Environmental Health Archives - Page 3 of 7

My family used to travel to the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania often in the summer months. We made lots of great memories going to places like Memorytown, Whispering Hills, and trips to the many parks, lakes, and gorgeous waterfall spots. I remember going to the lake and having fun on the paddle boats with my brother and sisters. We always went to the same American Indian store every time we visited to pick up little souvenirs. I didn’t really appreciate it back then but the Poconos has so much to offer.

Find Peace in the Poconos

The Pocono Mountains are located in Pike County and the Delaware Water Gap which is a quick ride from Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. This serene destination offers many activities but the scenery has to be my favorite. In other words, if you are in need of relieving stress and want to visit a calm destination, this may be the perfect road trip for you!

I hadn’t been back to the Poconos since I was younger before going to college. Then about 7 years ago, I started dating my boyfriend who also shared the love of the Poconos. We had been friends for a while and went to the same college in Connecticut. We actually grew up about 15 minutes away from each other in New Jersey plus we vacationed in the same area as well! His family had built a cute vacation house near the NJ border of the Poconos. I couldn’t believe that growing up I was so close to him. What are the odds! His family’s vacation house is only 10 minutes from the same parks and stores I went to as a kid.

Dingmans Ferry Welcome Center

He took me there a few months after we started dating and I fell in love with the area all over again. I have always loved road tripping and visiting the welcome centers! We visit with the kids a few times per year in the summer and winter. Visiting in any season is relaxing and enjoyable.

This past May on Memorial Day, we got engaged right in front of the lake he grew up going to! It was a really special day because the kids were with us and they all asked me together. I was completely shocked and surprised! 🙂

Unwind and Relax

Just a short walk down a gravel road from the house is this beautiful lake. We go here every time we visit. It is a great place to meditate and just sit on the beach for some peace and quiet. In addition, we like to take walks and go for bike rides around the lake. The air is so fresh and pure up there!

I always enjoy taking pictures and videos of this area to watch when I am back home to remind me of the peaceful trip. Just watching the short videos bring me happiness and help me unwind.

Favorite Parks and Waterfalls in the Poconos

We visit a few times per year for a little rest and relaxation. From where we live in Connecticut it is only a 2 1/2 hour ride. The summer is a great time to visit. We enjoy going to see the waterfalls at the nearby Dingmans Falls and also George W. Childs State Park which unfortunately has been closed for a while due to storms a couple of years ago. However, I did quickly sneak in for just a few pictures last time because I missed it so much.

I enjoy going to see the waterfalls. My favorite pictures to take are of the brooks and waterfalls because that makes me feel happy and relaxed. The hiking trails are easy and not that crowded.

The vacation house is located in a quiet community surrounded by beauty. We usually just hang out at the house and go to the lake which is a quick walk down the road. There is a cute little beach there to sit on and picnic at. You can also go fishing in a boat or right off the dock. The kids like to go on the 4 wheeler and ride bikes around the development. It really is a place to just unwind and relax. However, there is a lot to do in the area like boating, biking, skiing, shopping, hiking trails, parks, tubing, rafting, adventure courses, ziplining, wineries and so much more.

Nothing like sitting by a fire pit to unwind at the end of the day. The kids love roasting marshmallows and making smores. It is a great quality family or a romantic getaway for sure.

On our way back last time we went another way because we were driving to NJ so we had to go over this old historic bridge. They actually have a person standing in the middle of the road to collect $1 to cross over.

Even the ride home is beautiful and there are so many great spots to stop for amazing pictures!

In conclusion, I hope you can get to the Poconos one day and experience the serenity and fun activities this area of Pennsylvania has to offer. Each time we go I feel so calm and refreshed and I always sleep better as well. The Poconos Mountains is definitely a place to add to your bucket list!

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

Travel Around the World

By Jill Ciampi

On June 10, 2020

In Environmental Health, Lifestyle Blog, Stress Management

I have always been fascinated by other cultures and traditions around the world and have a strong desire to travel to different lands. Being a Sociology major in college, I enjoyed learning about how other societies function and what their daily routines are. Per Wikipedia, Sociology is the study of society, patterns of social relationships, social interaction, and culture that surrounds everyday life.

