why live with your boyfriend (the danger of cohabitation)

The Dangers of Cohabitation

Why would a guy and a lady live together when they are not tied by official papers or religious vows? Though it has become a norm in the society and also a major reason for several break-up. We shouldn't be quick to mention LOVE, as love itself comes with regrets when order is not observed. Here, I'm going to take you through the dangers of co-habitation. 
 

1) It reduces your self-worth.  No matter how many times your partner says  he/she can never be bored of you and want to spend the rest of his/her life with you, such words could be better experienced in marriage than having a taste before marriage. What you have to understand is that, most beautiful and well crafted words are sponsored by emotions, and emotions does fade away at the face of reality. The reality is that you both are not married, and if by personal decision you chooses to become the acting-wife, your well-kept value would be altered and your self-worth, reduced to that of his kid-sister or even a common maid. It's as serious as that!

2) Being engaged is not being married. Now, this is the sensitive side of a relationship. He gave you a ring and all-of-a-sudden you think you are now his wife, na-ah! Lessons of life has taught us that not all engaged status transit into married. Two love-birds could be engaged for a year, two, three or even seven without a plan for marriage. How would the young man be motivated to make it official when you're unofficially leaving with him?

3) It's a shame to culture and tradition. No matter how irrelevant we make culture look, no matter how our tradition has rapidly dwindled to give the 'modern-life' a face, it has no doubt upheld our morals and ethics. In some families, culture is still highly regarded. Culture and tradition could say: "stay in your home. The man will come there and ask your parents for permission to have you with him forever". You say: "the 'old-way' is no life, I'm watching my biological clock". Care is needful because when the regrets comes, you probably going to be watching your menopause clock as a result of your wrong decision.

4) It makes you the regular person. It's natural for two people to get tired of themselves. That's why we spice-up our relationships by doing some romantic things. Even if you gets tired of one-another, why not leave that till after you are married when a little 'fight and kiss' would spice it up again? No matter how much you'd love to see your man or lady, when it becomes regular, then forget the "i miss you" part of your relationship and it could be boring beyond repair if the foundation of your relationship is built on cohabitation.

Kayswitch ft. D'banj -- Obimo

Yvonne Nelson Opens Up About Her Relationship With Iyanya And How Much He Hurt Her.

The Ghanaian actress had a very revealing interview with Bella Naija today where she opened up about her relationship with Iyanya and how much he hurt her.

You have become a regular face on the Nigerian social scene lately and we are happy to see you again. What brings you to Lagos this time around?
I came for two things – Mai Atafo’s Bridal show and Zaron. I was recently appointed the Face of Zaron Hair & Makeup. I did a photo shoot and a short commercial so very soon Nigerians are going to see more of me in Zaron.

How was your experience at the Bridal Show? What did it feel like to be dressed up as a bride?
It felt so real. We were wearing wedding gowns! I had a really great time and I had two grooms, Chris Attoh and Banky W.

Judging by the frequency of your visits, you must have developed a fondness for Nigeria by now.
I love Nigeria. Sometimes when I’m here, I don’t even want to go back home. Nigerians are very warm and straightforward. They see you, and if they like you, they approach you and take pictures and that is really cool. My Nigerian name is Damilola, I just love how it sounds.

There must be more to you apart from acting and modeling. What else takes up your time professionally?
There was a stage in my career, in 2010 when I was having some challenges. Some people were really on my case in Ghana so I decided to open a shop. People love my fashion sense and every time I dress, I usually get good compliments so I decided to make some money out of it. Anything you see in my shop is something that I can wear, that is why I named it YN’s closet and it’s doing really well.

There were rumours during that period that you were actually banned from acting in Ghana. Is this true?
I don’t think anyone in this universe can ban anyone. If you have a talent and you act, can someone stop you from acting? They can’t!

So what really happened then?
People kiss ass in my industry in Ghana, I don’t know about here. Sometimes, when they are not happy, they can’t say they’re not. I’m a producer now and I know that if the crew or actors need some basic things like food, I need to provide. If that is not done, you need to voice out but when you do, they say you’re being arrogant. That is what happened with me, I had to voice out my feelings and the next minute, the producer said he was going to tell some committee or association and they are going to ban me. But there was no ban because I don’t have an official letter to that effect.

