Three Things You Can Do to Make a Trip to the Groomer Less Stressful

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You know your dog will be in good hands when you drop them off at the groomer. When they’re finished, they will have been washed, trimmed and generally pampered, and are now looking their best. You may think your responsibility as a dog owner is just to take them to the groomer fairly regularly, but it actually goes further than that. There are steps you can take to better prepare your pup for their trip to the groomer. 



An unprepared pup can make the groomer visit a much more unpleasant experience than it needs to be. It can cause your dog to become anxious and scared, which can be traumatic for them and incredibly difficult for the groomer. Of course, ideally, you want your pet to be as relaxed and happy as possible so the groomer can get the job done quickly and easily.



Here are three things your groomer wished you knew so you can prepare your pup for their visit. 



1. Start grooming early



There are a few steps you should take to get your new puppy ready for their groomer visits. You can take your puppy to the groomer right away to get them used to the trip. You can also start with some basic grooming at home. If you have an older dog, it’s a bit late but it’s better to start with small steps than to not make any effort at all. 



If you’ve decided to start grooming at home, the best actions to do are brushing their fur, brushing their teeth, trimming their nails and cleaning their ears. The idea is to get your dog comfortable with having their paws, mouth and ears touched, and getting them used to being brushed early. That way, when they’re older, they won’t put up a fuss or get stressed out when their paws, mouth and ears are touched. During and after your home grooming session, remember to reward their calm demeanor and good behavior with treats. 



2. Groom regularly



Relying only on your groomer visits and taking care of your dog’s grooming once every few weeks isn’t going to cut it. You should groom regularly, so that the next trip isn’t a nightmare for your pup. Keep your dog’s fur coat in check with regular brushings, and keep an eye on their feet and ears so you can trim their nails when they get too long or clean their ears when they’re dirty. 



If you want to keep your pup’s fur looking its best all the time, regular groomer visits are necessary. You could also take your pup to a groomer like heartandpaw.com, where they offer different grooming packages for different levels of pampering. Give your dog a full groom, a quick refresh, or anything in between. 



3. Remain calm



Your pet picks up on your mood and feelings, so if you’re feeling nervous or anxious when you drop your dog off at the groomer, they can feed off that negative energy. This will make your dog more likely to squirm and become scared. 



Similarly, if you drop in on the groomer before they’re finished, your dog can see you and get overly excited, making it harder to finish the job. It’s best if you wait until they’re finished grooming your dog before you drop by.

10 Reasons to Try Fishing

Some people went fishing with their parents or friends when they were kids. They begged to be taken along on fishing trips and loved more than learning the skills from their parents or grandparents. These fishing trips were a treat, a chance to hang out with the grownups. But, most of us never did. If your parents didn’t fish, it might not be something that you ever thought about. 

Unfortunately, fishing is one of those hobbies that often gets passed down through families. If you went fishing with your parents, you might now fish as a hobby or even take your own children out to catch fish. If not, it might not be something that you’ve ever done, or even thought about. You might have no desire to even try. You should rethink this, however. Fishing can be an enjoyable hobby which has many advantages. Here’s a look at ten of them. 

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It’s Relaxing

Modern life is so busy and stressful. Fishing is the opposite. Most hobby fishers will tell you that the fishing is more important than the catching as they enjoy relaxing time out on their own. 

Fishing is a Great Way to See More of the World

Once you’ve got necessary supplies from Tailored Tackle, you can fish anywhere. Anglers don’t tend to stick to one spot (although they might have favorites), instead, they move around. They fish rivers and lakes near home and travel further afield. They might even try ice and sea fishing, or take their hobby to different countries. Fishing is an excellent hobby if you are looking for an excuse to see more of the world. 

It Can Be Good Exercise

Fishing is probably more exercise than you’d imagine. Lifting heavy fish challenges your muscles, and even sitting holding a rod pushes your body in a way that it’s not used to. You’ll have to walk to get to your spot, and if you get a big bite, there might even be some cardio work bringing it in. 

You’ll Get More Fresh Air

Fresh air has so many health benefits and a days fishing is a great way to get more of it than you usually do. 

Fishing Can Be a Great Bonding Activity

Fishing can be solo, but it doesn’t have to be. Going out with a friend or family member is a great way to spend quality time together away from all other distractions. 

Increased Patience

If you are the kind of person that needs results quickly, fishing might be a challenge, but it can be good for you. Fishing forces you to be patient, which is a skill we could all use in day to day life. 

It Could Make You a Better Person

Spending time out in nature is good for you. It makes you realize how small you are and become more appreciative of the world around you. 

Increased Vitamin D

Being outside more doesn’t just give you access to unlimited fresh air; it can also increase your vitamin D intake. 

Fishing Boosts Your Concentration

Our concentration spans are worse than ever. We’re so used to the world moving quickly. Fishing is slow. It can improve your concentration and help you to focus in other areas of life. 

Time for a Digital Detox

Getting away from your phone for a few hours is never a bad thing and fishing forces you to do it. 

Taking Control Of Your Health For 2020

Often, when there are so many pressures around you competing for your attention, from work commitments to family responsibilities, your health and well-being tend to take the back seat and lurk somewhere in the back of your list of priorities. 

Taking control of your health may seem like a Herculean task if it's been some time since you sat down to address your diet and self-care regime; however, the benefits you will feel will ensure that the process is worth the effort you need to make. So, if you feel tired, both mentally and physically, and want some ideas that can help you get back on track and develop a new lease of life in 2020, then read on.

