All the benefits a pet brings to our children and our entire family are amazing.  Several studies have revealed the medical, physical and psychological benefits of having a pet at home. Pediatricians discuss whether it is convenient for a child to have a pet because of allergies they may cause, however we can always work within these limitations. If our son or any member of our family is allergic to dogs for example, we can get a turtle or a fish instead. No matter what size or type of pet we have, it will help us in countless ways.
We need to keep in mind, when making the decision of bringing a new member (pet) into our family, that a pet needs specific care and love, but also will help us  strengthen the bonds of love, create positive effects in all aspects of the lives of our children and ourselves.

We manage to obtain physical benefits when playing with our pet or cleaning the fish tank or garden. For example, dogs need to play, which means that our children, or ourselves, walk, run or jump. Bunnies and turtles need us to keep our garden clean, fish need a clean fish tank, and this involves doing certain physical activities that are beneficial to health.
Having a pet at home is taking care of a life, and this develops various values in people. Knowing that we have to care for, protect and meet the needs of a pet develops the values of responsibility, organization, reflection and respect. Responsibility by caring, feeding and taking to the vet; organization by managing time for care, cleaning, food purchase etc. The reflection and respect on a life in charge, the decisions that we should and should not make when acquiring a pet.

Among the psychological benefits, we can find that pets provide unconditional affection, which makes the feelings of the people in charge of him or her emerge and allow them to be more open, communicative, positive and happy. Because of purity in feelings and the growth process, our children are the ones who acquire the greatest psychological benefits when having a pet.
 
 "There are some studies that show that a child with a pet improves self-confidence and self-esteem, as well as strengthening the immune system of young people and lowering stress levels," said psychologist Fanny Franco, royal Canin advisor and specialist in child and adolescent care at the Si-Health Integral organization.
 
 If our children are in charge of a pet as a child, it is easier for them to develop high self-esteem and self-confidence, which helps them become more sociable, happy and confident.  At the same time, they understand the cycle of life, birth-development-reproduction and death.
It is scientifically proven that having a pet will obtain the following benefits:
1. Reducing blood pressure
2. Increased safety and self-esteem
3. Reduces stress
4. Lower the anxiety level
5. Encourages you to project feelings
6. Stimulates exercises
7.  Increases Serotonin and Dopamine Levels
8. Controls high blood pressure.
Having a pet is a beautiful thing. It's a life, it's one more member of the family. Consider all of these benefits but also think about the responsibilities a pet entails. Don't get a pet if you're not willing to take full, responsible care of it.

​​1. A NEW DAY, A NEW OPPORTUNITY:
Every time the sun comes up, it's a new opportunity. Take advantage of it.  Every day we open our eyes is a day where we can change our past and improve our future. Let us rise with joy and excitement that this day we will be able to do what we could not do yesterday. We can change what we don't like. Stop wasting your time and get working on a new opportunity. Start your day by giving thanks for everything you have, everything you've achieved and most importantly, giving thanks for what you're going to achieve today.

2. EXERCISE
Studies have shown that the best thing we can do for our health and to lead a productive life in all its senses is to exercise. Many of us don't give the necessary importance to working out, but if we exercise first thing in the morning the benefits are multiple and countless. You have to take into account that the best time to exercise is in the morning, being the first thing you do in the day. This way you will start your day full of energy, without stress and especially at that time no one will interrupt you and you will have no excuse. Exercising helps us be productive, healthy and sleep like royalty.
 
 3. POSITIVE ATTITUDE
Try to maintain a quiet environment in the morning. This will help you lift your spirits. If we are happy and relaxed we will be more productive. If we are happy, with a positive attitude we will be more productive and successful.
 
4. SET A ROUTINE
Following a routine established in at least the first two to three hours in the morning helps us know in advance exactly what we are going to do, and this way we will not have any kind of stress or anxiety. At the same time we avoid being distracted from our objectives.  An example of a routine in the mornings would be to wake up at the same time every day, exercise a little, do a short meditation and get ready for work.
 
