HOW TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS US (PART 2) Continuing on our series of looking at various aspects of how technology affects us in our everyday life.

Technology and your mind – in a study from the University of Michigan, the more college-aged adults used Facebook, the worse they felt!,,,social media use led to a decline in happiness and overall life satisfaction. 

Another study from the University of Oregon found that heavy media multitaskers had difficulty switching between tasks and were more likely to become distracted while working.  This can result in numerous errors causing more time to be wasted having to go back over tasks to make corrections.

Solution? – try to find ways to build relationships, do work and spend time offline.  Consider taking a break from your social media accounts for a short length of time or at least dedicating one day a week as web-free! To also help clear your mind; call a friend to chat, go for a walk, have a bite to eat, or perhaps make an appointment with them at your local day spa for a massage, sauna, manicure, pedicure or facial – your body and most important – your mind – will thank you for it!   

HOW TECHNOLOGY AFFECTS US (PART 1)  Phones, television, social media and video games…over the next three weeks we will be looking at various aspects of how technology affects us in our everyday life.

Technology and your body – whether caused by tapping out texts or typing away at a computer, tendinitis and carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to pain and numbness in your hands.  According to the Neuro and Spine Surgery journal, when you tilt your head 60 degrees to read your smartphone, you’re adding an additional 60 pounds of pressure to your neck!

Additionally, according to USA Today, almost 70% of Americans say they have experienced some symptoms of digital eyestrain, including blurry vision or headaches. Several studies have also shown cell phones carry thousands of bacteria, potentially spreading common infections.

Solution? – to protect yourself from germs wipe down your phone and other touchscreen devices with a disinfecting wipe on a regular basis. Take frequent breaks when using technology, including smartphones, computer, tablets, TVs and video games. To soothe and loosen those muscles in your upper back, neck, shoulder and arms, call your local day spa and book a massage appointment. Tell the therapist exactly what’s going on and they will be able to work everything out for you.  Be aware of what’s happening to your body – don’t let technology get the better of you! 

CHILLY WEATHER IS HERE!  

Yes, Fall is here in all it’s glory bringing with it football, tailgating, changing of the leaves to gorgeous shades of red, yellow and orange, picking out pumpkins, dressing up for Halloween and…chilly weather!

It’s the kind of weather along with rain that can chill you right to your bones.  Hot apple cider and pumpkin lattes are great for taking off that chill but there is also something else you might want to check out.  A Far Infrared sauna can do wonders for warming you up and definitely chasing away that chill.  The heat from this type sauna penetrates deeply into your muscle tissues and along with sweating, is thought to be responsible for the healing effects and the other health benefits associated with infrared rays…natural pain relief, relief of muscle spasms, increase of circulation, decrease of joint stiffness, and relaxation.  

Give your local day spa a call and make an appointment for an infrared sauna and while you’re doing that, make one too for a massage before the sauna…you will love it and so will your body!   

Stress in the workplace!

Feeling overwhelmed at work? Too much to do and not enough hours in the day? Appointments not running on time - thereby throwing off the day's schedule? Wish you had four hands at times to get all the day's tasks done? Not appreciated for all the work you do? Snapping at friends and family after work? 

Well...you're not alone! Stress in the workplace can reach epic levels and stays with you even after you've left work for day. Trying to get a handle on it before it gets out of hand is in itself stressful! What to do?

A few things to keep in mind before heading out to work and during the day; start with a good protein and fiber filled breakfast to stave off hunger pains; mentally go over what tasks have to be done and write them down in order of importance; take a few minutes break each hour by getting up from your desk/computer and walking around to clear your head; do not eat lunch at your desk and try to go outside for a quick walk; leave all problems associated with your job at your job when you are done for the day!

Stress also worsens any kind of muscle aches in your back, neck and shoulder areas so give your local day spa a call and make an appointment for a therapeutic massage. You will leave feeling much more relaxed and stress free!

Fall is here!

Yes, even though it's sad to say goodbye to the lazy, hazy, hot days of Summer, it's nice to welcome the cooler blue skies and brisk weather of Fall. It's a time for football, tailgates, pumpkins, ghosts, and goblins. 

But...it's also time for raking those falling leaves, getting your garden beds ready for the colder weather, and going for longer walks and runs. Which means sore and achey backs, necks, and shoulders, and tired legs.

Give your local day spa a call and book an appointment for a soothing, relaxing, and therapeutic massage to get all those kinks out and after that massage, give yourself a treat with a session in the sauna. The heat will enhance the benefits from the massage and relax you so that you will get the best night's sleep ever! Your body will say..thank you!!

Adult/Teenage Acne...

Did you know that acne is the most common skin disorder in the U.S., affecting approximately 40 to 50 million Americans? According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne is not restricted to any age group and in fact, adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s can develop acne. 

Teens with excessively oily skin often develop blemishes in the T-zone and over the entire face. Adult acne, however, tends to appear on the chin, jaw, neck, back, and shoulders because of stress and hormonal fluctuations and can flare up on either combination or oily skin. Adult acne also differs from teenage acne in that it can be more persistent and susceptible to scarring, as aging skin loses its ability to easily repair and regenerate, and is also more prevalent in women, while teenage breakouts seem to be equally common in girls and boys. 

Seeing a dermatologist in conjunction with a professional esthetician will insure a proper treatment regimen that will be most effective and beneficial for your skin. A few important things to remember between appointments..

• Wash face twice a day and after sweating.
• Use fingertips to apply a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser. Do not use a washcloth, mesh sponge, or products such as astringents, toners, and exfoliants that can irritate the skin.
• Let skin heal naturally. Do not pick, pop, or squeeze blemishes as it will take skin longer to clear and will increase their risk of scarring.

Check in with your local day spa and make an appointment with an esthetician to have a skin analysis to insure the best possible facial treatment for your skin.

Good Snacking!

Stress and fatigue are notorious triggers for bad-food binges. That's why many of us grab chips or cookies and mindlessly devour them while multitasking. The problem is that stress causes chronic brain inflammation, and processed foods like cookies, sodas, and cakes only add fuel to the inflammation fire. They speed up brain cell destruction from stress, resulting in memory decline. 

If your workplace (or your home) is stocked with cookies, sodas, candies, and chips, of course you'll reach for them when stress hits. The remedy is to plan ahead. Bring your own healthy snacks...those that build memory capacity, improve physiological brain balance, help you perform complex mental tasks, reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety, and keep you focused...and eat them instead. 

Try an apple or banana with a handful of almonds or walnuts. Bananas are a quick source of glucose and potassium, and potassium improves physiological brain balance. Cottage cheese or yogurt are another good options because they include protein that's been shown to remove symptoms of stress and improve cognitive function. Bring a container of celery, carrots, and broccoli with organic almond butter for dipping for extra boost of protein. Finally, you can top anything with almonds, which improve cognition and memory.

And after all these good snacks, give yourself a reward for staying healthy and call your local day spa and book yourself an appointment for a mani/pedi, facial, massage, scrub, or whatever service you like...you deserve it and Happy Good Snacking!