Raphael Stevens

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    in health and weelbeing

    Zendaya Swears by 5 Wellness Hacks—And I Tried Them All

    She continues to slay it on the red carpet and top best-dressed lists while starring on the big and small screens. We all know her as the Type Four, marches-to-the-beat-of-her-own-drum Rue in Euphoria, for which she nabbed an Emmy Award, might I add. Of course, I’m referring to none other than Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman (AKA Zendaya).
    Courtesy of Vogue, I took a deep-dive into Zendaya’s life: a Disney star turned full-fledged celeb, singer, self-proclaimed workaholic and (Virgo) perfectionist, Auntie Daya to her nieces, painter, homebody, and true-crime podcast junkie (a girl after The Everygirl’s own heart). Between her many talents and interests, leading role in Euphoria, and starring in cinematic roles, it left me wondering how she finds the time to stay healthy. Thanks to an interview with Cosmopolitan and various other sources, I got the inside scoop. Read on for five healthy habits Zendaya swears by and my experience taking a stab at them. 

    1. Find a workout that’s fun for you
    Let’s be real: We know all too well that if a workout doesn’t bring the fun factor, we’re not sticking with it, and Zendaya agrees (we knew we loved her!). In a YouTube interview with Justine Magazine, Zendaya confessed to being gym-averse, so she gets her workouts in by doing activities she loves: dancing and choreography. When she does hit the gym, you better believe she’s making it entertaining. Case in point: Zendaya doing plank variations on a medicine ball and killer Pilates movements.
    My experience: Until a few months ago, you could say I was a gym rat, and lifting heavy weights was my happy place. But I found that I had to continue digging really deep to keep it up, and the motivation waned—it just wasn’t fun anymore. Taking a cue from Zendaya, I switched it up with some at-home workouts that deliver the perfect combo of sweat and joy (rebounding and obé Fitness classes FTW) and found my second wind. 

    2. Discover what motivates you to exercise 
    Believe it or not, celebrities sometimes need a little push to work out too. Zendaya shared her unconventional way of keeping herself accountable on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: wearing various wigs she had collected from her red carpet appearances and showing up to her gym as a different character. OK, so most of us don’t have wigs lying around, but you get the idea. Identify what helps you stay consistent with your workouts and get to it. Whether it’s a ride-or-die sweat buddy, your satisfying post-workout smoothie, or booking a non-refundable fitness class, use it to your advantage to work out on the reg.
    My experience: This was a no-brainer for me—there’s nothing like a new, flattering workout set to pull me away from a binge-watching marathon and get my body moving. While I can’t get a fresh ‘fit for every workout, I use the next must-have waiting in my shopping cart as an incentive (and, trust me, there are enough to keep me going for months). 

    3. Practice body positivity 
    A body positivity advocate through and through, Zendaya is all about self-love and being authentic. “There is no such thing as ugly—that’s a word that doesn’t really enter my vocabulary,” she said in an interview with New You. “It’s important to find out who you are and love who you are … It’s very freeing when you’re just like, ‘Yo, I’m just going to do me!’” And she does just that—and with style, no less! Zendaya called out Modeliste Magazine for retouching her photos to make her hips and torso appear slimmer than IRL. The magazine later released the issue with the original, unedited images from her cover shoot (now that’s a happy ending if there ever was one). 
    My experience: TBH, I have a lot to learn from Zendaya. I’m still working on loving myself as I am and not chasing an idea of perfection I have lingering in my head every day. My go-to practice? Catching myself when I’m nit-picking my body and flipping the script with being grateful for what my body provides: the gift to exercise, a canvas for my latest fashion finds, and the ability to enjoy (mostly) all the delicious foods. 

    4. Make your meals balanced and eat what you’re craving
    Zendaya has been a vegetarian since she was 9 years old, and she gets creative about fitting veggies into her diet. Enter: the summer rice salad recipe she shared with Seventeen that is built around a healthy mix of fats, protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates. But don’t be fooled by the rice salad recipe—she’s also VIP status with Postmates (I’m not exaggerating, just read Postmates’ blog). She admitted to Harper’s Bazaar that she doesn’t cook out of laziness and dislike for following directions (that’s the kind of relatable celeb we love!). “I can have anything I want; that’s the beauty of ordering food,” she said.
    My experience: Zendaya’s diet reminded me that it’s all about balance. I tend to fall into the all-or-nothing trap, so I channeled my inner Zendaya and, alongside the rice salads I made (BTW, I’d rate it a 7/10 for flavor and ease), I finished off my lunches with DEUX Cookie Dough (my latest obsession) or a couple of chocolate peanut butter cups. I’m keeping Zendaya’s rice salad in my summer meal rotation, but when laziness strikes and the chopping of vegetables is just too much to wrap my head around, Postmates it is—no guilt or shame here.    

