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EXERCISE ESSENTIALS: GOOD VERSUS BAD PAIN EXPLAINED

Editorial Team
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EXERCISE ESSENTIALS: GOOD VERSUS BAD PAIN EXPLAINED

Ideal for working out to your full potential without risking injury. 

You’ve heard the expression “no pain, no gain.” And whilst there’s certainly some truth in the motivational maxim, it’s also a risky idea when taken too literally.

In the arena of the gym, it’s often used to refer to the fact that you have to endure a bit of physical discomfort to improve your physique, both while exercising and afterwards. At the same time, you’ve also heard athletes talk about “battling pain” in their pursuit of performance. This type of pain usually relates to functional injuries of the body; stuff they can’t ignore. You shouldn’t either.

Whilst we wouldn’t want to throw too many quotes at you this early in the article, here’s another; Muhammed Ali once said ‘’I don’t count my sit-ups. I start counting when it hurts, and I feel pain because those are what really count and makes you a champion.“ 

Was he right? Let’s find out; here we explain good versus bad pain, IDEAL for working out to your full potential without risking injury.

GOOD PAIN EXPLAINED 

Good pain seems like a contradiction in terms. But people generally use the expression to talk about the kind of discomfort that will help you come back stronger, both mentally and physically. 

There are several different types of good pain that you can experience when you start straining. 

  • Lactic acid buildup. Physiologists think that muscles become engorged in lactic acid when trained hard, and this leads to discomfort. Byproducts of metabolism build up in the cells, creating that characteristic burning sensation you get in your thighs during spin class. Lactic acid pain is perfectly healthy, and just your body’s way of telling you that you’re pushing yourself hard. 
  • DOMS. DOMS stands for delayed-onset muscle soreness, and it’s that low-level ache you get the next day in your muscles following a workout. The cause of the pain is tiny tears and breaks in the muscle fibres that lead to inflammation. Again, the healing process is a good thing because it tells your body to come back stronger, leading to growth. That said, those DOMS certainly stick around; you can feel sore for a few days, especially after squats!
  • Aerobic stress. If you’re on the treadmill or exercise bike, you’ll also experience the discomfort of aerobic stress – something that usually manifests itself as general pain or tightness in the chest. Please note that this pain shouldn’t feel sharp or make it hard for you to bend over. Instead, it should just feel like you’re working hard and getting out of breath. 

Good pain is a sign that you’re pushing yourself and making progress on the fitness front. 

BAD PAIN EXPLAINED

Bad pain, however, is an entirely different beast and something you shouldn’t ignore. For instance, if you have pain and swelling simultaneously, it suggests that your body is trying to tell you that something is wrong.

As the seasoned professionals at Science of Rehab state, the key to managing pain is understanding it. How does bad pain make you feel? What triggers the pain? Which activities or movements bring on a flare-up? Answering these questions can help you create a better plan for your well-being, based on how your body responds to physical activity.

Similarly, if you go for a run and get stabbing pains in your chest, you should immediately seek medical attention to rule out severe conditions, like heart disease. 

If the problem is related to chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia or arthritis, light exercise is actively encouraged; the worst thing you can do is lay in bed all day with such conditions. That said, you shouldn’t ignore the pain; the NHS recommend choosing ‘an exercise that won’t put too much strain on yourself’, such as walking, swimming or yoga.

SUPPLEMENTS FOR SUPPORT

In terms of supplements that can help with pain relief and encourage recovery, many athletes swear by Glutamine, a naturally occurring amino acid that can be boosted via diet or supplementary tablets and powders. You’ll find glutamine in foods which are protein rich (the usual suspects: beef, fish, eggs, dairy and chicken) as well as dark green vegetables and fermented products, such as kefir, miso and kimchi. Omega 3 oil, available in capsules on the high street, is also well known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

L-carnitine and L-arginine are further amino acids which are adept at stimulating growth hormones and helping in muscle recovery. The general idea is to reduce the amount of pain people experience after bouts of exercise, encouraging them to keep their training regimes up; certainly worth a shot as part of your supplementary regime, don’t you think? 

THE BOTTOM LINE

Though a level of pain and suffering is often considered the holy grail in the quest for gains, if something doesn’t feel good, it probably isn’t. Real, proper, troubling pain is your body trying to tell you that something isn’t right, and shouldn’t be ignored. If you do, you risk injury. Go too hard, and you’re going home in an ambulance. 

On the flip side, that feeling of lactic acid doing its thing, and a subtle ache the day after a workout, simply means your body is recovering and getting stronger. It takes experience to be able to tell the difference but you’ll get there. Good luck with your next work out!

7 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT

Editorial Team
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7 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE BEST WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT

Weddings, hey, who’d want one? Well, around 250’000 happy couples a year, actually. But let’s face it, big, blowout events do come with a reputation; of costs sending the couple into debt and meticulous preparation sending them into an asylum. 

No wonder the reception often seems to come as a relief. While the actual ceremony is perhaps the more significant, meaningful part of the day, it’s often the wedding reception that takes the most time to plan; the fine print here matters so much. In addition to the food, music, and decorations there’s one other extremely important point to bear in mind when planning your wedding – the entertainment!  

When it comes to choosing the right entertainment for your wedding, there are a few key things to consider to make your getting hitched go off without one. With that in mind, here are 7 tips for choosing the best wedding entertainment.

BUDGET 

We realise it’s uncouth to mention money so early on in the planning process, but it’s essential to get the financial side of things sorted before you sign any contracts or make any arrangements. 

Let’s put it bluntly; couples should decide on a budget for their entertainment and stick to it. It’s all too easy to get carried away when it comes to a wedding, and if you’re not careful, you’ll soon find yourself wanting double what you can afford and finding it incredibly stressful trying to decide what (or who) to lose from the line up.

Be resolute in the face of finances and stick to your original entertainment budget during negotiations.   

CREATE THE RIGHT MOOD

Without wishing to suggest a ‘mood board’ on your planning, you could do a lot worse than coming up with a few adjectives that you feel suit the style of the wedding you want to throw, to guide you entertainment decision making. 

Here are a few examples from our virtual board we just created, to get you thinking: wild, raucous, dignified, stylish, formal, casual, smart, sleek, elegant, decadent, chic. It’s up to you what you want your party to convey, but once you have defined it, make sure this definition carries through to every single aspect of the big day, from the invitations to the end-of-the-night entertainment. In doing so, guests will be fawning over your grand vision and the synergy you deployed to pull it off. And we all want fawning guests, right? 

CONSIDER THE CROWD

As the guys at Disco Logic, London wedding DJ experts, tell us, the hard part lies in finding entertainment which appeals to all of the diverse tribes typically attending a wedding. This is particularly pertinent when considering the tunes; though the happy couple may love death metal of DnB, it may not go down quite so well with Great Aunty Mavis.

As such, when choosing your wedding entertainment, of course, you want to choose something that you’ll yourself enjoy, but really, it’s just as important to consider the crowd.

For example, if 90% of your wedding party is elderly, you may want to pass on the mechanical bull. Similarly, if the majority of attendees are in their early 20s, having a load of vintage or historical themed entertainment might not work either. Whether you’re looking for guitarists for hire in Thailand or Dolly Parton cover acts in Shropshire, the key here is choosing acts that aren’t only appropriate for the setting, but for the audience too. Which brings us to our next point…

SPACE & SETTING 

The other key thing to consider here is the space you have to work with. Some wedding entertainment ideas can take up a lot of room, whereas others require very little, and it’s all about maximising the potential of the space you have available to you, realistically and smartly.

If the venue is smallish, you don’t want to overwhelm the floor with entertainment which saturates the guests, overpowers the space, and provides distraction rather than delight. In tighter venues, a simple dancefloor and DJ is often the most succinct way to get things rocking.

As Dexter, a skilled wedding band in Cheshire, tell us, ”if you have a band, you need to consider the size and acoustics of the room carefully.” It would be a shame for the group and their instruments to take up more space than the dancefloor, or be drowned out by chattering guests because of unsuitable acoustics. Sounds like they speak from painful experience!

These things matter. 

WHEN TO WOW 

Let’s throw some questions at the wall and see if they stick; why do you want wedding entertainment? Are you looking for something to add ambiance or do you want to keep the kids entertained? At which points might you need wedding entertainment? 

In terms of the ‘when?’, a great time to provide wedding entertainment is straight after the ceremony, when there is a bit of a lull and you’re busy getting your photos taken. A jazz band, juggler, magician or dancers, all represent a great conversation starter which guests can continue into the wedding breakfast. 

Another ideal time for wedding entertainment begins with the first dance and carries on until the lights come up; a band or singer here is the obvious, failsafe choice, but your options shouldn’t be limited to the traditional… 

HOW TO WOW

There are so many options for pleasing your party invitees in unique and unusual ways: 

  • Fairground games: If you’re planning on having an outdoor wedding reception, a few country style fairground games scattered around can bring a lot of laughs, and they’re pretty easy to recreate. A coconut shy is one age old favorite that goes down well at weddings. This is where a wooden ball is thrown at a coconut that’s balanced on a post. Typically, a person gets three chances in which to dislodge it. If successful, they win a prize. Or, why not have a good old-fashioned welly throw for a few giggles? 
  • Magician show: Hiring a magician to entertain your wedding party will create some fantastic memories. And who doesn’t like a bit of magic? Fun for the whole family, this. 
  • Photo booth: These have become incredibly popular over the past few years and are a great way to capture some magical memories from your big day. They’re pretty versatile and come available in all kinds of shapes, sizes, and themes.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Game: Just because you’re marrying someone, doesn’t mean to say you know then inside and out. This is always a good one to play at the wedding reception and is sure to raise a few eyebrows. For added fun, have someone else design the quiz so you have no idea what the questions will be. 
  • Singing waiters: If you really want to surprise your guests, why not hire some singing waiters? These guys will look like normal waiters and serve food as you’d expect. Then, all of a sudden, when cued, they suddenly spring into song. 
  • Bouncy castle: A bouncy castle is always a winner when it comes to entertaining kids, both young and old. You can even get wedding themed ones these days. It’s a good way to tire out the young ones while providing something to keep the older ones occupied.   
  • Casino: Why not glam up and have a Vegas-style reception? Hire in some casino game tables and croupiers and load your guests with fake money. Then, you’ve got your own little Bellagio right there. 
  • Circus performers: There’s always a little air of mystery that surrounds circus performers as they dart around defying death. Why not add some thrills to your reception by throwing in a few hired circus performers. They don’t need to do anything too crazy like tightrope walking or lion taming, but a few fire breathers and sword swallowers never goes amiss.   
  • Edible mist orbs: If you’re looking for something a little out of the ordinary for your reception, how about adding an edible mist orb experience to the mix? This is where guests get the chance to tickle their taste buds with a variety of flavours, by sucking up a lungful of edible mist. How cool is that?    