To this day, I like to watch the Discovery and History channels to learn about what is going on in different parts of the world. In other words, I dream of being able to travel and explore the cultures of the world. However, it has not been so easy to pick up and just go especially because of the pandemic. Therefore, travel must be put on hold for now. One day hopefully soon we can all get back on the road!

One of my passions is photography and I enjoy capturing moments while traveling. Although I have not made it to many different countries outside of the USA, I continue to dream about exploring the rest of the world. In addition, I created an entire board on Pinterest about traveling abroad. There are 7 continents and 197 countries in our world today.

Places I Have Visited

I have only been to a very limited amount of places outside the USA. My travels include road trips, cruises, and trips to resorts so far. However, most of my travel to date has been in the US and some outlying islands. First, let me share where I have enjoyed traveling. After that, I will share where I would love to go.

Cancun, Mexico

Bahamas- Freeport, Disney’s Castaway Cay
Barbados
Cayman Islands
Dominica

Castaway Cay in the Bahamas

Dominican Republic – Punta Cana and Puerta Plata
Martinique
Mexico- Cancun, Cozumel, Tulum, Playa del Carmen
Jamaica- Ochos Rios
Saint Maarten

Punta Cana

My Travel Dreams

One of these days I would love to make it to some of the below destinations. For instance, my top 3 being Italy, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. In addition, here are the countries on my bucket list.

Europe

Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands

Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
The United Kingdom, Scotland & Wales
Vatican City (Holy See)

ASIA

India
Indonesia
Israel
Japan

Maldives
Philippines
Thailand
United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Africa

Egypt
Madagascar
Morocco
South Africa

North America

Antigua
Aruba
Belize
Canada
Costa Rica
Saint Lucia
Curacao
Turks and Caicos Islands

South America

Argentina
Brazil
Peru

Australia and Oceania

Australia
Fiji
New Zealand

Travel For Stress Management

Even though I may never reach most of these in my lifetime I still like to dream! Have you been to any of these countries? What have your experiences been there? I always love to hear about people’s travels. In conclusion, here’s hoping we can all travel very soon because it is a very great self-care practice and my favorite stress management tool! Above all, travel can be a tool to escapes the stress of daily life.

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

USA Travel Bucket List

By Jill Ciampi

On April 21, 2020

In Anxiety & Depression, Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Lifestyle Blog, Physical Health, Stress Management

What’s your USA travel bucket list?

Since we have been stuck at home, I found myself daydreaming about where I would want to travel once this is all over. I realized that there is a long list of places I have not been to yet. Traveling and taking vacations play a huge part in our physical and emotional health. Therefore, being able to escape from everyday life is a great way to recharge and rest your mind and body so you can manage stress. In addition, traveling helps you to experience different cultures and explore places and traditions you wouldn’t normally be exposed to. This is good for your soul! If you are fortunate to have the means to travel, it can be one of the best things you can do for your health.

Disney Cruise to the Caribbean

Lately, I have been reminiscing and looking through old photos of the trips I have been on. I have always loved capturing moments wherever I go. Photos have a way of taking you right back to that moment in time and can bring a lot of joy. Either way, it is a fun activity to immerse yourself in anything that doesn’t involve watching TV. Although, I do love passing the time watching the Travel Channel!

My USA Travel Journey

The pool at Melia Caribe Resort- Punta Canta

As a kid, my family did not travel far but we did explore many local destinations in the Tri-State area. We took many trips down to the Jersey Shore from Pt. Pleasant to Long Beach Island, one of my favorites! Being a family of four did not always allow us to travel to far and exotic places but that’s ok. We spent a lot of time on the amazing Jersey beaches and amusement parks. In addition, we visited upstate NY and the Poconos mountains which are filled with lots of activities and beautiful landscapes.

We got the opportunity to visit Disney World a few times when I was younger so that was a real treat! There were lots of road trips and so many interesting stops along the way. Besides Florida, I didn’t travel on a plane again until I was a senior in college to go on spring break in Cancun, Mexico. Now that would be a great post but let’s leave that for another time. It may take a while to even remember what happened on that trip… but I can tell you that the pictures were amazing!

