It’s a new year! That, of course, doesn’t mean that the hardships and uncertainty of 2020 will disappear. However, we can make a conscious effort to declutter our minds by simplifying our lives. So, to maintain that “New Year, New You” mentality, here are some great tips that are easy to implement. Take Care of Your HealthIf the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we need to focus on our health and the health of our loved ones. This doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It can be as easy as starting to take a multi-vitamin every day, if you don’t already. Talk to your doctor about any nutritional supplements that might be beneficial for your specific health concerns. Your local pharmacy should carry everything you need. And you may even be able to get a nutritional consultation from your pharmacy as well. Don’t Stress About the Little ThingsWe all have daily chores that can get ahead of us if we let them. It’s silly to stress about things like housework and laundry. If clothes are piling up, and it’s just adding too much stress to your life, consider hiring a laundry service. Having someone pick up your dirty laundry, wash, dry and fold them and deliver them back to you can be quite a lifesaver. There’s no reason to feel guilty about spending money on something like that if it’s within your budget. Checking things off your list that add to your stress is a good thing. Make an Effort to Improve the Lives of OthersThere’s no better way to improve your own life than by improving the life of someone you love. This past year has probably been especially tough on your elderly loved ones and neighbors. Be sure to check in on them often. Even if they have a home health aide or caregiver, they may be missing that personal contact from their loved ones. Nothing can replace a phone call from someone you love. This goes for friends with little ones at home too. Parents have played both caregiver and teacher roles for the last year, and it can be incredibly stressful. Just ordering a meal or sending over a gift basket to a mom or dad in your life would be an incredible gesture.
Doing these simple things can lead to a new you in this coming year! We usually celebrate Mother’s Day with flowers and gifts for mom, taking her out to dinner and may be a shopping spree or a trip to the spa or salon. While our city is still in lockdown, with restaurants, salons and shops closed, how are you celebrating Mother’s Day? Mother's Day GiftsFor the most part, we can order gifts online and get them ready by Mother’s Day. If you cannot get a gift delivered in time, don’t forget that your local drugstore is still open and carries a variety of health and beauty products that your mom would love – from age-defying skin care, hair coloring and styling to perfumes and manicure products. Your community pharmacy may provide curbside service so you can stay safe. Take a load offMom is always busy caring for her family. The list of household chores is never ending. During the quarantine, the amount of cleaning and disinfecting has probably quadrupled. So a great gift would be to take over some of her work. How about letting the local dry cleaner nearby do the laundry? Schedule a laundry pickup before Mother’s Day, so that she is relaxed and not worried about doing the laundry. If mom’s work includes caring for grandpa and or grandma, which is not unusual in this age of the “Caregiving Crunch,” you can take a load off her by hiring respite care providers from the local home care agency. A home health aide can provide respectful professional care and companionship for a senior loved one while the family caregiver takes a break. Fun activity togetherDo something fun with your mom at home, such as watch a movie on TV, take a trip down memory lane by viewing old photos together, make handicrafts or artwork, give mom a manicure, and so on. Mother's Day dinnerIf your mother is living in the same house, you can perhaps cook a nice dinner or if you are not a good cook, you can order a big meal online and get it delivered to the house. But if your mother is not under the same roof, you can try sharing a virtual dinner on Zoom. That way, you can still see and chat with each other during dinner.