REFER TO REFERENCES 

If you haven’t seen the entertainment in the flesh, then it’s hard to know what you’re letting yourself in for. And there’s nothing worse than something massively hyped up which turns out to be a let down.

It’s imperative, then, that you read reviews online of the entertainment you’re considering, to ensure it’s legit, professional and above all else, entertaining. You may also be able to find YouTube videos of the act, and testimonials from previous weddings, to give you an even better idea of what’s on offer.

And with that, might we expect an invite to your big day?

THE IDEAL GUIDE TO INTERIOR DESIGN FOR SELLING HOUSES

Editorial Team
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THE IDEAL GUIDE TO INTERIOR DESIGN FOR SELLING HOUSES

If you’re keen to do some home renovations, the chances are that you are looking at the latest interiors magazines to see what is on trend. You might be eager to source that 1960s bold geometric wallpaper that you’ve always fancied for behind your log burner or maybe you are eager to flex your creative muscles in your bathroom and go for a kitsch 1950s feel? 

It has to be said that these sorts of design styles are sometimes, well, divisive. If you plan on living in your current property for the foreseeable future and don’t predict selling up anytime soon, then go for it. Be bold, be brave, and flex your interior design muscles.

However, if you are thinking about moving on to pastures new soon, you might be keen to get your home dressed for sale in an outfit which boasts a more universal appeal. The sorts of interior design hacks you use in this scenario are vastly different from the ones you would use to craft your own personalised living spaces, make no mistake.

In such cases, there’s no harm in playing to the crowd. Potential house buyers will be looking for that blank yet stylish canvas on which to make their own mark. They don’t want to see your favourite, esoteric colour scheme in the kitchen, your bold choice of natty floorboards in the living room, or your frankly chaotic approach to shelving in the kids’ bedrooms. 

To sell your home, you need to seduce your buyers with a potential lifestyle that gives them enough room to grow and build upon independently. By doing this, you’ll likely sell your home quicker and for a potentially higher price. With all this in mind, here’s the IDEAL guide to interior design for selling houses. 

KITCHENS

While the living room used to be the hub of a British house, it’s safe the say that the kitchen has now taken that baton. It’s the heart of the home, and the place where the real magic happens, sustaining family members with good food and better conversation and, as such, it deserves respect.

If you have an enclosed kitchen that cuts off the cook from the rest of the house, you should consider opening up the space. Yes, knocking down walls or extending is expensive, but you’ll likely claw back the money invested in the renovations and more. 

This is because open plan kitchen diners feel aspirational; homeowners can cook up a gastronomic feast in the kitchen while watching the kids do their homework on the dining table. Larger, more social gatherings can occur where guests can mingle together, or, you can catch up with pals over a coffee in your open plan living space. All of these domestic scenes ultimately equate to a higher house valuation.

When selecting your units, always go for something relatively neutral. While you may love the idea of a high gloss red unit, the chances are that your buyers will find this too bold or garish. 

Your interior design needs to be led by your head rather than your heart. A shaker style off white unit with wooden worktop is great if you have an older period property and want to make use of the old school features. Alternatively, a high gloss white unit with soft close drawers and granite quartz worktop might be more suited to your home. These high quality fixtures and fittings will allow your potential buyers to imagine themselves settling into your pad and making it their home.

LIVING ROOM

The living room needs to be comfortable and ooze cosiness. It doesn’t matter whether your room is vast or small, you can still dress it up, ready for sale. 

If you do have a larger space in your living room, make use of it, and take the plunge on one of those very comfy fabric corner sofas which you’ll have seen on many a Cribs or Kardashians episode. These vast cushion filled velvet or soft cotton sofas are sumptuous and add a touch of luxury to your pad. While you won’t be abandoning the sofa when you move house, you can still seduce potential buyers with an idea, image and lifestyle. Add a mixture of fabrics to create a highly texturised space, with soft furnishings like drapes, cushions, throws, and rugs to add visual interest to the room.

Accessorise the space with lamps, coffee tables, and footstools. If you are eager to be bang on trend, think about picking up some vintage pieces of furniture to add a touch of mid-century class to your living space. 

Even if your living room is small, you can add a classic 1960s nest of tables to make clever use of your space. Tiled coffee tables and oak floorboards are great for showing off that unique touch, too, without being overbearing in your choices. 

If you have a fireplace, make a feature of it. Should you be fortunate enough to have an antique cast iron Victorian fireplace, for example, get it cleaned and working. If your fireplace is more of a 1960s gas monstrosity, you should swap it for a wood burner to add a more pleasant focal point to your space. The chimney breast can then be wallpapered with some simple classic printed wallpaper to draw the eye.

BATHROOM

They say that it is the kitchen and bathroom that sell a house. We’ve already discussed the kitchen, so now it’s time to think about how you maximise the appeal of your bathroom, too.

While bathrooms tend to be small, they can still be perfectly formed. First things first; damage limitation. If you have some mould or grout discolouration, this can make your bathroom look a little grotty, so give it some elbow grease and get scrubbing. Deploy the same can-do attitude with streaky mirrors and glass, because these blemishes are the first thing potential buyers will notice. Check out our tips on 10 professional home cleaning hacks for more!

If you have the space, then adding a second bathroom to your property can boost your home’s value by about 5%. So, to improve your house’s immediate, cosmetic appeal and convey a sense of ‘worth’, it’s a good idea to try an squeeze in an extra bathroom, in ensuite form or even outside.

EXTERIOR

You should never neglect the exterior of your home when looking to sell up. Think about exuding kerb appeal so that your potential buyers’ heads are turned for all of the right reasons.  

If you have a front garden or driveway, make sure that you get the pressure washer out and get rid of any weeds. A clean and tidy driveway creates a great first impression, that’s for sure. Mow the lawn, cut back the triffids, and plant some colourful shrubs and foliage to add interest to your front garden area. 

When it comes to your actual home, paint the front door and clean the fascias of your windows; a clean and tidy front area looks so much better than a cobweb laden porch. If the paint is peeling on your front door, paint it. If the door has seen better days and the letterbox is falling off, consider investing in a brand new composite style door that is super secure and looks incredibly smart. With reinforced glazing and bespoke designs, these front doors last decades and can demonstrate to your potential buyers immediately just how much you have invested in your home.

THE BOTTOM LINE

When you are looking to sell up, you want to get the biggest bang for your buck to help fund your house move. By following these simple design hacks, you’ll be maximising your home’s potential in the eyes of viewers. And that’s what you’re here for, right?

5 TIPS FOR SLEEPING BETTER DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES

Editorial Team
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5 TIPS FOR SLEEPING BETTER DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES

Ideal for improving your wellbeing with a good night’s sleep.

Call it what you like; unprecedented, turbulent, topsy turvy or unpredictable – the only single thing that is certain right now is the uncertainty. And that over-egged sentence and erratic punctuation have only served to increase our anxiety. Anyway…

What’s clear is that with this uncertainty comes stress and worry, which can be detrimental to our sleep and make existing woes seem worse. Indeed, it’s been reported that the first lockdown caused a sharp increase of insomnia across the UK, and with a second one surely on the way, Brits are investigating ways to sleep better with ever increasing frenzy. How do we know? Because you’re here, of course.

If you’re struggling to get some shut-eye and suffering from sleepless nights, then read on; here are 5 tips for sleeping better during uncertain times, IDEAL for improving your wellbeing with a good night’s sleep. 

IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP ENVIRONMENT 

Home is meant to be a place for relaxing, resting and recharging. However, with many of us now working here too, the function of the home itself is changing and our domestic environments have been disrupted. As such, the usual boundaries have become blurred, with rooms once assigned to very specific tasks now hosting all manner of activity. 

Is it any surprise you can’t sleep when your work computer, hastily assembled gym set up and piano you recently bought but haven’t touched are all visible from your bed? One of the best ways you can ensure a better night’s rest is by keeping your bedroom free from distraction. We’ve written a whole piece on how to create the IDEAL bedroom environment for sleep in 5 simple steps; do check it out.

PAMPER SESSIONS

While it may seem frivolous to pamper yourself in such times, it couldn’t be more important right now to indulge in a little self care, to realign and rejuvenate.

Make it a ritual each evening to take a time out from screens, news, and unwanted stimulation. Run yourself a hot bath and drop in essential oils; chamomile and lavender scents are particularly evocative of peace and tranquillity and will get you geared up (or more aptly down) for sleep. Light some candles, listen to some soothing music or pop on your favourite podcast. Turning your bathroom into your very own private spa needn’t be costly or difficult, but boy can it make a difference!

When you’re done soaking, you can delve into your skincare routine, luxuriating in the process as much as the result. Once you’re fully pampered out, make the evening extra cosy by putting on your favourite ladies nightwear or that new pair of PJs you treated yourself to. Phew, even describing it has relaxed us; we apologise if the rest of the article continues at a canter. 

