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quality of life

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Facing an afternoon energy slump is something that happens to most of us. It may be entirely normal for you, but in some cases, it can reflect a health issue. If your low energy levels affect your quality of life, you should talk to your doctor to rule out any underlying possible health conditions.

Even outside of medical conditions causing your fatigue, it can be dangerous to have low energy levels or feel fatigued at times when you shouldn’t.

For example, many car accidents and also accidents involving big trucks occur because of fatigue.

We think of fatigue as something that’s not a big deal, but it’s essential that you stay on top of it.

With that in mind, the following are some ways that you can naturally get past an afternoon energy slump.

Don’t Consume a Lot of Carbs at Breakfast and Lunch

You should choose healthy breakfast and lunch foods to keep you fueled throughout the day. If you opt for items that are high in carbs and low in protein, it can cause a spike in your blood sugar.

That spike can then reduce your energy levels.

Along with choosing healthy meals, don’t have many sweet snacks during the day and stay hydrated.

Many people are surprised to realize how much what they eat plays a role in their energy levels.

Be Aware of What Your Peak Productivity Times Are

In some cases, if you can’t altogether avoid your energy crash, you might at least want to find ways to work around it. For example, if you tend to be most alert in the morning, do your tasks requiring the most concentration during those early hours.

That way, if you do start to feel your energy waning, you might be able to do things requiring less concentration and focus.

For some people, learning to work with the rhythms of their body is more effective than trying to work against them.

Another way to work around your energy slump is to do collaborative work in the afternoon. The reason for this is that when you’re working with other people, it can help you stay more engaged instead of trying to do work on your own when you’re already feeling tired.

Go Outside

Sunlight and fresh air are good pick-me-ups when your energy is on the decline. You don’t have to go far. Just step outside for a few minutes and walk around your house or office building. If you’re driving, you might want to stop your car on the side of the road and take stretch breaks every hour or so.

If you move for just five minutes, it can improve your mood and help you feel better. It doesn’t have to be much to help you see benefits.

Use Essential Oils

Stimulating your senses can help you when you feel tired. Essential oils are a simple way to get a sense boost. You can smell an invigorating oil like peppermint oil and see if it makes you feel any better. You can also put just one drop under your nose, as long as you keep it away from your eyes.

Have a Cup of Green Tea

You might not want to have too much caffeine in the afternoon because it can keep you up at night, but if you drink green tea, it gives you a bit of caffeine and some other health benefits as well. For example, green tea has something called phytochemicals. These are energy boosters that don’t contribute to insomnia.

Rest Your Eyes

Eyestrain can be a factor that leads you to feel tired in general. Try to keep your computer screen at least an arm’s length from your eyes. Every 20 minutes, shift your eyes and look at something at least 20 feet away to avoid too much eye strain.

Turn On Music

One very simple and effective way to feel more alert and promote better memory and attention is to turn on music. Choose uplifting and energetic music. If you want to concentrate at the same time, go for music without lyrics.

Finally, if all else fails, try to set aside time in your schedule for a quick power nap if at all possible. Not everyone can do this either because of work or because naps make them feel more tired, but if you’re someone who can truly nap for just 20 minutes and you feel better then rather than feeling guilty about it, go for it. It can help you stay productive the rest of the day.

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The pace of modern life rarely lets up and it can be particularly difficult to meet all of your obligations and get through the day if you are suffering from fatigue. Fatigue is an increasingly common complaint, and it is most noticeable in middle age. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to combat fatigue and restore your energy levels so that you can get more out of life.

Check for health problems

The starting point if you are suffering from chronic fatigue is to speak to your physician so that they can rule out certain illnesses, for which fatigue can be a symptom. These include serious conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and thyroid disease. A blood test can usually rule out many of the more serious conditions and if you are wondering where to get one you can speak to your physician or go online to find out about local facilities that can provide a blood test.

Related to this potential cause of fatigue is medication. Unfortunately, many medications, including those for blood pressure, and drugs such as antihistamines and diuretics, can lead to fatigue. If your fatigue appears to be related to a new medication, speak to your doctor and they may be able to find you an alternative medication that doesn’t provoke the same side effects.

Physical activity

If you’ve ruled out medical conditions and medication side effects, the next step is to increase the amount of physical exercise you undertake. Exercising more when you feel fatigue may seem counter-intuitive, but multiple studies show that taking more exercise can have a range of benefits, including making your heart, muscles and lungs more efficient, which in turn gives you more energy.

Try yoga

Any exercise is good, but there is some evidence to suggest that yoga is particularly good at boosting energy levels. A study in the UK found that volunteers who took part in a once-a-week yoga class reported improvements in alertness, energy and clear-mindedness and similar results emerged from a study of men and women aged 65 to 85 conducted by the University of Oregon.

Hydrate

Dehydration is one of the leading causes of low energy and impaired physical performance. Research shows that athletes who are dehydrated struggle to perform at their best level, and it can also sap both concentration and alertness. It is easy to spot if you are not drinking enough water: if your urine is darker in color than a light yellow, then you may well be suffering from dehydration.

Get an early night

Lack of sleep is one of the more obvious causes of fatigue, but that doesn’t make it any less significant. The fact is that if you don’t get enough sleep, you will lack energy and focus, and you will also be at a greater risk of experiencing accidents. Good sleep habits may even have an impact on longevity. The secret to getting more sleep is not to stay in bed later in the morning, but to go to bed earlier the night before. And if you are short of sleep, try a 10-30-minute afternoon nap. This can boost your energy levels without affecting your regular sleep patterns.

