In today’s hyper-connected, fast-paced environment, the challenge more than ever is to have the discipline to slow down. Modern-day technology also inundates your life with distractions that draw your focus outward. It’s possible to mask chronic stress and other unhealthy psychological states, but society has begun to recognize the need for a counter movement.

Taking a “brain break”—relearning how to slow down and go inward—has become increasingly popular. That may be due, in part, to recognized meditation benefits for the brain.

Meditating is a great way to ease the frantic state of mind many find themselves in. Once thought to be an enigmatic practice, meditation has gained traction in recent years. One study shows regular meditation by adults tripled from 2012–2017. The growing literature on the benefits of meditation is expansive and promising.

The practice of cultivating mindfulness through meditation can be achieved in many ways. Put simply, it’s being aware of where you place your conscious attention. What comes up may be pleasant or unpleasant. But as you practice this inward dive with nonjudgmental attention, you’ll be able to access an inner peace that already exists within you.

Anyone can start a mindful practice of meditation to find a new level of calm. It’s all about the discipline of sitting down and going inward.

Big Brain Benefits

Meditation benefits for the brain are abundant. Meditating strengthens neural connections and can literally change the configuration of these networks. With regular practice, you can cultivate a more resilient neurobiology that:

Contributes to a greater sense of well-being
Helps to maintain brain health as you age
Aids in alleviating mental stress
Promotes healthy, sustained focus

And with practice, meditation can also help you develop empathy and be more compassionate.

Sound amazing? Read on to reveal even more meditation benefits for the brain.

Mindfulness to Manage Your Mood and Well-Being

Like exercise for your body, meditation helps to condition your mind. Confronting and letting go of unwanted psychological states, like anxiety and fear, releases their hold and the associated conditioned response. Studies now prove control over your internal experience, once thought to be fixed, can be altered with the simple practice of mindfulness.

Though not a cure for chronic emotional and psychological stress disorders, meditation has many extraordinary benefits for mood and overall well-being. A few minutes of mindfulness and meditating can help hold off overwhelming emotion and guard against the powerful thought patterns that fund unproductive worries.

Here’s a small slice of the research backing mindfulness and meditation benefits for the brain:

One randomized controlled study found mindfulness-based therapy over 56 weeks significantly reduced the period of time before relapse of episodes of low mood. It also helped with long and short-term healthy mood maintenance. Participants reported experiencing a better quality of life.
Another study showed eight weeks of mindfulness-based therapy improved participant’s mental health scores. This lead to important conclusions, like relief of anxiety in the mind from meditation being tied to the regulation of self-referential thought processes. Anxiety is a cognitive state that occurs when you’re unable to control your emotional state due to perceived threats.
After an eight-week mindfulness course, participant MRI scans showed a reduction in the brain’s fight or flight center associated with fear and emotion. The amygdala—a part of the brain that controls your body’s stress response during perceived danger—is a key biomarker of stress in your body.

Tune into Greater Attention and Focus

Everyone’s mind gets distracted. It could be putting off homework, losing track of your words mid-sentence, or thinking about work while your significant other tells you about their day. Humans developed selective focus as a coping mechanism for dangerous threats in the ancient past.

Today, there are fewer physical threats to worry about. Instead, people ruminate psychologically, letting worry and anxiety overtake the present with past emotional pain or future anxiety.

Your brain naturally, easily slides into boredom, so it may welcome distractions. A default-mode network of neurons is associated with mind wandering—also called the “monkey mind.” But scientists have found that abnormalities in this system of the brain can lead to anxiety, depression, attention disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Meditation allows you to be in the present moment, a timeframe associated with feelings of happiness. It can increase your attention span and combat mind wandering and excessive self-referential thoughts. With over-activity, these unhealthy states of mind can lead to a state of unhappiness.

Mindfulness helps you focus and ignore the distractions around you. It also helps to hone your ability to notice more in your environment. This gives you access to the present moment with a fuller perspective of your experience. Managing your monkey mind through daily meditation is a simple and easy first line of defense for endless modern-day distractions.

Play the Long Game: Aging and Brain

Free to all, meditation is a fountain of youth for mental aging. The human brain naturally begins to deteriorate in your 20s. Maintaining a healthy brain can be supported with the powerful practice of meditation.

Meditation is shown to thicken the pre-frontal cortex. This brain center manages higher order brain function, like increased awareness, concentration, and decision making. Changes in the brain show, with meditation, higher-order functions become stronger, while lower-order brain activities decrease. In other words, you have the power to train your brain.

Sara Lazar, a neuroscientist from Harvard Medical School, found consistency with meditation is key. In her study, she discovered that experienced meditators 40-50 years old had the same amount of gray matter as an average 20-30-year-old. In this older group, the health of the frontal cortex was maintained.

Brain Structures and Neuroplasticity

Mindful meditation can create physical changes in the brain through neuroplasticity.

This increasingly popular concept refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize and change continuously throughout your lifespan. Behavior and lifestyle are major influencers on the brain. So, your life makes your brain constantly create new neural connections. That’s because neurons (nerve cells) actively adjust to compensate to changes in your environment.

Brain cells go through a process of reorganization, dynamically adapting by creating new pathways inside the brain. How you think and feel changes these neural structures. By flexing the muscle of thoughtful attention, again and again, you effectively change the “physique,” or shape, of your brain. And it’s doesn’t take much time, either.

Studies have shown it only takes eight weeks to change the shape of your brain, including an increase of gray matter volume. Gray matter is found in your central nervous system, and makes up of most of your brain’s neuronal cell bodies. This type of tissue is particularly important in areas responsible for muscle control, sensory perception, emotion, memory, decision-making, and self-control.

Through neuroplasticity, you can create and improve the connections between neurons as you alter the density of gray matter. You can effectively change your brain in just a few minutes a day.

Seeing the Brain Through Meditation

The gray matter in your brain tells a lot about what happens as you sit down for brain training. The many meditation benefits for the brain triggered by daily practice are staggering. But what happens, exactly, to produce these exciting effects?