NO LATE NIGHT NEWS

For some, the real worrying begins once head meets pillow. First, we start trying to process what’s happened during the day, then comes the nervousness about the future.  

Let’s cut to the chase; watching the 10 o’clock news or scrolling though updates about current events on our social media do no favours. So, endeavour to limit your exposure to the news and media, both in the time spent and the number of sources you’re getting your news from.  

Reading every single report from different sources can make you become more anxious, feeding into a cyclical feedback loop which comes with every refresh. While it’s important to keep up to date with current affairs, digging down deep in those negative Twitter spirals is almost certainly contributing to a state of anxiety.

SCREENS AWAY

What’s more, the light of a screen can mess with the sleep hormone melatonin and make you feel more awake, and subsequently, it’s recommended you should stop looking at screens at least an hour before bedtime. Concentrating on social media or even the latest episode in a TV drama can also add to this feeling of wakefulness. 

If you’re finding it difficult to ween yourself off your phone in the evening, take small steps at first. Place your phone in a different place in the room, away from your bedside table, and invest in an alarm clock instead. Move the TV out of your bedroom, and gradually place a time limit on phone use, starting at, say, 10pm and bringing it forward each day or week. Before you know it, that token evening screen time will be a thing of the past.

WATCH WHAT YOU EAT & DRINK

Getting a good night’s sleep can benefit both your physical and mental health and you’ve got to prepare your body for bed in the right way via your diet. Avoid sugar or caffeinated drinks in the afternoon and evening, as this will wake you up more. Also, consider cutting down on the booze; you may think alcohol makes you sleepy, but it actually harms the quality of your rest.

If you do fancy a late night snack, avoid anything too sugary or heavy. Instead, porridge is a surprisingly sleep-healthy choice. This is because oats and dairy release chemicals that increase your desire to sleep. Who knew? And if you’re craving a drink, try a herbal sleep tea; anything containing valerian does the job well.

THE BOTTOM LINE

A perfect night’s sleep is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, particularly in times of turbulence and uncertainty. Follow these five suggestions, and you may well notice a marked improvement in those all important Zzzeds. Good luck!

HOW TO HANDLE BACK TO WORK ANXIETY: 5 IDEAL STEPS

Editorial Team
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HOW TO HANDLE BACK TO WORK ANXIETY: 5 IDEAL STEPS

Just as we packed our work bags, donned a tie for the first time in months, steeled ourselves for the commute and kissed our partner goodbye, the news came in; government encourages Brits to work from home, again. We’d almost made it to Pret for our pre-work croissant, but a quick heel turn, and we retreated home to hastily reassemble our kitchen table office.

Many workers aren’t so lucky to have this luxury, with a physical presence necessary to get the job done and oppressive employers putting the heat on staff to return to work regardless of the risk. Such uncertainty and pressure are, of course, going to cause inevitable worry. This is a turbulent time, but rest assured, there are tools available to help lighten the load somewhat. With that in mind, here’s how to handle back to work anxiety in 5 IDEAL steps.

PRECISION PLAN YOUR JOURNEY

It’s the uncertainty which kills us. And let’s face it; the ebb and flow of traffic and train rides in the capital can be some of the most unpredictable around. You can only expect one thing; chaos. Even with distancing measures loosely in place, the tubes are still busy, so it’s prudent to plan your journey closely to take the mental load off a little each morning and evening.

Do remember that a face mask is now compulsory on trains unless you are exempt, and it’s a good idea to carry hand sanitiser, too. Try to travel at quieter times if possible by looking first online and assessing live updates for busier stations, such as Clapham Junction, Waterloo, Victoria and Kings Cross trains, to check trains are running properly and delays aren’t causing additional issues. In general, quieter times occur between 8:15am and 4pm, and after 5:30pm, on weekdays.  

If anxiety levels are running particularly high, consider consulting with your employer about working different hours to avoid the crowds. In such turbulent times, some flexibility from your work should be expected…

SPEAK TO YOUR BOSS

Speaking of which, it is usually productive to let your boss know that you are feeling anxious about returning to the office. They will be able to reassure you regarding the steps they have taken to make your place of work a COVID-secure environment which should help to alleviate any concerns.

Should your employer be inflexible about the issues you present, then you should remind them that they may be breaking the law. You could also do worse than pointing them in the direction of this useful article on ways to encourage a productive working environment. Disclaimer: it was written by us.

CONSULT WITH CO-WORKERS

There is power in the union, so, join one. Should this not be feasible, then ‘strength in numbers’ is still incredibly powerful at work, so it’s certainly worth speaking to your co-workers as it is likely that there will be at least one other person feeling nervous; a problem shared is a problem halved for you, and a problem doubled for that pesky boss of yours. With collective pressure, you can enact change within your employer’s policies, and also provide invaluable support and a sense of community in the face of uncertain, unprecedented times.

Be aware that most people suffering from anxiety ‘’meet the definition of disability in the Equality Act (2010) and the Disability Discrimination Act (1995, as amended). This means that people with mental health problems are protected from discrimination and harassment and are entitled to reasonable adjustments to adapt their job or work’’, according to the Mental Health Foundation. This means you should expect your workplace to support you without judgment.

REWARD YOURSELF

It may sound a little simple – flippant, even – but a great way to reduce anxiety in any given situation is to give yourself something to look forward to which will help you to stay positive and focused during the day.

No one gets the most from life with an empty calendar. Instead, reward yourself for getting through this deeply challenging time. This could be anything such as buying new clothes, treating yourself to a takeaway or going out for a few drinks with friends after work; don’t let the ascetic gods guilt trip you!

BREATHING EXERCISES

Another widely deployed method in reducing anxiety is to learn and utilise a few breathing exercises when times get tough or overwhelming. These can be used in situations where you might be feeling anxious, such as on the train or when you walk into the office for the first time; fortunately, there’s plenty of advice online about the most helpful methods. We’re big fans of guided meditation apps, which give you the tools to tackle stressful situations with confidence. Do give them a go.

*This article is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis or treatment given by a qualified health professional. Instead, this article only provides information, not advice. For any medical enquiries, always consult your GP first*

7 IDEAL TRAILS WORLDWIDE FOR EVERY HIKER’S BUCKET LIST

Editorial Team
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7 IDEAL TRAILS WORLDWIDE FOR EVERY HIKER’S BUCKET LIST

Ideal for embracing the great outdoors and reclaiming your reclaim your sense of adventure. 

Are you an avid hiker who loves spending time outdoors surrounded by the beauty of nature? With COVID-19 restrictions making the great expanse of the even greater outdoors feel ever more appealing, more and more of us are pulling on our hiking boots and setting off on trails ready to be inspired and invigorated in equal measure.

From lowering stress levels and enhancing overall wellbeing to strengthening your connection with the natural world and even being great for heart health, research has consistently posited that hiking has countless benefits, and the experience it provides can have a soul enriching impact on your life. 

Together with Vacayou, who offer exciting and well-priced vacation packages without the hassle, here are 7 IDEAL trails worldwide for every hiker’s bucket list.

INCA TRAIL, CUSCO

Cusco is a city rich in history and culture. The Inca Trail from Cusco to Machu Pichu is 26 miles of glorious views and unmatched beauty, a high altitude course full of tropical scenery and fascinating wildlife. And the views; oh, the views. Usually hiked over 4 days and 3 nights, this glorious ascent of the Andes mountains is as much about the journey as the destination, though when you reach the peak, at the world famous Machu Pichu, all of the climbing at high altitude will be worth it. 

The Incan citadel high in the Andes mountains is cloaked in mist, cloud and mystery, with lush vegetation surrounding and enclosing the ruins and making for some spectacular views. A once-in-a-lifetime adventure, make no mistake. 

This trail isn’t for the last minute traveller and needs to be booked well in advance. In order to preserve the trail, the Peruvian authorities have capped the number of people allowed to trek it to 500 per day, including the tour guide and porters. So make sure you plan your trip in advance if you want to get that llama selfie you’ve always dreamed of. 

TUSCANY’S MOUNTAINS, ITALY 

Boasting unparalleled grandeur and elegance, Tuscany’s rolling hills are some of Europe’s premier hiking landscapes. The region boasts a vast network of hiking trails, with the most popular trekking areas perhaps the hills of Casentino and Florentine. The mountains in Tuscany’s north provide the variation in topography that any great hiking destination needs. 

Whilst the diversity of terrain is why this Italian region is so popular with walkers, the hearty, sustaining Tuscan food reliably available at every pitstop along the pathways is what keeps hikers coming back for more. We’re big fans of cinghiale in umido – a deliciously rich wild boar stew with a strong flavour and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Buon appetito! 

BRYCE CANYON, UTAH 

Renowned for its unique trails, such as the Queen’s Garden and Tower Bridge, Bryce Canyon is an aesthetic wonderland for passionate hikers. The scenic sites, spacious campgrounds and instantly recognisable crimson rendered rock formations make for unique vistas at every turn. The Rim Trail hiking path is the premier route here, though be warned; the terrain can be treacherous and investing in some proper walking boots is essential.

The best time to visit this national park is during the months of May to September when the weather is warmest and the terrain full of wild flowers. Autumn is also a beautiful time to come when the place comes alive live with the shades of the season. With the winter comes snow and instead of pulling on the hiking boots, visitors can go snowshoeing instead.

SIRENUSE TRAIL, AMALFI COAST 

The Amalfi Coast is spectacular and dramatic, and here, the Sirenuse trail which goes along the slopes of the Sorrento peninsula is widely regarded as one of the most attractive walks in Europe. What’s more, owing to its (relatively) manageable terrain, short distance (around 7 miles) and year round agreeable weather, this is a walk you can take comfortably during any season. 

