Your Personal Budget
Feasible Fitness Reolutions
Digital Detox
Floriography
Finding Motivation
Swiping Right
Speak. It's what you were born to do.
Get the daily list of local speaking gigs and speak to people outside your network.
Sandra Spencer
Cathryn Mahon
Jacqueline Hodges
I use Local Speakers to source
I use Local Speakers to source
I use Local Speakers to source
guests for my community radio
guests for my weekly podcast
guests to interview for my
and podcast show TECH Load.
called Community Heroes.
magazine Hepburn.
Local Speakers
2 | Embrace
Your daily call to adventure
Now operating in beta at localspeakers.com.au
Embrace | 3
This Issue proudly brings you
Photography/illustrations: Pexels, Unsplash, The Noun Project
Contributors Editor-in-Chief Jacqueline Hodges Designer Kristina Mazalova Content Coordinator Sushmita Sharma
Editorial Enquiries 07 31 433 334 10 Ellenborough House, 126 Brisbane Street, Top of the Town, Ipswich, QLD 4305 em@10ellenmedia.com
Advertising sam@10ellenmedia.com
10 ELLEN MEDIA Embrace Magazine is published by 10 Ellen Media (ABN: 23 645 770 350) Articles express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of Embrace or 10Ellen Media. The Embrace privacy policy is located at https:// embracemag.co/privacy-policy/ 10 Ellen Media’s privacy notice can be read at: https://10ellenmedia.com/ privacy-policy/ 4 | Embrace
Kristina Mazalova, Mickayla Hosking, Joyclyn O’Neill, Andrew Johnson
About Embrace Embrace creates an attainable Shangri-La for women where they can live, prosper, and enjoy a healthy and balanced state of tranquillity. At Embrace, we believe that wellness is not only about physical or emotional wellbeing but a balanced harmony of mind, body, and soul as well as their interactions with other individuals. While we embrace the beauty of being, we also look up to embrace the opportunities of becoming. Our readers are women who are young, not only by their age but also within their heart and mind. Embrace offers engaging activities, inspiring ideas, entertaining stories, helpful informational tips, and everything that one needs to live and enjoy a well- balanced life.
Connect with us
Social Media Join in the conversations about the latest Embrace Magazine issues on Instagram and Facebook page.
Website Visit embracemag.co to find out more.
Phone Call us on 07 31 433 334 Monday to Friday 9:00am and 8:00pm AEST. Share your opinion with us. Email us at emreaders@ 10ellenmedia.com
NEXT ISSUE 4 March 2021
© Embrace Magazine 2021
UB
SCRIB
E
see www.em brace.co
SUBSC
RIBE C S S
We welcome a new year with 365 days of new opportunities and beginnings. As we open this new book of 2021 to write new chapters, Embrace brings a fresh perspective on holistic wellness and healthy living.
