10 simple skin and hair care tips this monsoon!

The weather is substantially changing, and we all know these changes lead to bad skin, frizzy and unmanageable hair. Those living in humid regions understand it better. Some of the most common problems we face are sudden shifts in the texture of the skin and unwanted breakouts. Our skin magnetically attracts dirt and moisture from the atmosphere.

At first it's hard to understand, and sad, too, but it's true, monsoon is no party time for your hair! And especially for those who worship the wet hair look, I have some bad news. Monsoon brings hair problems in abundance. Acid rain, dirty rainwater and persistent humidity do no good to your skin and hair. Here are a few tips to keep yourself spick and span this monsoon.

Skin Care

1) An important tip to remember is that, no matter how pleasant the weather is, the Sun is still hidden behind the clouds! So don't ever leave home without a sunscreen lotion!

2)  Drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water a day should be an absolute essential in your list. No matter what season it is, this holy grail of drinks will keep you hydrated throughout the day and also give you beautiful, glowing skin.

3) Monsoon in most regions brings humidity, which makes skin sticky and prone to attracting dirt, which in turn causes breakouts. Washing your face from time to time will eliminate dirt from your skin, leaving it soft and dirt free.

4) The three step process of cleansing, toning and moisturizing should be done twice a day depending on your type of skin. You can use papaya as a cleanser for oily skin and an even mixture of banana-honey-crystallized sugar for dry skin.

5) Buttermilk works wonders as a moisturizer for all skin types as it retains the natural oils of the skin giving it the perfect balance it needs. Applying buttermilk on your skin can also get rid of tanning and acne scars.

Hair Care

1) Wash your hair twice a week during this season, and do NOT get out in the rain because the water is, *nodnod* dirty! If you're walking in the light drizzle outside, make it a point to come back home and take a nice and warm bath!

2) You might be having a bad hair day but trust me that's because of the weather, and styling them wouldn't make it any better. If you like short hair, you can keep them clean, trimmed and maintained during this season.

3) Oil 'em up! There are a variety of hair oils in the market but my favorite is olive oil. Pick your favorite one, and don't delay in going in for a warm oil massage. An oil massage can make your hair stronger and less prone to frizz.

4) Proteins are a must for beautiful and strong hair. Since monsoon is a season when you might unknowingly about 150-200 strands of hair everyday, your proteins will help them stay strong. Take Vitamin B 12 supplements to maintain strong and healthy hair!

5) Do not tie your hair when it's wet. It can build dandruff and make your hair sensitive to breakage.

Stay Healthy!

Stay Happy!

PS - If you like this post please let others know and share it on your Facebook and Twitter pages. :) :)

How anger(wrath), the deadly sin, is really deadly

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned." - Buddha

As children, we express our anger by shouting, screaming, running around and throwing things. However, when we grow older, these same acts are called violent. It is then thoroughly advised that we keep our anger "under control". 

What does it mean to keep your anger "under control"?

Crying is the first step of anger which happens to everyone as an infant. In a year or two, it converts into throwing our toys at each other. Children fear parents, who condition them to keep their anger "under control". It isn't easy or even remotely practical to apply it to our routines. And that's when the anger begins building up in our bodies and destroying us.

When we are being asked to restrict our anger, we think it means to swallow it and store it in our brain for years. A small section of our brain is then devoted to the negative things people have "done to us" that we need to remember for years to come. It spreads like a virus in our brains and we begin to judge different human being by taking the wrong ones as a base.

Holding grudges pause the anger inside us. And after years of remorse either we finally let it off our chests or we take an unfavorable action. However, there's an added quality to anger. It may actually help us take decisions that we usually hesitate to take out of the fear of society or peer pressure, and especially if we are weak decision makers. 

In the long run, being "an angry person" can weaken our immune system and lead to a variety of problems :

The effects of anger on our health

Unmanageable anger can cause a number of troubles to our immune system and lead to a hormonal disbalance. 

It can also cause - 

• Ingestion
• Insomnia
• Depression
• Headaches
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• High Blood Pressure
• Skin Problems

Some of us begin to rely on food when we get angry. These are all the wrong ways of letting anger out, because as Buddha said, in the end, our anger destroys us. A study from University of Ohio suggests that men and women who have anger issues usually take time for healing minor wounds. 

So then, what do we do when we get angry?

There are healthier ways to express anger, provided they are practiced regularly - 

It's important to accept that anger is a part of life and happens to everyone. Once we accept that, it's easier to deal with our anger issues.

Meditating is a gift given to us by our ancestors, it should not be taken for granted. Researches have shown that regular meditation makes us calmer people.

Anger can be converted into positive energy by playing a sport, going out for a jog or dancing.

And slowly, the anger will dissolve! The world needs happy people.

If you liked what you read, please share the post on Facebook and Twitter. :) :)

Stay Happy.

Stay Healthy.

Are you a Sheep in the Cattle?

A clustered cattle of strong, tall, brown, white and black. I saw it from a far but couldn't tell any of them apart. It appeared to me, to be, a huge chunk of aimlessly walking bodies.

Is there a Sheep in the cattle? I wouldn't know. You tell me. Were you a part of it? Are you still?

Discover yourself.

Take some time out for yourself and think. Rebuild faith in yourself. No God, and no self-help book, not your parents, or your friends, no one in the world can help you discover the Sheep. Except you. We let people take control over our minds and decide our big life decisions for us. We feel strong at first, and believe that it is impossible for us to be shaken by their determination to take decisions for us. This is what usually happens when we do not realize our own worth.

Every human being is a masterpiece. They need to discover themselves, find who they are outside of a "couple", a "family", a "friend circle", a "job", "a degree", "a society". These classifications alter the human mind into believing what each of these sects claim for them to believe.

