Hand it Over: Working with your hands is good for you

Writing, drawing, gardening, and needle-crafts are all great hobbies. But these pastimes can do more for you than just fill a few hours. There are actual cognitive and emotional benefits to gain from using your hands in creative pursuits. Beyond the creation itself, engaging in hands-on activities taps into our innate human need for expression, problem-solving, and sensory exploration. Here are several compelling reasons to use our hands for more than just tapping and typing, scrolling and scanning:

  1. Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: Creative hands-on projects often necessitate thinking “outside the box” to overcome challenges and obstacles. This fosters a mindset of innovation and resourcefulness, leading to improved problem-solving abilities that can be applied to various aspects of life.
  2. Stress Reduction: Immersing oneself in a creative activity has been shown to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation. The focus required to manipulate materials and bring ideas to life serves as a form of mindfulness, allowing individuals to temporarily escape from daily worries and pressures.
  3. Improved Cognitive Function: Working with your hands engages multiple areas of the brain, including those responsible for spatial awareness, motor skills, and memory. This cognitive stimulation can help sharpen mental acuity and may even offer protective benefits against age-related cognitive decline.
  4. Boosted Self-Esteem and Confidence: Successfully completing a hands-on project, whether it’s a piece of artwork, a craft, or a DIY home improvement task, instills a sense of accomplishment and pride. This positive reinforcement can bolster self-esteem and confidence, encouraging individuals to tackle new challenges with greater assurance.
  5. Connection to Heritage and Tradition: Many traditional crafts and artisanal techniques have been passed down through generations, connecting individuals to their cultural heritage and preserving valuable traditions. Engaging in these activities can foster a sense of belonging and continuity with the past.
  6. Social Connection and Community Building: Participating in hands-on creative pursuits often involves joining communities of like-minded individuals who share similar interests. This sense of camaraderie and mutual support can lead to meaningful friendships and a sense of belonging.
  7. Enhanced Emotional Well-being: Creating something with your hands provides an outlet for self-expression and emotional release. Whether channeling joy, sadness, or frustration into your work, the act of creation can serve as a cathartic and therapeutic experience.

3 Top-Rated Streets Around the World

The website TimeOut has recently done a feature on the 30 most interesting streets around the world to visit for food, entertainment and culture. Here is a sneak peek into three of those locations; the full list can be enjoyed and, perhaps, your next trip can be planned with one of these ideas in mind! Here are ideas from Australia, Japan and Los Angeles.

High Street in Melbourne’s inner north emerges as a hot spot, boasting diverse local businesses like Casa Nata for Portuguese tarts, Northside Wines for local vino, and Francesca’s Bar for late-night fun. Its vintage stores, cool cafés, and indie cinema add to the allure, catering to all tastes. Nearby tram access and a vibrant music scene further elevate its appeal.

In Tokyo, Sangenjaya’s Chazawa-dori offers a blend of urban excitement and residential charm. Closed to traffic on Sundays, it invites exploration of friendly restaurants, cozy cafés, and charming bakeries. Sancha Monica serves sushi with wine, Guuutara Coffee offers extravagant cream soda floats, and Carrot Tower provides a free aerial view of Tokyo.

LA’s Arts District on 3rd Street transforms industrial spaces into a walkable haven, featuring Michelin-starred sushi at 715 and pinball stardom at EightyTwo. Camphor draws people in with French bistro dishes, Death & Co crafts top-notch cocktails, and Hauser & Wirth’s former flour mill complex offers a unique gallery experience.

These are just three of the many unique offerings around the world. Happy traveling!

14 Ways to Battle Insomnia

While most of us think that it’s natural to get a good night sleep and to sleep straight through the night, for many people this is not the cause. Insomnia can be a once-in-awhile situation or it can turn into a truly terrible recurring situation. Whether you are battling with these issues all the time, or just once in a while, there really is help out there. Here are 14 suggestions for battling your insomnia and getting yourself back to bed.

  1. Identify the Cause: Understand the root of your insomnia, whether it’s stress, life changes, or a medical condition.
  2. Stick to a Routine: Even if not sleepy, get into bed at your usual time to maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
  3. Engage in Relaxing Activities: Listen to classical music or read under soft lighting to encourage sleepiness.
  4. Practice Good Sleep Hygiene: Ensure your bedroom is conducive to sleep and your pre-bedtime activities are calming.
  5. Limit Bed Activities: Keep your bed for sleep only, avoiding activities like watching TV or browsing your phone.
  6. Use Medication Wisely: Consult a doctor about using over-the-counter or prescription medications for tough nights.
  7. Avoid Staying in Bed: If sleep evades you, leave your bed to prevent associating it with stress.
  8. Seek Professional Help: If sleep issues persist, consider cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia.
  9. Exercise Regularly: Incorporate physical activity into your routine to promote better sleep.
  10. Evaluate Your Diet: Avoid heavy meals close to bedtime and limit caffeine and alcohol intake.
  11. Address Restless Leg Syndrome: If symptoms appear, get up and stretch or walk to alleviate discomfort.
  12. Monitor Daytime Naps: Limit or avoid naps to ensure you’re tired at bedtime.
  13. Consider Environmental Factors: Adjust your bedroom environment to be dark, quiet, and cool.
  14. Limit Clock-Watching: Avoid looking at the clock if you wake up in the middle of the night to reduce anxiety.