You’ve bounced back since then and now you’re into movie production. Tell me about the movies you’ve produced so far.
I produced the first one in 2011 called ‘The Price’. I had a lot of challenges when I was producing that movie because when it got to the editing bench, part of it got stolen. They were actually trying to sabotage me so we had to reshoot. I didn’t want that to hold me back so I produced my second movie called ‘Single & Married’ and it became the biggest movie in Ghana. Then I produced a third one ‘House Of Gold’ which has a very interesting cast and story line. I actually just released ‘The Price’ this year. We’re working on the fourth one.

You featured some Nigerian music stars in ‘House Of Gold’. How was their performance?
Ice Prince and Omawumi were amazing. Omawumi especially was really great. I’d be doing the premiere of House of Gold in Lagos soon so Nigerians would have a chance to see it.

Your role in the movie ‘Heart Of Men’ caused quite a stir in Ghana especially with the movie poster which was quite provocative. There is also a reputation in Ghana for producing soft porn movies. What are your thoughts on this?
I’m not the script writer neither am I the director but I was comfortable with the script that is why I acted in it. Nobody was nude in the movie, it’s just that people were not used to a poster like that. On a general note, I can’t defend all the producers or directors in Ghana but I know for a fact that it got to a point that producers were taking advantage of that sex thing and it wasn’t good. They said “people want to see naked people, people want to see skin” so they were just overdoing it. I’m happy that I’ve been very selective with all my roles. I haven’t done any nude role and I don’t intend to.

What kind of upbringing did you have back home in Ghana?
I was raised by my Mum, a single parent and she did an amazing job. She is still doing an amazing job. It was very hard for me to leave the house because I’m the last born and she is my best friend, I tell her everything. Even when I have a heart break, she is the first person I talk to. I grew up like any average Ghanaian child.

How did you find your way into the movie industry?
Acting started for me when I was in Level 100 but before that, I did Miss Ghana when I was 19. I never went for any auditions. I was discovered by this same guy who had issues with me in 2010. He saw me somewhere where I went to get lunch and he approached me, telling me they were doing some casting for a movie. He convinced me to come to the movie set, they gave me a costume and a script to read from and that is how it started.

Sometime last year, you were quite emotional on Twitter when you supposedly broke up with a Nigerian music star. That incident has been shrouded with lots of cover-ups. Could you tell me what really happened?
I think it’s time my fans get to know the whole truth so I’m going to let it all out. I dated one person here, he’s in the industry. There were too many lies in the relationship. I found out a whole lot of things and I just felt like he took advantage of me.

Why did you go on Twitter to express your emotions?
I’m human, I’m not like a robot or anything. I just wanted the whole world to know what I was going through and I just wanted them to know that I was done with the relationship.

Did you actually break up with him on Twitter?
I didn’t break up on Twitter. I just tweeted how I was feeling that very moment.

I had an interview with Iyanya shortly after that Twitter rant and his words were “She didn’t mention my name so I don’t know anything about it. I’ve never told anyone that I was dating anybody.” Aren’t we talking about the same person here?
He would say that because he was wrong. His team is also trying to protect his fan base and I don’t blame him for denying anything. It’s him and his career, that’s OK.

How long did the two of you date and how would you describe the relationship?
We dated for 7 to 8 months. We had something and I thought it was special, like he was a wonderful guy but it was all lies. He had other girls and other things he was doing. Aside the actress that was in the picture, there were a lot more. That is how bad it is. We were in a relationship and he lied throughout and he was able to do all those things because I wasn’t living in Nigeria. But aside from the distance, I feel if you’re a genuine person and you’re loyal, you would still not do that.

Is this actress you’re talking about actually Tonto Dikeh?
I feel it’s disrespectful to start mentioning other people’s names. I am talking about Iyanya because we had a thing, I don’t want to bring in a third person. There were a lot of names that people know. There was a girl from South Africa, I’m not going to mention names but she was part of Big Brother Africa last year.