 5. ZERO SOCIAL NETWORKS, MAIL OR NAVIGATION DURING THE MORNING
Set aside social networks or internet browsing and fulfill your obligations first. Don't check your mail the first thing in the morning; leave it for later.  Focus on your goals and put each other's goals on hold.  Checking your mail in the morning is going to stress you out and ruin your good mood. (Tip #1) If you work away from home try not to browse social networks until you return at night and if your job demands it, try to do only work activities. Don't waste your time. Leave social media and browsing for your free time, as an entertainment and not as an addiction.  
 
6. YOUR AGENDA
Make a list of things to do the night before. You can divide them into three sections:
a. What I have to do tomorrow
b.  What I have to do this week
c. What I have to do for the next week
Once you are clear about the goals of the day and the next two weeks, start working on that day. If you manage to finish them, start doing some of the other things for the week and so progressively.  I recommend you buy an agenda and write every night the things you have to do and divide them into the three sections. I know it's a very repetitive process but it helps us a lot because if you write the same thing every day, you're very clear about what you need to finish and when you finish you cross it out and this serves as a motivation to undertake the next task.
 
 7. WHEN WORKING, WORK:
When you're in business hours try to keep all distraction away from you. Distractions can be different for each person; for example, stop surfing the internet, conversations with co-workers, gossip, cafeteria trips, etc.
 
8. YOUR HOUSE IS YOUR HOME:
You have to set limits. You have to leave work in your office; don't take work home. Learn how to manage your time so that work can be covered in working hours and at home you dedicate your time to your loved ones. Human beings need to have time to rest and interact with people close to them. This fills us with peace, harmony and refreshes us for the next day.
 
 9. MEDITATE OR READ BEFORE SLEEP:
Turn off electronic devices and relax by meditation or reading. Meditation is ideal for bringing clarity to your mind. The more you practice the habit of meditation you will improve your focus and concentration.  At the same time, if you read at least half an hour before bed, it helps you relax and rid your mind of daily problems.
 
10. REST
Having a restful sleep of at least eight effective hours recharges your mind and body for the next day's activities, in addition to providing other benefits to your health.

Death is a very difficult subject for any human being and more so if it is the death of a loved one. Several times we get lost in the pain and sadness caused by mourning. In those difficult times we think that we will never be happy again, but life goes on, and we have to start living our life again with the same enthusiasm and energy as before without forgetting our loved one. Follow the tips below to move forward after a big loss:

1. You have the right to have bad days: don’t feel bad because there are days that you feel sad or numb. This is normal. It's a process and it takes time. But when you have bad days, you must remember that good days will also come and that you must try to enjoy those good days more often.
2. You have the right to have good days:  Don't feel bad if you feel like laughing, making jokes, or wanting to be happy. We have the misconception that when we lose a loved one, everything around us must be sadness, crying, and pain. This idea is wrong, however. We have to be very clear that we are still alive and that it is natural that we laugh and seek happiness. Because we are quarreled and happy does not mean that we are disrespecting the memory of our loved one. Their life, and their death, will always be part of us.
3. Talk about your pain:  Don't keep quiet. Expressing your feelings will help you vent and you'll feel less weight on your shoulders. We all have to vent once in a while.
4. Do not change your loved one: Remember that person as he or she was with his or her faults and virtues. Just because they are no longer in this earthly world, it doesn't mean that your relationship with that person had to be perfect. You may have feelings of anger or have some unresolved matter with that person. You can express these feelings alone and loudly. Don't be left with repressed feelings; let them out of your body.
5. Always remember your loved one:  Don't forget them. They were part of our lives, and they must remain so in our memories. Forgetting does not make it easier to move forward, so you must remember to accept that they are gone and that you should keep on walking.
6. Keep your way of life:  Schedules, routines, habits and customs are good allies. They bring us back to the reality of everyday life. You don't have to force it either. If you feel one day that you don't have the strength to do them, stop. There´s no problem. Tomorrow you'll have the strength. Gradually it all returns to normal. The departure of a loved one is a hard blow, yet unfortunately it is the cycle of life and we must move on. You will gradually learn to live with their physical absence and remember them with happiness.
   