    5. Opt for matcha over other caffeinated beverages
    It’s no secret that The Everygirl editors are obsessed with Starbucks, and it turns out Zendaya is too. Her go-to Starbucks order? A Venti iced matcha green tea latte with coconut milk. And that’s her only source of caffeine—she told Harper’s Bazaar that she goes sans coffee, soda, and energy drinks. Zendaya may be onto something: Matcha boosts your energy at a slower pace than coffee and contains L-theanine, an amino acid found in the green tea plant that can reduce stress.
    My experience: I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a matcha snob, so I was hesitant to give what’s been dubbed “The Zendaya” a go. While it was too sweet for my liking and I usually take my matcha with oat milk, I like the coconut twist and would order it again to appease a post-meal sugar craving. Because I have Crohn’s and go without the same three beverages, this healthy hack Zendaya swears by was already part of my repertoire. But if there’s one main takeaway from Zendaya and her workout and diet tried-and-trues, it’s do what works for you.  

    I Tried Kate Hudson’s Morning Routine for a Week—Here’s What Happened More

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    The Internet’s Latest Wellness Obsession Is All About Improving Digestion—But Does It Work?

    As someone who has dealt with “plumbing” issues for as long as I can remember, I’m intrigued (and tempted) by any wellness hack that promises better digestion. But because I’ve researched all things gut health like it’s my job, I’m also skeptical of any sounds-too-good-to-be-true trend. So when I came across the “internal shower” on TikTok, I naturally had to dig deeper. The water, chia seed, and lemon juice concoction has been touted to “shower” your digestive tract and help move things along, but does it check out? I probed the creator of the elixir, Dr. Daryl Gioffre, and asked other health experts for their opinions on whether the “internal shower” is a fading fad or worth all the hype.

    @jacvanek
    Trying the chia seed internal shower so you don’t have to. #internalshower #constipation #ibs #travelhack
    ♬ Dua Lipa – Jack Harlow

    What is the “internal shower?” 
    Although the coined term couldn’t be more obscure, the drink itself is straightforward and simple: six ounces of water, two tablespoons of chia seeds, and a squeeze of organic lemon. You’ve probably heard of chia seeds but may have never tried the so-called superfood. The little (usually black) seeds are packed with antioxidants, minerals, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids, and they form a gel-like consistency when mixed with liquid. While they’re taking center stage in the latest TikTok wellness sensation, chia seeds have been a staple in the ancient Aztec and Maya diets and used for their health benefits for centuries.
    Dr. Daryl Gioffre, celebrity nutritionist, author of Get Off Your Sugar and Get Off Your Acid, and the brains behind the viral beverage, came up with the recipe after years of suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and bouts of constipation, diarrhea, and bloody stools. “I started experimenting and realized that two tablespoons of chia seeds was the perfect amount for my gut-healing tonic, as it gave me 10 grams of fiber (about 30% of our required daily intake) and the same amount of omega-3 fatty acids as four ounces of salmon, which is essential for lowering inflammation in the GI tract, a big component of constipation,” Dr. Gioffre said. To get the most out of the shot, Dr. Gioffre suggested taking it on an empty stomach: a minimum of 30 minutes before eating and at least 90 minutes after. 

