How To:

How To Please God

Pastor Randy Skeete's presentation on pleasing God. 

 

How To Ensure Your Supplements Are As Good As Claimed 

 

In an effort to make a quick buck, supplement marketers go to great lengths to ensure people purchase their products regardless of whether those products are of good quality and suit the consumers’ needs or not. 

Therefore, it is of utmost importance for you to have the requisite knowledge about supplements as this helps in not only determining the kind of supplement you need but also in choosing the very best. Having substantial information about supplements also helps you in ascertaining that there will be no adverse side effects after using the product.   

The following are some of the ways through which you can substantiate claims that a particular supplement is good and suitable for your needs. 

1. Know the purpose for supplements 

It is vital that you understand what supplements are and the purpose for taking them. You must be knowledgeable in your choice and consumption of supplement especially because today’s market is inundated with a wide range of supplement products many of which claim to promote the overall well being of consumers. Naturally, many consumers get easily drawn to the marketing hype and some even end up making supplements an intrinsic part of their lives. 

It is crucial to know that supplements are meant to do only what their name suggests: supplement and not replace the foods necessary for good health.  This therefore means that you must not skip regular meals or stop consuming particular foods all together in the name of taking supplements. 

2.  Do thorough research 

The importance of carrying out intensive research cannot be overemphasized as this is the most effective way to gather general or specific information about various supplements or a certain supplement. The more you learn about a particular supplement, the easier it becomes for you to assess its quality and suitability. 

It would be wrong to assume, for instance, that all supplements that claim to contain only organic, herbal or natural ingredients are the safest. This is because they may contain substances which, when consumed with other products or foods result in adverse reactions. 

3.      Scrutinize the manufacturer 

It is normal to hear or read about many manufacturers of supplements claiming that their products have the ability to prevent heart disease, reduce cholesterol or even strengthen the immune system against several infections. A careful and thorough examination of these claims may reveal that they are not only exaggerated, but also misleading and therefore must be taken with a pinch of salt. 

One way of assessing the credibility of manufacturers is by determining the duration they have been manufacturing supplements and whether they have a formidable reputation. 

Besides that, it is also wise to study consumers’ reviews about manufacturers and their products. 

4.      Assess Yourself 

It is worthwhile to understand that people do not react the same way to different supplements. This means that a product that worked for one person may not necessarily work for you. It is therefore crucial for you to examine yourself and know which supplement best suits your needs. 

It is always best to consult a doctor or a pharmacist if you are unsure of which supplement to settle for. A healthcare provider may, for instance, decide that a different serving size from that prescribed by the manufacturer, is the most appropriate.

 

How To Choose A Martial Arts School

The importance of choosing a martial arts school wisely cannot be overemphasized. The criteria for selecting a martial arts school should be guided by how well and satisfactorily it meets the needs of a prospective student. This is because just as all martial arts are not alike, all schools or studios are not alike either.

While the primary focus of some martial arts schools is competition and self defense, others devote their training to character building and personal development. It is therefore very essential to ascertain from the beginning what one hopes to gain from the martial arts training, and to realize that taking martial arts as long term and not short terms activities brings the best benefits. 

In order to choose and subsequently sign up with the best martial arts school, depending on one’s preferences, thorough research is mandatory. For instance, if an individual wants to know the most suitable martial arts style for him or her, researching on the different styles and visiting classes of different schools that offer different martial arts would be most appropriate.     

While some martial arts schools and studios teach techniques and forms that are more inclined to a traditional style, others integrate into their programs a mix of techniques borrowed from various martial arts disciplines. Others, however, incorporate martial arts styles and techniques with gymnastics and other open styles. As has been the custom in the past, each martial arts school will claim that their methods of teaching and martial arts styles are second to none. It is therefore advisable for prospective students to take these claims with a pinch of salt and chose the approach that suits them best. 

One common way that many martial arts schools use to attract students is placing advertisements that highlight the backgrounds and achievements of their higher ranking instructors. A prospective student should understand that the number of degrees, belts or even successful competition records an instructor has, does not automatically make him or her the best instructor. Likewise, the designation of one as a master does not necessarily mean that the individual is an excellent instructor. 

Teaching styles may vary from one instructor to another. For example, some instructors use the approach of the old Asian masters to strictly enforce discipline, while others are somehow a bit lenient. At the same time, old methods of teaching such as vocal or physical reprimand of students for wrong techniques may be viewed as incongruous in the contemporary society. Needless to say, this therefore underscores the need for a prospective student to visit classes of the preferred martial arts school and keenly watch the teaching style of the instructor. This helps in determining whether the teaching style is the most compatible and whether the prospective student will feel comfortable with that instructor.