That’s not to say you won’t feel challenged or rewarded; there are some hefty ascents and visually, the path looking out to sea and over Li Galli (or, the island of the Sirens) is breathtaking in its vistas. Stunning stuff.

PERITO MORENO GLACIER, PATAGONIA  

If you only hike one glacier in your life, this would be the one to pick. Patagonia itself features multiple hiking routes beloved of trekking enthusiasts, however, arguably the best trail is Perito Moreno, boasting a truly majestic landscape.

This sheer, snowcapped walk is dramatic as it comes, and requires both a guide and some serious experience on your feet. Come armed with both and you’ll be repaid with ice tunnels, glaciers and a sense that actually, your trials and tribulations eventually turn to dust and irrelevance. Or maybe that was just us!

When you get to the glacier, wait around for a while and you’ll likely see huge chunks of ice dramatically fall into the sea. However despite the fact many of the world’s glaciers are melting, this is one of the only ones in the world that is actually growing instead of shrinking.

RED ROCKS LOOP TRAIL, ARIZONA 

The moderately challenging Red Rocks Trail in Sedona, Arizona, is 8 miles of life affirming walking and vast, expansive views to match. Rather than being a single, A to B affair, the Red Rocks Trail is several interconnecting, overlapping routes, allowing you to choose the difficulty level which your stamina and the (sometimes stifling) weather allows. If you’re to choose just one, the Eagle’s Nest Trail is just 3 miles and takes in some of the iconic, clay-red natural sculptures at their best.

We’re also big fans of The Oak Creek Canyon Trail with boasts views of the iconic Cathedral Rock rising in the distance and the soothing sounds of the babbling creek in the background. It’s a wonderful hike that winds through narrow canyons that slice into the Red Rocks. And if you’re after the perfect spot for a picnic, the banks of Oak Creek Canyon are the ideal place to take a moment to appreciate the natural beauty surrounding you.

THE LYCIAN WAY, TURKEY

Regarded as one of the world’s best hiking trails (and certainly one of longest, at over 350 miles) the Lycian Way is renowned for its ancient ruins, picturesque fishing villages and secluded beaches.

The best part about this hiking destination is that it boasts a mix of scenic burial monuments and Mediterranean views that could enrapture the coldest soul. If you’re to tackle the whole thing, do earmark at least a month in your calendar! 

Along The Lycian Way, you’ll find small hotels and local guesthouses offering typical Turkish cuisine to give you fuel for your hike. Most will provide a typical Turkish breakfast of eggs, tomatoes, peppers, cucumber, olives, local honey and jams, oranges, pomegranates or whatever in season served with fresh bread and Turkish tea or Turkish coffee, the latter of which will certainly give you that all important caffeine-boost ahead of a day’s walker.

THE BOTTOM LINE

For many, hiking is not only physical, but also incorporates a spiritual element, a sense of not simply getting from A to B, but of disconnecting from daily life’s turbulence and turmoil. In a world currently defined by such upheaval, taking yourself for a long stroll could be the act of self care you’ve been yearning for. Happy walking!

5 Ways To Frame Your Face Without Wearing Makeup

Editorial Team
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5 Ways To Frame Your Face Without Wearing Makeup

Ideal for bringing out your best features while going au natural. 

This year has significantly impacted our beauty routines – it’s been reported that women across the world are wearing less makeup and cosmetics sales are down. Here at IDEAL, we’re all in agreement; there’s not much point in putting a full face on for a Zoom meeting or Skype date, even less necessary when we’re behind a mask, and it’s been a liberating experience getting out the ol’ brush and bronzer with much less frequency. 

If, like us, you’re forgoing the makeup for the time being and are after alternative ways to frame your face then you’ve come to the right place, here’s an article on doing just that; our 5 ways to frame your face without wearing makeup, IDEAL for bringing out your best features while going au natural.

FOCUS ON YOUR BROWS 

Perfectly pruned and groomed brows can instantly transform and frame your face, pulling your very best features into focus. Indeed, the transformative power of a well-sharpened eyebrow (let alone two of them!) shouldn’t be overlooked. 

If you have sparse areas or were a child of the 90’s early noughties and over plucked your brows, tweezing with impunity, and you’ve been left with nothing but thin, rainbow shaped arches, then consider using a brow serum at night. This will help condition, strengthen and will thicken your brows, ideal for that face framing we’re seeking today. 

For a double whammy of facial framing, consider a brow and lash tinting set, which can really draw attention to your eyes. And might we say how beautiful they are?

FACE FRAME WITH HAIR

This one may require a bit of salon sorcery or some home cutting experimentation, but the results can be all encompassing. Yep, with the correct face framing layers, you can really transform your entire face. It all starts with the right haircut, which can draw attention to your eyes and even highlight your chin and cheekbones. Moreover, layers can add volume, texture and definition. 

In terms of style, fringes are particularly adept at accentuating your facial features and highlighting your natural bone structure. A full fringe, in particular, can shape your face and enhance your cheekbones. If you’re not sure if a fringe suits you, now is probably the best time to experiment on your look, with upcoming lockdowns meaning the usual exposure (and potential embarrassment) won’t happen. Use the time wisely to fine tune that new do.  

Finally, we know we’ve harked on about the 90’s and early 00’s already, but one trend that has recently made a comeback is face framing tendrils which can give that contour illusion without makeup. Again, now is the ideal time for experimentation.

HAIR ACCESSORIES AND HATS 

Hair accessories and hats are another great way to frame your face (or hide that lockdown hair you’ve just experimented with). Moreover, during this lockdown era of low maintenance looks, adding a hair accessory is oh-so-easy and immediately looks like you’ve spent more time on your hair than you actually did. Just like finding the perfect hairstyle, different accessories can enhance different facial shapes so play around until you find a look that flatters and frames your face well.

Now the days are getting colder, bring out those hats and scarves, to frame the top and bottom of your face. These are great for the winter months, when your skin needs to breathe thanks to the weather, and makeup isn’t always a good idea. A wide brimmed hat can also cast a real defining shadow on your face, so why not invest in one? 

TRY A TEETH-TWEAKMENT

Simply put, a brighter, whiter smile can keep your face looking radiant and glowing without any need for further finessing. At a basic level, you should truly put the minutes cleaning, polishing and shining those teeth to make not only your mouth, but your whole facial structure, truly glow.

Another thing to consider is orthodontic treatment. While it’s super obvious that braces and other orthodontic treatments affect the look of your teeth, it can also impact the way your face looks. Indeed, an underbite, overbite or crooked teeth can contribute to the shape of your face and its symmetry, causing your cheeks, lips and sometimes chin to look uneven. Reversing this lack of symmetry is a more complete way to face frame than everyday brush ups via make up.

USE JEWELLERY 

Jewellery is another great way to frame your face without the use of makeup, all the way down to your neck and collarbone. A lovely necklace, as well as a good pair of earrings, can make all the difference in how your face looks in the mirror, and when deployed with a lightness of touch, can frame your face in just the right way. 

For example, tragus earrings can be employed to help bring out your cheeks and ears, and give them a cutoff point before your hairline starts. If you have short hair, this is a great technique to harness. Combine this with a drop necklace that helps to lengthen your face shape, and if you’re more of a round or heart shaped face person, people will be tricked into thinking your features are much bolder! 

Colour can bring out your eyes, too. For brown eyes, warm metals like rose gold are brilliant at accentuating them, and chunkier pieces in earthier tones can really highlight dark eyes, too. Purple jewellery is said to be the ideal match for green eyes, with silver and grey also pairing well. For those with blue eyes, orange emphasises their beauty most adeptly. Oh, the possibilities!

WOW WITH GLASSES

Glasses can dramatically change the shape of your face. Choosing a frame that complements the shape of your face is probably the most important decision when selecting new glasses (aside from actually being able to see of course). 

For the most flattering specs for your face, it’s a good idea to figure out the shape of your head. Generally speaking, the shape of your sunglasses should be the opposite shape of your face. For example, if you have a strong jawline and broad forehead, then you’ve probably got a square shaped face so frames with a rounded edge are for you. 

However, if you’ve got a round face shape, go for square frames to add definition. Contrast is king here. The only exception is if you’ve got an oval face shape, then anything goes and you can get away with pretty much any style. Lucky you! If you’re unsure of your face shape then just pop into your opticians as these guys are trained to be conversant in various face shapes and the right glasses to frame them.

THE BOTTOM LINE 

It feels like we’re entering a new era, of wearing less make up and bringing our natural beauty to the fore. If you’re keen to cut down on the cosmetics but still maximise your gorgeous, unique face, then these 5 face framing tricks are a great place to start. We’ll see you on the catwalk!

DON’T LET THE SHORTER DAYS MAKE YOU SAD: 5 WAYS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME

Vicky Clifford Sanghad
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DON’T LET THE SHORTER DAYS MAKE YOU SAD: 5 WAYS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME
5 WAYS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME

Ideal for making the most of daylight hours and the darker days of winter. 

As we round the corner into the final months of the year, it’s been lost on no one that the days are getting shorter and the evenings drawing in with an ever increased enthusiasm. Though there’s often a temptation to declare this an ominous sign of oncoming doom and gloom, we like to think there are some positives, too. 

A chance to show off a whole new winter wardrobe, perhaps? Or, to enjoy Pumpkin Spice guilt-free, and to get ready for cosy evenings in front of the TV with a blanket. There’s something about that crisp chill in the air which is kinda romantic, don’t you think?

That said, the novelty soon wears off. The fact that there are fewer hours of sunlight in the day demands proactivity to keep things bearable. You can expect a jump in your household bills as lights are switched on earlier and the heating needs to be run more regularly. Any little jobs you have been doing outside will need to be done earlier, as light starts to disappear earlier. And the darker evenings have an impact on emotions for a lot of people – it’s going to be harder for some of us to find the enthusiasm that seemed to be on tap all summer long.

