Getting back into the swing of figuring out how to balance class assignments, babysitting, writing, and working out after a long summer of relaxation can be tricky. I always feel as if I could use at least six more hours in the day. It’s not easy finding a happy medium between social life and work. In this post, I’m going to talk about ways to manage your time efficiently.

For the first two weeks of being back in school, my schedule was all over the place. My babysitting days and times varied, I was in the middle of changing classes, trying to figure out when I could go to the gym, and on top of that was homework. I felt stressed and bogged down by my never-ending to-do list of priorities.

To organize my new hectic schedule, I took out a notebook and listed everything I had to do. This required checking my school’s online assignment agenda, checking in with the parents of the child I babysit, and even reaching out to friends and asking if we were still on for coffee and dinner dates. Once I had an idea of my urgent assignment due dates and everyone got back to me, I ranked them on a scale of one to ten. One being what I had to do first, and ten being what could be done in leisure time.

After ranking my priorities, I plugged them into an online calendar and wrote them down in a planner I had just bought. Personally, I like doing both because when I write something out on pen and paper, it won’t slip my mind. I’ll remember the act of writing it out.

The feeling of achievement, once I got to cross out tasks I had completed, is indescribable. I even wrote out times I would like to have stuff done by. For instance, I like to get my workout done early, so I made it a goal to get my workout done after one of my morning classes.

Everyone has a different method they like to utilize when it comes to time management, but thus far, I think ranking and writing everything out is the best method for me.

Trusting supplements could be a bit scary sometimes. Not being exactly sure of what’s in them, who makes them, and where they were made are some thoughts that might cross your mind while you’re purchasing them. Sure, the number one ingredient might be plastered on the front of the bottle, but your mind could be left wondering what else is in it.

Pesticides, synthetic additives, fillers, and dyes are just some of the ingredients that are sometimes found in supplements that you should try to avoid. If you’re trying to live the healthiest possible life, these are things you should look to remove from your diet.

Thankfully, there are companies that strive to make supplements with the highest quality and cleanest ingredient possible.

Thorne Research ensures that each ingredient in their products is tested and safe for public consumption. I’m someone who worries about what ingredients my supplements are made with. Knowing that Thorne Research has a record of public trust because they test everything to make sure it’s as natural as it can helps to ease the minds of many. For those with allergies, you’re in the clear because Thorne Research formulates products without the use of hypoallergenic ingredients. One of the ways that the brand ensures ingredient quality is by purchasing the raw ingredient and processing it in their manufacturing center.

As for pesticide, herbicide, and fungicide free products, Desert Essence is a company who guarantees their products are free of all three. For those who are vegetarian and vegan, many of their products contain no animal products, other than a few that contain beeswax. Their products are also gluten free so they’re safe for those with Celiac disease. Desert Essence has a big heart when it comes to animals and the earth, so their products are some of the most natural available on the market today. Leaping Bunny has certified Desert Essence products because they don’t test on animals. Many tend to veer away from companies when they find out that they test on animals, so these are in the clear. I’m someone who tries to keep their products as organic as possible because my skin is quite sensitive, like many others. Your body will thank you for treating it with such clean products and so will the earth and animals.

Curry, thyme, basil, cardamom, how does one begin to make up their mind on which one to go for?

People love spices for their taste and the laundry list of potential health benefits. They’re the superfoods of cooking and could take your meal from a dull one to an outstanding ten.

Spices are even used in personal care products to support skin appearance and feel.

The list of spices could go on for days, but the one in the spotlight today is turmeric. Turmeric, also known as yellow root and curcuma longa, has an earthy taste with a bit of a kick. It is used in cooking, medication, as a dye, and can be found in supplements.

Turmeric doesn’t have a strong taste, but does offer enough of a kick to flavor your meal – it is one of the main ingredients in curry, after all. Not only does this spice offer a mouthwatering taste, but it’s a key player in supplements.

As a medicinal aid, turmeric has been linked with the potential to support a healthy cardiovascular system, the brain, and much more.

There are a variety of ways to add turmeric into your routine. Visit your local grocer and head to the spice aisle to find turmeric as a powder. The grocer may also carry turmeric in its other forms, but you may have better luck at a specialty store or online marketplace.

You can also enjoy turmeric as an essential oil (my favorite), extract, and paste. Personally, my favorite way to make sure I’m including everything nature offers, I get as many things as I can in the essential oil form.

That robust smell of turmeric has been shown to support a healthy mood, which makes it ideal for helping to deal with stress, anxiety, and feelings of depression. I tend to use turmeric essential oil for my mood and have also used it for my skin.

Cooking with turmeric could liven up any dish you make. I like to mix it into stir-fried vegetables. The smell and taste of turmeric bring back warm memories of my childhood. My mother makes bowtie pasta seasoned with turmeric, olive oil, and red bell pepper. I often just shrugged it off as another spice used in cooking, until I was introduced with how large of an impact it makes on our health.