An instructor who takes time to make the students understand the lesson is much more helpful, regardless of whether he or she is highly ranked or not. Asking plenty of questions and seeking the general feedback of other students is also very essential. If an individual is choosing a martial arts school or studio for his or her child, that child should not be taken along for the first time. This is because most schools, which may not be the best, can easily convince the child to want to do classes there. 

When planning the training budget, it is worthwhile to know that the location, condition, equipment and membership fee of a martial arts training facility factor in the overall cost of training. But whatever the case, the most important thing is to do intensive preliminary research and never join a school without being completely sure it will best suit all the training needs.   

How To Care For Your Aging Parents

Caring for aging parents is not such an easy task. It has logistical and psychological issues to deal with. The emotional distress that you, as the caregiver, may have to go through can sometimes be very overwhelming. Fortunately, there are easy and practical ways to overcome every challenge you might encounter.  

First, you need to accept that your parents are aging or have already aged. The sooner you acknowledge the truth, the better, as this will make you accept the reversal role more quickly and easily. Furthermore, it will offer you various care giving options to explore. Nevertheless, it is of utmost importance to regularly monitor their aging process closely, so that the pressure and responsibility of caring for them does not come unexpectedly.

Secondly, you may have to make a decision on where your aging parents will be living. This will, however, largely depend on how much nursing care and supervision they need. If the attention they require is minimal, you can let them continue staying in their own home but make the necessary modifications, if need be, like adding railings in the shower, removing the threshold at the shower door to avoid them  tripping over or even turning a room on the first floor into a bedroom.

To make it a little easier for them to get out of bed, you can raise their bed a few inches higher. A home care aide can then be visiting them a few times a week to assist them with daily routines. But should they need a little more intensive care, you may opt to take them to either a continuing care retirement facility or bring them under your own roof. 

The care giving financial matters should be considered carefully, with the first step being an assessment of your assets, income sources, debts and liabilities. This ought to give you an idea on how to spend the available financial resources. If for instance you are living under the same roof with your aging parents, that could mean additional costs of food, some modifications to your home and even travelling expenses to and from the doctor.

Besides checking out insurance policies and Medicare information, it is also important to research on the financial assistance your aging parents are eligible for, from the government and community groups. It may prove a challenge accounting for every penny and should it become too much for you, consult a financial planner.

Legal consideration is another essential pillar in caring for your aging parents. At one time or another, they might need a power of attorney, which would entail appointing someone to execute tasks such as writing cheques or even paying bills. It is equally crucial for you to know the location of documents such as Advance medical directives, health care proxy and the living will, if at all they exist. 

However, your aging parents may, for one reason or another, be unwilling to be drawn into legal conversations. Should they decline to talk about the power of attorney or living will, you might consider obtaining guardianship from a court of law. This would give you the legal authority to decide on a number of issues including their long-term medical treatment and financial matters. While dealing with all these legalities, ensure you get your own legal documents as it would dictate, besides other things, how you would like to be treated in your old age, thus making life easier for your own family.

In whatever decision made or action taken, remember that care giving will most likely provide an opportunity for more aging parent-adult child bonding, thus creating a stronger emotional connection. Besides, it could even cover up for the quality time both of you failed to spend together a number of years back.

 

How to sleep better

Good sleep is essential for a person’s optimum productivity, mental sharpness, emotional balance as well as physical energy. Sleep difficulties are more often than not related to an individual’s daily routine. This therefore means that altering day-to-day lifestyle choices, sleeping schedule and bedtime habits can bring very significant changes to the quality of a person’s night rest.

What to do

Whether an individual is having occasional difficulty sleeping or suffering from insomnia, there is a lot one can do to turn around the situation. Fortunately, almost all that needs to be done is under that person’s control. 

  

(a)   Create a bedtime routine that is relaxing 

 

(i) Making consistent efforts to unwind and relax makes sleeping easier as it powerfully signals the brain that it is time to let go of the day’s stresses and wind down. But should there be a lot on a person’s mind that keeps him or her from sleeping, the best thing is to write it down and sort it out in the morning after waking up. 

(ii) Minimizing noise in the bedroom is also important as too much noise is a distraction. However, if a person cannot eliminate or avoid noise from sources such as city traffic, barking dogs or even loud neighbors, it is advisable to try masking it with recordings of soothing sounds or a fan. Wearing earplugs may also help.