    How does it work? 
    If you’re still not convinced that the chia seed is all that it’s cracked up to be, sit tight. “Chia seeds are an incredible source of both soluble fiber and insoluble fiber, which makes them great for constipation,” explained Erin Judge, a registered dietitian specialized in digestive disorders and founder of Gutivate. “Soluble fiber helps with softening and forming stool so it can pass more easily through the bowels, and insoluble fiber provides roughage to the stool to increase gut motility, or the speed stool moves through the intestines.”  
    Combining the nutrient-rich supplement with water, in this case, is where the magic happens. “The internal shower trend is simply hydrating chia seeds and consuming a significant portion quickly,” Judge stated. “Not only will the chia seeds start stimulating movement in the intestines as they move through, but the water will also aid in movement. For those who are constipated, this may help stimulate movement that releases stored stool, or what’s backed up in the colon, and help with regularity as the chia seeds continue to move through the entire GI tract.” Dr. Hendriks, a board-certified physician and functional medicine practitioner at Salvo Health, added that lemon juice, the third ingredient of the beverage, contains citric acid, which can stimulate the stomach to produce gastric acid to help digestion. TikTok gimmick or not, chia seeds and lemon are going in my well-being toolkit. 

    @drlindseyschmidt
    Internal shower? Is it worth it to help with constipation!? #internalshower #constipation #ibs #travelhack #bloating
    ♬ Music For a Sushi Restaurant – Harry Styles

    Should you try it?
    The viral trend has over 189 million views and counting on TikTok, so it’s probably worth a shot (pun intended), right? “If you are looking for ways to increase your fiber and fluid intake, I see no harm in giving this a shot, but there are probably some more fun and tasty ways to achieve the same goal,” Dr. Hendriks answered. “My one caution is that an abrupt increase in fiber intake can lead to gas and bloating for some people, so gradually increasing these fiber-rich foods and monitoring for symptoms is important.” Judge cautioned that for those who have gut inflammation, damage to the gut, or diverticulitis/diverticulosis, the chia seeds may cause even more irritation, which could lead to severe pain and diarrhea.
    If the “internal shower” is not your kind of #TikTokMadeMeDoIt, Jenn Baswick, a registered dietitian, certified intuitive eating counselor, body image coach, and founder of The Intuitive Nutritionist, suggested adding chia seeds (one tablespoon to start) to foods that are already part of your diet, like yogurt, oatmeal, or a smoothie, or gradually incorporating other sources of fiber to your meal rotation (think: whole grains, beans, legumes, vegetables, nuts and seeds). Dr. Hendriks recommended replacing chia seeds with flaxseed, which has a slightly lower total amount of fiber content and a greater percentage of soluble fiber, if you experience gas and bloating when consuming chia seeds. But you can’t go wrong with good ol’ fruits and veggies. “One of the best ways to increase your fiber intake is by consuming two to three more servings of colorful fruits and vegetables per day, so you not only get the gut-friendly fiber but all of the health-promoting phytonutrients as well,” Dr. Hendriks said. 
    As with any wellness hack, there’s no one-size-fits-all cure-all. Judge expressed that it may be best to consult with a registered dietitian who specializes in digestion for a more personalized approach. Baswick left us with this final piece of advice: “Take a step back, question its credibility, do some research from credible sources, like registered dietitians and doctors, and ask yourself if it’s really worth it or enjoyable for you and your body to do. Don’t force yourself to drink something just because it’s trending on TikTok.” 

    Mindfulness Is the Underrated Secret to Healthier Digestion More

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    About GoodtoKnow – who we are and why you can trust us

