Author: Joe Assaad

10 signs you need a break urgently

by Joe Assaad, posted in Health, home, Well-being

We all hit rock bottom at some point of our lives. Burnouts are more and more common, progressive depression and chrocnic fatigue are sadly became a normal routine.

But it’s never too late to take a break. Here’s 10 signs your body is telling you it needs a break.

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1- You get sick more often

Due to high levels of stress, lack of sleep, and lack of energy your immune system gets weakened. That way your chances of getting sick will increase too.

2- Stressing about the past more than the future or the present

Your past is “haunting” you more than normal, a past trauma, a broken friendship, self-doubt and past action reflection.

Some books that might help you from amazon!

3- Neglecting yourself

Due to this whole roller-coaster of emotions you start feeling that self-care takes a lot of energy and that you just let yourself go. You feel like “saving” energy on everyday tasks.

4-Always sad

With everything you’re going through, your emotions are tuning in more, your sadness is much more intense, and you might be feeling sadness all the time.

Some books that might help you from amazon!

5- Tired but can’t sleep

You’re emotionally and physically drained but it’s impossible for you to sleep.

6- Restless

You feel the need to constantly move, being unable to calm your mind, or a combination of the two

7- No motivation

You have absolutely no motivation to even get by the day. You don’t find motivation to do pursuit your passions even.

8- No concentration

You find yourself zoning out, or distracted by anything.

Some books that might help you from amazon!

9- You’re withdrawn

You cancel, avoid, and cut yourself from the outside world, because you’re tired or not in the mood

10- Drained energy

You want to sleep 16 hours a day and not do a thing, you just wanna rest.

It’s true that life gets by pretty quickly, but if you have 5 or more of these signs, your body is in desperate need of a break. Take a day off, take care and pamper yourself. You deserve it!

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my current favorite recipe

by Joe Assaad, posted in home, Recipes

Some books that might help you from amazon!

That you should definitely try!

I love trying out new recipes, and this is a very interesting way to keep me on track, because i decided to turn my diet into plant-based only! (cheering sounds)

For this meal i used to follow a recipe with meat in it. But luckily i found a delicious recipe that cuts the meat from it. Thank you Deborah for this delicious recipe. Here’s the link to her website!

Mushroom Stroganoff (vegetarian)

Click here for the vegan version

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 500g mushrooms, quartered
  • ½ teaspoon English mustard
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 250ml vegetable stock, made with a stock cube
  • 200ml sour cream (full fat)
  • ½ bunch chopped parsley
  • Your choice of pasta/noodles or rice, plain white rice.

Some books that might help you from amazon!

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Heat the oil in a nonstick skillet. Once the oil is hot, add the onion and sauté for about 5 minutes until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the garlic cloves and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.
  2. Add the chopped mushrooms to the pan and sauté for another 5-6 minutes until the mushrooms are soft and golden.
  3. Mix the paprika and mustard and add to the pan and make sure that the mushrooms are coated. Pour the stock into the pan and stir. Simmer gently for about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the sour cream.
  4. Mix in the chopped parsley and serve over egg noodles (or rice).

Bon Appétit!

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how to celebrate small success and why it’s important?

by Joe Assaad, posted in home, Lifestyle, Well-being

All our lives, we’re wired to wait for big things to be happy about, a big announcement, big achievement are worth celebrating. But the process leading us to get that big announcement or achieve that big goal is important and there’s a rollercoaster of small successes that are worth celebrating that we ignore. (cute gifs are included)

Speaking of which, most of the time we get attached to big events happen that we get so sad while waiting to accomplish our goals, which delays our goal from happening.

So here’s how you can celebrate small successes and adopt a more celebratory approach to life.

1- Treat yourself

Go on that fancy dinner with your friends or alone too, buy something delicious or even a gift to congratulate yourself.

2- Take a day off

Spend a well-deserved, earned me day, celebrating and taking care of yourself.

3- Write your feelings

Writing your feelings about a happy event will help rewire your brain when things get bad one day.

4- Blast some celebrating music and have a dance party

Music is the body’s harmony, dance to the rhythm and forget the world around you, just celebrate yourself and your current reason for extreme happiness and joy. 

5- Dress up for no reason

Dress up, for you alone at home, maybe cook a delicious dinner or go out have a fancy dinner with yourself

6- Go to dinner with your friends

Celebrating with your friends is a good way to share your happiness with.

7- Journal your small successful steps.

This way when you accomplish your goal, you’d have written proof of every little step you’ve gone through that lead you to your big accomplishment.

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10 Must-try matcha recipes that will blow your mind

by Joe Assaad, posted in home, Recipes

Matcha is the world’s new favorite drink, and we have some good news for you. We love matcha and it is really important to share this wonderful addition to our favorite recipes.

Shop some organic matcha from amazon!

Find more on our Pinterest, We post new recipes pins everyday!

So Here are Our Favorite 10 Delicious Recipes That Will Blow Your Mind.

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1- Delicious Matcha Latte

Iced, Hot, sugary, or no It’s your decision but either way it’s delicious.