(iii) In the same breath, it is essential to try not falling asleep with the TV on, because it trains the body to need the noise in order to sleep. For instance, waking up in the middle of the night and finding it unbearably quiet may make it difficult to get back to sleep.  

(iv) Since a bedroom’s temperature also affects sleep, keeping it slightly cool can ensure good quality sleep. As one drifts into sleep, the body temperature drops naturally and therefore, cooling down the room can jump start the sleeping process and make it easier to fall asleep.

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    (b)  Maintain a regular sleep schedule

(i) Synchronizing with the circadian rhythm, that is, the body’s 24-hour day-night cycle, is key to achieving good sleep. A more stable and consistent circadian rhythm ensures better sleep. If an individual goes to bed and wakes up at the same time each day, he or she will feel much more energized and refreshed than a person who sleeps the same hours but at different times. 

(ii) If one needs to make up for lost sleep hours, it is better to take a daytime nap rather than sleep late. This ensures non disturbance of the natural sleep-wake rhythm while at the same time paying off the sleep debt. However, napping can worsen insomnia more so for adults. If one must take a nap, then it should be in the early afternoons and limited to half an hour. 

(iii) Giving in to after-dinner drowsiness can result into waking up later in the night and having difficulties getting back to sleep. Therefore, it is important to engage in mildly stimulating chores to stay awake whenever one gets sleepy before the scheduled bedtime.

     (c)   Exercise regularly and eat right  

Since getting a better sleep also hinges on a person’s eating and exercise habits, it vital to make informed choices on what and how much one eats as well as how regularly he or she exercises. 

(i) For instance, drinking caffeine can lead to loss of many sleep-hours especially when taken just before bedtime. Likewise, alcohol reduces the quality of sleep, making one wake up later in the night. At the same time, drinking lots of other liquids such as water, tea and juice may result in frequent trips to the bathroom during the night, and thus deprive one better sleep. 

(ii) Heavy, fatty foods should be avoided within 2 hours of bedtime as they take time to digest, thus keeping one awake. Acidic or spicy foods can also cause heartburn and stomach trouble. 

Learning how to sleep better does not only guarantee an excellent health, but also greatly improves a person’s quality of life.  

How A Great Dj Can Bring Real Difference To Your Wedding

A wedding is the most important lifetime occasion as it happens only once in a person’s life. Therefore, it behooves the participants to put all the necessary plans into place to ensure the wedding is a conspicuous success.

Since weddings and music are inextricably linked, hiring a DJ is a noble idea. However, it is of utmost importance to be thorough while hiring a DJ as he or she can make or break the wedding.

Having a great and talented DJ can therefore bring a whole lot of difference in a wedding. When speaking over the microphone for instance, a great DJ will enunciate words carefully and not stumble over them, especially the tough ones to pronounce, as an average DJ would do. A talented DJ will also know the right time to speak over the music and how to do it in a smooth manner that relays the message loudly and clearly. A great DJ is highly unlikely to crack corny jokes or jabber on the microphone at the guests’ expense.

A great DJ knows and understands that every crowd is different and therefore through his or her excellent programming skills, he or she strives to satisfy all the guests including the ones with the most esoteric tastes. This means that he or she plays the right songs in the right order and at the right time. Jumping dramatically from one genre of music to another or playing songs that do not blend together may create a very choppy atmosphere for the guests. A great DJ will, if presented with a request list, weave together a smooth music playlist that offers all the guests something to enjoy.

A great DJ’s management skills are invaluable in a wedding as he or she coordinates and communicates with the bride, groom, photographer, venue staff and the videographer so that they know what is happening at all times. He or she keeps all involved persons in the loop and ensures no one misses any important information, especially the clients and their families.

In addition, a great, experienced DJ will have the ability to handle unexpected challenging situations better than an average DJ. Sometimes, wedding plans may change without warning or even equipment fail. When that happens, the DJ responds quickly to the situation without getting flustered. Otherwise, his or her performance would adversely be affected.

Having known how a great DJ can make a real difference to your wedding, the next step is searching and thereafter hiring that DJ. It is very essential to meet face to face with the person who will be the DJ at the wedding since oftentimes, especially with the large agencies, the person whom one speaks with is not the DJ who will be present at the wedding.

There are a number of questions that need to be asked to ensure only the best DJ is hired. For instance, it is important to ask for how long one has been a DJ and how many weddings he or she has done so far, and whether he or she has had any formal training. The duration of service gives an indication of the DJ’s experience level while the number of performances may show the level of commitment. A DJ who offers a written, legal contract shows he or she is professional and reliable and therefore, asking for a written contract is absolutely vital.