    ABOUT GOODTOKNOWAt GoodtoKnow, our mission is ‘simple’: we’re trying to make sense of parenthood. On the site, you’ll find everything you need for a happy, healthy family life. Our 16-year-strong archive of content includes more than 18,000 articles and 1,500 how-to videos. These include expert-backed advice features on parenting, dealing with relationship changes after having a baby, self-care for mums and managing your family finances. We also feature tried-and-tested product reviews and buying recommendations for every stage of family life – from prams and Moses baskets to birthday gifts and top toys.We know that being a parent can be conflicting, challenging and confusing – some days all before 9am! That’s why our team of brilliant writers and contributors includes real-life parents with first-hand experience of the same concerns and questions, as well as qualified experts – so you can always trust what we say. You can read more about our contributors in the ‘meet the team’ section. In line with our core brand values, we strive to be trusted, informative, empathetic – and here for you at every stage of your parenting journey.OUR HISTORYGoodtoKnow was founded in 2007 by our then-parent company, IPC Media (which later went on to become Time Inc UK, then TI Media, then Future plc – our current owners). Back then we were goodtoknow.co.uk – and covered recipes, health, diet, family, celebrity, and relationships. In 2022 – due partly to a growing international audience – we switched from Gootoknow.co.uk to Goodto.com. Nowadays, we’re completely dedicated to talking to parents, and sharing the best possible advice on raising a happy family at every stage of life.WHY TRUST US? Our qualified writers work closely with specialists to offer practical and relatable information on a huge spectrum of family topics. From conception and pregnancy, through to baby development and childhood milestones, as well and tweens and teens, we’ve got it all covered. We work with hugely talented contributors and trusted expert verifiers including respected midwives and doctors, parenting experts, and psychologists.We also collaborate with a huge and diverse range of well-liked, engaging, and funny Instagram influencers and content producers, to share the laughs and experiences every parent goes through. Parenting, families, and life can be hard sometimes. If you have a question, we’re here to help you answer it.The GoodtoKnow teamMEET OUR EDITORSAnna BaileyEditor-in-Chief Anna Bailey has been the editor of GoodtoKnow since 2018. Before joining the team she was Features Editor at MSN UK, where she oversaw Family Health and Days Out. Previously, she was Digital Lifestyle Editor for the broadcaster UKTV, and Lifestyle Editor for ITV.com. Anna studied Multi-Media Journalism at Bournemouth University and went on to gain her NCTJ and NCE journalism qualifications. Anna is responsible for driving the direction and editorial strategy of GoodtoKnow. A mum and experienced baby product tester, she is passionate about providing safe, trustworthy, and relatable advice for families of all kinds.Heidi ScrimgeourDeputy Editor | Consumer EditorHeidi Scrimgeour joined GoodtoKnow after a 16-year freelance career as a parenting and lifestyle journalist. She has written features for various publications including The Guardian, Telegraph, Daily Mail, Red, Psychologies and Stylist. She was a parenting columnist for AOL’s Parentdish and baby gear editor of Mother & Baby magazine for six years. Heidi has taken part in various parenting debates on This Morning, The One Show and BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. She has a degree in English & Media Arts and gained a Masters with Distinction from the University of Westminster. Find out moreStephanie LoweFamily EditorStephanie Lowe has more than 13 years of experience as a digital journalist and is currently working towards an Open University course: ‘Introduction to childhood studies and child psychology. She’s worked at The Sun’s TV Mag, Woman’s Own, BT.com, Press Association, Essentials, and Hello! Since becoming a parent Stephanie is passionate about empowering mums and dads to trust their instincts in confidently making their choices. Stephanie graduated from the University of Bedfordshire with a degree in Journalism and PR (2:1 BA Hons) in 2008.Find out moreSarah Handley Consumer Writer | Money Editor Sarah is GoodtoKnow’s Consumer Writer & Money Editor and is passionate about helping mums save money wherever they can – whether that’s spending wisely on toys and kidswear or keeping on top of the latest news around childcare costs, child benefit, the motherhood penalty. Sarah graduated from the University of Wales with a degree in English and Creative Writing and now has more than 15 years’ experience on a range of titles including The Money Edit. Sarah is all about the latest toy trends and is always on the lookout for toys for her nephew or Goddaughters. When not writing about