Most people only got to know that you and Iyanya were dating after you broke up. Were you deliberately being secretive about it?
I also don’t believe in putting my relationships in the faces of people. We both had our careers and were trying to protect our fan base and that’s cool. But if you go through my Instagram page, you’d see a couple of pictures of us together. I wasn’t shy about anything but he could not say he’s dating Yvonne Nelson because he had different people he was seeing so it was very hard for him to bring it out.

What did the experience teach you?
There are some things that you don’t get to learn in school; people can’t advice you, you won’t even listen. You just have to experience it to learn. I have no regrets that I went through it, it would have happened anyway. We are all human beings. We fall in love once in a while but if it doesn’t work out, that’s OK.

Have you moved on since then?
I have! It happened last year but I’ve moved on. I’ve been working hard, been producing movies. I still listen to his music, I love his album. I love the Track 1 with MI and I love, ‘I Got It’. He is a very talented guy, I always have goose bumps on my body when he sings.

Aside from the music, what else was the attraction?
You can’t really explain when you love somebody. It’s everything. It was just something that I felt and I can’t explain. It was love, I really really loved him and he knows that.

How do you feel about him now and what message would you like to pass on to him if you had the chance?
Iyanya is such an amazing person but I just feel he needs to be more honest and be a man of his words. It’s not good if he takes advantage of women. My Mum always says any man who takes advantage of women won’t end up well. It’s Karma, it’s going to come back to you. He should treat women fairly and he should be an honest person. It’s been a while though, I haven’t seen him. He is doing amazing things in his career and I wish him luck.

Since then, there have been other reports and speculations of you in new relationships, the latest one being Dammy Krane. How true is this?
Honestly, I don’t know where these stories come from. If I take a picture with somebody or I do a Keek with the person, the next minute I’m dating the person. Come on, it’s not fair! I am very single, as a matter of fact, I have trust issues. I don’t trust men easily and I am not psychologically ready for any relationship now. The last one was so bad that I just want to chill.

You shared a cover on Complete Fashion magazine shortly after the break up where both of you spoke about love. Was this just a coincidence?
I did my shoot in Ghana and that was before I met Iyanya but my cover didn’t come out until the whole controversy thing. If you look at the pictures, I was a little bigger than this, slightly chubby.

That’s exactly what my next question is about. You’ve lost so much weight recently. Did you deliberately lose the weight?
Yeah I did. It’s because I wanted to do a bit of modeling as well. I had phone calls from London, I was in Pride Magazine in London, I was shooting with skinny models so I had to drop the weight. And also, I started living a very healthy life, I cut down a lot of things and I gym every day. It’s partly for my health and partly for other things I wanted to do. Also, I played the role of a model in House Of Gold so I had to lose some weight.

By African standards, you weren’t even considered fat.
Yes, but surprisingly I was a Size 10 – 12. My hip was 42 before but now it’s 39. It was just something I had to do for the movie role and photo shoot. I’m not sick.

You are one African celebrity who has been photographed so many times in a bikini. Why do you seem to love wearing bikinis?
Like I always say, I’m not a night person. I don’t party, I don’t club, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I’m very boring. The only place I get to hang out is at the beach. I love going to the beach with good friends, people who make me laugh. I have over 50 bikinis and every time I go to the beach, I wear one and take a picture and when I put it on Instagram, the bloggers take it. I’m just living my life. I hang out at the beach a lot, that’s what makes me happy.

I’m inspired by your Glaucoma Foundation. Tell me more about it.
My grand mum inspired me to start the Yvonne Nelson Glaucoma Foundation and I did in 2010. She had Glaucoma and she ended up getting blind and she died. We were very ignorant at that time, we just associated it with old age. I started the foundation to create awareness about Glaucoma in Ghana. Ghana and Nigeria seem to have the second highest rates of Glaucoma in the whole world. The bad thing about this disease is that it’s a silent blinding disease. It is usually hereditary so if your parents or relatives have Glaucoma, there is a possibility that you might have it. It has to do with high pressure on the optic nerve of the eye so if the pressure is not controlled, some fluid enters it and it could make you go blind. If you are reading this, please go and check your eyes, check your pressure.

Tell me something about you that most people don’t know.
I am so down to earth and simple. I’m very happy Keek is there so people can see the real me, my natural side. In my videos, I dance and goof around with my friends. If I’m not shooting a movie or traveling, I’m always at home. But I love shopping, that makes me happy.