It’s a little-known fact that houses in the UK were built to maximise heat, a scarce resource on our shores; that’s why heatwaves can be unbearable. What they often don’t do is maximise another scarce resource; light. And with seasonal affective disorder stirring, it’s a matter of prioritising self care to do what you can to keep your home feeling brighter. Don’t let the shorter days make you sad; here’s 5 ways to brighten your home.

REARRANGE YOUR FURNITURE 

By the middle of December, the sun will be setting shortly before 4pm, having only risen eight hours previously. Come this time of year, we’re all on a carefully-rationed sunshine diet. As such, whilst the sun is up, it’s important to embrace as much light as possible. 

As the season’s change, the way your home performs changes too; rearranging your furniture seasonally to take advantage of natural light is one of the most simple, surefire ways to make the most of the scant sunshine during winter. 

When it comes to moving furniture, as a rule of thumb, you usually want to avoid placing things in front of windows where possible. Doing so blocks out light and can make a room feel dingy. However, if space permits, consider moving your bed, sofa or favourite armchair next to a window so you can bask in any sunlight streaming through the windows. 

If you’re working from home, as so many of us are right now, keep curtains open, crack a window on milder days, and work outside if the weather permits it. Every little helps here.

5 WAYS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME

REDECORATE OR RENOVATE 

Aside from the layout, the physical structure of your home can be changed to maximise light’s potential, too. If you’ve been considering a renovation, look seriously at aluminium bifold doors which allow more light and, when opened, can create an ‘outside, inside’ vibe. Keep them closed when it’s raining, by all means, but more sunlight can only be a good thing when the weather is less inclement.

Or, you could redecorate your home to brighten it up and bring in that much needed lighter feel proactively. White and various off-white shades are more adept at reflecting natural light than darker tones, and as such, a simple lick of paint could make all the difference to your outlook.

REFLECT THE LIGHT WITH MIRRORS 

Mirrors aren’t just for checking your reflection before you head out – they can play a major part in making your home feel more spacious and increasing the feeling of lightness when you need it most. 

Set them up in strategically-chosen areas and a mirror can be a truly beneficial ally against the winter blues. A large ornate glass stretching across the chimney breast will catch and reflect plenty of light. Or, a landscape, widescreen mirror hung on a wall opposite your largest window can make a room double in size, visually. 

Equally, make sure that sightlines around your house are clear and unbroken; Autumn may be a month where clutter is permissible, but don’t let it block out light.

5 WAYS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME

TRY BRIGHTER LIGHT BULBS 

It’s thought that one in three people has some measure of SAD. And for those susceptible to the condition, it is recommended that they sit in front of bright, boxy lamps which can knock out up to 10,000 lumens. 

Replacing all of your lights with these lamps is neither practical nor desirable, but it may be worth replacing your current lightbulbs with brighter LED bulbs. Some of the latest crop of bulbs can produce 5,000 lumens and more, which is bright enough to make a difference. Or, you could invest in a dedicated SAD light, of course; many converts say that an early morning blast of the good stuff, for just a few minutes each day, has had a marked improvement on their seasonal moods.

EMBRACE THE DARK

Ok, so this one may not brighten your home physically, but mentally, your home will seem a brighter, lighter space if you simply embrace the dark months and prime your home accordingly. Shifting your outlook and appreciating everything that the colder months have to offer might be one of the greatest tools in the fight against a bleak Winter, so cosy up, get some cocoa in, and ramp up the comfort levels in the places you spend the most time.

That’s your bed and the sofa, then. Tactile changes make a particularly strong impact; extra throws, rugs, cushions and pillows create that added sense of warmth and comfort which the colder weather and darker days demand. Visually, you can also invest in items that bring that warm ‘glow’ (the Danish have a word for it, we’ve heard) to your house; flickering candles and lamps which give off a golden light both work brilliantly. Hey, we’re in this thing for the long haul, we might as well get comfortable! 

5 WAYS TO BRIGHTEN YOUR HOME

THE BOTTOM LINE 

There’s a lot to love about the darker months, but they can take a toll on the emotions when approached carelessly. Make your home a brighter space now, and you can confidently face down the season with a little added resilience. We’ll see you on the other side.

WEDDING PLANNING 101: IDEAL ELEMENTS IN THE RUN UP TO YOUR BIG DAY

Editorial Team
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WEDDING PLANNING 101: IDEAL ELEMENTS IN THE RUN UP TO YOUR BIG DAY

No, not 101 considerations, though we wouldn’t be surprised if it came to that. Praise the colon, because today we’re talking about just a few of the key ones. 

If you’re planning a wedding, then we don’t have to tell you twice that you have a pretty big task on your hands. Yep, you have a pretty big task on your hands; there are all sorts of different aspects to the big day that you’ll need to plan with precision to make sure your getting hitched goes off without one.

This, of course, can feel like a lot of pressure and it’s not all too surprising that many people get a little overwhelmed at some point or another during the process. Avoid this; every moment of this is meant to be a special time, and even the planning stage can create amazing memories for years to come! 

First and foremost, your planning process should be fun. Second, don’t get burdened with making everything ‘perfect’ and don’t place unnecessary emphasis on tiny details; such stress can lead to post-wedding blues which simply don’t set the tone right for the rest of your life together. This is a day that is about celebrating your love and the lead up to it should be as positive and enjoyable as the event and happily ever after, too. 

So, just the compendious considerations today; our wedding planning 101 and the IDEAL elements in the run up to your big day.

PLANNING SERVICES AVAILABLE TO YOU

Here are some reassuring words; you’re not alone when you’re planning a wedding. Though it might feel like every detail falls on your shoulders from a great height and at terminal velocity, there are whole industries built around weddings and there are countless professionals and services whose sole professional purpose is to help people plan their wedding day. Phew. 

So, take a look at your options and see if any appeal to you. These, in particular, can take a load off:

  • A Wedding Planner – the most commonly used wedding planning service is that of a wedding planner. Clue’s in the title, hey? 

These are people whose entire career revolves around planning weddings. They know the ins and outs of what makes a wedding work and what doesn’t work quite so well. 

They also often tend to have trusted relationships within the industry which they can call on to secure favours and better rates. Of course, their services come at a cost. But if you’re looking to minimise stress around the wedding planning process as much as possible, this could definitely be a justified investment that’s worth making!

  • Online Wedding Planners – if you haven’t considered using an online wedding planner yet, now is definitely the time to look into it. 

This service will highlight all of the key and most common elements of a wedding day and will put you in touch with companies and professionals in the areas you want help sourcing. For example, such a service can guide you to florists, catering companies, venues and much more. This can be incredibly useful, as not only do you get exposure to a wide range of options, but you can easily compare them and get quotes from those you’re most interested in, all in one convenient place. 

In these turbulent times of COVID-19 and its subsequent restrictions, these online services look likely to be increasingly popular as face-to-face meetings are made more difficult by safety measures.

CREATING AN ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST

If you’re worried about missing out on any of the essentials – and by that, we mean the really important stuff which requires arranging well in advance – it’s a good idea to create an essentials checklist. 

This will help you to tick off the things you deem most crucial to your big day going well. Prioritising is the name of the game here. Remember, these things may vary, but here are the essentials:

The Venue

Wedding venues should be one of the first things you decide on, as the choice of location will determine so much of the big day. Once you know your venue, you can create a guest list that the venue can realistically accommodate, you can start planning venue decorations, and you can start planning appropriate outfits. 

Let’s break this thing down. Now, the first big venue related decision you’re likely to make is location. Where do you want to get married? Would you like to stay close to home? Do you want to get married a little further away? Would you consider holding your wedding overseas?  

When deciding on a location, consider whether you want everyone in your life to be able to attend, or whether you’re happy having a smaller and more intimate event. Weddings close-to-home tend to be more accessible for your nearest and dearest who live nearby, whilst hosting one further afield may reduce your guestlist, as not everyone will necessarily be able to afford flights, get time off work or secure childcare. A tactical decision to be made, potentially? 

Of course, right now and for the foreseeable future, COVID restrictions are in place on the size of weddings; currently, guest lists are limited to 15 attendees, but it’s changing with each and every government U-turn. Who knows what will be permitted tomorrow?

Once you’ve chosen a location, you can start looking at venues in this location. There are countless types of wedding venues, but some of the most popular tend to include:

  • Religious venues
  • Manors
  • Hotels
  • Barns
  • Beaches
  • Much more!

Choosing a venue that is used to holding weddings is likely to help your day run more smoothly, as the venue staff will know how to run things. However, don’t let this limit your options. You can get really creative with your venue if you want.

Finally, in regards to venue, you need to consider availability. Many popular venues have waiting lists and whether you secure the venue you’ve set your heart on will depend on whether you’re willing or able to wait or not. If you do want one of these difficult-to secure-venues, make sure to get on the waiting list as soon as possible!

A Cake

A wedding cake is inarguably a traditional element of so many weddings. They date all the way back to the 16th and 17th centuries, originally starting out as “bride pies” rather than cakes. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the plum cakes and fruit cakes with icing sugar that we more commonly associate with weddings rose in popularity.

Now, it’s important to remember that the wedding cake you choose is entirely down to your personal choice. If you like the traditional, tiered fruit cake – great! But if not, you can have quite literally any cake for your big day! For us, it has to be a layered cake of cheese (not a cheesecake, incidentally).

With regards to the price, a number of factors, such as the size of the cake, the complexity of the design, the ingredients used and the demand for the specific cake maker will sway the cost. Remember that you can spend a fortune on the cake if you want, but if you don’t want to, you don’t have to really splurge.

Of course, if you’re looking for perfection, it’s recommended that you do use a professional baker to create your cake. However, you can go DIY and bake your cake yourself if you’re looking to save funds. The cake can be a beautiful centrepiece, but often, many slices are left over at the end of the big day; a bit of a waste if big money has been spent, we think.

