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What Are the Causes of Brain Fog?

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If you notice that your memory isn’t as sharp as before, or that you find it hard to focus on your tasks, those might be signs of brain fog. To put it simply, brain fog occurs when you already have difficulty thinking clearly every day. The thing is, there can be many causes of brain fog. Here are some of them.

1. Lack of sleep

It’s already common for many working Singaporeans to not have enough sleep. Though you can say you’re used to it, there will come a time when you’ll definitely experience brain fog because of lack of sleep. Sleep gives our brain some much-needed time to rest. It also helps the cells and muscles tissues all around our body to recover. Sleep is a natural need for humans, so don’t take it for granted.

2. Too much stress

It’s already obvious that too much stress affects us negatively. That’s why it’s one of the main causes of brain fog. The thing about stress is that it slowly builds up and affects our mental health, and sometimes we don’t even notice. When we experience stress too often, our thoughts will be all messed up and we’ll have difficulty getting ideas. That means our creativity and productivity will be affected.  

3. Having an unhealthy diet

Eating too much unhealthy food and not drinking enough water can also be causes of brain fog. Usually, when we talk about healthy food, we think about it in the physical aspect. For example, it’s to help you lose or maintain weight. But eating healthy actually has a greater impact on our minds. So, try to avoid food with too much sugar, junk food, processed food, and the like.

4. Spikes in hormones

Hormonal fluctuations can be caused by many things and one of the most common is stress. Hormonal changes can affect our mood and our brain overall, this is why too much stress can be very detrimental. Another cause of hormonal changes that’s not exactly bad is pregnancy. To put it simply, pregnancy can change a lot of things in the woman’s body. If you notice, some mothers have difficulty remembering things sometimes. This may be a small sign of brain fog caused by the hormonal changes.

5. Certain medications

There are prescription medications that actually have side effects. Surely, your doctors will tell you about these though. Some pain relief drugs and hypertension medications, for example, can affect the brain in a certain way. Although it’s nothing big to worry about, it can cause brain fog in the long-term. As long as your doctor says it’s fine, then don’t worry too much about it.

How to Motivate Lazy People to Clean their Mess

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Living at home with a messy person is a constant struggle for those who love to clean after themselves. It’s not like you can throw them out or tell them to find another home. How do you motivate someone not to be messy even if they would rather do nothing all day?

Talk About It and Compromise

Sit down and talk about the problem calmly, because when you keep nagging the person, the effect is usually the opposite of what you intended. Ignoring the problem will also not solve it, that is why you should talk agreeing on a solution that will be the most beneficial to you both. This can be especially stressful if you’re living with a friend or a schoolmate, so be sure to make the person understand what you want from him/her without resorting to insults.

Define Your Expectations

Maybe your roommate is just lazy at organizing his/her stuff but is not necessarily dirty. The latter can mean that the person does not clean up leftover food or does not pick up his/her trash. A messy person still tries to keep his/her stuff neat, but does not make an effort to organize them properly. If the person is just messy, then there is still hope, but if he/she is dirty, then you need to emphasize why he/she needs to clean up the mess because it could cause diseases, attract vermin, and produce bad odors. A person will not change overnight just because you’re irritated, so you need to be realistic about what changes you want to see.

Define Boundaries and Respect Space

If you cannot stand the mess in your shared bedroom, then maybe it’s time to move out of the room. The simple solution sometimes is just to walk away from difficult people. But if he/she is willing to compromise, then you should also respect his/her space. Maybe the person will feel guilty once he/she finally sees the differences in how you organize your things. Don’t force yourself to clean up after their mess, because that’s not your job.

Set Up a Schedule and Point Out Examples

If the person agrees to help you with the cleaning chores, then you need to set up a schedule to divide the work. Don’t expect him/her to transform into a cleaning machine overnight, because that will not happen. Instead, inspire him/her to form a habit of cleaning until it becomes second-nature to him/her. If the inspirational talk and pictures of a clean room versus a messy room do not work, however, make your roommate watch an episode of Hoarders or other reality shows about dirty houses. Maybe they will change their mind about piling their clothes on the chairs next time.

5 ways for introverts to recharge

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We often hear people tell us that we need time to go out, spend time with friends and simply unwind. This may be a good piece of advice if you’re an extrovert waiting to just let go of all your worries and have a good time. But for introverts, doing all these doesn’t do the trick for you. What’s even more sad is you get even more stressed because of all these! People, noise and activity seem to drain you of psychological energy. So after a long day at work, you want to just recharge and replenish your psyche.

But how else do you do that when you rarely want to go out?

Here’s a few tips to help introverts recharge and effectively unwind:

1. Books are effective escape
Fiction is a good way for introverts to unwind, especially in print. They don’t have as much stimulus as movies or TV shows have, so introverts don’t cringe when the scene escalates. They can go in their own pace, splurging in a good percentage of the book at any one time or just browsing a page or two in between tasks. They provide a good refuge as introverts try to regain their very valuable psychological energy.

2. Movies and TV shows are actually good company
If you’re looking for a minimal amount of stimulation from selected few people, then movie or TV shows could do the trick for you. Watching stories unfold as if you’re in the scene as a spectator could really distract you from all the people-exhaustion you feel. What’s even good is you can turn down the volume, unlike with real-life people.