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Make Fashion Week Your Own

Watching runway models parade the latest styles in Paris each year, it’s difficult not to eye the outlandish ensembles and wonder, “are these meant for real life?” To the uninitiated, these creations might seem less like wearable attire and more like artifacts from a journey through “Doctor Who’s” Tardis to a fantastical realm.

Fashion designers are artists, and runway shows are their blank canvas. Designers leverage the runway as a singular platform to unleash creativity, unfiltered by external influences like magazine edits or retail constraints. With just 10 minutes to captivate an audience, exaggeration becomes a strategic tool for conveying their vision, a tactic now amplified by the digital age’s demand for instant understanding.

Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons explained in 2014, the thought behind her show was “not making clothes.” This exemplifies the fashion industry’s conceptual side, intended to compel us to explore our own creativity within our wardrobes. Other brands, like Max Mara and Dries Van Noten, are more driven to market their designs directly to consumers.

Whether you prefer to merely be an observer of runway shows or draw inspiration from the outrageous outfits, feel free to take set your inhibitions aside and take a cue from the designers to incorporate the styles into your closet! As the fabulous Iris Apfel said, “When you don’t dress like everybody else, you don’t have to think like everybody else.” Embrace the boldness of fashion week and have fun!    

Beyond the Runway: How Models Transition to Trailblazers in Business and Activism

The fashion world is full of young models who are eager to make their mark on the runway and the pages of couture magazines. As they mature and gain experience in the industry, many of these women use their knowledge and talents to pivot to other ventures. Successful models including Miranda Kerr, Jessica Michibata, Lily Cole, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Karlie Kloss have seamlessly leveraged their fame and their platforms to transition into entrepreneurship, acting, and nonprofit activities. Their foray into activism and business illustrates the full range of their talents, allowing them to spread their influence far beyond the world of fashion.

Miranda Kerr is one of the most successful models to come out of Australia. After appearing in ads forwell-known brands such as Maybelline, Victoria’s Secret, and Clinique, Kerr launched her own skincare company, KORA Organics. KORA has achieved international recognition for its emphasis on natural ingredients, including crystals and aromatherapy, which help it to deliver consistent and immediate results. In addition to her entrepreneurial success, Kerr is also a writer. Her book, Treasure Yourself, is a self-help book written for teenage girls.

Jessica Michibata began her modeling career in Japan, and quickly became an international success. She has been the face of Nike and Tag Heuer, and had roles in several films. Michibata stepped away from her modeling career to pursue her dream of writing. She is the author of several Japanese books, including I Love Being Me – a story of how a young girl responds to racism. After being in high demand for so many years, Jessica has found that she loves being out of the spotlight. Her quieter life allows her to pursue her passions, including beekeeping, Reiki, and permaculture.  

Hailing from Britain, Lily Cole made her mark on the runways of Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and Louis Vuitton, and in the advertising campaigns including Hermes, Tiffany & Co., and Marks and Spencer. After pivoting into an acting career, Cole pursued her passion for environmentalism by writing Who Cares Wins, a book which explores solutions for improving the health of the planet. She is the founder of Impossible.com, an incubator for artists, engineers, and designers, who work together to address social issues.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, also from England, has appeared on the covers of British Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ UK. After leaving modeling, she became the founder and Chief Creative Officer of Rose Inc, which manufactures sustainable makeup, skin, and hair products. Rose Inc partners with Amyris, a biotech company that boasts clean chemistry in producing superior color and skincare goods.

American Karlie Kloss has graced the advertisements of Bergdorf Goodman, Adidas, Calvin Klein, and Versace. But Kloss is not merely another pretty face, she is also an accomplished computer programmer. In 2015, she founded Kode with Klossy, a nonprofit organization that empowers girls to study coding and pursue careers in technology. In addition to her computer capabilities, Kloss became the host of Project Runway in 2019.

These are just some of the examples of creative and talented women who have launched new careers after leaving the runways. Their ambition and their desire to improve the world around them has led them to seek opportunities in the business and nonprofit sectors. The glamorous and fast paced world of modeling does not have to be a goal in and of itself, rather it can be a stepping stone to diverse opportunities in the world of entrepreneurship and beyond.