Staying Healthy and Safe in an Urban Environment

 

Have you recently moved to a new city or into a more metropolitan part of your area? If so, now is a good time to think about the many important ways of staying safe and healthy in your new environment.

 

Avoiding Crime

If you are moving to the city from a smaller, safer community, you may be accustomed to leaving doors unlocked or leaving your keys in the car. These are big mistakes in a more urban environment. Here, locks and deadbolts are your friends, your first defense against the criminal element that’s ever-present in most large cities. Situational awareness is another way to stay safe—always be aware of the people around you on the street, especially after dark. Keep your head up, move with purposeful strides, and do not text and walk, especially if you are alone. If allowed by local statutes, carrying mace may be helpful, too.

 

Minimizing Pollution Risks

The air quality in cities is general lower than in the suburbs or rural areas. You tend to breathe in more pollutants, like vehicle exhaust, in heavily populated areas. Industrial toxins can also be a problem, whether in the air or water. Thankfully, civil engineers and city officials are taking a more active part in reducing pollution in many cities, making them healthier places to live. Keisha Brennan, who holds a NJIT Civil Engineering Master’s degree, says most cities have already acted to preserve green spaces and enacted zoning laws to prevent overcrowding. This, she says, goes far to reduce pollution and protect the health of city residents. If you are sensitive to air quality issues, be sure to check the air quality report provided by many local news stations and use respiratory protection if necessary.

 

Urban Traffic Safety

Whether walking or driving through the city, urban rules of the road can offer newcomers a unique set of challenges. As a pedestrian, you must be more aware of traffic signals and patterns and remain alert, especially at intersections or when attempting to cross the street. Jaywalking is dangerous and illegal in many urban areas; however, when behind the wheel, be aware that many people will cross illegally. Other vehicular dangers include following too close, running red lights, and failure to signal, all of which are more common among urban drivers and pose a serious hazard on crowded city streets. You may consider taking a defensive driving course to learn how to protect yourself during your commute.

 

Overall, urban life offers more opportunities in terms of jobs, culture, and new experiences. With a little caution and common sense, you can easily find ways to stay safe and healthy in the city.

 

 

Categories: city living, everyday habits, urban health

Achieve Stronger Orgasms Faster with 5 Everyday Habits

One sexual health problem that always seems centred on women is that of achieving better orgasms. Although men do need adequate stimulation and attention before climax, their process is pretty much fool-proof in this area. We, on the other hand, are a little more complex, but does that mean you have to cope with a life of hit-and-miss sexual experiences? Of course not. You can take control of your sexual wellbeing simply by changing or adding a few everyday habits, and achieve stronger, faster orgasms as a result.

 

1. Relax: According to award-winning wellness writer Hope Gillette, ‘Relaxing does not mean heading to the spa and de-stressing from the day (though that will certainly help an orgasm, too!), it means learning to let go of the worry women tend to have regarding having an orgasm. Because not all women can climax through vaginal intercourse, and because it sometimes takes a very specific combination of moves and caresses to bring a woman to orgasm, women tend to feel a certain amount of anxiety that they won’t peak before or with their partner. This will prevent women from relaxing and enjoying sex. It is also one of the most common reasons women fake orgasms.’

 

2. Communicate: ‘Just because you have a great relationship with your partner doesn’t men he understands what you need in bed,’ says Gillette. ‘Men aren’t mind readers, and they can only help you achieve a stronger orgasm, faster if you tell them what you like and what you don’t like…Men want direction, and if you aren’t comfortable communicating that in words, try just making encouraging noises or guiding them along. Just keep in mind your man wants to please you and if he is not, he would certainly appreciate your help.’

 

3. Understand your own body: How are you going to know what you like if you haven’t experimented by yourself? Gillette advises, ‘Masturbation is a great way for women to explore their bodies before they get into a sexual situation with a partner. Once you know what you like, you’ll be able to communicate that to your partner. Similarly, you can take time on your own to do Kegel exercises. These will strengthen your pelvic flood muscles and help you achieve a stronger orgasm, faster. Kegel can also help pleasure your partner as you can control your “grip” during vaginal intercourse. Masturbation also helps you discover different moves and poses that increase your pleasure.’

 

4. Don’t skip foreplay: ‘If you’re skipping foreplay just to hop into vaginal intercourse because your man is ready to go, you’re short-changing yourself on a very important part of the female orgasm,’ Gillette warns. ‘Orgasms are more intense for a woman if she is adequately aroused.  Arousal increases blood flow to sensitive areas and helps increase sexual stimulation. Foreplay can also include sexual fantasy; remember, the brain is responsible for arousal, too. Sexual fantasy can mean bringing toys into the mix or watching a sexy movie with your partner. Don’t rely on your partner only though. Fantasizing with whatever arouses you will help you reach an orgasm faster. Don’t feel guilty about thinking about something else if that helps you enjoy sex.’

 

5. Breathe: Although it sounds simple, breathing in the right way has a huge impact on your orgasms. Gillette instructs, ‘Contrary to what you may be thinking, you do not want to slow your breathing down or try to hold it in; you want to breathe fast, which will throw the body into a state of heightened senses. Letting go will also help you – instead of breathing out silently, don’t be shy about making noises and moaning – you’ll be surprised how much it excites you and your partner.’

Categories: achieve stronger, Communication, everyday habits, orgasm, Orgasms, partner, sexual fantasy, stronger orgasm, vaginal intercourse, Women, women tend