toys or family finance, Sarah can be found hanging out with her rockstar dog Pepsi, getting opinionated about a movie, book or podcast, and trying her best to learn British Sign Language. Find out moreSelina MaycockSenior Family News WriterSelina is a Senior Family Writer for GoodtoKnow and has more than 16 years years of experience. She specialises in royal family news, including the latest activities of Prince George, Charlotte, Louis, Archie and Lilibet. She also covers the latest government, health, and charity advice for families. Selina graduated from the University of Sheffield in 2006 with a degree in Journalism and gained her NCTJ and NCE qualifications. During her career, she’s also written for Woman, Woman’s Own, Woman&Home, and Woman’s Weekly as well as Heat magazine, Bang Showbiz – and the Scunthorpe Telegraph.Find out moreMEET OUR EXPERTSAnna Mathur MBACP Accred.Psychotherapist and authorAnna Mathur is a valued member of the GoodToKnow expert panel. A mum of three, psychotherapist and bestselling author. She’s passionate about taking therapy out of the therapy room and sharing her own personal and professional experiences to support mums through motherhood. Psychoeducation is a big passion of Anna’s as she believes that knowing yourself and understanding your thoughts and feelings is a huge part of enabling change. Read moreSarah Ockwell-SmithParenting author, tween & teen expertSarah Ockwell-Smith is a mother of four young adults and is a welcome addition to the GoodToKnow expert panel. She has a background in Psychology and clinical research and has also worked as an antenatal teacher and doula. Sarah has written fifteen childcare books, covering everything from newborns to teenagers, with a special emphasis on ‘gentle parenting’. Sarah regularly contributes to National TV and radio, including Good Morning Britain and BBC Radio 4 and 5, she has also written for national publications including The Guardian, The Express, The Daily Mail, The IPaper and The HuffPost. Sarah lives with her family, two rescue dogs, cats and chickens in North Essex. Sarah’s newest book How to raise a teen is due to hit shelves July 4th 2024. Read moreDr Patricia BrittoEducational Psychologist (HCPC Registered)Dr Britto is a mum-of-one and makes up one fourth of the GoodToKnow expert panel. She has epic knowledge and qualifications, including a Doctorate in Professional Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychology, an MSc in Mental Health in Learning Disabilities and a BSc in Psychology. Read moreDr Amanda GummerResearch psychologist and expert in play & child developmentDr Amanda Gummer covers all things play and development related in her role on the GoodToKnow expert panel. She is a mum of two grown-up children, has a PhD in Neuropsychology, a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education, and more than 20 years of experience working with children and families. As such, she is renowned as an expert on all aspects of child development, including toys and play. In 2012, she founded The Good Play Guide, an independent, expert accreditation service for children’s products, including toys, apps and more. Read moreJayne Cherrington-Cook Family Writer With over 22 years of experience in journalism, Jayne’s written about a variety of subjects and is just as at home interviewing A-list stars as she is testing nappies. Having started her career writing about Pokémon, ponies, and wrestling, Jayne moved into the world of film journalism, where she spent the next eight years pinching herself while she got paid to interview Hollywood film stars and attend premieres. Since then, she’s launched websites for major magazines, worked with top brands such as Westfield, LK Bennett, and Hunter, had her own tech column in Women’s Own, and has more recently lent her wordy expertise to small businesses, including Andrea McLean’s This Girl Is On Fire membership site.Find out more Rachel Fitz-DesorgherParenting Mentor Rachel Fitz-Desorgher is a leading, internationally-known baby expert, and parenting mentor. Having worked for over 30 years as a midwife, infant feeding specialist, active birth teacher and parenting consultant, she published her first book, Your Baby Skin To Skin in 2017 and it quickly gathered five-star status with its reviewers. Rachel Fitz-Desorgher has been featured in several articles for publications including The Daily Mail, The Independent, The Express and Yahoo Lifestyle. She’s also a regular contributor for Mother&Baby.Find out moreTannice HemmingMaternity WriterTannice Hemming has worked alongside her local NHS in Kent and Medway since she became a parent and is now a mum of three. As a Maternity Voices Partnership Chair, she bridged the gap between service users (birthing women and people, plus their families) and clinicians, to co-produce improvements in Maternity care. She has also worked as a breastfeeding peer supporter. Two of her proudest achievements include Co-authoring