Relax & Reclaim

Let's be honest. There's a coworker in every office. They complain about everything , they are the office gossip, constantly disappearing when the real work needs to be done, or they act like they are always in a competition with someone. If you've been frustrated by these types of people at work, then this is for you. You don't need to change them to have a better day. In my previous article The Workplace Choir, I wrote about how you should focus on your "part" instead of what others are doing wrong. That still holds true, but here is some advice that might help you as well. Don't Take Everything Personally People can come into the workplace with all kinds of burdens to bare. Things could have gone bad at home, they could be stressed about money, not enough sleep or even poor health. Whatever the reason is, it doesn't change the fact that they are rude to you. It helps to put things in perspective because sometimes an unpleasant cow...

Last time, we talked about cayenne pepper as a digestive powerhouse.  The exact kind of thing you'd sprinkle into soup and forget was doing quiet, unglamorous work in your gut.  Good stuff.  But it turns out that's only half of cayenne's resume. Here's the other half: this pepper also moonlights as a topical pain reliever. Not "drink some tea and hope" pain relief...actual, studied, rubbed-on-your-skin pain relief that shows up in real clinical trials. So let's turn up the heat again, this time for your joints, your muscles, and whatever's been barking at you since you slept wrong. In case you missed it, here's the original article. 🌶️ How Does Spicy Become Soothing? Quick refresher: capsaicin is the compound that makes cayenne (and pepper spray, and your regrettable Tuesday-night wing order) hot.  When capsaicin touches your skin, it locks onto something called a TRPV1 ( Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1 )  receptor — the ...

This was from a reader named Ike: " Stress shows up in many different ways. For me it's usually while I'm working. I work remotely in cybersecurity.    We deal with midsize to larger businesses who panic VERY easily. That's stressful enough, but what makes it more challenging is the sheer amount of chaos every time someone contacts our team for suspected breaches, data leaks, and the occasional DDOS attacks. We're supposed to be calm and calculated during these times, but it just seems like the office thrives on chaos.  I get emails and Slack messages every five minutes from senior and middle management who over promise results to our clients and then pressure the team downstream to keep those promises! What's worse is we have some team members who are expert blame shifters who know no accountability. Makes me want to pull my hair out! Here's my question Blog Squad: How does one stay focused   while in the middle of chaos central? " Thanks, Ike.  It se...

Here’s a unique and vibrant twist on the classic tuna salad recipe we shared with you previously.  This simple twist turns it into a Mediterranean-inspired dish with in--your-face flavors and textures! Are you ready for the twist? Mediterranean Quinoa Tuna Salad Ingredients - 2 large cans of tuna in spring water, drained - 1/2 cup quinoa - 1/2 teaspoon vegetable stock - 1 cup cubed and roasted butternut squash - 3/4 cup peeled roasted sweet potato - 1/2 large cucumber, diced - 1/2 cup baby spinach - 1/2 cup thawed frozen peas - 1/4 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed and drained (for added protein) - 1/4 cup crumbled low-fat feta cheese - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (swap for mayo for additional creaminess) - A few sprigs of fresh dill or parsley (optional) - 4 tablespoons lemon juice - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika - Salt and pepper to taste - Optional: A handful of olives, halved Preparation 1. Cook the Quinoa    Rinse the quinoa and place it in a saucepan with 1 cup of water and the veg...

Greetings Fellow Dragon Slayers! How's the fighting going? Successfully, we hope! This is Part 2: Path Of The Fire-Quencher to complete your two-part series. Here's a brief recap for those new to the battle: In Part 1 , we unmasked the true culprit behind chronic bad breath: Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs)  produced by anaerobic bacteria in low-oxygen environments. We also exposed how traditional alcohol-filled mouthwashes and SLS-heavy toothpastes act like gasoline on the flame, drying out your mouth and creating a breeding ground for sulfur. Now, it’s time to suit up and take down the beast for good ! 🦾 To the Battlefront! Putting out "dragon breath" doesn't require an overwhelming, hour-long regimen or complex medical intervention. It simply requires switching to the right tools and targeting the specific hideouts where these bacteria love to feast. Here is your step-by-step playbook to oxygenate your mouth, neutralize VSCs on contact, and keep y...

It's sweltering in some places, and people are trying to beat the heat. Staying hydrated and getting your vitamins from healthy foods is key. Salads are a fantastic option for both. The great thing about salads is that they're relatively simple to make. Depending on the type of salad you want to make, just a handful of ingredients are usually needed.  Top it off, salads can be created in a very short period of time. That's why people love them so much! Check out this classic salad that everyone loves: Caprese-Style Salad 2 medium red, ripe tomatoes, cut into eight slices 1 bunch fresh basil, leaves removed, washed and patted dry with a paper towel 8 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut into eight slices 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper (optional) 1/8 teaspoon sea salt (optional) Preparation : On a large serving platter layer slice of tomato, larger basil leaves, and mozzarella slices.  Repeat the layers wh...

This is a follow-up to our budget series which covers both grocery shopping and cooking. In case you missed it, check it out here first , then here , and then here  ( make sure you come right back! ). Okay, so now that you're up to date, here's the meal plan that matches your diet preference! Cheap 7‑Day Vegan Meal Plan This plan is built entirely from staple foods like: beans, lentils, oats, rice/quinoa, tofu/tempeh, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, onions, frozen veg, bananas/apples, peanut butter, canned goods, nutritional yeast! A couple of notes are due before we hop in: - This plan is proportioned  for 1 adult and easy to scale (double everything for 2 ).   - Batch-cook once or twice and reuse ingredients to save time and money.   - Prep tips: cook a big pot of lentils/beans, a batch of rice, and roast a sheet pan of mixed veggies on Day 1. Freeze any extras. Got it? Now let's put it all together! Day 1 (Prep day) Breakfast : Overnight oa...