2- Matcha Donuts!

National Donuts day was a couple of days ago so it’s an honorable mention.and who doesn’t love donuts anyway.

3- Homemade Matcha Icecream.

A Marvelous Summer Recipe. And three ingredients only!

4- Matcha Cupcakes

Small tasty cupcakes for the whole family… or a treat for yourself too!

5-Energy Bites

Small matcha bites that can make someone’s day?…. Hell Yeah!

6-Lava Matcha Cakes

No comment just… Yum.

7-Matcha Tiramisu

A very cute, presentable and easy Matcha Tiramisu!

8- Matcha Butter Cookies

Exceptional!

9- Brownies with Matcha Mint Frosting

Delicious treat!

10- Matcha Pannacotta.

Divine, exquisite taste!

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10 ways to make a good ENVIRONMENTAL impact

by Joe Assaad, posted in Health, Lifestyle

The climate crisis is calling you to make a move. Our planet is in danger, the clock is ticking. Massive natural disasters are happening around the world; untameable wildfires, massive hurricanes/tornadoes, disastrous floods…

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It’s getting more and more dangerous each year and it’s time to take some action. We all asked ourselves how can we contribute to help fight climate change, so here’s a list of easy ways that can help you change your lifestyle to have a good impact on the environment. And remember your move counts!

1- Cut off single used plastics

Water bottles, sodas, forks, and plastic plates, plastic bags, are a must-go. There are a lot of substitutes that are reusable and made from sustainable materials. Shop here.

2- Switch to Renewable Resources

The universe has gifted us with so many blessings, and one of them is reusable energy. Sun, wind, water. Let’s use them to produce our needed energy.

3- Eat less meat, and do not WASTE.

Eating less meat will help reduce the amount of meat needed to be produced. With that being said, it will reduce water use, and the CO2 emissions caused by meat production. Switching to a vegan/vegetarian diet can help too. And wasting food adds to the amount of CO2 being created in landfills. Which contributes to worsening the greenhouse effect.

4- Get invested in recycling more.

Recycle everything you can: paper, cartons, plastic bottles, metal containers, and cans, glass, and jars, some places can recycle electronics too. Check locally live love recycle.

5- Thrift Shop!

“Don’t Throw It, Fix It And Use It Again”, should be your new mindset from a “buying new stuff” perspective. Giving clothes, books, mirrors… and a lot more items a second life, can help you save money and save the planet by reducing waste. Try PINK ATTIK.

6- Limit your water use.

Having running water in your house is a blessing that not everyone has, but that doesn’t mean you should waste a big amount of water just for having it. Reducing the amount of water you use daily, (no not your water intake), can help reduce the wasteful, polluted untreated water that goes straight to the ocean.

7- Use eco-friendly cleaning products.

You can make your own with a homemade recipe (check our Pinterest for some ideas, we post our favorite recipes regularly)

8- Common transportation:

Using buses, taxis, and public transportation is important for a significant change in CO2 emissions.

9- Volunteer and plant some trees:

Plant some trees to give some green ambiance around your house and town, but more importantly, volunteer in different NGOs to contribute to the reforestation of some areas in your country. Check (locally): Jouzour Loubnan and Lebanon Reforestation Initiative.

10- Change your brands

Change your brands to eco-friendly, cruelty-free ones that can help you make an even bigger impact on the climate fight. Lush for example is a great example for more clean living.

AN AWESOME BOOK TO ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION OF SELF-HELP.

by Joe Assaad, posted in home, Lifestyle, Well-being

Self-help books are a great source and the new trend to get everything you need for growth. We love collecting books and adding them to our collection and of course, share them with you to help you with your self-improvement journey.

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For this awesome book “Words that Might Mean Something to Someone Someday” , we had the chance to get an exclusive few words from the author himself Bashar Abou Hawili

“Words that Might Mean Something to Someone Someday” is a modern poetry book about love, loss, and the five stages of grief. I wrote this book when I was at a very low point in my life. I had lost who I thought was the love of my life, and I thought the pain was too much too handle, but day by day, my life started to turn around. This book goes through that process, step by step. It’s very personal and raw. It’s literally a piece of my heart that I’m so happy to share with the world. Get your copy now, available on amazon and kindle!

How To Night Routine

by Joe Assaad, posted in Health, home, Lifestyle, Well-being

A night routine is everything you do before heading to bed. As much as morning routine is important for good day start, a night routine is important for the ending of a day.

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We all know how hard it can be to stick to a night routine after a very long day at work, but for a more healthy lifestyle you should be starting to adopt and create you own personal routine for bedtime.

Night routines have been liked to a better faster and healthier more wholesome sleep.

Let’s create your night routine!

  1. Meditate. Ending your day with a guide meditation is the calming energy you need for a goof night sleep.
  2. Have a Healthy dinner
  3. Tidy some clutters and do some laundry
  4. Prepare for tomorrow.
  5. Skincare routine
  6. Take a hot bath to relax
  7. End of the day journal
  8. Read a book
  9. Listen to some good calm music
  10. Avoid alcohol

Night Routines are like Morning Routines, to every individual its own. It’s all about practices and what works for you.