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Give your diet an overhaul

One of the best things that you can do to keep your mind and body working at it's very best is to consume a nutritious and balanced diet. When you've got a super busy day, it's too easy to grab a takeaway, heat a ready-to-eat meal in the microwave, or even skip a meal due to lack of time–but consuming unhealthy processed foods that are full of fat, sugar, and salt will have a massive impact on the way that you feel and the amount of energy that you have. However, with a bit of planning and preparation, it is more than possible to live a hectic lifestyle and eat well. Whenever you have a free time, an hour or two on the weekend, prepare some nutritious dishes in advance.

Ditch the bad habits

Many temptations in today's world can easily bring you out of balance and hurt both your mental and physical well-being. Avoiding such bad habits is often much easier said than done, but there are many organizations, such as an alcohol detox center and individuals who can provide you with the support you need to get through and get rid of any addictions you may experience to lead a more rewarding and fulfilling and positive life. These need not be an awkward or guilt-provoking experience, as you need to take steps to better yourself and move on.

Sleep

Sleep is such an important thing, but many of us get nowhere near the amount that we need. It is recommended to get eight hours or thereabout a night. Implement a good nighttime routine - a warm milky drink and a warm bath before bed, switch off the phones and other devices and snuggle up for a night of restful sleep. If you do struggle, go and talk to your doctor, as this is something that they may be able to help you with.

Taking back control of your health and wellbeing has never been so easy if you make the most of the top tips and tricks that we have listed above. Try to eat the healthiest diet possible, avoid junk food wherever possible, get some exercise and plenty of sleep, and seek support to conquer your bad habits and free yourself from the grasp of addictive behaviour.

Open Up About Men's Mental Health

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There is a big focus on safeguarding everybody’s health, and this should include mental health. Mental health can sometimes not be taken as seriously as physical health because you cannot see it. Men’s mental health can also be disregarded more than women’s mental health. This is because men are seen as the members of society that need to be strong and relied on. That doesn’t mean that they will not need support at some point in their lives. As mental health is a difficult topic to discuss, especially for men, here are a few ways that you can help:

Help to get rid of the stigma

There is a stigma around mental health, but men find it significantly more challenging to talk about their struggles with mental health than women do. Many men feel like they have to try and live up to the stereotype of being strong, and for many this includes emotional strength. It can be hard to change the perception that struggling with your mental health somehow makes you weak.

We can try to change the perception by beginning to open up and talk about mental health. It shouldn’t be something that you feel ashamed of, because most people struggle with it at some point in life. We need to educate people to show that physical health is just as important as mental health, and if you need it, it is okay to ask for help. In fact, it could be one of the strongest things you do because it can be hard to ask for help.

Helping yourself

Looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health. There are many ways that you can make sure you are doing everything you can to look after your mental health. These include:

• Opening up to people - You don’t have to open up to everyone you meet but if you have a trusted friend or family member that you can talk to about the things that are on your mind it will help.
• Exercise - Exercise is just as good for your mental health as it is for your physical health. You don’t need to go to the gym every day, but you could go for a walk around a park to get some fresh air and get active.
• Find a hobby that helps you to unwind - Stress can build up if all you do is work, so you need to find a hobby that you can do to destress and have a bit of fun. It could be rock climbing, or something more creative. Whatever you do make time for you.

Help the men in your life

If you notice someone is struggling, you could try to find them the help that they need. There might be a support group in their local area that they can attend, or you could take them to see a doctor. If things start to get more serious, you can look into a mens rehab program that can help them with recovery.

How to Recognize Signs of Depression in Adults

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Depression is largely recognized as a debilitating mental illness which manifests and takes a drastic hold of people’s lives, often in different ways. It presents itself with a number of challenging symptoms for suffers and families that can become increasingly difficult to live with. However, it is comforting to know that depression is never a sign of weakness and can be resolved with the correct treatment. The negative social stigma that surrounds depression can make identifying symptoms in loved ones difficult - often, people may appear happy and energetic but can feel the complete opposite inside. It’s important to be aware of how to recognise the signs of depression in loved ones so that you can start taking action to help them on their journey towards recovery.

Personality Changes

Depression largely takes form in emotional changes to a person. Having bad days and feeling blue can happen to everyone in life from time to time, but when a person expresses consistent feelings of helplessness and despair, guilt, anxiousness, or even irritability and anger, these can be some of the indicative symptoms of depression. Additionally, a person suffering with depression may find difficulty in concentrating, making decisions and remembering certain things. It may be a confusing and daunting time for a person to be courageous and open up to you about their concerns, so approach the subject of depression lightly and suggest if they would consider talking to a professional if necessary. 

Physical Symptoms

Depression is not just an illness in your head, it can also present physical symptoms, including headaches, vision problems, fatigue and aching muscles. While there are a number of other conditions responsible for such symptoms, it is vital to check up on loved ones if they are verbally displaying these alongside other evident symptoms of depression.

Substance Abuse

Substance abuse through alcohol is common among those battling depression, as sufferers may feel completely hopeless and subsequently wish to find temporary relief to escape their emotions. You can help loved ones overcome the restraints of depression on their lives through discussing professional help options, and through suggesting an alcohol addiction treatment centre if you are concerned about alcoholism affecting their recovery process.

Change in eating habits

Another symptom to look out for can include a change in eating habits, which can include both overeating and undereating. People with depression may find comfort in overeating to help uplift their mood, while others may inadvertently under eat due to a loss of appetite, or because they  feel too exhausted to prepare healthy and balanced meals. This cycle of poor eating habits only serves to worsen the condition and can result in feelings of isolation and hopelessness, so it is crucial to recognise this symptom quickly.

Lack of interest in activities

Both physiological and physical symptoms of depression such as low self-esteem and a lack of energy can affect people’s ability to carry out everyday activities, as well as finding enjoyment and interest in once-loved hobbies, which can in turn affect social and work lives. This withdrawal from everyday activities can also be another crucial symptom of depression that should be talked about and not overlooked.