   

 

How many times have you set out to improve your life? Several of us set out to make radical changes at the end of the year and for our birthdays, but how many of us really make it? The answer is VERY few.
 
Many times, we get confused in setting goals and creating new habits. What do we really need to be able to make positive changes in our lives and maintain them?

1. Establishing the difference between goal and habit: A habit is a continuous action which, most of the time, is done unconsciously. We can say that it is the process and it is long term. A goal is something short-term and conscious with an objective in mind. That is, a goal is reached or completed but a habit is repetitive and maintained.  Habits lead us to achieve our goals.

2. Identifying necessary goals and habits: We need to identify what we want to achieve. What will be our goal? Once we know where we want to go, we need to consider what we need to get there. For example, if our goal is to win a marathon, we must acquire the habit of exercising every day and gradually it will be something that our body will demand, and we will do it almost automatically. Our final destination is to participate in the marathon (goal) but for that we need to exercise every day (habits) to be able to improve our physique and endurance. The goal is short-term as it ends once we finish the marathon but the habit - the need to exercise every day - will continue with us in the long term.
3. Focus on the process and not the final destination: We have a habit of wanting to give a 180 degree turn to our lives, and we want a total change from one day to the next. Unfortunately doing this is counterproductive and leads to frustration. Continuing with the example above, we will have neither the physique nor the resistance for a marathon with a single day of training, even if we spend all day in the gym. In these cases, we should always have the goal as a starting point or a direction, but our attention and emotions in the day to day, in other words in the process, in the formation of a new habit.

4. 80/20 rule : This rule is useful in all areas of our lives and especially when we want to reach a goal and acquire a new habit. We should always ask ourselves, what 20% of our effort produces 80% of our results? With the example of our training for the marathon we must study, analyze and specify which exercise or routine performing it 20% gives us 80% of the desired result.

5. Eliminate bad habits: No human being is perfect, therefore we all have at least one bad habit. We need to identify what activities we do that take us away from achieving our goals and are hampering our path to our final destination. To eliminate a bad habit, we must analyze why it is negative and its consequences. This way every time we do it we can rationalize the reason we must eliminate it immediately. Following the example of the marathon, if we have the bad habit of not drinking water, we must rationalize that the human body needs to hydrate and more if it is exercising. We know that the lack of hydration will affect us in the marathon and our physical condition in general.

6. Introduce new habits: After knowing where we want to go, how we are going to get there and what we have to do, comes the difficult part, introduce a new habit. At first, we will have to struggle to carry out the new desired activity but gradually we will require less effort and then we will do so as part of our lives, with barely any thought about it. For example, when we were little our parents fought with us to brush our teeth, at first we forced ourselves, but today we already do it as part of our routine and does not cause us any discomfort, on the contrary if we do not do it we feel uncomfortable, with the feeling that something lacks us.

7. Monitor your process: It is necessary to monitor our process either ourselves or by finding a person who identifies with our desired goals and habits. If we do it ourselves it is important that we keep a record of the days where we have carried out the desired activity and the days that we have not. At the end of the month we will see how our efforts have been and what we must improve. If we do it with someone else, we must motivate each other and be honest with them. This person should be someone who shares our goals and desires to acquire new habits.
 
"Habit, if not resisted, soon becomes necessity" -St. Augustine

​Look back and remember when you were a kid and you were playing hide-and-seek, tag or a spent a lot of time riding a bike. It sure was a fun and healthy childhood. Many of us would like our children to have a childhood similar to ours or to that of children in decades past.
 
Today our little ones have a new kind of fun through video games. This kind of fun every day gains greater strength and interest in children and even in some adults. There are many reasons why children are exposed to this type of games, but what are the positive and negative consequences for our children?
 
Video games are fun, entertaining and challenging, and they develop perseverance and encourage the development of connecting thoughts with manual skill. At the same time however, abusing these games or spending a lot of time in front of a screen produces negative effects. When the constant fun of the little ones is through video games, they develop a growing desire for instant entertainment that decreases their attention span and concentration, harms their hearing, does not contribute to their social development, does not stimulate their imagination and endless negative consequences.