But if you need a checklist article for both morning and night routines, to give you some ideas about what to include into your routines, leave a comment.

A checklist routine won’t determine what you need to put into your routine but it will help you point out the essentials.

How To Morning Routine.

by Joe Assaad, posted in Health, Lifestyle, Well-being

Having a morning routine is linked to a much happier and productive day. A morning routine also allows you to start your morning with intention, rather than letting the day run away from you. This positive feeling of being on top of things has results in a positive feeling and effect on your entire day.

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Let’s Create A Morning Routine!

First thing we should start with is: taking into consideration the four aspects or ‘systems’ of you: Mental, Emotional, Physical and Spiritual.

Mentally:

  1. Set goals: Setting your goals for the day will kick start your day with more motivation and energy.
  2. Create a schedule for the day: This will make sure to keep you on the right track so you never miss anything.
  3. Read something that feeds your mind, or listen to a podcast. (Tune in to Ja’s Lifestyle The Podcast on all streaming platforms!)

Emotionally

  1. Express gratitude, expressing gratitude releases a good amount of positive energy that surrounds you.
  2. Identify what makes you feel good. self exploration and tryouts, try this and that or that to see wha makes you feel good and going in the morning.

Physically

  1. Get moving, don’t sit too long in your bed try to get moving immediately.
  2. Drink lemon water. it’s water, it’s super refreshing and it will help clean your body from toxins.
  3. Eat a good breakfast, never skip it. It’s your body-recharging meal.
  4. Clean your space, make your bed, do some laundry, wash the dishes… before hitting the road.

Spiritually

  1. Meditate
  2. Be in nature.
  3. Connect with yourself, all can be done by deeply mediating outside your house. it’s a great source of energy and grounding.

Creating a morning routine isn’t a checklist that happens in a day or two, it takes time and practice with of course a personal touch. So trying things for the first time and see what fits you the most, your schedule and your mood is really important.

But morning routine are worthless without a night routine too, so in a way you’ll be in control over two periods of your day and not letting it pass by you. draining your energy and not feeling as productive as before. Stay tuned for a night routine article this Thursday.

How to deal with anxiety attacks

by Joe Assaad, posted in home, Lifestyle, Well-being

Anxiety or panic attacks are becoming more and more frequent and common among youths. I suffered from these panic attacks for a long time and which seemingly has intensified over the years. But luckily, there’s always a solution for everything.

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I’ve been fighting panic attacks for three years now, but luckily i tried some techniques that helped me cope with them throughout the years and lessen their intensity thank God.

Breathing exercise.

This is really obvious, but for me, breathing exercises were my go-to-deal-with-anxiety-attack. It’s so simple:

Breathe in, Hold for 5 seconds, release. Repeat until you feel calm.

Try to meditate on the spot

Try mindfulness meditate on the spot, focus on being intensely aware of what you’re sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment.

Go to your Happy Place.

Everyone has a happy place, something you feel a good happy feeling in. Something that makes you feel at ease and relaxed.

Focus on an object

Try to focus on something stable and fix around you in the room.

Close your eyes

Some people get stimulated by triggers around them. Closing your eyes will help you reduce the stimuli.

Those are some of my favorite techniques, feel free to share some of yours too in the comments!

How to spend a “Me day”

by Joe Assaad, posted in Health, home

Life’s been hectic these past few months, running around, fixing ourselves after the chaotic year we just survived. We all deserve a “me time”, but this time let’s make it a whole day for just ourselves. Because yes we deserve it, and no it’s not selfish.

Let’s start by defining what Me Time is:

Taking some time off, or enjoying some Me Time, is all about a self-care, self-check-in, self pampering time to regain your energy and recharge yourself after being exhausted for some time.

It’s a unique plan for each one of you, but these are the main and some inspiration for you to plan the perfect Me Day!

  1. Add your day to your calendar: It’s important to be reminded of this day at all time, and not forget about it or postpone it.

2. Remove your super early alarm and wake up naturally, unless you tend to over sleep. ( you don’t want to sleep all day long and miss your “Me Day”).

3. Ditch Your Daily To-Do List.

4. Start your day with water, meditation and some stretching. This will provide your body the energy it needs to take care of itself today.

5. Go for a walk in nature, plants and flowers tend to relax your stress and anxiety. going for a walk will give you the opportunity of breathing some fresh air, and look at something other than your screens.

6. Cook your favorite food or try some new recipes, and have a quality time listening to some happy music while at it.

7. Catch up on a book you’ve been meaning to read for a long time. You’ll get lost in the wondrous world of that story that you”ll forget time.

8. Write on your journal: some positive affirmations, some grateful quotes.

9. Pamper yourself with a Hot Bubble Bath.

10. End your day with a face mask and your favorite/current show, and Sweet Dreams!

If you’ve tried this, Me day, Tell us what was your favorite part and what did you add as your unique touch and taste.