BE SUB RI
Embrace | 5
52 How Video Games Improve Your Love Life
Wo rk
Grow
Contents Connect
ct e n n Co
54 New Year Resolutions for Social Media Usage
Work 84 Returning to Work after the Holidays 86 Swipe Right
Belong 94 How New Year is Celebrated Around the World 98 Salad, Soup & Smoothie
tain
71 Time to Start Your Personal Budget
Be l o n g
Grow
8 Letter from the Editor
Bou nce
186 Embrace Life Wheel 119 About 10 Ellen
Ca re Bounce 12 Feasible Fitness Resolution 14 Finding Motivation
Care 20 The Pleasure of Empathy
Learn
24 The Language of Flowers 28 Letting it be...
Learn 34 Food for thought – Spearmint 38 Dopamine Fasting for Digital Detox 42 In Plain View – Art Galleries 44 Puzzles
Re
Reflect 108 Exploring Vipassana to live in Zen 112 Ceramics: Calming and Creative
Sustain 60 Eco-Friendly Resolutions for a Better Planet 62 Double Glazing for Efficiency
ct fle Su
Food for Thought Mickayla Hosking
Spearmint
Spearmint is a smaller growing evergreen, native to Europe and western Asia. Sitting around 70cm high, the bright foliage is highly aromatic. Its thumb length leaves are serrated and spear shaped, with square stems common to the Mentha family. When in flower, you may see small pink-y white flowers. You may recognise this mint from some alcoholic beverages such as the Mojito, or lemonade; or perhaps from a refreshing salad at a cafe. Spearmint, similar to peppermint, is a stimulant thereby increasing alertness and cognition, likely due to its rosmarinic acid content. Yes, that name does come from the rosemary plant as that is where the substrate rosmarinic acid was first identified. Traditionally, the herb spearmint has been used to soothe upset stomachs, headaches and minor bites. This is due to its actions as a carminative and antispasmodic for the digestive tract, which is due to the menthol content. Menthol is one of the components that all plants in the mint family share. This is also the component that gives you the cooling feeling. Spearmint also contains phenolic and flavonoid contents which boost the antioxidant content (hello, anti-aging!). There are so many cool things that plants do, but one study used spearmint to see how it impacted memory in those with the natural memory impairment that comes with old age (not Dementia).
34 | Embrace
Herrlinger, et al (2018 ) gave 90 people either 900mg, 600mg or 0mg of spearmint extract for ninety days. The group of 30 people receiving the 900mg of spearmint reported improved sleep onset, improved working memory, with a resulting improvement in mood regulation.
The researchers were looking specifically for changes in memory and sleep as these are incredibly common factors affected by natural cognitive decline. As I mentioned before, spearmint contains both rosmarinic acid and menthol, both of which would be (part of) the effect of spearmint on sleep and memory. These are some of the benefits of spearmint. If you have been thoroughly convinced to include this herb in your diet, here’s a few ways you can do that: • Drink it! Pop a few leaves in your morning smoothie or 1tsp in hot water for a few minutes to make an infusion (tea). • Add to sauces - for some extra freshness in your salsa fresca (pico de gallo) or pesto, finely chop some mint and coriander, or blend into your pesto! • Add to salads and side dishes! Finely chop with your other herbs, you don’t need much as the flavour is quite strong (thanks, menthol). • Infused alcohol (for the adults)! Got some spare vodka or gin lying around? Put a spring or three into your alcohol of choice and leave to infuse for four to eight weeks to your taste preferences. This adds a bit of pep to your drinks when you don’t have fresh herbs on hand.* I don’t recommend this
particular one for nutritional or medicinal purposes, but it is fun!
Mickayla Hosking is a qualified Naturopath. She has completed a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) from Torrens University and currently runs her own naturopathy clinic.
Embrace | 35
36 | Embrace
Embrace | 37
Double Glazing for Efficiency Andrew Johnson
The windows are the eyes of a home but we rarely consider the efficiency of glazing in a home unless we have experienced the benefits or are aware of the information. We all want a comfortable home and windows are an essential part to consider in achieving this when looking at buying, renovating or building a home. Windows are great conductors and transfer energy easily into and out of the home, and this costs us money and comfort. “Up to 40% of a home’s heating energy can be lost and up to 87% of its heat gained through windows. Improving windows’ thermal performance reduces energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.” 1 When looking at buying, renovating or building, consider the impact of your windows, check out: the building’s design (i.e. how does its orientation, design & layout affect the windows performance) location’s climate (i.e. humidity, sunshine, wind & temperature) research thermal properties of glazing systems (i.e. single & double etc)
There are many factors that make up the energy efficiency of a home, and windows are important to consider as you enjoy the view to the outside. Windows also provide heat gain in Summer & in Winter heat loss, so anything you can do to maximise their efficiency is worthwhile, to improve your comfort and can save you money. Growing up in Mount Beauty and skiing at Falls Creek, and working at the State Electricity Commission of Victoria for 13 years together with some work with CertainTeed Double Glazed Windows in Melbourne made me really appreciate the benefits of solar passive design and energy efficiency. Some of the simplest things I notice in a home with double glazing for instance is that I can sit close to the window without feeling discomfort and enjoy the view outside without the heating system working overtime. Have a good look at the windows in the home you’re considering as they have a significant impact on the future comfort and enjoyment you will experience during your ownership. It’s great if an existing home already had double glazing, but if it does not, consider the ways in which you could improve their efficiency and your comfort (i.e., pelmets, curtains, outside shading, any draughts around the window frames).
building materials (i.e. thermal mass & insulation used)
62 | Embrace
1
https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design/glazing
When building or renovating, the added investment of installing double glazing, should save you on such areas as sizing of the heating or cooling systems, window coverings not to mention your ongoing heating and cooling bills.