You seem to be a big fan of Louis Vuitton. I can see at least two LV bags around you (a suitcase and a laptop bag).
I am but I changed recently. I’m into Gucci and Chanel now. And I love my Louboutins.

Are you a big fan of designer labels?
With dresses, I can wear anything. But I believe your bags and your shoes should stand out.

What influences your style?
Nothing, really. I don’t follow trends. I just go to a shop, I see something I like and I buy it. I think you should know your body structure, and just know what works for you and stick to it.

Paul Play : Forever

1. below is an award winning music video by Paul Play Dairo, a Nigerian musician with a classic style of music. Paul Play brought music video revolution and quality to the Nigerian music industry and it was first ever classy music video shot outside Nigeria. The video was shot on location in the United Kingdom and this effort crowned Paul Play Dairo artist of the year 2007 and won him several awards including HIP HOP WORLD (HEADIES) AWARDS BEST R&B ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2007. 

10 Reasons You Should Donate & Help OJB Jezreel

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If you haven’t been aware already, veteran producer OJB Jezreel has been suffering from a kidney ailment for a while, so much so that he now requires a kidney transplant. For those that are not familiar with Kidney ailments, it’s one of the worst things that can happen to your body. Your body cannot properly expel wastes and these wastes stay in your body thereby reducing your immune function and making you prone to other diseases.

Now that’s sad, but what’s even sadder is that the procedure is beyond his financial reach (16 million naira approx $100,000.00), and he has taken to twitter and social media for fans to help donate for this procedure. With all the ‘friends’ in the industry that he probably has I’m shocked no one or group has taken it upon themselves to cover this bill even as a loan. Really it isn’t too large of an amount if people chip in.

Anyways, that’s besides the point. We here today to give you 10 reasons why you should donate & help save OJB Jezreel.

10. Because He Produced 2face – African Queen. The is the defining love song of our generation, and if you love this song, then you can’t let OJB go out like that.

9. Because He needs our help. You know it has to have gotten desperate, if OJB took his appeal to the fans. As embarrassing as it probably is for him, the best we can do it show out support.

8. Because it’s your opportunity to make an impact of someone’s life. Even if the person doesn’t actually know you.

7. Because no amount is too small. Like someone said on twitter, if 100,000 people donate 160 naira, it will go somewhere.

6. Because someone you know or maybe you one day will need help in the future, and one good deed deserves another.

5. Because you’ll be making something positive happen in Nigeria this year. Wont it be a great story at the end of the year if OJB makes it and has his fans primarily to thank?

4. Because he produced some of the songs you have your best memories of. All those jamz you were dancing to back then that OJB produced. He gave you something that is priceless – Joy & Happiness. A little donation can give him life.

3. You will feel better. Believe me there’s few things better than helping someone out. Especially one you don’t know personally. The feeling that you’ve helped someone is just unexplainable.

2. Because we have, and so should you.

1. Because you can. I can explain all the reason as I have above, but finally, donate just because you can.

MEN: 13 Things You Should NEVER Say to Your Girlfriend, Under ANY Circumstance

A girl in love will do just about anything for her man, but there are 13 phrases to never say to your girl unless you’re looking for trouble.

“Have You Gained a Little Weight?”

Even if she was super skinny before, never tell her she has gained weight. Trust me, she knows if she has gained weight and this will come across as telling her she’s “fat.” It doesn’t matter if the weight gain is good and makes her look healthier, this is just a phrase you never say. Is she gaining weight due to depression or are you worried about her health? Then you need to address the root cause of the problem – and her weight will not be the problem. You can address her sadness, her food addiction, her lack of exercising by offering to go on a healthy lifestyle plan with her; but do not tell her she looks fat!

“My Mother Does It Like This …”

Your girlfriend is not your mother and all she will hear when you say this phrase is: “You’re not good enough.” Your mom may be the most wonderful woman in the world, but you don’t want to create a battle line between the two most important girls in your life. We like that your mom is your role model, but we were raised a little differently and we want to know that you think we’re OK just the way we are.