Everything in life has to have a balance. In the technological age in which we live it is almost impossible for our children not to have access to video games, but it is our responsibility not to let them fall into abuse. Our goal, in this situation, should not be for our children not to play video games but to teach them that there are many different ways to have fun and enjoy life. To decrease the time the little ones play video games follow the following tips:

1. Play with your child your favorite video game. This way you will realize the tastes or interests of your child, at the same time teaching him that you are willing to try new forms of entertainment and then it will be easier to introduce him to forms of entertainment of his own. Remember that you have to set an example first.
2. Record the time used in video games for a week. For a week you will be an inspector at your home, you will take note of how long your child plays video games, and your child will have to put his or her name on each annotation. At the end of the week, discuss and analyze whether the amount of time invested in video games is appropriate. I'm sure your child hasn't considered how much free time he spends on this activity.
3. Set a set schedule to play video games at home. A possible schedule could be zero hours from Monday to Thursday, since this time is for school and extracurricular activities, two hours daily on Friday to Sunday. This schedule can be modified during the holidays or summer vacation.
4. Together, make a list of activities that could be performed in the amount of time used weekly in video games. Ask your child what activities he or she would like or seem interesting to him or her. Teach them traditional forms of fun, such as scratch, trumpets, stilts, marbles. With this list you will have an idea of what you can do with your child and have fun together. Another option is to include your friends and plan an afternoon of activities with them.
    
   5. Think about a long-term project that you could help your child do at home. A project that motivates and excites your child. It could be the construction of a dollhouse or a small soccer goal. Use your imagination! This activity will not only take you away from video games, it will also help you organize your time, manage a budget, improve the family relationship and once the project is completed, it will help their self-esteem.
    
   Never forget that it's not an easy task to be parents but immensely rewarding.

 

​We all want to improve our lives, but many times we see that we have to make a drastic change and we quickly demotivate ourselves, lose direction and fail to achieve that change that we craved. We don't need 180-degree changes, we just need to modify small actions and take small steps and we'll see great results. Follow these tips and you'll see how you'll quickly feel more motivated, energetic, and happy.

1. Watch what you eat
For multiple reasons it is sometimes difficult to maintain a totally healthy diet, but we can make certain modifications, which will make big changes.
​

• Try to minimize the consumption of sodas. You can replace them with water, cold tea, green tea or natural juices. Remember that drinking a lot of water is the best thing!
• Avoid fast food. Homemade food is healthier. Make sure it's balanced. 
• Eat 5 times a day, between breakfast, lunch and dinner, have snacks. The best things for snacks are fruits or seeds of any kind.
• The best investment you can make for your body are vitamins. Never forget to take your vitamins every morning.

2. Exercise
You do not need to be part of a gym or purchase any equipment. If you like to exercise but do not want to invest, you can do it at home. If you're not one of those people who like to exercise, you can make small changes and not even notice that you're exercising.

• Don't park your vehicle near the entrance, so you'll be forced to walk.
• If you are not in a hurry do not use the elevator, use the stands.
• Load the supermarket bags yourself and if you want to, use them as weights to exercise for a few minutes.
• Play with your kids. This will help you exercise and have quality time with your loved ones.

3. Materialize your dreams
Take a moment to dream. Imagine you can make the scenario you want no matter what, what would it be? Once, to be clear about your dream, it's time to make it happen. Write in your calendar all the actions that you must take to materialize it. Every day you must do something, even if it is small, that brings you closer to reaching your vision. There's no better day than today to start working on what you want! 

4. Leave behind bad habits
We are human beings and therefore we are not perfect. We have flaws and it is our obligation to try to correct them. Gradually we can improve and eliminate bad habits. No matter what your bad habit is, (smoking, overeating, disorganization, etc.) any bad habit can be modified little by little. Don't think you can change it overnight, but a change day by day will make a huge difference. (In another article we will talk about ways to overcome vices and bad habits.)