Fish is good for you

Fish is one of the healthiest sources of protein available. Not only is it good for your heart, the omega-3 oils in fish can also boost your alertness and reduce fatigue. A 2009 study in Italy found that volunteers who took fish oil reported feeling more vigorous and showed faster reaction times.

Respect your body clock

Everyone’s body clock is different. Some of us are full of energy in the morning, while others are at their best in the evening or late afternoon. These differences in our energy patterns are the result of brain shape and genetics, and that means that they are hard to change. So instead of trying to fight your natural patterns, try to become more aware of your own daily rhythms. Once you know what time of day you are most energetic, you can try to schedule demanding activities for that peak time.

Lose the extra pounds

Losing those extra pounds can make a big difference to your energy levels. In fact, even small reductions in your body fat percentage have been found to boost mood, improve vigor, and raise the  individual’s quality of life. There are many ways to shed those pounds, but the most reliable methods include eating smaller portions, sticking to a more balanced diet and taking more exercise.

Conclusion

Too many of us accept a level of fatigue as a natural part of life, but in many cases, fatigue is instead the result of lifestyle. With a few simple changes, you can boost your energy levels, ensuring that you are more alert, and that you can get more out of your life.

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Often hailed the “Capital of the 21st Century”, London is shaping up to be one of the hottest cities in the world. However, the allure of New York never goes out of style, with The Big Apple still being one of the most popular cities to call home.

While it may seem difficult to compare such vibrant cities on either side of the Atlantic, it turns out they both have quite a lot in common, and this is especially true when examining the most affluent markets. Taking a look at areas such as Mayfair, one of London’s oldest neighborhoods, alongside the stylish Upper East Side, it can be seen that both have plenty to offer those who enjoy the finer things in life…

NYC-Skyline

Population

There are 5,100 permanent residents in Mayfair, while the Upper East Side is home to 206,908 residents. Geographically of course, the Upper East Side spans far more space, covering 4.56 km².

Cost of buying

In Mayfair, property priced at £1 million or less is rapidly disappearing, and similarly on the Upper East Side, real estate here is expensive and highly sought-after. The Global Property Guide lists London has being the second most expensive city when it comes to renting and buying property; in January 2014, it was reported that the average price per sq. ft. in Mayfair was £2,320, a figure substantially higher than that of the Upper East Side, which was just £796.

Cost of renting

For those who can’t afford to get on the property ladder, opting to rent in either market will still prove expensive. TransferWise reveals the average monthly rent for a 120 sq. m. flat in London to be $6,856, while for the same size apartment in New York, it is marginally cheaper at $6,553.

Transport - London

Transportation links

There are five airports within reach in London, compared with three in New York. However, when it comes to local public transport, NYC’s subway system comes out ahead of the tube. With 1.65 billion users compared with 1.2 billion on the tube, the subway has 249 miles of track and runs 24 hours a day. It goes farther, runs for longer and more people use it, and yet the subway is still less expensive than the tube. Users can pay $2.75 for a single subway fare, compared with $7.30 for a single ride on the London Underground.

Culture and Entertainment

Both London and New York are cultural meccas, home to film festivals, theatre districts (The West End and Broadway respectively), museums, art galleries, events and a great deal more each year. As far as culture and entertainment goes, both NYC and London are fairly evenly stacked.

Dining out and local cuisine

London’s food scene has certainly stepped up to be a contender in recent years, but this is still one area in which New York truly excels. There are a staggering 126 Michelin star restaurants in NYC, not to mention a huge variety of cheap street eats, authentic multicultural cuisine, and fast food options for those on the go. Of the world’s top 100 restaurants, nine are found in NYC, compared to just five in London.

cost-of-living-new-york-city

Cost of living

London has topped a list of the most expensive cities in the world to live and work; it was revealed that the cost of living and work accommodation per person in London was £80,777 ($112,800), while in NYC, the same costs totaled £79,680 ($111,300).

Crime rates

According to Numbeo, the cities are relatively similar when comparing crime rates. New York experiences a “moderate” level of crime (51.29), with London having the same level and a slightly higher ranking at 56.09.

Quality of life

The Mercer Quality of Life survey compares 221 cities, looking at metrics such as relationships with other countries, crime and corruption rates, health and public services, and political stability. Based on this, the report ranked London at no. 38, while New York wasn’t far behind at no. 47.

 

According to a recent report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Canberra is the best place in the world to live.

The Australian Capital Territory of Canberra led the regional ranking while Australia topped the overall country rankings, followed by Norway.

The OECD ranked 362 regions of its 34 member nations in its survey.

It used nine measures of wellbeing, including income, education, jobs, safety, health and environment.

Five Australian cities including Sydney, Melbourne and Perth were also in the top 10.

Other top-scoring places included the states of New Hampshire and Minnesota in the US.

Canberra came out on top as the most liveable city in the world

Canberra came out on top as the most liveable city in the world

On the other end of the scale, Mexican states constituted all 10 of the bottom regional rankings.

On a country level, Mexico, Turkey, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia were ranked as the hardest places to live.

The OECD study, while not comprehensive, is one of the few to analyze the quality of life in countries.

“Recent years have seen an increasing awareness that macro economic statistics, such as GDP do not provide policy-makers with a sufficiently detailed picture of the living conditions that ordinary people experience,” the OECD said on its website.

“Developing statistics that can better reflect the wide range of factors that matter to people and their well-being (the so called “household perspective”) is of crucial importance for the credibility and accountability of public policies and for the very functioning of democracy.”

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