“Let’s Go See My Mom – Again”

Being there for your mom and helping her out is very sweet. Being too dependent on your mom and not being able to go a few days without her, or asking for her advice on your relationship, is not a good thing. When a guy shows that he hasn’t cut the apron strings, we begin to worry that we’ll never be No. 1 in his life. We suddenly start to worry about whether we are “good enough” and what this other woman thinks of us.

“I Prefer You To Do It Like This …”

If your girl is trying her best, never ever, like ever, criticize her. It’s better to wait until she’s not around and then fix it the way you like it, or toughen up and adapt to it in the moment. No one is perfect and we all do things differently, but if you criticize her when she’s trying hard, she’ll give up and stop doing things for you.

“My Family Doesn’t Really Like You”

Even if your family dislikes her, she does not need to know this. This is between you and them, not her and them. Never put her in the middle of that fight. You picked her, they have to accept that. If you bring her into that contentious spot, she’s likely to bolt as she begins wondering how they will treat your future children.

“My Ex Use To Do That”

This is bad – always. If it’s a special moment, you’ve likely just lost all trust from your girlfriend. It’s hurtful to know you’re still thinking about “the other girl.” If it’s something that is bad that your ex used to do, your new girlfriend will feel like a failure. Either way, you lose.

“That Was In My Past”

Some things need to be left in the past. She doesn’t need to know how many girls you dated or kissed. If she asks, tell her you just can’t remember and that she is the only one for you so it doesn’t matter. There are some things you need to fess up to: illegal activities, drug use, previous marriages and STDs for example.

“But The Game Is On”

We know that in that moment the football game is more important than your girl – but you shouldn’t tell her that. Prior to the game, let her know it’s coming on and at what time. Let her know how long it will be and where you’re watching it. Hopefully she’ll give you the time and space to watch it. If not, smile and listen to the keywords coming out of her mouth so you can repeat them to her later!

“Just Relax”

If a woman is mad, this will just make her madder. This tells her that you don’t respect the reasons behind her anger and you’re not willing to put in the effort to make it better. This come across as saying “You’re not worth this argument.”

“I Don’t Like Your Friends”

You may not like her friends but they were likely there before you so make an effort to tolerate them. If you start separating her from friends, her friends will talk her into believing that you are being controlling – if this is true, she needs to dump you. If you’re not controlling and her friends are a bad influence on her, you have to slowly help her find new, better friends and new hobbies that don’t include the old friends. She’ll eventually decide which path to take and you never have to be the bad guy.

“You’re Being Insecure”

If a woman is being jealous, look at the reason behind it. Are you talking to another girl that is prettier? Are you texting other women? It’s likely that her insecurity is based on your actions. If she’s insecure because of her own inner conflicts, help her through them by building up her self-esteem, not by criticizing her. If that doesn’t work, and her insecurity is out of control, you may need to leave the relationship until she gets help.

“Your Friend/Sister/Neighbor is Pretty/Really Sweet/Attractive”

This should get you slapped and will cause her months and months of sleepless nights wondering if you’d rather date the person you are complimenting. It’s good that her friend is nice, but it’s better to say, “Your friend is really nice to you. I can see why you hang out with her.” It’s never under any circumstances OK to say another woman is attractive. When she asks if you think someone is, say “I guess, but she’s nothing compared to you.”

Ladies: Everything You Need To Know About The Female Anatomy

Except in rare cases where some individuals have both the male and female sex organs, every human being is born either male or female. Whatever sèx you her, there are scientific things to know about your anatomy, especially when you realise that whatever events go on between your thighs can sometimes determine your general wellbeing or, in some cases, your lifespan.

This is more evident in the case of women due to their biological make-up...
There make-up obviously is a lot more complicated than men’s, considering their reproductive role, etc.

Physicians believe that a woman cannot be too concerned about her reproductive organ because as her age increases, a lot of changes affect the female genitalia and women need to know what to do to stave off preventable health issues that may want to encroach on their lives via this avenue.

To start with, there is much hype out there about “revirginalisation,” that is surgically replacing a torn hymen — the thin flesh that covers the external opening of the genital of a virgin female.