5. Be grateful
There is no person in this world who does not have something I should be grateful for. Waking up every day, being alive is a great blessing. Always before bed and when it comes to getting up let's think about five things for which we are grateful. In this way we will begin to count more blessings and less negative events. When we appreciate we change the way we think and see life.  A grateful person is a happy person.

We are always dreaming of happiness and we forget that we ourselves are the ones who decide not to be happy.  Every day we have the opportunity to make the decision of which direction we want to go, and most important, how we will do it. Every feeling of happiness begins with gratitude for the material things and blessings we already have.

​Tips to be positive:
 
 1. Watch your thoughts.
Your thoughts control your life. If you have negative thoughts, you will only see the bad things or the ugly side of your life; if you have positive thoughts you will focus on the good and start to see all the beautiful things you have. Every time a negative thought comes to mind, make the decision to change it to something positive. In every situation, no matter how tough, sad or ugly, there is always something positive. It's a task you have to do every day, but it will get easier as you do it.
2. Use technology as a tool.
In our work, in our free time, we almost always make use of electronic devices, but we almost never use them in a productive way for our growth. From now on, let's use technology to put music to our liking, music that makes us happy, that lifts our spirits. Let's put images that have a positive impact on us as the wallpaper on our phones and computers. Let's use the internet to search for positive news. Read or listen to audiobooks. Use your imagination to use this tool for your growth and productivity.
 
3. Make a list of 3 daily things.
Every day take a little while to write three things you're grateful for. It won't take more than 5 minutes, but it will have a big impact on your day. As you write those 3 things, feel the joy of having them. These three things can range from material things to things we sometimes take for granted, such as our health, getting up in the morning, our five senses, and our loved ones.
 
4.  Give a smile every day.
Believe it or not, human beings find joy when we give to others. A smile is the most beautiful thing one human can give to another. Happiness is contagious. Smile, give joy, and change someone´s day.
 
  5. Exercise.
I won't get tired of repeating how important it is to exercise. It doesn't have to be something intense, with you walking 10 minutes, going up the stairs instead of using the elevator or dancing three songs will be enough to raise your heartbeat to produce the hormones of happiness. Remember that exercise is the best antidepressant in the world, and as a side effect you will have a better figure. Be grateful that you have the option to exercise. Not everyone has it.

There are many reasons that may cause your depression, and when a person faces this situation they often believe that they are alone. However, depression is a disorder that affects more than 350 million people in the world.
When depression is not treated in time it can become a serious problem, affecting all areas in one person’s life, causing much suffering.
If you believe you are in this situation, it is necessary that you see a psychologist or psychiatrist for a correct evaluation and diagnosis and to provide you with the right treatment.
Once diagnosed with depression, the patient must begin their treatment, one which, in most cases, includes a combined action of pharmacological and psychological therapy.
This may be very hard to achieve, and even following the advice I am about to give you can be challenging, but if you try, little by little you will notice the difference these recommendations will make in your life.
 