Health Education England’s E-learning on Trauma Informed Care and the Kent and Medway Bump, Birth and Beyond maternity website. Tannice has collaborated with Public Health England (now the UK Health Security Agency), NHS England and Health Education England. A current member of several maternity steering groups and panels, projects Tannice has collaborated on include several focusing on maternal mental health, maternal weight and chronic illness.Find out more Dr Larisa CordaFertility Specialist Dr Larisa Corda is an obstetrician and gynecologist and one of the UK’s leading fertility specialists. Larisa is ITV This Morning’s and Channel Mum’s Fertility Expert. She qualified from Imperial College London with her training taking place in both the UK and Australia. This has seen her gain an understanding and appreciation of gynecological, obstetric and fertility issues across a wide international population. Larisa’s work and research interests have been published and presented internationally. She believes in using innovative natural and mild IVF techniques.Find out moreHOW WE TEST PRODUCTS Our review process is thorough, fair and consistent to ensure that our product reviews are robust, honest and detailed – and carried out by parents who are up against the same life challenges as you. We’re committed to making sure you spend your money on the best products for the job – anything to make your life that little bit easier.Parenting advice, hot topics, best buys and family finance tips delivered straight to your inbox.We identify products for review based on industry trends and audience insights and then calls in samples from brands and retailers for testing. Our parent-tested reviews are always uncompromising and utterly independent. We have affiliate partnerships with many baby gear brands and may earn a commission if you buy a product we recommend but this never influences editorial decisions or product inclusions. We work closely with all the major baby gear brands and retailers so we hear about new product launches before they happen and are among the first to review the latest must-have toys, items of baby gear, and parenting essentials.Read more about how we test baby products for our reviews.Testimonials: Think this is the best review we’ve had on any product. Beyond excited to circulate this to our wider teams. Thank you so much to you and (mum tester) Grace for this review!Bekah Duce, PR & Social Media ExecutiveThank you SO much for sharing – I’ve just shared this with our board team and they’re over the moon. By far the most thorough review we’ve ever received and we’re so happy with the comments! Thank you so much to you and (mum tester) Lynsey!Mamas & PapasAFFILIATE & ADVERTISING DISCLOSUREWe always aim to provide unbiased editorial created by our journalists and writers. We also need to pay our teams and website costs so we make money in a number of ways. 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If we are unable to resolve your complaint, or if you would like more information about IPSO or the Editors’ Code, contact IPSO on 0300 123 2220 or visit www.ipso.co.ukAffiliate disclosureThis Affiliate Disclosure is provided by Future Publishing Limited (“Future” or “we” or “our”), and applies to www.goodto.com, including, without limitation, both mobile and online versions of our websites, email and social channels (collectively, referred to herein as the “Site”), and is provided for the purpose of disclosing Future’s financial relationship with affiliates, advertisers, sponsors and other third parties that appear on the Site (collectively, referred to herein as “Affiliates”).This Affiliate Disclosure has been posted on the Site or has otherwise been linked to in a post or article since Future sells and thus receives monetary and other forms of compensation from Affiliates for various insertion orders and promotional campaigns that we feature on the Site. 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When this is the case, the content is clearly marked as ‘supported’ and/or ‘in partnership with’ so you’ll always know which content has been created with the brand and which is not.Please note, Future PLC is our parent company and has an in-depth terms and conditions page with a lot more information that you can read right here.Join GoodtoKnowIf GoodtoKnow sounds like your dream place to work, then we’d love to have you! From time-to-time we will advertise vacancies on the Future PLC careers page(opens in new tab) – so check there to see if there are currently any open vacancies that suit your skills and experience.If you’re a freelancer who has a fantastic pitch you’d love to share with us, then please email goodtoknow@futurenet.com (opens in new tab). We’re committed to hearing and developing talented voices from any background or education, encourage diversity and strive to amplify the voices of minorities, those in the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities. More