Childs State Park- Poconos

Disney Cruise & Castaway Cay

Travel Memories with Family & Friends

My sister and I were travel partners for a while and we had lots of adventures. We vacationed in Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Captiva Island, Sedona, Nashville, Palm Springs, Las Vegas, and the Bahamas. We always talked about doing a cross country RV trip but never got around to it. However, it is definitely still on my list!

Venetian Canal- Vegas

Red Rock Canyon in Sedona

Grand Canyon

My friends and I also shared a lot of adventures down the Jersey shore, California, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Caribbean cruise to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Barbados, Dominica, Martinique, and southern Florida. I always wanted to travel more with my friends but that got harder once they settled down and had kids. My college friends are planning a trip to Aruba to celebrate all of us turning 50 in a few years so that will be epic!

Long Beach Island- Jersey Shore

Captiva Island, Florida

Love & Travel

In the last several years, I have been able to travel with my fiance and his kids which is always an adventure! What sticks out the most is the Disney cruise that went to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, and Cozumel. To be honest, the cruise was so great I would go back even without the kids! The unforgettable memory from that trip was climbing Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica. That was a terrifying but incredibly beautiful climb!

Our family went to Disney World last year and Universal Studios a few years ago. Fun times! My favorite vacation so far with another couple to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. We stayed at an adult-only resort, Melia Caribe Tropicale, and it was the most relaxing trip to date. I remember not wanting to come back home! My fiance and I plan to go to Italy at some point in the next 5 years which is still my #1 bucket list destination and always will be!

Bay Lake Towers- Disney

Universal Studios- Florida

Animal Kingdom- Disney

Cinderella’s Castle- Magic Kingdom in Disney

USA Travel

Looking back at pictures got me thinking about where I have been and also where I haven’t been yet. There are so many places I want to see right here in the good ole USA. Since I have made connections with several travel bloggers, I realize how many places I have yet to go. I spent some time writing a new travel bucket list for the USA. Of course, I would love to see every state eventually- maybe on that RV road trip!

My Top 25 USA Bucket List

Outer Banks- North Carolina
Yosemite National Park- California
Yellowstone National Park- Wyoming
Glacier Caves- Alaska
Niagra Falls- New York
Lake Tahoe- California
Great Smokey Mountains- Tennessee
Acadia National Park- Maine
Napa Valley-California
Historic Savannah- Georgia
Key West, Florida
Northern Lights- Alaska
Hawaii- beaches and volcanoes
Georgia Aquarium- Atlanta
Alcatraz- San Francisco
Glacier National Park- Montana
Natural Bridge Caverns- Texas
University of Michigan Football Stadium
Zion National Park- Utah
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame- Ohio
Jack Daniels Distillery- Tennessee
Smithsonian National Museum- Washington, DC
Graceland- Tennessee
Dude Ranch- anywhere in the West!
Basilica of the National Shrine- Washington, DC

Below is a list of the US states and how many I have been to. My count is currently at 21….what’s your number?

Alabama

Alaska

How many US States have you been to and what are your favorites? Stay tuned for my next list of where I would love to travel outside of the USA. In conclusion, work on your bucket list and keep dreaming of your favorite destinations. We will get back out there sooner or later!

Lake George- NY

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

My To-Do Lists to Stay Motivated

By Jill Ciampi

On March 30, 2020

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Nutritional Health, Physical Health, Spiritual Health, Stress Management

Do You Write To-Do Lists?

What is so great about writing out to-do lists? In times like these, it is so important to have some kind of plan to stay positive and give yourself a fighting chance to overcome stress and anxiety. Last week, I shared 25 Ways to Survive Stressful Times to help give you ideas on what to do while stuck at home. I have so many different ideas on how to spend my time since I had to shut down my massage therapy office. I miss working on my clients and the feeling of satisfaction when I can provide one hour of stress and pain relief for them.

When I am not working on my blog or coaching business, I like to still keep myself busy and work on my personal growth. One of my passions is to learn new things and find exciting hobbies to keep me busy. For example, I create to-do lists to keep my mind organized so I can remember everything I want to do.