During the first few minutes of your meditation session, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex is the first area to light up. This part of the brain filters experiences through a self-referential lens. As you ease into a meditative state, your brain is still bouncing from thought to thought—the monkey mind active in the trees. Thoughts that surface can be exaggerated outcomes due to your lived experience.

When you’re able to rein in your attention, the lateral prefrontal cortex activates. Regardless of the method you use—a mantra or breath—this shift can help you override the “me” from moments earlier. Thoughts during this phase are more rational and balanced, helping you see a more neutral perspective. Now you’ve settled into the sweet spot of meditation.

Practice for several weeks (8 to 12) activates the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex. In this state, empathy can develop, and compassion easily arises. This range of activation in the brain becomes stronger the longer you practice. The dedicated practice creates a gateway to a dynamic, gracious life.

Release Chemical Helpers with Mediation

Your brain naturally releases key neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) that help regulate the balance of vital hormones. They influence systems throughout the mind and body.

Studies show practicing meditation can directly impact the level of these crucial neurotransmitters produced in the brain. Mindfulness can have a measurable impact on these brain chemicals:

Serotonin—increases this “feel good” chemical to help regulate mood
Cortisol—decreases this stress hormone
DHEA—boosts levels of this longevity hormone
GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid)—improves the calming effect of this major inhibitory transmitter in your central nervous system (CNS)
Endorphins—increases the “natural high” of this overall happiness neurotransmitter
Growth Hormone—elevates levels of this youth-preserving chemical that naturally declines with age
Melatonin—boosts this “sleep hormone” responsible for restful sleep and helps with mood regulation

Moving Towards Alpha

Your bustling brain is a continuous source of electrical activity. It makes sense. Neurons communicate with each other through electricity.

Brainwaves convey information through a rate of repetition—oscillations so powerful they can be detected. An electroencephalogram (EEG) machine measures five basic types of brainwaves, at different frequencies, slow to fast. Corresponding to Greek letters: delta, theta, alpha, beta, and gamma. As you might guess by now, meditation allows you to manipulate the frequency of your brainwaves.

Meet the 5 Main Types of Brain Frequencies

Gamma brainwaves: The fastest measurable brainwaves detected by EEG. This quick, oscillating brainwave is associated with heightened mental activity including perception, learning, consciousness, and problem solving. They’re active when your brain is processing information from different regions simultaneously.
Beta brainwaves: Detected during active, alert, and busy thinking. They are present at times of concentration, conversation, or when you focus on a task.
Alpha brainwaves: Identifiable when the mind is in a calm, relaxed, yet alert state. They are present during creative activities, found right before you fall asleep, and increase during meditation.
Theta brainwaves: Measured during deep meditation, day dreaming, or REM sleep. They can also be detected while performing automatic, repeated tasks that disengage the brain, like showering or washing dishes.
Delta brainwaves: These slow brainwaves occur during deep, restorative sleep where you lose body awareness altogether.

Your brainwaves are just one aspect of the complex processes in the mind that produce your experience. And meditation can help you control them.

As you meditate and turn attention within yourself, alpha and theta waves increase. Producing alpha waves helps you tap into the voluntary onset of rest and relaxation. This wave comes over you when you’re not focusing with effort on anything in particular.

Dipping into alpha oscillation through meditation can also fuel your creativity. A 2015 study showed a surge in creativity induced by producing more alpha waves. Moving towards alpha waves isn’t a magic elixir, but it’s a promising start to accessing a calmer, more imaginative life experience.

Your Mindful Destination

For a beginning practitioner, developing mindfulness takes dedication. But as you deepen your craft through physical repetition and mind-body connection, you’ll experience the mediation benefits for the brain. Increased research on meditation presents proven benefits for well-being, enhanced memory and attention, a boost in serotonin, and the list keeps growing.

Training your brain to still fluctuations is easier than it sounds. If you haven’t tried it, meditation is simple. It requires no extra equipment, no previous training. Simply sit in a comfortable position, either in a chair on the floor, and begin to focus on your breath. When your attention strays, gently bring your thoughts back to your breath.

Countless methods exist to practice creating a healthy brain and body through meditation.

Try varying your technique by trying out vipassana, breathwork, transcendental meditation, chanting, focused attention, and moving meditation, to name a few. Each of these can be guided or silent.

Seek out the method that’s best for you. But just trying it on for size is the important part. Step off life’s crazy ride for a few minutes each day to go deeper into the mechanics of your own mind. With regular training, you’ll bring resilience to your mental state, better manage high levels of stress, and become more agile in the face of distressing thoughts, anxiety, and distraction.

Meditation, just like exercise, can transform your brain. As a more mindful individual, you’ll create a more whole, conscious experience with more meaningful connection. It’s within your power to change your brain—start today.

References

ECLS Energy

6 Essential Oils for Beginners to Raise Your Vibrations

2 February 20202 February 2020 tdslsupport

Did you know that you can use essential oils to raise your vibration? That, in turn, can help you in your ability to manifest.
Essential oils are amazing natural oils distilled from different parts of flowers, plants or herbs including the leaves and roots. They are very powerful due to their concentration of phytochemicals.
The oils themselves carry high vibration and can be used to naturally and holistically heal the body, not only physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. They smell delicious and contain unique therapeutic properties.
Essential oils have been an important part of history, medicine, and religion for centuries.

Past Oilers

As far back as 3500 BC, the Egyptians and Mesopotamians were distilling oils. When Tutankhamen’s tomb was discovered in 1922, many jars were found by the archeologists that had been used to hold oils.
Chinese aromatherapists believed that by extracting the fragrance from a plant you were freeing its soul.
Hippocrates used aromatherapy from several essential oils to fumigate the city of Athens in Ancient Greece and ward off the plague.
Like many of the world’s natural secrets and remedies, there was a period of time where that information was withheld from the larger population in the Dark Ages when using plants as medicine could get you labelled as a witch.
Modern society had lost some of that wisdom and ability to use plants as natural solutions to many illnesses and emotional issues. Thankfully they have gained popularity in recent years and fortunately, those secrets and remedies were not lost forever.