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    Sheikh Hamdan shares photo of Sheikh Mohammed doting on granddaughter Sheikha

    Lifestyle

    by Team Emirates Woman
    1 minute ago

    His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has proven time and time again he’s a family man at heart.
    Now, in a new photo posted by his son, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, this couldn’t be more true a statement.
    Sheikh Hamdan, affectionately known as Fazza, shared a sweet photo of grandfather Sheikh Mohammed with his granddaughter, Sheikha bint Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum.

    While the one-year-old’s face isn’t shown, the Dubai Ruler is seen kissing the baby girl’s hand in the snap.
    Sheikh Hamdan captioned the post including a poem in Arabic.
    The twins turn one
    Just a couple of weeks ago, baby Sheikha and her twin brother Rashid bin Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum turned one.
    Their father, Sheikh Hamdan, posted a never-seen-before photo of the pair from when they were newborns, also showing their faces for the very first time.

    “Feels like yesterday this picture was taken,” Fazza captioned the post. “It’s been one year today. Happy birthday Rashid & Shaikha… and to all the children of the world.”
    The Crown Prince of Dubai appears to have taken to fatherhood seamlessly and has shared mant special moments with his 14.2 million Instagram followers over the past year.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Sheikh Hamdan Instagram  More

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    Sacha Jafri presents a masterpiece at Mount Everest’s first-ever event

    Lifestyle

    by Sarah Joseph
    1 minute ago

    Renowned artist Sacha Jafri presented a masterpiece for the first time ever at the world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest.
    With an aim to reconnect humanity to our cultural heritage, Jafri unveiled an intricate three canvas triptych painting entitled ‘Sagarmatha National Park – Mount Everest’ in partnership with UNESCO. This piece brought his talent to life through a depiction of his strong connection with the people of Nepal at Mount Everest.
    “It is such an honour for me to partner with ‘The Art Maze’ and UNESCO using the power of art to reconnect and inspire humanity from space and on earth,” he said.
    “My two projects, running side by side aim to reconnect and reunite humanity from Space and on Earth, with the sole objective of leading us to a new world where the true meaning and power of the words ‘Love’, ‘Empathy’ and ‘Intention’ are fully realised and ingrained into every action we take on earth.”

    From the Burj Al Arab Helipad to Mount Everest, this renowned painter plans to reach new heights over the next few years to promote essential conversations to transform humanity.
    The monetary support received through this project shall be used across several areas including the protection of our environment, education, sustainability, health and the conservation of our World Heritage Sites.
    This year-long campaign pays homage to 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites from time to time, to bring about change and a more hopeful future.
    As part of the initiative, this exclusive painting will visit 18 countries across all six continents of the world between 2022 and 2024 with the next stop being Paris in September 2022.
    For more information about this painting visit collection.theartmaze.com
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Supplied More

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    in lifestyle and culture

    7 of Sheikha Latifa’s most profound quotes about Dubai

    Lifestyle

    by Sarah Joseph
    1 minute ago

    Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and member of the Dubai Council celebrates her birthday today.
    As a role model to many, she constantly aspires to build an environment that’s conducive to empowering women and uplifting Dubai’s creative arts scene.
    To mark this special occasion, Emirates Woman digs through the archives to bring to light some of Sheikha Latifa’s most profound quotes about Dubai, women empowerment, collaboration and more.
    On moving towards a creative economy

    This month Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, attended the first ever graduation ceremony of the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI) which was held at Dubai’s Museum of the Future.
    As graduates completed the region’s first integrated bachelor’s degree in Design, Sheikha Latifa said “The graduation of the first Bachelors of Design class from DIDI represents another milestone in our progress toward a new vibrant creative economy.”
    “DIDI, the first multidisciplinary design programme in the Middle East of its kind, is one of the many pioneering programmes that encapsulate Dubai’s forward-looking spirit. For us to achieve our ambition for Dubai’s creative economy, we need to make sure the infrastructure and the right programmes and institutions are in place for future and current creatives to develop, grow and flourish,” she highlighted at the ceremony.
    On Dubai becoming a growing hub for knowledge enthusiasts

    At the inauguration of the Big Bad Wolf Books exhibition held between April 14 to 24, 2022, Sheikha Latifa toured the event and shared her positive feedback. With over 190 nationalities present across all fields including scientific, literary and humanitarian, this exhibition was launched to promote the concept of exchanging information.
    During the event, she said, “A strong culture of reading enables members of society to make significant contributions to the development of the Arab region and the advancement of their countries, in addition to driving creativity and innovation in various fields.”
    On collaboration
    With a major focus on enhancing the emirate’s cultural ecosystem, Sheikha Latifa has always laid emphasis on exploring different forms of collaboration.
    “Collaboration is integral to building a thriving creative and cultural sector,” she said during the World Conference on Creative Economy 2021 (WCCE) last year.
    She highlighted how Dubai Culture actively focuses on sustainable initiatives that make it a game-changer in the region. Through new collaborations, Dubai Culture is becoming a leading centre for blending artistic, educational and technological activities in the city.
    On the thriving artistic scene