Each day brings new challenges whether it’s helping the kids with their homework, cleaning up after their messes, finding ways to keep them busy, and getting used to the new “normal” of this extra time together.

As an introvert, I need more alone time than the average person to recharge and be able to cope with the stressors of each day. So, every day I try to focus on how I can be a better “bonus” mom and partner so that we can all live in harmony. Some days it is truly exhausting! However, I try to remember the positive and that we are all healthy and blessed with a nice home to live in and have love in our hearts and wonderful friends and family.

Insights on my Daily To-Do List

Each day I wake up and read devotionals from my 2 favorite books that my mom gave me, Jesus Calling and Joyce Meyer’s Starting Your Day Right. Doing this gives me the strength to face the new day with the armor of God. It helps me set the mood of the day and helps lower the anxiety that is always simmering. I am not a morning person at all so I need some extra time before I leave the bedroom to get my head right before interacting with anyone else.

Once I feel ok to start my day, I usually eat breakfast within an hour of waking up. I have been trying to stick to a regular schedule of eating so I don’t go off track and binge. Additionally, I always try to work out in the morning to get it over with. Structure works well for me!

After my morning routine, I check my e-mails and then scroll through my business social media accounts. I have been trying to spread caring and hopeful messages each day on my social media. Then I check my website for any new comments on my posts so I can interact with the people who follow me.

Being a business owner, you really always have to stay connected a large part of the day to stay in touch with clients and followers. I don’t mind doing this because I love connecting with old and new friends!

How I Stay Motivated

Making time to work out and cook healthy meals is also an important part of my day. I try to get work projects done before dinner and then have the rest of the night to spend time with family and unwind.

In the last few weeks of being home, I have had extra time to sort out what needs to be worked on and any other projects that have been held up in the wings. It is important for me to feel somewhat productive each day and I like to be able to check stuff off my list! Here’s some stuff that I do to keep my mind busy and feel productive to ward off anxious thoughts from creeping in.

My Business To-Do List

Develop new online group and DIY coaching programs
Learn about Google Analytics to grow my e-mail list
Take a class on SEO for my website
Update my old blog posts and optimize for SEO
Research new topics for my blog and conduct interviews with health professionals
Update my business books and expenses
Finish my taxes
Stay in touch with my massage therapy clients during the shutdown
Clean up my business social media accounts
Create a media kit for my blogging business on Canva
Use PicMonkey to create photos for my blog
Take a Pinterest class on how to build my following
Clean up my shared drive folders and organize my files
Take the 10K Traffic Challenge course to grow my blog following
Update my website content and try out new themes

My Personal To-Do List

Clean the house over and over again!
Organize the kitchen cabinets
Shop for healthy food and some treats too!
Bring food over to the food pantry
Clean out my car
Find a new personal growth class to take
Read more books. I am currently reading a very inspirational book Tim Tebow’s- This is the Day
Keep up with laundry
Sort through vacation photos and do something with them!
Take off pictures from my phone and upload to the computer
Make a new recipe every few days
Keep posting positive messages daily on social media accounts
Help kids with homework
Stay active every single day and sweat out any toxins
Go outside every day for fresh air
Watch some new Netflix shows – excited for the new season of Ozark!
Watch Mass on Facebook live every Sunday morning
Listen to one guided meditation daily
Play more board games with the kids
Learn about gardening and photography
Check-in with family and friends. My college friends have been doing a Zoom “happy hour” every week and it is so nice to see their faces and vent!
Last but not least- spend quality time with my family and always eat at least dinner together so we can chat. Relationships will surely be tested during this forced time together but praying that it will bring us all closer and stronger!

Write Out Your Goals

Have you been putting something off until a later time to work on?

Now is a great time to start working on your goals. Why not use this time and make progress on becoming a better version of yourself. You may not be a fan of writing to-do lists and that is ok! I am just sharing what helps me. What may help is looking at each of those 5 Aspects of Whole Health that I have shared in older posts– Physical, Emotional, Nutritional, Environmental, and Spiritual™©.