Obstetrician/Gynaecologist, Dr. Femi Adigun, says the claim is one of the biggest commercial lies he has heard as a medical practitioner.

He says, “The hymen cannot grow back once it has been torn, because it is a thin, fleshy tissue that stretches across part of the opening of the female genital opening, and it can be stretched through sèxual intercourse, exercise such as riding bicycles, and so on.”

Experts say if there’s anything that affects the health of the female genital, it is sèxual intercourse, because of the various possibilities that go with it, including pregnancy, childbirth, infections, etc.

Despite the media hype that depicts sèx as everything, some women do experience pain during intercourse and would rather avoid it where they can. Doctors warn that painful intercourse is not normal and that women who experience it should seek medical help.

Indeed, in a study, Swedish scientists claim that painful intercourse occurs in 9.3 per cent of females, with the incidence being higher among the young and inexperienced and relatively low among the over-50s.

Adigun chips in, “Painful intercourse, medically known as dyspareunia, can be as a result of many issues, but the first thing the doctor must determine is whether the pain is deep inside or near the outside of the genital.”

He says many things can be responsible for intercourse pain, and they include endometriosis (a disorder that often affects the womb and surrounding tissues, making them very tender, particularly when the menstrual period is near).

“The pressure of the male organ on an area of endometriosis may cause intense, deep pain,” Adigun says.

Another cause of intercourse pain is vaginismus — a spasm of the vàginal muscles, caused mainly by fear of being hurt.

Adigun says vaginismus may be as a result of strict upbringing that makes a woman view sèx as dirty or nasty; or it could happen if the woman has a history of rape or childhood sèxual abuse; or if she has experienced a medical history of painful vàginal infections. “Experiences like these understandably make women fearful of sèx and of being hurt,” he warns.

He also explains that medically, there’s a condition called “collision dyspareunia.”

“This happens when infections of the cervix cause it to be tender, such that the woman feels pain during deep penetration,” he enthuses.

He says further that when a woman is infected with Chlamydia and does not seek medical treatment, the infection might result in pelvic inflammatory disease. “In PID, the tissues deep inside become badly inflamed and the pressure of intercourse will cause deep pain,” he says.

He also warns that menopausal or post-menopausal dryness might result in pain during intercourse. In this case, he advises the use of lubricants like Vaseline to ease the tension.

More important, the doctor warns that if a woman is over 40 years of age and suddenly starts having pain during intercourse, she should be checked for cancer, which may or may not be the cause.

Physicians say, like other parts of the body, the female genitalia can age and lose its ‘grips.’ Adigun describes it this way: “The female genital is like a bicep, you either use it or lose it. As a woman ages, the fragile female genital tissues can scar or shrink, especially after menopause.

“Menopause is not the time for a woman to stay away from active sèxual intercourse; otherwise, her genitalia might atrophy by decreasing in size, leading to the wasting of the tissues and the attendant discomfort,” he counsels.

Physicians also warn that the female genital might suffer a prolapse. The gynaecologist says prolapse happens when the tissues and muscles surrounding the female genital are weakened, deteriorate or get damaged.

“In general, this condition is called pelvic floor relaxation, and it may cause the supports for the rectum, bladder, uterus, small bladder, urethra, or a combination of them to become less stable,” Adigun warns.

Some causative factors for prolapse include multiple child births, hard labour during child delivery, and delivery of large babies vàginally. Adigun says the symptoms of genital prolapse include difficulty in urinating or bowel movement, inability to control urination, pain when the sufferer stands for too long, or enlarged, wide and gaping vàginal opening.

Many women believe that douching (a process of intravàginal cleansing with a liquid solution) is a way to keep their genital ‘clean.’ Physicians warn against this practice. For one, Adigun says, douching neither prevents infection nor conception; and that the only way to keep the area clean is to simply wash with clean water each time one uses the bathroom; and where there’s no clean water, just wipe dry with a clean soft tissue.

Indeed, an epidemiological study by some Italian scientists suggest that douching increases the risk of vulvovàginal candidiasis — an infection of the vàgina’s mucous membranes by Candida albicans, which affects up to 75 per cent of women.

A study published in the Oxford Journal deposes that douching is harmful and should be discouraged because of its association with pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and other conditions.