Your Outfit

Well, we wouldn’t be doing our job properly unless we redirected you to IDEAL tips on how to choose your perfect wedding dress. We’ve said it all over there, and won’t waste your (or our) time by repeating it here. Click on before you check out!

These are just a few areas to focus on that will help to get your wedding planning process kickstarted. Hopefully, some of the above advice will come in useful for you, so much so that we expect our invite in the post!

THE IMPORTANCE OF DIET: 5 WAYS TO MANAGE WEIGHT WITHOUT THE EXERCISE

Editorial Team
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THE IMPORTANCE OF DIET: 5 WAYS TO MANAGE WEIGHT WITHOUT THE EXERCISE

Many of us are keen to shed a few pounds accumulated during a previous six months defined by banana bread, sourdough and takeaway pizzas. But while the causes listed are dietary, when considering weight loss, so many people’s attention automatically turns to working out. You might be imagining yourself downloading workout apps, watching Joe Wicks videos, signing up for a gym membership or perhaps making your own at home. 

And if you’re keen on building muscle or tone, this is definitely the best way to go about it. But in terms of weight loss, intense exercise can be tough to maintain, and before long, you’re back to square one. What’s more, there are many who simply aren’t able to exercise, due to injury or immobility. Fortunately, for these people, there are solutions.

In fact, as a general rule, it’s been said that a person should apply the rule of 80%/20% in favour of nutrition over exercise to lose weight; it’s actually possible to change one’s body composition through diet alone without exercise. 

With a focus falling firmly on the importance of diet today, here are 5 ways to lose weight without the exercise. 

A DIET PLAN

Not everyone is aware that diet plays a much bigger role than exercise when it comes to losing significant weight. Although exercise benefits are real, they can’t provide you with the results you want if you don’t do it consistently. 

People with a busy lifestyle struggle to lose weight because they don’t have time to go to the gym or do home workouts. On the flip side, many also struggle with weight loss because they don’t have the time to cook healthy, balanced meals every night. For the latter, following diet plans from nutrition experts can be helpful, as they provide you with the right amount of nutrition for every meal. 

If you do have enough hours in the day to cook regularly, then drawing up a meal prep plan each week, and cooking in batches, is a smart move to keep in control of your diet.

KEEP A JOURNAL

Being conscious of what you take in is the first step to changing your diet and losing weight. Keeping a journal or monitoring your weight loss journey is essential as it gives you an idea of how to properly manage the situation. 

Writing down your food intake makes you more aware of how much you’re eating, and what, and the effect those meals are having on your moods and waistline. Taking a few minutes a day to look back at what you had for breakfast, snacks, lunch, and dinner will help you evaluate what you can change with the routine. 

Include your weight in the journal. Keeping track of your weight will be the starkest, most tangible way to identify progress. Being conscious of your weight will make you more aware of what’s happening in your body and direct you to focus on what you need to change to become healthier; that sense bettering yourself each day can really help.  

Joining a weight loss challenge with strangers or friends can keep those competitive spirits high, too. Make sure you note every effort you made in your diary and keep track of the things you need to monitor. 

CHANGE YOUR DIET

You don’t need to do high-intensity exercises every day to lose a significant amount of weight. Changing what you eat is critical to losing weight without the added exertion of regular gym sessions. Here are some of the things you need to do.

  • Focus on nutrition – Being mindful about the food choices you make can help you to focus on eating nutritionally balanced food to ensure your body is getting all the nutrients it needs each day. If you are eating a varied diet, you can remove the need to add supplements to your routine.
  • Eat more protein – Protein is necessary for growth and for developing an efficient metabolism. That doesn’t mean you have to be scoffing down loads of meat, if that’s not your thing. Consider other protein sources like eggs, chia seeds, and tofu. 
  • Incorporate more fibre – This helps in cleaning your digestive tract through regular, erm, flow. Fibre is common in fruits and vegetables, oatmeal and legumes. Fibre slows down digestion, making you feel fuller and preventing constipation. 
  • Try probiotics – Foods with high probiotics help in initiating good digestion. Foods high in probiotics, such as fermented items like yoghurt and kimchi, help the good bacteria in your intestines work to provide you with enough energy to fuel your day. 

DRINK WATER AND CUT SUGARY DRINKS

To lose weight, practice drinking water 30 minutes before your meal. When you drink water before meals, you feel fuller, and this will tell your brain not to eat more than you need. On top of that, cutting back on the sugary drinks is also hugely beneficial for your health; these drinks (soda, synthetic fruit juices…you know the drill) contain high levels of, you guessed it, sugar.

If you do have a craving for that sweetness, prioritise healthier choices like sparkling lemon water, mint tea with honey, or fresh fruits, as these all contain a lesser amount of sugar and calories. 

KEEP A HEALTHY ROUTINE

Maintaining a healthy routine is more than just eating the right food. Sleeping well, raising the heartbeat regularly through exercise or simply walking, and doing things that reduce your stress are all essential in losing weight.  

Poor sleeping patterns, in particular, disrupt your body’s hormones, including the ones affecting your metabolism. When you feel stressed, you don’t sleep well and run the risk of developing insomnia. No one wants that. To reduce stress, you can do light exercise or physical activities like yoga, walking, or spending 15 minutes doing low-intensity workouts.

Though it needn’t necessarily mean a heavy sweating session at the gym, exercise is important and adults should do some type of physical activity every day; in the words of the NHS ‘any activity is better than none, and more is better still’.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Of course, exercise still plays a pivotal role in weight loss, but for those who have never taken well to working, or can’t put in a shift at the gym due to injury of mobility, there are, fortunately, still ways to lose weight. 

WHY IS MY WATER BILL HIGHER THAN NORMAL?

Editorial Team
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WHY IS MY WATER BILL HIGHER THAN NORMAL?

8 reasons your water bill could be steeper than usual.

Looking over your water bill and noticing it is higher than usual can come as a bit of a shock. Suddenly, you’re questioning whether that second bath of the day two months ago was really necessary. You’re left doubting your toilet flushing methods. And you’re calling into question whether your house is one massive leak.

However, try not to panic. As this blog on detecting leaks explains, the cause is often straightforward. You’ve been flushing just fine. Go on, run yourself that bath; you deserve it. Joking aside, if you’re wondering why your water bill is higher than normal and aren’t sure whether you should be contacting your water company, then here are 8 reasons your water bill could be steeper than usual.

YOUR LAST READING WAS AN ESTIMATE 

If the previous reading you provided was an estimate, then chances are that your next bill will be higher than you might normally expect it to be. Should you have just moved into a new property and you’ve thus far failed to provide a meter reading at the beginning, be sure to provide one to the water company as soon as you can.  

NOT CHECKING AVERAGE DAILY USE

Taking averaged, regular readings is better than a yearly, cursory check, as it gives you early warning if there’s a sudden increase in your water usage. In other words, if there’s a leak, which could be costing you money and wasting valuable water, you’ll notice far quicker should you be monitoring unexplained fluctuations in your readings. 

YOU’VE PROVIDED AN INCORRECT BILLING PERIOD 

Have you moved into your home in the last year and either had a meter fitted or provided a reading at that time, on the moving in date? If you haven’t, it could be that the period covered by your bill is shorter or longer than previously. To confirm your billing period is correct, check the front page of your bill and inform your water provider should it be incorrect.

A BUSY HOUSEHOLD

If more people have joined your household, your bill will naturally increase as you’ll be using more water. One person uses, on average, 142 litres of water a day. If you’d like to use less water, consider installing a water-saving product, such as a faucet attachment, which can significantly reduce excess water wastage.

Other green-conscious practices about the home, like switching your washes from 40 degrees to 30, not leaving the tap running when you brush your teeth, and showering for shorter, can all add up to savings, too.

YOU LIVE IN A HARD WATER AREA

As you may know, hard water refers to water that contains higher levels of magnesium and calcium carbonates. But what people might not know is that hard water can actually raise your water bill, leading to more water being needed to properly clean clothes, wash dishes, bathe, shower and more.

This can be exacerbated by hard water’s tendency to decrease water flow in pipes, sometimes leading to plumbing issues and expensive interventions. One way to lessen this blow is to consider water softener installation, which can be a smart solution to prevent hard water.

BE ALERT TO LEAKS

A leak in any part of your system can result in a higher meter reading or bill. A dripping tap alone can waste as much as 21 litres of water a day; crikey! If you think you’ve sprung a leak, there are a couple of things you can check before having to call in a plumber. Do read our article on 5 common lockdown plumbing problems and how to fix them before you do decide to use the services of a professional.

WATERING PLANTS

If you have a large garden and water it frequently over spring and summer, this can result in a higher water bill. Consider using rainwater instead by using a water butt, an alternative to filling your watering can with your outdoor tap. It’s also sensible to avoid using a hose where possible, as they lack precision and are generally considered wasteful.

A NEW APPLIANCE

If you’ve recently had a new boiler installed, your bills might be higher than before. In fact, the task of emptying and refilling the system uses a fair amount of water. Remember, new appliances tend to use more water than older ones, particularly if their capacity is larger. That said, their energy efficiency is almost always better, so don’t let the added units on the water bill put you off buying a new boiler.

HOME RENOVATION

If you’ve recently had work done to your property, you might have experienced a higher water bill. Do be aware that this is only temporary. In particular, plastering or painting is notorious for requiring a large amount of water, not to mention the clean up afterwards! Similarly, building work, landscaping, or having a new lawn put down can result in a higher bill.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If the sound of the postman and the sight of a bill on the hallway floor is enough to give you a panic attack, it might be time to start considering ways to reduce how much you pay for everything. Here’s 4 IDEAL ways to get smaller bills and transform your finances. 

