. Rage diffuses in a number of ways and one among is silly humor. You can of course find a way to diffuse your own anger. 😸🤭🐶

Now that you know how to do it here is a Pro Tip: Give yourself a break! ☕ A study suggest that taking a break for 5-60 minutes refreshes your brain.

Inside out is an amazing movie to understand about your emotions.

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5 C’s of Communication

Photo Courtesy: Himanshu Ranpara

Nearly everyday whether you are at corporations or at school or at home, communication is like salt to every dish. Imagine a day with zero communication – merely the thought of it is panicking.

Pick any job description and read it – one of the points or requirements will be excellent communication skills.

So, here are essential 5 C’s of Communication to help you improve or keep in mind –

1. Clarity – it should be simple in explanation and objective.

2. Coherent – the flow of content should be appropriate.

3. Concise – keep it short, begin with short sentences.

4. Credible – it is a good idea to add facts.

5. Creative – just like a beautiful architectural design attracts attention and interest. Try an element that’s unique of you.

There is more than these C’s but just for you to remember I attempted at making short and perhaps write more on it in my next blogs! Here is one interesting paper that you can use to develop effective communication skills.

You can use these C’s while communicating face to face or in emails.

Calling off!

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