Essential Oils Today

Today many scientists, physicians. and researchers are rediscovering the wonderful healing benefits of essential oils.
Essential oils are much better for the environment than perfume oils as they are non-toxic.
If you enjoy using candles ?, choosing a candle that has been infused with essential oils is best, or you can even place a few drops of your favourite essential oil with water into a diffuser and use it to create a lovely fragrance in your home or workspace.

Essential oils Benefits: Combat depression fight bacteria strengthen your immune system speed recovery from illnessBalance hormones used in homemade cleaning and skin products diffuse in the air for natural cleansing.

The reason that the aromas and scents of essential oils are so beneficial to us is due to our own powerful nasal receptors.

When we are exposed to the smells our brain receives a signal interpreting the scent. This can change our mood and stimulate different healing physical, emotional and mental reactions.

Essential Oils for Beginners

If you want to get started with essential oils, here are some of the best oils to begin with and how you should use them:

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Lavender
Lavender is an extremely therapeutic oil with anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant properties. It’s well known for its calming effect and as a natural sleep aid as well as reducing anxiety and tension.
If you’re looking for an oil to help you kick back and let go of the day, lavender is your best friend. You can put some drops into a hot bath, add a few drops to a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba oil or combine it with water as a spray. Use it on your pillow and bedding for a wonderful night’s sleep.
You can add baking soda, water and lavender and make your own antiseptic cleaner, this works wonders on a yoga mat and makes it smell amazing too!
You can also inhale lavender essential oil whenever you are feeling sad or melancholic and receive the benefits of its happiness-boosting aroma and soothing effect.

Peppermint
If your afternoon tea or coffee isn’t quite doing it for you, Peppermint oil is an energizing and invigorating oil that works to give you that much-needed “pick-me-up,” sharpening your senses and giving you an energy boost. It’s also excellent for anyone suffering from migraines and headaches, stomach issues, heartburn, indigestion, and gas.
Peppermint can reduce feelings of anger, soothe irritation, and help depression and fatigue.
To ease a headache, dip a tissue in the oil and place the end of the tissue in nostril opposite to where your headache is, or place a tissue in both nostrils if your headache is generally situated. You can also rub a few drops on your temples and sinuses.
For stomach issues, you can diffuse the oil in a carrier oil and rub over your stomach.

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Oregano
Oregano oil has qualities beyond being a tasty herb for enhancing certain dishes, it is ideal for a boost to the immune system. This oil is highly concentrated as such must be diluted in a carrier oil such as olive or almond oil.
It’s a powerful antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic oil and can keep infections away and reduce pain and swelling.
Emotionally this oil is helpful in calming any feelings of fear and promoting calm and peaceful feelings instead.

Lemon
Lemon is a fresh smelling and energizing oil with excellent antibacterial, antihistamine, and antiviral qualities. It works wonders on itchy insect bites and when added to salves used on wounds. You could try adding it to your shampoo or moisturizer for a lovely scent and healing properties.

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Tea Tree
Tea Tree essential oil has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties. You may have heard of it for use in skin products for acne relief or to reduce redness and scars.
You can add it to your skincare regime or use it to freshen up a room as it’s the particular scent is also energizing and detoxifying. Add a few drops of the oil to a water spray and use it for cleaning countertops and bathroom areas.

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Sandalwood
Sandalwood is a rare oil that often comes blended with other scents. It has a very high vibration and can be used in spiritual healing, strengthening your energy and aura and clearing away any toxic, negative energy from a space.
You can scatter a few drops on your body to ward off negativity and to boost your auric field. It can also be used in meditation and to help you connect and activate your third eye.
Incorporate any of these essential oils in your daily routine and feel your vibration rising to high frequencies.
They are a wonderful way to naturally and holistically treat physical and emotional challenges as well as making your home or workspace smelling fresh and enticing.

ECLS Energy

3 SUPERCHARGED REV3 ENERGY® MOCKTAILS FOR ANY SEASON

9 August 20199 August 2019 tdslsupport

Rethink and Reenergize Your Happy Hour

Energy drinks have become part of our day-to-day life. As eyelids begin to droop in the mid-afternoon, the glorifying effects of caffeine can help pull us through the midday slump. Crack a crisp can, and off you go.

But have you ever studied the ingredients of these energy revivers? They can pack a punch of caffeine and other stimulants, but you’ll often feel the crash that comes from unnatural sources.

USANA’s Rev3 has a different approach—cleaner ingredients for more organic energy. Rev3 utilizes a proprietary Energy Complex with L-carnitine, tea, ginseng, Rhodiola, cacao, ribose, citrate, malate, and coenzyme Q10. It supplies your body with ingredients to support energy metabolism at the cellular level. Clean ingredients help to enhance mental alertness and stamina with caffeine from natural sources, making Rev3 an optimal choice for your afternoon boost.

Rev Up Your Afternoon Habit

The energy of warm weather and fresh ingredients entices throwing summer parties and becoming more creative in the kitchen. It’s the perfect time to get creative with your afternoon Rev3 pick-me-up. Enchant your day—and your taste buds—with classic mixers infused with a light and refreshing pomegranate flavour for a revitalizing oomph that’s far beyond ordinary.

Mocktails to Fuel Your Every Day

Mix up a single mocktail anytime as a fancy way to boost your afternoon, or multiply each recipe to share at your next event, happy hour, or hosted brunch with friends.