And this belief, makes the internal self-belief disappear somewhere. Because no matter what you do, and where you go, you carry their beliefs with you. Our job here is to find that person who has disappeared in these troops. The strong cattle is keeping you from the outer world.

The escape isn't easy, but it isn't impossible. It's going to bring you some complexities, but it's going to help you discover yourself.

1) Spend time with yourself

Identify who you are when you are not around anyone. Do you love your own company? What do you think about? What do you want to change in the world? How can you change your own life? Spending time with your spiritual side will give you more insight than any of your "sources" can. When you spend time with people, you invest your trust in them. When you take yourself out on a spiritual spree, you invest trust in yourself.

2)  Take Charge

Don't let anyone, and I mean ANYONE rule your mind. Take no bullshit. And set a clear goal in your head of what you want. If there's something you feel you should do, do it. Don't delay. Your life is a gift, and it only belongs to you. You might say your life is miserable, or your life is very interesting, either way you're right.

3) For the sake of yourself, stop procrastinating

You are never going to do it tomorrow. It needs to be done today. As cliched it might sound, it stands as a truth that Tomorrow never comes. It's not written in the "cards" for you. It's not your "destiny". Sitting back and fighting matches with yourself in your head about if it's going to work out or not, will kill time further. Buckle up. There's no time to think!

4) Get to work

How are you going to get back on the ground? Do you have a plan? If yes, great. If no, repeat from step 1.

5) Stop listening to others

They will never stop disheartening you, they will always feel "it's not meant for you", or "It's too tough for you", or "you don't deserve it."
Shut them up. It's your life. You're the one who is working, and know that no one can stop you from reaching your goal.

6) Have faith in yourself

If you have successfully cleared the first five steps, this one sounds fairly easy, but is the most difficult step. There will be times when you will fall, and things will go wrong, but you can't afford to give up. When you have faith, even the most difficult things in the world seem the easiest. Faith will bring back your lost passion and your will to set yourself apart from the rest.

You will bounce back much higher.

Keep the search on. I hope you discover  yourself.

7 ridiculously simple and fun steps that will make you lose weight quicker!

Statistically, one in every five persons experience unwanted fat that makes them cringe. Following a daily regime to cut down calories is not a piece of cake ( heck, if it was, we'd eat it all right away!). So here I am, sincerely contributing towards helping you lose weight while having fun.

1) Eat foods that make you happy 

It's pretty simple, we all have some favorite foods that go in the ALERT zone, and also some delights that can be eaten while trying to lose the flab. It's easier to avoid junk food if you have a delicious list of meals to add to your list. (You can add your favorite diet foods down in the comments section!)

       a) Dark Chocolate - Tempting, isn't it? With relatively low content of sugar, Dark Chocolate actually helps you lose weight! It's not usually that "fat" that makes you gain pounds, it's the wrong kind of fat. The healthy fats will do exactly the opposite. Not only is this mouth-watering delight loaded with vitamins and minerals, it also helps to keep your heart healthy! So cut down on those scrumptious milk chocolates and truffles and add this beauty to your foods!

       b) Eggs - They can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner and they will not stuff more flab in your body. You can scramble em, make the traditional Indian egg curry or go for the classic omelette, eggs are rich in protein and keep you from putting on weight (that doesn't mean you can add cheese to that omelette!)

       c) Almonds - Almonds are hands down, a superfood for weight loss. I know about those stories you have heard, yes, the ones that say almonds make you gain weight. They don't. Start your day with a few almonds that have been soaked overnight. Peel off their protective brown skin and munch on the nuts. Almonds accelerate weight loss, as they help increase your metabolism.

       d) Fruits - Apples, watermelon, melon, oranges, pomegranate are fruits that are delicious and make you lose weight at the same time. They are rich in fiber and thus cleanse your digestive system.

2) Drink lots of water

I can't stress how important it is to drink water as much as you can! At least eight to ten glasses of water a day, are absolutely essential. There's enough for everyone, you know! Make a target of emptying three 1 ltr. water bottles in a day, at the least. Water flushes out the toxins of our body and also speeds up the weight loss process. There's a reason why water is the best gift of life. ;)

3) Skip rope

Not a fan of exercising? No problem. Add fifteen minutes of rope skipping to your daily routine, and do it without further ado. It works as a great cardio (avoid if you have a back problem) and rapidly builds up stamina. It's a fun exercise and makes weight loss easier.

4) Perform Pranayama

After you're done skipping the rope, take out some time for these simple breathing exercises. Pranayama helps in losing weight at a fast pace, and is great for the heart, lungs, mental peace and skin. There are more benefits of pranayama than you can even begin to count! [performed empty stomach]

5)  ...And some Surya Namaskara

Surya Namaskara ( Salutation to the Sun) is a twelve step salutation to the Sun which is usually performed empty stomach and early morning. Not only does Surya Namaskara help you reduce weight, it also tones up the body shape. Surya Namaskara is very beneficial for those who have a persisting back pain ( those with serious back problems should perform Surya Namaskara under guidance). This exercise is an all rounder of weight loss. It helps you lose weight from any and everywhere. Just make sure you do it right!

6) Dance!

Yes! It's that simple! Time to go crazy, and to unleash that crazy dancing superstar in you that you only see on television. Do it as a daily routine and you will see yourself shedding those extra pounds fast and steady!

7) Have unwavering Determination

There's nothing in the world that can stop you from losing weight if you are determined to lose it! Finish what you started, and don't give up. Remember, the decision has to be firm and you'll see wonders happening.
Get your ass off that couch!

Once you get into the habit, you can add little amounts of carbs and fats to your diet, because the calories will burn out soon. But resist those fast foods, because you have more delicious options!


Stay healthy!!

(If you have more tips and tricks on losing weight, you can post them below in the comments section)