6 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING HIRED

Editorial Team
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6 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING HIRED

Ideal for those looking for a career change in turbulent times.

With news that unemployment is on the rise, particularly among the young, it’s certainly not an understatement to say that looking for work right now can be a time-consuming and disheartening task.

If you’re facing rejection time and time again, you might start to wonder if you’re doing something wrong. In fact, there are many reasons that employers choose to hire certain candidates over others. If it comes down to a matter of experience, the only thing you can do is focus on getting more relevant experience on your CV.  

But if it’s something else that is holding you back, there may be something you can do about it. With that in mind, here are 6 ways to improve your chances of getting hired, IDEAL for those looking for a career change in turbulent times.

GET FEEDBACK ON YOUR CV

A CV is a vital part of the job application process. It’s the first thing that an employer sees, and first impressions count. It’s also an element which in the modern world is so often neglected; a surefire way to leave a candidate on the backfoot from the off. 

It’s important, then, to get the tone and pitch right. Unfortunately, it isn’t always easy to know what is best to include in a CV. Sometimes, we can overload it with too much information that employers don’t care about, or we can include information which doesn’t sell ourselves as the ideal candidate.

Your CV is essential for getting a foot in the door, so if you’re selling yourself short on this important document, you aren’t doing yourself any favours. Ask a friend or trusted colleague for feedback on your CV to find out if you’re missing any important points; we’ve all written one, and some of us have had more success than others.

TAILOR YOUR APPLICATION TO THE ROLE

Though it might take a little bit longer, you should get in the habit of tailoring your application to the role, personalising each and every CV you send out to suit the demands of the job you’re applying for. It might mean you submit fewer applications in the same amount of time, but if these applications are more successful, it’s worth the effort.

It’s hard to blow your own trumpet and make sure you’re selling your best attributes to potential employers, so make sure you’re giving yourself the best possible chance of success. If you’re working with a recruitment consultant, they will be able to help you refine your CV for success. See this guide for more on doing just that.

You can use the same basic CV as a starting point and then tailor the key sectors like your personal statement to the role. Look at the job description to determine the areas you need to focus on.

And sure, it sounds a bit strange to advertise yourself, particularly when interviews are now defined as being a two way process, but in all honesty, that’s what the whole job-seeking process in 2020 is about. Putting your best foot forward, showing your best side…you get the picture. Now paint it. 

When listing your key skills and values, go through the job description of the role you’re applying for and highlight what they want. Make sure you add these into your key skills and core competencies section. Try and give examples to show how you fit the role so they’re assured that you actually live by these values and skills, and not just say you do.

ASK FOR FEEDBACK

If you’re making it to the interview stage and then getting knocked back, firstly, check out our 5 IDEAL tips on what not to do in the interview process. Here, we give pointers on turning up just the right level of prepared, on not pretending to be perfect, on body language, punctuality, and which questions are right (and wrong) to ask in those early stages. Do have a look, once you’ve got to the end of this article, of course! 

Should interview success still not be coming naturally, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask for feedback from those who conducted the Q&A. Many employers will be happy to give you some pointers that will help you to work on your performance for the next interview.

Practicing your interviewing skills with a friend or family member can help you to perform better under pressure, making those quick quips and conscientious responses second nature over time. Your answers will be more relaxed and you’ll be able to focus on impressing the person in front of you.

DIVERSIFY YOUR SKILLSET 

If you’re missing key skills on your CV, think about getting some extra training, not just to tick boxes and fill spaces on paper, but to bolster your genuine, bonafide potential as a candidate, too. Key skills like word processing, dexterity with spreadsheets, coding and collaboration tools are invaluable in so many roles.

Excel courses are widely available and offer a great way to demonstrate your aptitude. In addition, a good grasp of the blockchain, decentralised finance and smart contract syntax will help you gain access to a whole host of Web 3 jobs. Make sure you gain certification from a recognised organisation to help your application stand out.

Also think about demonstrating and nurturing your collection of soft skills, via voluntary ‘off the clock’ networking, and by taking courses in time management and conflict resolution, for instance. Even if you already have these skills, gaining certification will help to reassure employers of what concrete improvements you can bring to the team.

DON’T DISMISS A STOPGAP ROLE

It’s an annoying fact that it’s easier to find work when you’re in work. Employers tend to prefer someone who is already engaged in a role, even if it’s just a stopgap position. This added financial security can also remove some of the pressure faced when looking for work, preventing you from making decisions out of desperation.

When you walk into an interview thinking about your financial obligations and feeling like you “need” to land a role, it can warp your perception and cause you to sell yourself short. On the flip side, being in even a part-time role can help to take away some of this pressure and allow you to focus on the task at hand.

MINDSET RESET

Getting frustrated with your job hunt will reflect poorly in your interview performance, make no mistake. Even if successes seem hard to come by, it’s important to dust yourself down, and approach each day as a new opportunity, wiping the slate clean after each failed interview. 

Every time you don’t get a job, use it as a learning opportunity to figure out what you can do better next time, via feedback, further practice and self evaluation. Maintaining this type of positive mindset will help you to succeed, through both preparation and perseverance. Good luck!


And should you have been successful in your interview after this advice, do check out our 4 IDEAL ways to find job satisfaction to help restore a little balance in your life following such a stressful job search.

5 QUIRKY HERTFORDSHIRE WEDDING VENUES

Editorial Team
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5 QUIRKY HERTFORDSHIRE WEDDING VENUES

Ideal for non-traditional couples looking to inject some fun into their big day.

The English home country of Hertfordshire is consistently named as one of the best places to live in the UK, and it’s easy to see why. With a healthy population, two international airports, plenty of culture and a world famous cathedral, it’s an appealing place to spend time, that’s for sure. 

What’s more, the county boasts England’s first two garden cities, Letchworth and Welwyn, and it’s this dedication to greenery which makes Herforshire so charming. With a large amount of land in Hertfordshire used for agriculture and devoted to green spaces, and those fantastic transport links we already mentioned in place, the county will be simply perfect for hosting your wedding. With that in mind, here are 5 quirky Hertfordshire wedding venues, IDEAL for non-traditional couples looking to inject some fun into their big day.

HENRY MOORE STUDIOS AND GARDENS 

This seventy acre estate is filled with the iconic sculptures of Henry Moore, so you won’t be short of an amazing photo opportunity or two if you choose to host your big day here. Be warned that the Henry Moore Studios and Gardens only holds a limited number of weddings per year, but it’s certainly worth it if you can get in!

You can choose to host your whole wedding day or just the ceremony in either the Aisled Barn or the Dane Tree House. The barn is a larger 16th century space with exposed wooden beams, while the Dane Tree House is smaller and offers panoramic views of the grounds.

You can also choose to put up a tipi or marquee in the grounds if you want to celebrate outside. And trust us, you do want to host things al fresco; weather permitting, of course!

THE LOFT

The Loft in St Albans is perfect for a smaller wedding reception, as it only holds up to fifty guests; intimate as you like and all the better for it, we think! It sits in close proximity to the town’s civil ceremony venues and a host of churches, and it’s positively brimming with exposed beams, ideal for that quaint, rural aesthetic us Brits love.

Their food has received incredibly positive reviews too, so you know that you and your guests will be well-fed. What’s more, they also have a cosy loft bar which is great for photo opportunities, or for you and your new spouse to sneak off for some much needed alone time on the day.

THE GATE

The Gate, in the picturesque town of Chorleywood, is a pub and restaurant, making it perfect if you’re looking to have a wedding that’s not too traditional but still gives a nod to the set and setting of a British countryside affair. Do be aware that you can’t get legally married here, but you can have a blessing there with all of your family and friends watching. What’s more, the Gate has both an indoor and outdoor bar, and they’ll run a barbeque for you, too, so you can have the perfect relaxed day. 

What’s more, Chorleywood has a train station, and the Gate itself has plenty of parking, making everything as convenient as can be for guests. Sounds like the ideal day to us!

HOME FARM

Home Farm doesn’t heavily market itself as a wedding venue, but you could easily have the perfect festival style wedding here if you just set your imagination to it!

Get a marquee up, plant some hand written signs a la Glasto, get in touch with Alive Network to secure yourself a band, and you’re halfway there! The glamping facilities provided at Home Farm are seriously beautiful, and the toilets are proper cabins so you won’t be spending your special day trying not to dip your dress in a long drop. For the couple who have made happy memories in front of the Pyramid Stage or on the hallowed grass of Richfield Avenue, Home Farm is the ideal place to recreate the nostalgia of your past.

BROOK FARM

Another farm to finish with, and another gorgeous outdoor space, Brook Farm, just a couple of miles from historic Ludlow, can be customised in pretty much any way you choose. You could get a glamorous marquee, or opt for something a little more ‘flower child’ feeling with tipis and bales of hay. For those brides-to-be’s looking for alternative wedding dress ideas to match the occasion, check out our article on just that here!

If guests don’t fancy sleeping out under the stars (or the nylon), then Brook Farm has bed and breakfast facilities. There’s also onsite parking and restaurant facilities available; the rest writes itself, don’t you think?

UK STAYCATION TIPS: 5 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON UK TRAVEL

Travel Team
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UK STAYCATION TIPS: 5 WAYS TO SAVE MONEY ON UK TRAVEL

The majority of UK flights are grounded. Conversely, our travel plans are up in the air. We’re quarantined, hesitant and in desperate need of a holiday fix, fixed in the calendar, all at once. A UK staycation, then, is the answer, providing the certainty and security you need from your trip, providing you manage to understand the latest guidelines, that is.

Don’t let the current lockdown limbo put you off having a Government sanctioned adventure. Though you may have heard horror stories about a train journey to Newcastle costing more than a flight to Tokyo (we’re only slightly exaggerating with that one) with a little nous and some seriously savvy planning, a trip to appreciate all that the UK has to offer is within both reach and budget. With that in mind, here are some UK staycation tips; our 5 ways to save money on UK travel.