Hibiscus ReviverDried exotic hibiscus flower can be found at most grocery stores. It infuses your mixtures with an interesting touch that’s both floral and tart. Here it mixes with Rev3 to liven up a classic drink, taking your party—or afternoon—to the next level of luxury.Ingredients· 2.5 oz. Rev3· .5 oz. hibiscus simple syrup (see below)· .75 oz. grapefruit juice squeezed fresh· .75 oz. lemon juice squeezed fresh Build this exotic concoction in a rocks glass. Add ice, and get creative with embellishments—a fresh flower, mint sprig for colour, whatever your heart desires. Hibiscus Simple Syrup· 1 bag dried hibiscus flower (about 2 cups)· 2 cups coconut sugar· 2 cups water bring the mixture to a boil until the coconut sugar dissolves completely. Add dried flowers to steep and let mixture cool completely. Once cool, remove flowers to extend the life of this enchanting mixer.

easy mocktail recipes Sunrise/Rev and Rise

Rev Sunrise/Rev and RiseGinger, citrus, and the subtle addition of lychee bring depth, brightness, and sophistication to this perfect brunch beverage. Shake off the groggy feeling left behind from your morning to-do list and amp up your eggs with the power of Rev3.IngredientsDime-sized piece of peeled ginger.5 tsp. coconut sugar5 oz. Rev3.5 oz. lychee syrup1/2 lemon squeezed fresh.75 oz. orange juice, squeezed freshMuddle fresh ginger with coconut sugar until pieces are broken up. Stir ice and remaining ingredients in a large mixing glass with a tall bar spoon. Strain into a large rocks glass over fresh ice. Garnish with a cherry, orange wheel, or anything that brightens your day.

Rev RefresherThere’s nothing like a cooling beverage to infuse your remaining work hours with bright new ideas or to rejuvenate conversation. Mix up a Rev Refresher to enliven an afternoon work session or gathering.IngredientsLarge pinch fresh mint.5 oz. simple syrup1/2 lime squeezed fresh1 oz. pineapple juice2 oz. Rev3Tear and bruise a healthy pinch of fresh mint leaves (careful not to muddle, the leaves will turn brown). Stir remaining ingredients in a large mixing glass with a tall bar spoon. Add leaves to Collins glass and pour additional ingredients into glass. Fill to the top with ice and serve with a tall straw. Garnish with leftover mint leaves or a pineapple wedge.

ECLS Energy

GET ALL YOUR ZZZ’S WITH THESE SLEEP HACKS

1 June 201928 May 2019 tdslsupport

In today’s overly connected world, it’s easy to keep scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, sun-up to well past sundown. Being connected 24/7 has upsides: business and personal connections can happen anywhere, any time. You can call your cross-country sibling, message a funny cat video to your favorite aunt, send a roommate a passive-aggressive rent reminder. The possibilities online are endless.

These incredible advancements in communication and productivity also have their downsides. More than one-third of American adults don’t get enough sleep. We willingly deprive ourselves with every swipe, tap, and like. And there are countless other reasons why you may feel tired during the day. In fact, there’s a whole science behind it. One of the most common causes of fatigue is the lack of quality sleep.

Here’s some good news: no matter how poor your bedtime habits currently are, you always have the power to get your sleep schedule back on track. Read on to assess your current sleep habits and learn how you can better catch all those sweet, sweet Z’s.

What Sleep Does

There are oh so many reasons to get an adequate amount of sleep. Not only does your body spend this time repairing itself, a healthy amount of sleep can improve mood, help with weight management, reduce stress, lower your risk for serious health problems, offer clearer thinking, improve your work and school performance, and more. The CDC recommends adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep per night.

While scientists don’t entirely understand everything snoozing does for the human body and mind, we definitely know what happens when we don’t get enough of it. Even one night of sleep deprivation may result in daytime sleepiness, a foggy mind, physical and mental fatigue, difficulty concentrating, even memory impairment. Oh, and it turns out beauty sleep isn’t just an expression. Cellular stress is another result of sleeplessness, and it can show on your skin.

Practice Your Z’s

Lucky for you, even if you’re sleep deprived, there’s hope! Like any healthy routine, it all starts with making the effort until it’s a habit. Here are seven simple ways you can improve every snooze:

Maintain a consistent sleep schedule, even on weekends. Avoid sleep inertia by committing to a consistent sleep schedule seven days a week. Don’t worry about a few late nights a week, just make sure to wake up at the same time every day. Your body will adjust the next night by getting more tired, earlier. You’ll also find yourself waking up before your alarm more often, refreshed and ready to take on the day. It’s truly one of the greatest feelings on this earth.
Avoid stimulants like alcohol, sugar, and caffeine well before bedtime. The afternoon struggle is all too real, but turning to that pick-me-up cup of coffee may have adverse effects when it continues to pick you up at 10:00 p.m. Similarly, sugar and other simple, processed carbs will cause a spike and crash in blood sugar, affecting your circadian rhythm. Alcohol can help you get to sleep (nightcap, anyone?), but it actually interrupts rapid eye movement (REM), one of the five key stages of the sleep cycle.
Turn off the electronics an hour—or two—before slumber. You’re probably already familiar with the dreaded blue light flowing from our screens. Not only does this light throw our circadian rhythm off, long-term exposure may cause macular degeneration. Give your eyes a rest by avoiding screens for at least an hour before bedtime. Pick up a screen-free habit such as reading, meditating to sleep sounds, or other relaxing activities.
Develop a nightly skincare routine. Any excuse to treat your epidermis is a win-win for you and your skin. Adopting healthy skincare habits is good for any time of day, particularly as part of a nighttime routine—and it’s another excuse to avoid electronics. Put on some relaxing music and get to pampering.
Workouts are awesome for sleep—if you time them right. Regular exercise is a great way to promote a good night’s sleep, but it’s all about timing. Working out too close to bedtime will leave your body wide awake and wired for the next exciting activity. Instead of yoga too late into the evening, take a time-out with some mindfulness practices.
Chill out. When your core temperature drops, it’s a signal to your body to produce melatonin. Drop the temperature a few degrees, shower, wear fewer layers to bed, and throw on some socks—no, really.
Keep a sleep diary. Take a quick minute in the morning to jot down roughly what time you went to bed and what time you woke up, how many times you woke during the night, and how refreshing your sleep was. Make a short note of what you did the day before which may have contributed to a better or worse night’s sleep. You may be surprised how your new habits positively contribute to sleep quality!