The epidemiologists, Drs. Jenny L. Martino and Sten H. Vermund, submit that “Douching has been associated with many adverse outcomes, including PID, bacterial vaginosis, cervical cancer, low birth weight, pre-term birth, HIV transmission, sèxually transmitted diseases, ectopic pregnancy, recurrent vulvovàginal candidiasis (vàginal thrush), and infertility.”

And, do you wash your hands before you touch your nether region? Many people would wash hands before eating but do not consider it necessary to also wash hands before washing their bums. Adigun says just as germs can be introduced into the body via the mouth when the hands are dirty, so can germs and certain infections be introduced into the body via dirty hands that touch the female genital. So, wash your hands before washing ‘yourself!’

Finally, how do you clean up after each bathroom use? Experts advise that in order to prevent infection, you should wipe from front to back. Many women do the exact opposite. If you are one of those, it’s time to change!

7 Exciting And Fun Ways To Spice Up Your Life

Find ways to shake up your life and you could be seeing the world, and yourself, in a whole new light. With a little time, effort and a willingness to adjust your outlook, adventuring outside your routine can offer amazing results, whether you feel stuck in a rut or simply want to avoid one altogether. From small changes to big plans, here are some of the best ways to shake up your life.

1. GET A MAKE-OVER

Looking for instant change? Mix up your routine and give your style, your looks or your space a little make-over. Try your favorite wardrobe pieces in new combinations or update some of your older items, opt for a new hairstyle or make-up palate, change up the decor in your favorite room at home. Even less dramatic adjustments to your aesthetic can yield big impact and feel incredibly transforming, making this one of the easiest ways to shake up your life.

2. TAKE A TRIP

Traveling is such an amazing way to broaden your horizons and create new perspective. From the adventure of a lifetime, to a weekend or day trip, leaving home for any length of time is a chance to learn more about the world and expand your context. Best of all, a change of scenery can sometimes be just what you need to start seeing the views closer to home with new found appreciation.

3. CHALLENGE YOURSELF

So often the limitations we feel in our life we actually put on ourselves, and they can create a real stagnancy in our way of being. Have you always wanted to sky dive? Take a wine tour? Write a book? Stop holding back and jump in. Success is in opening yourself to brand new experiences, learning and redefining your limitations. You never know, you may start to wonder what other amazing things you are capable of.

4. MAKE TIME FOR FRIENDS

Over time our priorities can shift from putting energy and effort into what matters to us, to what is simply set in our day to day schedule. Shake things up by investing once again in your friendships, old and new. Those who see the best in you, make you laugh and share your interests offer so much to your life; making time for them will leave you and your calendar invigorated.

5. CLEAR OUT THE CLUTTER

Feeling lackluster at home or work? Your environment could be playing a significant role in keeping you uninspired, especially if it is overrun with mess or clutter. In the end, very few possessions are really worth hanging onto and most are likely just taking up space. Keep your heirlooms, items with sentimental attachment and necessities and ensure they organized, clean and well-maintained. When in doubt, throw it out.

6. MAKE A DECISION

Moving forward is an invaluable part of feeling your best. Identify whether you have continued to put something off, and finally make a decision. Loose ends, doubt and uncertainty can cause stress and fear and stop you from living your life to its fullest potential. Make a choice and give it everything you have got; it’s a liberating and empowering way to mix up your routine and start anew.

7. KICK UP YOUR HEELS

If you could use a fresh lease on life, it’s likely time to have more fun. Doing the things you love, being silly, laughing and focusing on happiness are powerful components to maintaining a positive, lighthearted approach. Your schedule will seem more manageable, your relationships more rewarding and your life more exciting. The things that make you smile are worth in investing in so get to a funny movie, hit up a sports game, be social, visit a museum, take a cooking lesson – whatever it is, have fun with it!

Regularly renewing your perspective is such an important process and there are many ways to shake up your life. Even if you are not yet starting to feel stagnant, keep your outlook exciting and fresh and you can increase your feelings of gratitude and motivation, enhance the way you view your successes and empower the way you overcome obstacles. It’s certainly a worthwhile undertaking to ensure you are getting the most out of your life. How do you shake things up?