With a little creativity and preparation, we can still give mom a memorable Mother’s Day during these unprecedented times. Stay safe and have fun with your mom on Mother’s Day! Photo by Karolina Bobek ✌ on Unsplash There is no need to spend tons of money on expensive skin products and lotions. But by stocking up on a few different natural ingredients that are inexpensive and easy to find at a local grocery store or community pharmacy near me, I can always be prepared for a variety of skin-related situations. Read on to learn more. Witch HazelNo, it’s not something to use to put a curse on someone. Witch hazel is actually a common astringent that used for many different topical needs. Besides being very inexpensive, you can usually find it in a few various forms at your local independent pharmacy. Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, you can use witch hazel for a variety of skin conditions like acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes from allergic reactions and even hemorrhoids. AloeAloe vera is a handy thing to have in your cabinet, especially in the summertime. When rubbed gently on the skin, aloe vera is incredibly soothing to sunburns and can even help it heal faster. While I could easily pick up aloe vera lotions and creams in the grocery store or a drug store near me, having an aloe vera plant is another great way to reap its benefits in raw form. Simply use the gel-like substance directly from its thick leaves. Coconut OilCoconut oil is great to cook and bake with, but it’s also amazing for your skin. Besides having natural anti-bacterial properties, it’s incredibly moisturizing and can be used even on sensitive skin. Use it when treating athletes foot or toe fungus, or for clearing up folliculitis, a common skin rash caused by inflamed hair follicles on the arms and legs. Coconut oil is very high in antioxidants, which means regular use can actually improve the texture and appearance of your skin. So next time you’re at the drug store, pharmacy or grocery, keep a lookout for these natural ingredients that can help keep your skin healthy. But if you have more serious skin conditions, such as eczema, psoriasis, warts, fungal infections, wounds and scars that require customized treatment, you might need prescription drugs and for those you would need to consult a professional healthcare provider. Compounded medications can be ordered from a dermatology compounding pharmacy to contain ingredients to help with various skin conditions. They include topical delivery systems to provide localized treatments in many different forms, including ointments, gels and creams to enable better absorption into the skin.
When you shop at your local pharmacy or drycleaner, you’re not only building relationships but also strengthening the fabric of your entire community. Local business owners know you, and you know them. When you see someone frequently at the coffee shop, dry cleaner, or hardware store, you build relationships with people who have similar needs and interests. Shopping at local businesses connects neighbors with each other. It’s social networking without the screen! You get better customer service when you shop local. When you fill a prescription at a community pharmacy you are likely to be served by the owner or a long-time employee who knows your medical history and medication needs. Many local pharmacies also offer specialties such as compounded medications. A local laundry service or dress shop knows your preferences so you get more personalized service. Local businesses are more likely to donate to community events, local non-profits, and sports teams. Studies have shown that they do so at over twice the rate of large chains. This kind of participation brings the community closer together. Did you know that each dollar you spend at a local independent business can bring as much as $3.50 into the local economy? Local businesses are customers of local ad agencies, insurance brokers, accountants, printers, lawyers and other services and often buy locally-made goods too. This creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to start more local businesses. Some studies have reported that local businesses employ more people directly per dollar of revenue than national chains thus creating higher-paying jobs for your neighbors. But it’s not just the jobs at the independent pharmacy, the laundry pickup service, or the boutique that get created. As the local economy strengthens, you’re helping create jobs for firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other public service employees as well! Author: The WSI Touch is a digital marketing agency serving small and medium-sized businesses in Boston, Massachusetts. Hey Bostonians! The Highland Street Foundation is sponsoring Free Fun Fridays again this year. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit museums and cultural venues across Massachusetts for free! Among the venues is Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro which is about 50 minutes from Boston. It’s a nice ride out of town to see exotic animals such as the white lion, red panda, emus and pythons. But for us, the main attraction is the splash pad, a fun and exciting zero-depth water playground that thrills children of all ages. For maximum enjoyment, bring bathing suits and beach clothing and sunscreen for your kids. The local pharmacy near me offers a quality selection of sunscreens and other health and beauty aids for the whole family and they provide more individualized care than the national chains. You should try them, if you are not yet a customer. The adults can use some sunscreen too, but take care that it doesn’t stain your clothing. The oil component of these lotions leaves invisible stains that can become visible over time. These stains may not be easily removed in normal washing. I usually take stained clothing to a dry cleaner near me for stain removal. The park does not allow visitors to bring picnics, but there is a Concession Stand that offers delicious fresh cooked food, ice cream and cold drinks while you rest at shady picnic benches. The Zoo is a wonderful place to visit at other times of the year too. There are educational classes on animals and how to take care of them, conservation, photography and more. If you have teenage children, you may consider enrolling them into the Zoo Crew program which gives teens the opportunity to volunteer at the Zoo. The Zoo also offers birthday party packages for children – a perfect birthday celebration for the kid who loves animals! |
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