Of course, life has a habit of derailing our best-laid plans. Whether it’s a rowdy pillow fight, the absolute need to watch the new episode of MasterChef Junior, traveling through too many time zones, or any number of other reasons, it’s unavoidable, at times, to end up restless at the end of the day. When you need occasional extra help to get into a sleepy-time state, consider a non–habit forming melatonin supplement. An extra dose of melatonin can help support your body’s natural circadian rhythms for those challenging nights. One option is Pure Rest™, USANA’s fast-acting melatonin supplement.*

Nighty Night

What are your go-to tips for getting the best sleep? For me, it was taking a step back and realizing I needed to make sleep a priority. Once I scheduled in time to wind down—and swapped my phone for a good historical fiction and some tea—the rest fell into place.

Drop your advice below!

*THESE STATEMENTS HAVE NOT BEEN EVALUATED BY THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE.

ECLS Energy

5 TIPS TO RECLAIM YOUR TIME: WHY YOU MUST OPT OUT OF THE CULT OF BUSYNESS

22 May 201922 May 2019 tdslsupport

To do list in a car on driving wheel and hand holding phone - busy day concept

The bad news: Your relationship with time is more than likely toxic.

You’re overscheduled, stretched too thin, and find it difficult to focus on the present moment. You probably respond with, “busy,” when people ask how you’re doing. The worst part? You don’t feel like you have the power to take control of your time.

Whether you joined voluntarily or not, you’re a card-carrying member of the cult of busyness—the ever-growing group of people whose anxiety is rising because they don’t feel like they have enough time to get everything done. You’re among the hordes of multitaskers who scramble to squeeze the most out of every minute, rolling through life as a ball of stress, only to collapse into an exhausted heap at the end of every day.

How Busyness Took Over and Why it Keeps Getting Worse

It’s not your fault. You weren’t born to be a slave to your schedule. You just got swept up in an unhealthy cultural trend.

But how did so many people become obsessed with time and productivity?

When the world was filled with agrarian (or farming) societies, the passing of time was indicated by the sun and the seasons. Leisure time was a marker of wealth. But with the rise of the Industrial Revolution, the measurement of time became inextricably connected with productivity. Time was money. And the more a person worked, the more valuable he or she was perceived as being.

The technological era has again reshaped people’s relationship with time, creating a driving need to optimize as much of your life as possible. There are the same 24 hours to work with in every day as our agrarian and industrial ancestors had. So, society had to get smart about maximizing people’s skill sets to accomplish more moment-to-moment. With productivity reigning supreme, moments of leisure, rest, and relaxation are often looked at as wasteful or lost opportunities to accumulate wealth.

The result? Many people are held captive by their schedules. You might feel compelled to be seen as productive and, by extension, valuable. Put simply, your lack of time has become a primary marker of your worth. Signaling to others how busy you are implies you’re highly in-demand.

With most people having a digital device at their fingertips around the clock, it’s easy to feel like (and perpetuate the feeling) that everyone else is being productive around the clock. So, you need to compete. Ever had a coworker send emails at midnight? Do you receive group texts from your friends at 5 a.m.? Previous rules of decorum around personal time have been obliterated by both a compulsive need to be seen as hard workers and the variety of ways to communicate instantaneously.

Scientific Evidence for the Cult of Busyness

When someone messages you at odd hours, it triggers a feeling that you need to respond—out of good manners and to show that you, too, are available and productive around the clock. When you’re stuck in a cycle of responding to various stimuli, you don’t feel in control of your time. It’s dictated by others.

Experts studying the evolving relationship with time refer to this feeling as “time poverty.” But contrary to how time-starved many people feel, in reality, we have more free time than any previous generation.

“There is a distinction between objective time, which you can measure, and subjective time, which is experiential,” explains philosopher Nils F. Schott, the James M. Motley Postdoctoral Fellow in the Humanities at Johns Hopkins University.

When you’re preoccupied with the tug of war between what you want to do and what you should be doing, you’re missing opportunities and the ability to enjoy the moment. And you’re likely spending too much time on tasks you feel are urgent—regardless of their importance—and too little time on tasks that are important in the long run, but lack in-your-face urgency. For example, you might respond immediately to an email that pops into your inbox, but put off exercising for weeks (or months, or years).

Some studies show that busy people make better health choices (the thought being that having limited time forces better planning). But it’s no coincidence that as schedules become more hectic, the number of people who say they feel stressed and anxious has increased.

Feeling time-starved, like you’re always behind and will never catch up with life’s demands, can lead to stress, increased feelings of anxiety, and mental distress. Anxiousness can negatively impact sleep quality, which leads to poor planning and decision-making. Thus the cycle continues.

Reclaim Your Time with These 5 Tips

Finally, it’s time for some good news: Experts say there are ways to reverse the harmful effects of time poverty.

Simply put: do less.

Yes, that’s easier said than done because it requires understanding and protecting your priorities. Time is a precious resource, one worth fighting for. Recognizing that you have the power to control how you spend your time is the first step to reclaiming it.

Here are five practical tips to escape the cult of busyness:

Track your time. It may seem counterintuitive to pay more attention to your time in order to free yourself of its suffocating restraints. But it’s only by knowing where you’re devoting your minutes and hours that you can begin to reclaim them. After listing all of your activities in a diary, you’ll likely find that you have more free time than you think you do. That big-picture look can also help you prioritize what’s important, so you can focus more time on that. Time tracking can also help you pinpoint the time-sucking activities you need to eliminate.
Stop multitasking. It’s bad for your brain in the short term—and possibly lowers your IQ in the long-term. You may feel like you’re accomplishing more, but studies show multitasking is less productive than devoting your focus to one task or project at a time. And it will negatively affect the quality of your work and could diminish your cognitive function to that of an 8-year-old. To kick the multitasking habit, look to the results from your time diary to identify the window of time you’re most productive. Schedule your most mentally challenging tasks for this period of time. Remind yourself that a majority of the time, what doesn’t get done today can wait until tomorrow.
Ditch the guilt. Give yourself permission to opt out of the rat race. Set boundaries for your time and don’t feel bad for enforcing them. Feeling like you’re failing as a parent because you aren’t spending enough time with your kids? It’s time to let yourself off the hook. Parents today spend more time with their children than parents did 40 years ago. Instead of feeling guilty about the time you aren’t spending with your family, focus on making the time you do spend with them as high-quality as possible. Leave work at the office as much as possible and use your paid vacation time to make memories. You’ll set a great example to your children of what it looks like to honor your priorities and live mindfully.
Choose the right kind of rest. It may be tempting after a hard week to spend the weekend on the couch binging your favorite shows. But your mind won’t register that passive activity as rest. Instead, choose a more mindful form of rejuvenation: read a book, take a walk, meditate, do yoga, practice hygge, call a friend or family member. As is typical with any form of self-care, however, if it’s not scheduled and prioritized, it can become the first thing cut when your schedule gets extra unruly. Remember to book time to refill your tank. It’s also a good idea to have the occasional “device detox,” where you put the phones, laptops, and tablets away and enjoy the company of others. The texts and emails will be there when you return.
Take baby steps. Choose one time-reclaiming activity to implement. Use your time-tracking journal to help you identify areas in your life that consistently encroach upon your personal time and start there by creating realistic boundaries. Maybe you’ll decide to turn email notifications off or not to check texts after 8 p.m. After you’ve successfully incorporated that habit into your daily routine, choose another area to tackle. Keep going until you feel like you control your time instead of the other way around.

The Time is Now

The tornado of tasks sweeping you up—and your anxiety about dealing with all of them right now—isn’t all your fault. You’ve been sucked into the cult of busyness like so many people today.

Unlike others, you now understand how people end up paralyzed by productivity, and how technology has accelerated the perception (and reality) of busyness. And you have time-management tips to help you reclaim your time.

Don’t wait to take control over your schedule. Step off the non-stop treadmill of emails and projects and other people’s needs. Your time is invaluable and finite. So, reclaim your time and wrestle back dominion over your days.

ECLS Energy, Healthy Cove

5-DAY RESET™

13 May 201913 May 2019 tdslsupport

START THE JOURNEY TO A NEW YOU WITH USANA® 5-DAY RESET™

Change isn’t easy. But don’t stress! Sometimes a small success is all it takes to jumpstart a big transformation. That’s the idea behind the USANA® 5-Day RESET™ kit. In only five days, you’ll be on your way to a healthier you.*

By eating balanced, low-glycemic foods, you can overcome your cravings and begin losing weight** without feeling hungry. RESET will help you get in the habit of eating healthier, exercising, and making smarter lifestyle choices.*

Want more tips for managing your weight? Check out our weight-management checklist.

What’s Included in the 5-Day RESET Kit?

The 5-Day RESET kit comes in two varieties, so you can choose the Nutrimeal with the protein source that’s right for you. One contains a mixture of the French Vanilla (soy protein) and Dutch Chocolate (soy and whey protein). Or you can choose a non-soy, plant-based option that contains only packets of the mildly flavored Nutrimeal Free.

Each kit comes with the following:

15 Nutrimeal™ single-serve packets—USANA Nutrimeal is formulated with a healthy ratio of complete proteins, beneficial fats, fiber, and low-glycemic carbohydrates to help you maintain your energy levels. Go to the Nutrimeal product page for more information.
5 USANA^® Probiotic stick packs—USANA Probiotic blends two of the most documented strains of good bacteria that help bring balance to your belly and support your gut microbiome.* Go to the Probiotic product page for more information.
10 (5 AM & 5 PM) HealthPak™ packets—USANA HealthPak helps you get the optimal amounts of important micronutrients.* It includes
USANA^® CellSentials ™ (Vita Antioxidant, Core Minerals); USANA^® MagneCal D™; and the CellSentials Booster, which is made exclusively with USANA InCelligence Technology^®. Go to the HealthPak product page for more information.
Program guide and tracking card

The 5-Day RESET Program

The 5-Day RESET is a calorie-conscious program based on eating balanced, low-glycemic meals and whole-food snacks.

General guidelines:

Women should strive to consume approximately 1,200 calories per day
Men should strive to consume approximately 1,500 calories per day

Every day, you will simply replace three meals with a Nutrimeal shake, take your supplements, and eat whole-food snacks.

You may eat more snacks than are listed here. And you can mix fruit, vegetables, or unsweetened milk (dairy or plant-based) in your Nutrimeal shakes for a little variety. Just make sure to keep your calories near the recommended amount, or you may not experience the results you want. Also try to limit your fruit to three servings a day. Fruit juice is discouraged.

You will also want to turn off the TV and do some kind of low-impact exercise like walking for 20 to 30 minutes every day.

Sleeping for 7-9 hours is also recommended. This will help keep you from looking for more snacks to help bump up your energy if you’re sleep deprived. And if you are sleep deprived, you can consume black coffee or tea while on the 5-Day RESET.

Daily Routine

Breakfast

Nutrimeal shake mixed with 10-12 oz. of water
Add Probiotic to your morning shake
AM HealthPak

Mid-Morning Snack

Lunch

Nutrimeal shake mixed with 10-12 oz. of water

Afternoon Snack

Dinner

Nutrimeal shake mixed with 10-12 oz. of water
PM HealthPak

Other Tips

Always take your supplements with food
PM HealthPak may also be taken with your PM snack, if preferred
Aim for at least 64 oz. of water each day
Incorporate an eating cutoff time two hours prior to bed

Snack Suggestions

Your snacking options are endless. But the goal is to eat whole foods. And you’ll feel fuller, longer if you aim to mix a little protein and fat with your carbohydrates.

