Unstressed Life

Anxiety

Bunion Surgery Recovery – Appreciating the Little Things!

Finally! After struggling with my feet for countless years I finally decided to have surgery on my left foot to remove my growing bunion. Specifically I had a lapidus fusion, akin osteotomy, and excision of the tibial sesamoid. Ever since I can remember I have had severely flat feet but they did not cause a problem until recently. My podiatrist warned me a few years ago when I went to get fitted for orthotics that my bunion was growing and that I would most likely need surgery. I assumed this would be several years into the future. Boy was I wrong! Earlier this year while running a race (something that I immediately recognized as a mistake) my left big toe hurt immensely after I crossed the finish line. The pain was so bad that I went to urgent care. They took xrays and said they could not see any fractures.…

Anxiety

Power Posing Can Change Your Life

In case you haven’t heard about it yet let me be the first to tell you….power posing works. This is a great way that I have personally found to reduce stress and increase my overall confidence and the best news is that it only takes 2 minutes! Also it’s free and you can do it anywhere. I learned about this concept from what has become my favorite TED Talk “Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are” by Amy Cuddy. Immediately after watching this talk I sent it to all of my friends, my wife , and her family. You can check it out below. The science from power posing comes down to two hormones: Testosterone – the dominance hormone Cortisol – the stress hormone. After two minutes of power posing, it was determined that testosterone levels increased by 20% and cortisol levels reduced by 25%. It was also…

Anxiety

What Makes Us Happy?

This is a fantastic TED Talk that I recently listened to that featured a 75 year study on adult development and what makes for a fulfilling, long and happy life. Surprise…it’s not fame and fortune. I enjoyed it quite a bit so thought I would share it here. It comes down to good relationships are the key to happiness and health. Relationships keep us from being lonely which has been proven to be a killer. They also help protect our body and brain. https://youtu.be/8KkKuTCFvzI

Anxiety

Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

I used to dread speaking in front of groups. It didn’t matter if it was a small group or a large gathering I absolutely hated it. Speaking in public is the number one fear for the average person and the stress it causes can lead to many sleepless nights. I knew this fear would hold me back personally and professionally so here are some of the actions I took to face this fear head on. Know Your Material It is crucial that you know your stuff and that you have studied up on what you are talking about. If you are creating Power Point slides give yourself as much time as possible to put them together. Don’t make them too cluttered and whatever you do make sure you are not reading the slides verbatim to the audience. This is just plain boring to the audience and it also makes it…

Healthy Eating

Why I Bring My Lunch To Work Every Day

I am a huge believer in eating healty and saving money so it only makes sense that I would bring my lunch to work every day. Like most of us my work day is pretty hectic so the “lunch hour” is pretty rare and I find myself working through lunch most days at my desk. This simple act allows me to control what I eat during the work day while keeping my expenses low. The average lunch in the US is $10 per day so this can add up quickly: $50 per month $2600 per year. By bringing your lunch each day you can easily reduce this expense by 50% or more. The excuse I hear most often from my coworkers as to why they don’t bring lunch is because of the time it takes to make it. I have found that by creating a routine in the morning or…

Personal Finance

Paid Off My Mortgage in Less than 2 Years – Best Financial Decision I Ever Made!

The Best Financial Decision I Ever Made Was Paying Off My Mortgage No question, hands down this was the best decision I could have ever made! We did this in a little less than 2 years with a $191,000 mortgage. The purchase price of the home was $398,000 so as you can see we put down a pretty sizeable down payment. Even though it took my wife and I less than 2 years to pay off this mortgage….. this was journey that started about 10 years ago with the purchase of our first home. We lived in that house for 8 years and were able to sell it for a nice profit due in large part to the improving real estate market. My wife and I had outgrown this home with the addition of our first child and with hopes of having another so we decided we needed more space.…

Massage Pillow

Zyllion Shiatsu Massage Pillow With Heat Review

There are various devices on the market that can offer you a deep Shiatsu massage but very few that deliver that massage where you probably need it most – to the neck. This Shiatsu pillow changes that though by helping you to relax and unwind with a deep-yet-gentle neck massage. But it doesn’t only work on the neck either, it can also be applied to the calf, the abdomen, the upper or lower back and the thigh for a full body massage that really makes a difference. This is a smaller and more practical way to get a heated massage but does it really work as advertised? Introduction This tiny pillow is small enough to easily pack into a bag and take with you on the go and will offer a deep, relaxing massage wherever you are. Simply use it as you would any other pillow – by placing it…

Massage Chair

Zyllion Shiatsu Massage Cushion With Heat Review

The Zyllion ZMA-14-BK Shiatsu Massive Cushion is a full sized massage that will simultaneously massage the back, neck and lumber area with gentle heat and firm targeted pressure. This is a top-of-the-range massage product with a very appealing price tag. But is it a good purchase? Introduction The Zyllion ZMA-14-BK Shiatsu Massage Cushion is a full-sized massage cushion that will cover an entire seat (like a car seat). When in place, you can then sit on it and lean back in order to receive pressure from the rotating and moving massage nodes, alongside gentle heat and vibration. Massage cushions are the best purchase for those looking for a full body massage from home and the Zyllion is one of the most feature-packed models out there. The product will strap onto most chairs and is very simple to operate. Features and Specifications The Zyllion Massage Cushion has four adjustable moving nodes…

Foot Massager

uComfy Shiatsu Foot Massager With Heat

The uComfy Foot Massager With Heat is a great device if ever you need to relax and unwind. It’s well made with a good selection of modes and offers one of the most comfortable massage experiences on the market at the moment. Description uComfy is an affordable foot massager at just $168 currently (Amazon.com) and is small and light enough to be packed away discretely. Despite these facts though, it promises to provide a relaxing Shiatsu foot rub experience that you can use to unwind at the end of the day. In theory, this is an amazing idea… Imagine getting home from work after a long day. You’ve been shouted at by clients/your boss all day, you’re still stressing about all the work you have to do and your feet are hurting from the long commute. You get home and you just want to collapse in a heap and maybe…

Massage Chair

Full Body Shiatsu Massage Chair Recliner With Heat Stretched Foot Rest Review

When it comes to getting the best full-body massage experience at home, nothing quite compares to owning your very own full massage chair. And when it comes to owning your very own full massage chair, very few options compare to the Electric Full Body Shiatsu Massage Chair from BestMassage. Introduction To look at, this massage chair is quite clearly a serious piece of furniture. The main unit is a large, leather-looking, black chair that reclines and has an extendable foot rest for complete relaxation. Just the chair alone is incredibly comfortable and a great way to take a load off at the end of a busy day. Think ‘Chandler and Joey’ and you’re pretty close. On top of this though, you of course also get multiple massage options including power rollers, heat, air bags and vibration. This goes a step further than the massage chairs you might have tried in…

My Lexapro Journey Begins

When You Just Want to Stop Worrying

Worried About Getting Your Physical Exam? Go Anyway!

Hate Your Job? Here’s How You Can Survive

Bunion Surgery Recovery – Appreciating the Little Things!

Power Posing Can Change Your Life

What Makes Us Happy?

Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

Why I Bring My Lunch To Work Every Day

Paid Off My Mortgage in Less than 2 Years – Best Financial Decision I Ever Made!

Zyllion Shiatsu Massage Pillow With Heat Review

Zyllion Shiatsu Massage Cushion With Heat Review

uComfy Shiatsu Foot Massager With Heat

Full Body Shiatsu Massage Chair Recliner With Heat Stretched Foot Rest Review