3. Let go of the conventional
By this point, you should have let go of all your stereotypical idealism – that what works for everyone might one day work for you. A trip to the spa, a full-body massage, appointments for facials, hanging out at bars, stay-overs and the like rarely work for you, if at all. So you might want to finally let go of that hope, if not loosen up a bit. It won’t hurt to give it a try once in a while, but don’t force yourself to crave for it as much as everybody else does.

4. Look for what suits you
If you crave for that next crossword puzzle, sudoku or just a few pages’ progress in your novel while having breakfast every morning, then continue doing it. Crazy happy moods start in the morning or even before you to bed at night, and being an introvert that doesn’t happen often. So stick to activities that do that for you.

5. Have close intervals
In between recharging times, you should establish patterns of having them. And one simple trick is to keep them close to each other so you won’t use up what little you have left.

5 Makeup Shopping Mistakes to Avoid

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We’ve all been there before. Getting overly excited to use your newly-bought makeup, only to find out that you bought the wrong shade, or a product that’s too watery to even go smoothly on your skin. It’s really frustrating and disappointing, right? But sulk no more. We listed down five of the common makeup shopping mistakes that you should watch out for the next time you buy your makeup goodies.

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  1. Sampling Foundation under Artificial Light. While it may seem fine, sampling your foundation under the fluorescent light will only cause you to buy a foundation shade that doesn’t match your skin tone. Instead, apply your foundation in your neck area and examine it under natural light. If you want, you can also let it set on your skin for a couple of minutes then check whether or not the shade matches your skin tone.
  1. Testing Products at the Back of Your Hand. Although swiping a lipstick on the back of your hand will give you an idea on its pigmentation and finish, it still won’t show you how it will look like once you swipe it on your lips. The right way to do it is to have the lipstick tube disinfected first, then swipe it over your lips. If you want, you can also bring your own lip brush and apply it on your lips. The same thing goes for testing your foundation.
  1. Buying the Largest Product Size. If you’re only repurchasing a trusty beauty product, then it’s fine. If you’re trying out a new product though, we suggest that you stick with the product’s smallest available size first. You should know that makeup isn’t cheap, so make sure that you’ve assessed the product well enough before purchasing its biggest size or in bulk. If a free sample is available, then don’t hesitate to try that one out first.getty_rf_photo_of_woman_shopping_for_makeup
  1. Failing to Do Some Product Research. Just like in buying a new phone, you should also perform some research on the makeup product that you’ll be purchasing for the first time. Read some reviews on trusted sites, and see how the product worked for them as this will also give you an idea as to what kind of results you might get.
  1. Ignoring the Ingredients List. If you want to keep your skin smooth and youthful, then we suggest that you don’t commit this mistake ever again. Be always on the lookout for products that list alcohol, paraben, petroleum and artificial dyes as their ingredients, since these chemicals may cause some harm on your skin. So do your skin a huge favour and make it a habit to read on the label of each product.

Committing these mistakes can be quite easy to forget especially when you’re in the rush of buying a new product. But that’s just not an enough excuse to not shop wisely when doing your makeup purchases. So the next time you shop for an old or new makeup product, ensure that you’ll shop smart so that you’ll also get what you’re paying for.

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5 Everyday Habits That Make You Age Faster  

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Are you still in your late 20s or early 30s and start seeing wrinkles on your face or feeling easily drained out halfway through your day? If you don’t like what you’re experiencing, it may be the time to evaluate your everyday routine.

Beauty Concept Skin Aging. Anti-aging Procedures, Rejuvenation,

The food you eat, the things you do, and even the way you sleep can affect your body’s aging process. To reverse this, here are the age-accelerating activities to avoid.

  1. Multitasking

Multitasking is good at some point, but most of the time not. Doing several things at once creates more pressure and stress, therefore triggering your system to release more free radical—the molecules in the body responsible for aging. A better and healthier option for you is to concentrate on one task at a time.

  1. Prolonged Sitting

Studies show that people who spend most of their day sitting have higher risk for cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, cancer, and obesity. If your work requires you to stay at your desk for eight straight hours, squeeze in some time for exercises or go to the gym at least thrice a week to sweat and stretch those muscles out.

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  1. Slouching

Slouching in front of the computer for hours can cause your spine to form a hunched posture overtime. Poor posture hampers the spine from maintaining its normal alignment, thus abnormally stressing the disks, muscles, and bones. Practice good body posture by making sure that your ear, shoulder, and hip are aligned when seated.

  1. Not Using Sunscreen

Driving, gardening, running errands, and walking your dog on a daily basis actually cause more damage to your skin than spending a day at the beach. Keep in mind that the number one reason for premature wrinkles is ultraviolet exposure. Therefore, it’s essential to make applying sunscreen a part of your beauty regimen every single day to maintain a youthful looking skin.

  1. Not Getting Enough Sleep

Skimping on sleep doesn’t only result in dark eye bags, but it’s also linked to shorter lifespan. Sleeping for at least seven hours is recommended. However, if you see signs of sleep deprivation (e.g. mental sluggishness, weight gain, attention problems, lack of daytime energy), make sure to go to bed earlier.

Those are just some of our daily habits that can age us much faster. If you want to look and feel younger than your age, then you know what to do.

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