2 hard-boiled eggs, sprinkled with salt and pepper to taste, along with a sliced medium bell pepper or 1 ½ cup of sugar snap peas
1 cup plain Greek yogurt with ½ apple or ½ banana (optional: add a dash of cinnamon for an extra kick of flavor)
20 whole, raw almonds with ½ cup of mixed berries or 1 cup snap peas
2 cups raw veggies (broccoli, celery, cauliflower, cucumbers, snap peas, mushrooms, etc.) with 5 Tbsp. hummus of choice
3–4 cups mixed green salad (lettuce, kale, spinach, cucumbers, bell peppers, etc.) with ½ cup cooked legumes (chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils, etc.) and 75–100 calories of salad dressing OR replace legumes with boiled egg and 2 oz. lean meat of choice
1 small baked sweet potato, 1 cup cooked broccoli with 3 Tbsp. parmesan cheese or 1 Tbsp. butter or plant-sterol butter substitute
1 medium fruit (orange, apple, or pear) with 1 oz. cheese of choice
2, 1-oz. deli slices of natural, low-preservative turkey, each rolled with 1-oz. slice of cheese
3 oz. water-packed tuna or salmon mixed with 1 Tbsp. light mayonnaise or plant-based mayo substitute on 1 crispbread cracker
½ cup ripe avocado chopped with 8 grape tomatoes (add green onion and a squeeze of fresh lime juice for flavor)
1 cup cooked quinoa with 2 slices of avocado
1 cup fruit with ½ cup of cottage cheese
½ cup unsweetened natural applesauce with ¼ cup sliced almonds
2 celery sticks with 1 Tbsp. nut butter and 1 Tbsp. raisins
2 medium carrots with ¼ cup guacamole
½ cup roasted chickpeas with 1/2 bell pepper
1/3 cup roasted soy nuts or chickpeas
3 cups kale or arugula with ½ Tbsp. olive oil and pepper
20 pistachios with 1 oz. cheese of your choice
3 cups plain popped popcorn
1 cup broccoli with 1 tsp. dressing
Unlimited raw celery, cucumber, lettuce or other leafy greens

Learn More

Say goodbye to diets and hello to a new you. Learn more about USANA 5-Day RESET at What’s Up, USANA.

Nutrition Information

Nutrimeal: French Vanilla • Dutch Chocolate • Nutrimeal Free

USANA Probiotic

USANA HealthPak

Frequently Asked Questions About 5-Day RESET

How often can I repeat the RESET program?

How much fiber is in the 5-Day RESET?

Are there any known side-effects from following the 5-Day RESET?

How much weight can I expect to lose while on the 5-Day RESET?

Is the caloric level of the 5-Day RESET appropriate for everyone, regardless of weight or activity level?

Why do you recommend drinking 8-10 glasses of water each day while following the 5-Day RESET?

Is it time for change?

30 March 201911 March 2019 tdslsupport

In my experience most people change because they have too, life has left them no other choice and they have hung on to old patterns and experiences for various reasons. There is another way though, and it requires effort. You change because you want too.

The first way, people change because they have too, most often because the circumstances demand it with no other alternative but to change. This type of change is often abrupt and can cause many challenges. However, it is the most common reason for a change in most peoples lives. Usually, the biggest challenges and changes come from experiencing a change in what I call the big 3, relationships, health or career. Typically change on any of these levels is abrupt and can be a shock, which introduces fear and makes any transitions or changes even harder to navigate through.

However, as the universe and life itself are truly rich and abundant with opportunities, there is another way to change if you so desire. Usually, people who choose this type of change are dissatisfied with some are of their life and desire to change for various reasons. This change is through conscious effort. It can slowly and systematically reveal much about yourself, your subconscious programming and your true desires. If your willing to do the work it takes to honestly self reflect and heal old traumas and patterns. Questions will inevitably arise such as why are you the way you are? Why are you experiencing what you don’t want instead of what you consciously desire?

To look at your life and truly see where you require a fearless honesty. A willingness to see things as they are and recognition and awareness it is you who has the power to change.

Sound healing combined with energy work is a powerful catalyst for those willing to embark on an internal journey of change from within. When one changes from within one heal what has been holding them back, then the world responds to your new vibration with experiences and change that reflects this new signal your sending out. It doesn’t happen overnight and requires effort that is well rewarded. Are you ready?

Shout Out to AscensionHealingCenter.com

East Coast Life Solutions strongly believes in self-care. We empower women how to holistically be consciously aware of themselves through body, mind and spirit combined to elevate their energy level and reduce stress and anxiety.

ECLS Energy

7 FOODS TO ENERGIZE YOUR DAY

4 March 20194 March 2019 tdslsupport

There’s nothing quite as invigorating as the start of a brand new day. You’re full of energy, motivation, and spark, and you just can’t wait to charge out into the world and make life happen. But, even for the best for us, that energy can wear off as the day chugs along. Before you know it, you’re dragging from one task to the next and desperate for a midday nap.

Lucky for you, we’ve devised a short list of some great foods and recipes to keep your energy sustained throughout the day. Check them out below and give the recipes a try.

1. Quinoa

Plain white rice and breads can cause blood-sugar crashes that can leave you feeling drained halfway through your day and needing to eat. Choose quinoa instead. It’s a gluten-free, low-glycemic grain that breaks down more slowly to give you a steadier dose of energy.

And quinoa is very versatile. Just take a look at all these great recipes involving this super grain.

2. Lentils

Lentils may be tiny, but when it comes to steady energy, they are mighty. Their high fiber content slows your body’s process of turning carbohydrates into the glucose for fuel. This means they’ll give you a slow, but steadier, supply of energy for much longer than other carb-loaded foods.

Check out this delicious and healthy lentil chili recipe.

3. Bananas

Bananas that are still somewhat green are a lower-glycemic source of carbohydrates and natural sugars called fructose. Both fuel your body and brain to give you energy. Bananas also contain tyrosine, an amino acid that—according to recent studies—can promote energy, alertness, and motivation.

Best of all, bananas are easy to carry wherever you go. They literally come with their own natural, protective packaging. So stash a few in your purse or backpack and you’re good to go.