RAILCARDS 

There’s something rather liberating about leaving the car at home and taking the train. But trains are notoriously expensive in the UK, and the cost is rising, so you’d be wise to look at ways to bring the cost of tickets down if this is your chosen method of transport. 

Fortunately, some train services provide the option of family tickets or discounts for children. And if your children are under the age of five, don’t forget that they can travel for free on the trains, while children between the age of 5 and 15 will save up to 50% on ticket prices. 

There are also railcards available if you’re going to make a habit of train travel in the future, which significantly reduce ticket costs. If you’re a couple heading for a holiday, a two together railcard can save you a third off your train tickets. Over 60s can also save a third with a Seniors Railcard. And on top of the reduction on kid’s fares we already mentioned, a Family & Friends Railcard will grant a further 60% off, with a maximum of 4 adults and 4 children able to travel on one card. Do remember that, for now, the group travelling shouldn’t exceed six.  

BOOK IN ADVANCE, GO OFF PEAK

The difference between peak and off peak travel pricing is out of control. What’s even more surprising is that so many aren’t aware of the savings to be made simply by travelling at certain times. Indeed, according to Trainline, by booking in advance you’ll save an average of 61% on your tickets.

In general, train travel from city to city is considered ‘off peak’ between 9:30am and 4:30pm, and after 7pm, Monday to Friday. You can make further savings by travelling in the ‘super off peak’ time slot of between 10am and 3pm, and after 7:15pm, Monday to Friday. Both these discounts apply for weekends, too. Right now, this is the most COVID-safe way to travel, too, as these are the least busy times. If you’re flexible with your schedule, this is the perfect way to save money on travel, and the good news; in the UK’s major cities, travelcards bought with off peak discounts also apply to buses, trams and other forms of public transport.

COUPONS & CASHBACK SITES 

There are also various reputable cashback coupon sites out there which can significantly help reduce your travel costs, if only you take the time to fill in a few numbers online. With a valid Expedia discount code on website Widilo, for instance, you can gain access to a huge variety of offers, including 50% off London apartments, 20% off stays in York when you book in advance, 40% off places in Eastbourne and many more. 

Alternatively, you can pay with points accrued on various loyalty cards. Schemes run by certain supermarkets or big brands enable you to gain points every time you make a purchase, and these points can be saved up over a period of time and put them towards your travel fees, such as a train or plane journey. 

ON YOUR BIKE 

Hey, a ‘trip’ or ‘travel’ doesn’t necessarily need to mean the accumulation of serious hours and miles on the road, and footprints of the carbon variety. Instead, why not consider travel on two wheels for your next staycation, cycling to your destination and using biking expeditions as the framework for your trip. Doing so will save money, reduce your impact on the environment, and provide you with a great opportunity to appreciate the Great British countryside. We couldn’t imagine anything better, just remember to travel light!

CARPOOL 

While taking the train, coach or bus is far more sustainable for long distance travel in the UK, if your heart really is set on car travel – for convenience or health reasons – then why not consider sharing the journey? 

A more affordable (not to mention sustainable) way to travel on four wheels could see you sharing the journey with a likeminded person or couple also keen on a holiday, preferably from your support bubble to mitigate risk. Blabla Car, Uber, Faxi and Lift Share are just some of the apps out there right now facilitating car pooling and money saving, too.

4 IMPORTANT VITAMINS TO GIVE YOUR PETS AND WHY THEY SHOULD TAKE THEM

Editorial Team
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4 IMPORTANT VITAMINS TO GIVE YOUR PETS AND WHY THEY SHOULD TAKE THEM

Ideal for animal lovers looking to provide the best care possible.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” said the renowned writer, political thinker, and scientist, Benjamin Franklin. And after a cursory Google search to check that an ounce is, indeed, lighter than a pound, we can use these wise words going forward when considering not only the health of humans, but also of our beloved pets.

Today, we’re using the lessons encapsulated within this message in the name of proper pet health. Preventing issues with your animal companion’s wellbeing all starts with a daily dose of the right vitamins, we think. With that in mind, here are 4 important vitamins to give your pets and why they should take them, IDEAL for animal lovers looking to provide the best care possible.

1. B VITAMINS

B vitamins are the building blocks of your pet’s continued, sustainable wellbeing. Vitamins B-1 through B-7, along with B-9 and B-12, promote numerous health benefits to animals and should be a part of your pet’s diet. 

In particular, a dog needs these vitamins for various reasons. Here’s a quick overview of some of the B vitamins and why you should give them to your furry, four-legged friend:

  • Thiamine: Helps to regulate carbohydrate and energy metabolism. 
  • Vitamin B-12: Also called riboflavin, B-12 helps facilitate the dog’s normal enzyme function. 
  • Vitamin B-6: This vitamin is responsible for glucose (sugar) generation. It’s also accountable for other physiological functions, including hormone regulation, immune system response, and red blood cell roles. 
  • Vitamin B-5: Also called pantothenic acid, this vitamin helps maintain normal energy metabolism in your pup’s body. 
  • Vitamin B-9: B-9, or folic acid, helps in amino acid and nucleotide metabolism. 

Although B vitamins are essential to a pet’s health, it can be difficult to regulate the correct amounts for your animal companion. According to the Pet Honesty blog post, incorrect vitamin B administration may lead to discomfort or even an adverse reaction. Therefore, it’s absolutely essential that you consult your veterinarian first to find out the optimum amounts of B vitamins for your pet. 

The good news is that dogs fed a diet rich in meat, fish, and offal, or a good commercial product, get plenty of vitamin B from their food. As the experts over ay Lively Paws points out ” A dog bouncing with good health that produces normal poop does not need a vitamin B supplement. These fur friends get everything they need from food (with a helping paw from friendly gut bacteria, which makes small amounts of B vitamins). But there are some dogs that will benefit from a B vitamin supplement”.

2. VITAMIN A

Vitamin A plays a vital role in supporting the development, quality of life, and wellbeing of different animal species. The absence or lack of this vitamin in an animal’s daily diet may lead to illness, and failure to rectify this deficiency can lead to serious complications. 

On the flip side, provide ample amounts of vitamin A to your pet, and this nutrient may help improve different physiological components in animals. Administer the correct amounts of this vitamin and you’ll help maintain the animal’s vision, inflammation response, and immune system functions, particularly. 

It should be noted that cats and dogs, although the most common type of pets, aren’t the only domestic animals needing vitamin A in their daily diet. Other animals, such as chickens, also need this nutriment. 

Consider using the correct feed to deliver sufficient amounts of vitamin A to your pet chickens. This vitamin helps normalise the birds’ mucus-producing glands, like those in the eyelids, nose, and oesophagus. 

You’ll know if your pet chickens are vitamin A deficient if you see certain symptoms, including:

  • Difficulty in swallowing food
  • Accumulation of a ‘cheesy’ or ‘crusty’ material in the eyelids and nostrils
  • Organ failure
  • Drop in egg production for hens
  • Drop in egg hatchability

Aside from feeding your chickens with vitamin A-enriched feed, you may also use organic, natural vehicles to help provide the required amount of this nutrient to the birds, in the form of their diet. Leafy greens, including spinach, arugula, and endive, are rich in this vitamin; consider adding them to your bird’s feed.  

3. VITAMIN C

Also called ascorbic acid, vitamin C plays a vital role in wound healing, collagen production, and dopamine creation, to name but a few benefits. It is important, however, to note that some animal species require more of this nutrient than others. 

One creature that comes to mind is the guinea pig. Vitamin C for guinea pigs is vital as these relatively small pets tend to be susceptible to scurvy, an illness caused by vitamin C deficiency. This health concern may also lead to other issues, like anaemia, fatigue, and bleeding, if left untreated. 

As a general rule, feed guinea pigs between 10 and 30 mg of vitamin A per day. However, nursing, pregnant, and sick guinea pigs may need more than those amounts. Again, it’s also sensible to consult with a vet prior to making big changes to your pet’s diet.

You can find various guinea pig pellets on the market that are rich in vitamin C. However, the components of this nutriment tend to be unstable, and may degrade over extended periods. Proper storage helps prevent this vitamin’s quick deterioration. Therefore, always remember to place the pellets in cool, dark places to preserve this nutriment’s efficacy. 

4. VITAMIN D

Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for several animal species, including cats and dogs. This nutrient helps regulate your pet’s calcium and phosphorus retention, with calcium helping to maintain strong bones whereas phosphorus is vital for protein synthesis. 

Do be aware that unlike other vitamins, it’s fairly simple to give your animal companions sufficient amounts of vitamin D naturally via sunlight exposure.

However, there are times when getting outside might not be feasible, or, your pet might not enjoy sufficient sunlight exposure. Perhaps you and your pet need to stay indoors for extended periods (a bit of a theme of 2020, hey?) or your animal recently came back from being cooped up in a veterinary clinic for days? Nonetheless, you can supplement the animal’s lack of vitamin D by providing supplements or making certain dietary decisions:

Some foods that tend to be vitamin-rich are:

  • Fish
  • Meat
  • Egg
  • Cheese and other dairy products

However, providing too much vitamin D can cause adverse reactions in pets. Some of the symptoms you need to check for are lack of appetite, increased urination, and significant weight loss in short periods. 

Don’t hesitate to contact your veterinarian if you see these signs. The animal expert can evaluate these symptoms and provide the correct advice for solutions moving forward. In such situations, don’t attempt to offer drugs for vitamin D deficiency to your pet if you don’t have enough knowledge about providing correct animal treatments; you run the risk of further complicating the issue.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Vitamins A, C, and D are essential nutrients for different animal species, with B vitamins particularly important for dogs. Do remember to always consult a veterinarian if you’re unsure how to administer the correct dose of these vitamins to reduce potential side effects. 

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