“Passive design reduces or eliminates the need for auxiliary heating or cooling, which accounts for about 40% (or much more in some climates) of energy use in the average Australian home.” 2
I love looking out the windows in a home, letting in light and feeling connected to the outside environment, and if I can choose a home or investment with double glazing, I will do so to enjoy the energy savings, cost savings, benefit to the environment and increased comfort. We are privileged to have so much information at our fingertips, we just need to take the time to research the information and if you find this brief article of interest please explore the available information as your choices have far reaching consequences. Happy New Year, keep smiling, positive, healthy and happy. Andrew is a licensed estate agent based in Victoria who has enjoyed a long business career in Australia and overseas providing solutions and building a referral business. www.maxjre.com
2
https://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design
Embrace | 63
Andrew is a licensed estate agent, businessman & entrepreneur based in Brown Hill who has enjoyed a long and varied business career in Australia and overseas providing solutions and building a strong referral business.
Mobile 0473 207 988 Email andrew@maxjre.com LinkedIn http://linkedin.com/in/andrew-johnson-8435092 Company Maxwell Johnson Real Estate Pty Ltd Address 9 Gracefield Road, Brown Hill, VIC 3350
64 | Embrace
Embrace | 65
Make a list of your values Your personal budget is a reflection of your values. So, understanding what is important to you is a necessary first step. This step is all about you. Think about what is important to you, what brings you happiness, what brings you joy, what are you trying to achieve. Your values might include: balance, health, marriage, freedom, creativity, family, happiness or empathy and compassion. If you are struggling with your values, we provide you with a list later on in this article.
Set your goals You will need to determine your personal, professional and financial goals. Think about what you want to accomplish over the next 3, 6 and 12 months. Write down your goals. If you are ambitious or you think 12 months is too short a time-frame to work with, try thinking about your goals for the short, medium and long term horizon. Your short-term horizon might be the next 12 months, the medium-term horizon the next threefive years, and the long-term horizon might be 20-30 years. Break down big goals, like buying a house, buying a car or going on a trip around Australia into smaller steps that are easier for you to achieve. Set goals that align with your values and think about how you direct your cash flow to achieve those goals. Set SMARTER Goals.
Based on the original SMART goals concept, first known writings by George T. Doran (November 1981 issue of Management Review), later adapted by Peter Drucker 72 | Embrace
Embrace | 73
Point 3: Conversation If you swiped left – congratulations! If you swiped right and never matched – congratulations! Rejection is a divine protection. If you decided to swipe right and matched – congratulations! Now you have the choice to begin a conversation, if you wish.
Let’s be honest with ourselves – ignoring the elephant in the room rarely plays out well. Despite this, jumping into your professional relationship as a conversation starter may be intimidating, overwhelming or initially unnecessary for some. Analyse how well you know this person, and if you feel comfortable enough – message them! Starting off with something witty and light-hearted could work in your favour. Whether the first message acknowledges your working relationship is up to you, and is a truly subjective choice. Proceed through the conversation at your own pace and address the fact that you’re colleagues at your convenience. There is a certain art to bringing the matter up at the right point in the conversation, and having rapport with the other person would help. However, residing in ambiguity could be harmful down the line, so make a wise call as to when the fact needs to be acknowledged. Later, you could express curiosity about why they swiped right on you and what they are looking for. Be mindful of the steps you take but also do not deprive yourself of something potentially great simply out of fear. Remember your professional integrity and stay faithful to your heart.
“Remember your professional integrity and stay faithful to your heart.”
88 | Embrace
Embrace | 89