4. Fatty Fish

It’s clear as water that fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel are great sources of protein and omega-3s. But they also provide vitamin B12, which works with folic acid to produce red and white blood cells. Maintaining optimal levels of red blood cells in your body supports healthy energy metabolism.

To check out some healthy salmon recipes, click here.

5. Sweet Potatoes

One medium-sized sweet potato contains up to 23 grams of carbohydrates and 3.8 grams of fiber. This dynamic duo provides you with a steady supply of energy. Sweet potatoes are also a great source of manganese, which helps your body produce energy.

Here’s a simple, but tasty, recipe for baked sweet potatoes that’s a perfect addition to any meal.

6. Eggs

This eggscelent source of protein and iron can also help keep your body running all day. Protein itself gives you a steadier source of energy without causing spikes in blood sugar or insulin. Eggs also contain choline, a B-vitamin to help with energy production.

Take a look at these recipes and start your day with a protein-boosted kick.

7. Water

It’s clearly not a food, but water is the building block of life. Not drinking enough water or getting enough through foods can lead to dehydration—slowing down your body functions, making you feel weak and lethargic. Practice healthy hydration by making sure you drink plenty of water.

Now you know the ideal foods to help you through that infamous midday slump. But if you want a little more info on what foods to avoid, just ask the scientists.

Coast Lifestyle, ECLS Energy, Healthy Cove

SUPPLEMENT SPOTLIGHT: USANA LOVES HEART HEALTH MONTH

14 February 201914 February 2019 tdslsupport

Did you know February is American Heart Health Month? It seems only fitting that the month we see so many fun Valentine hearts floating around is also the month we are asked to remember the physical state of our hearts by being more health conscious.

Since it is heart health month, I thought it was time we talked about one of USANA’s premier products for heart health: Proflavanol® C100. Let’s discuss how this supplement can help support the health of you and your loved ones.

A Lovely Combination

Proflavanol has two main ingredients for heart health: grape seed extract and vitamin C.

Grape Seed Extract

When it comes to “super fruits” that have antioxidant benefits, grapes are one of the best sources out there. I know, I know, grapes aren’t a newfound, ultra-rare berry found in some remote jungle, but they pack a punch when it comes to antioxidants. The seeds in grapes are rich in bioflavonoids, that help support a healthy heart.*

Poly C^® Blend

USANA’s proprietary Poly C blend contains unique ingredients that help raise vitamin C levels in your body for a prolonged period of time when compared to more common forms of vitamin C like ascorbic acid. Most people associate vitamin C with its immune-supporting qualities, but it has also been shown to support cardiovascular health.*

What makes Proflavanol even more unique is that it’s made with USANA’s innovative Nutritional Hybrid Technology, so it combines these two nutrients into one powerful supplement to help you maintain good health. A study USANA Scientists conducted in collaboration with Boston University found that supplementation with both grape seed extract and vitamin C has a positive influence on healthy blood flow to support cardiovascular health.

Keep it Pumping

Did you know the average adult heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood each day? And as one of the hardest-working organs in the body, the heart has unique nutritional needs. USANA’s heart health supplements are specially designed to support healthy heart function:

Support healthy circulation*
Help maintain healthy cholesterol levels already within the normal range*
Maintain good health by neutralizing free radicals, which can cause excessive oxidative stress over time*
Support healthy immune function*

So you can see Proflavanol is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a supplement optimized specifically for heart health.*

If You Struggle with Exercise

In addition to proper nutrition, we should all work on fostering healthy habits of regular exercise and activity. I’ll be honest, I’ve never been fantastic at following a consistent exercise routine. My efforts have been sporadic at best, but I do love to stay active. I especially enjoy tennis and snowboarding.

I came across this concept years ago, and it really stuck with me: “If you find an activity you love doing, you’ll never have to exercise a day in your life.”

So if you’re the type who struggles with a regular exercise program (like I do), try to find fun hobbies or activities that will get you off of the couch and moving around. Doing these a few times a week can help out.

On top of that, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts and legumes, and limiting highly refined carbohydrates is important in supporting a healthy heart. And don’t forget to take your Proflavanol as well.*

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

We’re proud to bring you the freshest content on the web! Follow USANA on Twitter, like our USANA Facebook page and enjoy the latest videos on the official USANA YouTube channel.

Learn what USANA is doing to make the world a better place.

The future of personalized health and nutrition is now available with USANA’s True Health Assessment.

Many Thanks to AUSTIN CATMULL

ECLS Energy

WHAT ARE THE CHAKRAS?

25 August 2018 tdslsupport

What are the Chakras? – Chakras are Entry Gates of the Aura.

Within the physical body resides a body double, a spiritual body, that contains the Chakras.

The word Chakra in Sanscrit translates to wheel or disc.

They are centres of activity that receives, assimilates and expresses life force energy. They are responsible for the person’s physical, mental, and spiritual functions.

They absorb and transmit energies to and from the universe, nature, celestial entities, from people even from things.

According to the traditional writings there are 88,000 chakras in the human body covering basically every area in the body. The majority of them are small and insignificant. 40 of them have significant function and they are in the hands, feet, fingertips, and shoulders.

The most significant ones are the Seven Main Chakras located along the central line of the body, from the base of the spine to the top of the head. They are located in the ethereal body and they express the embodiment of spiritual energy on the physical plane.

Chakra Affirmation: Root: I Am Safe, I Am Secure, Sacral: I Allow Myself To Experience

Pleasure, Solar Plexus: I Am Strong & Confident In Who I Am. Heart: I Am Love & Loved,

I Forgive Easily, Throat: I Trust My Voice & Truths, Third Eye: I Trust My Vision, Crown:

Ultimate Possibilities Are Always Flowing

special Thank You to @EssentialMBS

If you are interested in purchasing a set (7) of East Coast Life Solutions Chakra Roller Bottles as seen on a Featured Image. Infused with doTerra Essential Oils and Crystals specifically for each of the chakras, please contact us through our email [email protected] or visit our main website https://eastcoastlifesolutions.com