Take a look at how you can improve your life from that perspective and I promise you will come up with lots to keep you busy. What are some things you have been doing at home that have helped you pass the time? Work on your to-do list today! Whatever it is, I hope you are all staying safe and healthy. This too will pass 🙂

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

25 Ways to Survive Stressful Times

By Jill Ciampi

On March 19, 2020

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Nutritional Health, Physical Health, Spiritual Health, Stress Management

During really stressful times, our brains sometimes cannot recall what is best to do for ourselves or our families. Being overwhelmed is a symptom of not having the ability to manage stress. Hey- I have been there thousands of times! Some of us with anxiety are just naturally more prone to feeling overwhelmed easily. It’s ok. There is nothing wrong with you for feeling that.

We are living in a world right now that is extremely stressful and uncertain at times. Did you know that anxiety is caused by worry and fear of the future and affects how we feel about our security and safety? Whether you are anxious or not, here are some ways to get your mind off the worries and fears of whatever is going on in your world.

25 Ways to Survive Stressful Times

Stay on track with your routine for yourself and your kids.

Move every day. Take a walk, run, or watch an exercise video online. Some of my favorites are Jessica Smith, Leslie Sansone, PopSugar, and Fitness Blender. I like a good mix of walking, strength, and interval training workouts.

Pray or meditate and read something positive daily. I like the apps Calm and Breethe and I just recently found a Christian app called Abide.

Take a break from electronics. Too much screen time can cause more anxiety. Stop watching the stressful news all day!

Watch a funny show or video. Youtube has a ton of them! Seinfeld and Friends reruns make me happy!

Schedule in some alone time even if it’s only 15 minutes. Find somewhere in the house, even the bathroom, to be alone!

Go outside, explore nature, and get some fresh air. Soak up the sunshine for some extra Vitamin D.

Start a bucket list of places you want to eventually travel to and then go on Pinterest and pin them for future review.

Update your personal and professional goals. It will help you remember your purpose and stay organized.

Get your kids involved in self-care routines like creative play and healthy movement. For example, do a guided meditation with them.

Ten More to Go!

Clean your house one room at a time! Organizing and cleaning are my 2 top ways to fight anxiety.

Get rid of unnecessary clutter and old clothes you don’t wear anymore and donate to a charity.

Play with your pets. We have a dog and he brings so much joy and stress relief to me daily! They need love and exercise too!

Organize your closets. Put your winter clothes away and get out some spring clothes.

Movie night. Netflix and Amazon Prime have great choices for all ages.

Play board games or cards. My new favorites in our house are 20 Questions and Blank Slate.

Do some yard work. Gardening or an outdoor project at your house will keep you busy and outside in the fresh air!

Watch virtual tours online like Virtual Traveler, or visit museums all over the world. My favorite is watching the aquarium webcams!

Sing karaoke! The Echo Show has the option to display the lyrics. I can’t believe how many words to songs I get wrong!

Last But Not Least

Read the latest novel. Check out Amazon’s list of best sellers. I like reading on my Kindle usually but still enjoy actually picking up a real book

Expand your knowledge and take online classes. Udemy has some great options! There are some great apps too for learning a new language like Babbel.

Set up a virtual hangout for friends or family with Zoom or Google Hangouts, or House Party from the comfort of your home! I also like the app, Marco Polo, which allows you to send quick videos to your contacts individually or a group.

Meal preparation. Now that we have more time at home, I am trying to plan and cook more especially to avoid last-minute bad choices! For new recipe ideas, scroll through Pinterest, and watch cooking videos on Tasty or YouTube.

Talk to a professional like a therapist or coach who can offer some extra help on how to manage stress better. Most of them offer telephone or online chats.

Have a Plan

The best way to overcome those stressful days is to acknowledge what you are feeling and then have a self-care plan in place to refer to when needed. You know the quote “have a plan or plan to fail.” I find that having a printed out list works for me and then I can choose what I feel up to doing at that specific time.

Above all, please take care of yourself first so you can be there for your family. I chose to have faith that eventually things will get better. Stay healthy and positive. My prayers and thoughts are with you. Please share what stress management tools work for you!

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.