1. The Monster in Your Head: Depression is like a small, monstrous child that tells us how we should feel or see yourselves. How do we destroy it? When the monster tells us “don’t get out of bed”, is when you know you have to do the exact opposite. Get up and get moving. When the monster tells you “you look ugly”, put on your favorite outfit. When it tells you “cry”, find a way to smile, whether it is by watching a funny movie or remembering happy moments. The way to kill this monster that makes us feel so bad and down is by showing it that what it tells us is not true by doing the opposite of what it wants us to do.
2. Physical Activity: Physical activity is fundamental to combat our depressive state. It has been proven that physical exercise creates an increase in endorphin production and relieves stress. You may even wear your work out outfit as pajamas and wear them to bed so as to be ready to exercise as soon as you get out of bed in the morning. You can go out for a 30 minute run or jog, or even walk if it is all you can do. You can also do any physical activity that you best enjoy or that you want. This is better doing in the morning to have your body free of stress and full of endorphins to enjoy a more relaxed and enjoyable day.
3. Mirror Smiles: Every time you look in a mirror, smile at yourself and manifest “I AM HAPPY”. This can feel a little ridiculous at the beginning and you may even find yourself laughing at this thinking you’re crazy, but little by little it will help you change those negative thoughts for positive ones and get you smiling.
4. Company: At first you will want to be alone and you may even feel bothered by being surrounded by people. But being around others helps you think about other things, clear your mind and even help you change your negative thoughts, teaching you to value your life and yourself as a person. Also, if there is someone you can really count on, this person can help you grow out of your depressive state by making appointments with said person to do activities that you enjoy, even if it is just short 30 minute walk. If you know that this person counts on you to be there, it will motivate you to get up and show up.
5. Journal of Joy: Buy yourself a small journal or notebook. In this notebook you will write, every night, 5 positive things or blessings that you found or thought of during the day. These can be simple things such as having a stranger greet you in the elevator, managing to get out of bed that day, the birds singing, etc. You must write 5 different things every day. On Sunday, you can read all the things you wrote during the week, and you will start to realize that even during the storm you can find rays of sunshine.
6. Playlist: Make a playlist that includes all your favorite songs. Try having it on your phone or any device that is readily available to you. These songs must be happy, rhythmic, and motivating. So much so that they make you want to dance and sing and bring back happy memories. Listen to these songs every chance you get; when you’re driving in your car, or (and especially) when you’re feeling a little down. This technique will help you boost your mood in a matter of seconds.
7. Your Clothes, Your Best Friend: When you’re depressed you don’t even want to think about what you are going to wear, but think that you have to get dressed anyways. Give a little 20% extra on your efforts and find something that makes you look good and that you feel comfortable in. You will feel much better. If you look good, you feel good! Make yourself proud that you had the strength to get dressed and fix yourself up whenever you see yourself in the mirror.
   

Although we may not admit it, often times we are concerned with how other people see us, or the image they have of us. However, we tend to forget the most important opinion of our selves: our own.
 
We know that we are not perfect, given that no human being is. But the way we see ourselves affects every aspect of our lives. Self-image is the perception or opinion we have in relation to ourselves. It is highly relevant when considering self-esteem and human behavior.
Many people are satisfied with their self-image, but we know that there is always some characteristic or trait that we can add, modify or improve. How do we do this?
 

This short yet effective process consists of six simple steps:
 
1. Make a list of things you like about your own personality and then make a list of characteristics you would like to obtain or acquire, modify or improve. Take your time to write them down and analyze them. Be as honest as possible.
 
2. Think of the image you want to have. Create a clear vision of this image in your mind. The image     you want to portray, the person you want to be. This could be physical, a change in attitude, personality, etc. For example, if you want to improve your physical aspect, be more proactive, more social, so on and so forth. This image has to go accordingly to your list from step #1.
 
3. In a piece of paper or agenda, write a short description of your desired characteristics. Read this description as many times as you can during the day. I would advise you to do this at least in the morning when you wake up, and at night before you go to sleep.
 
4. Take a few minutes during the day to imagine how your life and your self-image would be if you already had those characteristics you want. Imagine you are already living that life that you desire, and you will find the feelings of joy and the necessary motivation.
 
5. Every day carry out an activity, even if it is small, that brings you closer to your goal. For example, if you want a fit body, start exercising even for a few minutes a day; if you want to be healthier, start eating balanced meals; if you want to be more social, start giving yourself time to enjoy with your friends. If you want to be more productive, start scheduling your day. Step by step you will achieve your goals. One day at a time.

6. Hush those voices in your head that tell you negative things about yourself, like "I'm ugly", "I'm a bad person", "I'm lazy" "I'm antisocial" etc. You can replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. The next time you find yourself criticizing or judging yourself, quiet those voices and lift your spirits with a few positive affirmations. Some examples of these are: "I look good, I am unique and special", "I have good feelings", "I will do what I have to do to fulfill my goals”, “ I have good friends ”. Remember your thoughts are manifested in your behavior. Do not waste time criticizing yourself, because it will not help you at all.
 
These steps are very useful if you want to gradually change your self-image. Accepting yourself is essential for a satisfying life, but there is always some room for improvement.