    As global and regional talent continues to be at the helm of Dubai’s burgeoning art scene, Sheikha Latifa shared how Dubai Culture continues to nurture and grow this sector on a daily basis.
    “Everything I do within the Culture and Arts Authority is geared towards supporting the industry, is geared towards taking our creatives to a global stage, where they can be recognised internationally,” she told CNN in a previous interview.
    “A thriving cultural scene is actually a sign of a very stable country, a thriving country, a stable government.”
    On turning a vision into reality
    Dubai culture officially launched on March 8, 2008, under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
    Showcasing the growth of the initiative, Sheikha Latifa launched ‘Dubai’s Culture & Heritage’ project on Google Arts & Culture, which she outlined was thanks to the innovation and foresight of her father.
    “Thanks to the vision and guidance of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai now holds a distinguished position on the global creative map,” she said. “We are proud that the city has truly become a global centre for arts, culture and creativity, a place where we empower and enable our home-grown talents, and welcome creatives from all over the world, offering them a home where they can thrive on a professional and personal level.”
    On praising the future generations
    As the Dubai arts and culture scene continues to flourish and grow, there’s a continuous stream of emerging talent and it’s something Her Highness is championing with the Global Grad Show, of which Dubai Culture is a strategic partner.
    With the launch of the event last year, Sheikha Latifa said: “Through the efforts of the thousands of brilliant young minds who engage with the program every year, a better future is being shaped, and enabling their growth means creating a more prosperous society for everyone. From Dubai we can all contribute to a better future.”
    On female empowerment

    Sheikha Latifa is consistently empowering women here in the UAE and across the globe, and it’s something she continues to highlight. Back in 2020 at the Global Forum Dubai, Her Highness emphasised the importance of supporting women.
    “It’s important to support women in whatever they want to do,” she said. “I believe the support of the government is crucial in driving women forward. I see women continuing to go from strength to strength.”
    As she continues to foster her role at Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, she’s constantly vouching for women to achieve great things and to receive more opportunities in the country to flourish.
    – For more on luxury lifestyle, news, fashion and beauty follow Emirates Woman on Facebook and Instagram
    Images: Supplied & Feature image: Instagram @latifamrm1 More

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    in health and weelbeing

    I Tried This Viral Journal—And It Completely Changed My Morning Routine

    While I exercise and try to eat fruits and veggies every day, that’s always been the extent of my identity as a wellness person. Meditation, affirmations, manifesting—they’ve always fallen under my umbrella of “to be tried at a later date.” But as my New Year’s resolutions came and went and my goals of focusing more on my emotional wellness rather than just physical seemed like they needed to be moved to 2023, I threw a Hail Mary and decided to order The Five-Minute Journal. 
    After seeing it countless times on Instagram and TikTok and even in my friends’ homes, I thought that a quick journal entry every day was something that even I could keep up with in the name of being well. After all, who can’t spare five minutes a day to be a little more positive? After over a month of having The Five-Minute Journal, the experience has been one that I didn’t expect—to say the least. Here’s exactly how the process went for me and whether or not the magic so many promise rang true.

    What is the Five-Minute Journal?
    The Five-Minute Journal is a gratitude journal with six months’ worth of daily entries (which are undated). Before it dives into the actual journal pages, there are several chapters explaining the logic behind the journal and the best practices in achieving effectiveness in your journaling. It suggests journaling for five days in a row to get into the habit and to come up with a plan on how you’re going to achieve it. 
    On the first page of the Five-Minute Journal, it claims to be “the simplest, most effective thing you can do every day to be happier,” which is bold but not completely unfounded given how valuable gratitude journaling claims to be. 
    Each day contains the following prompts:
    To be filled out first thing in the morning:

    I am grateful for…
    What would make today great?
    Daily affirmation

    To be filled out right before you go to bed:

    Highlights of the day
    What did I learn today?

    The premise of the journal focuses on one thing: positive thinking. It aims to help you shift your mentality and build the habit of thinking about the good rather than the bad, which is why you start and end your day with it. It even suggests keeping the journal on your nightstand next to your bed so you can write the moment you wake up. It’s meant to be a practical way to implement positive thinking into your days in a non-daunting, approachable way.

    My morning journaling
    While all of this sounded easy enough when I read the suggested instructions, it goes without saying that it’s much easier said than done. I thought keeping my journal on my desk in my bedroom would be enough, but I did need to move it to my nightstand to actually get into the habit of doing it first thing after I woke up.
    I’ve never done gratitude journaling of any kind, so I was in for a rude awakening on around day three. While it was easy at first with basic gratitudes like mornings with my dog, coffee, and the sun being out, coming up with three new ones every morning became difficult—fast. I had to dive deeper and really reflect on how I was feeling and what positivity I could pull from the day before. It took a bit of practice, but pulling gratitudes from a deeper place took a level of intuition that I don’t ordinarily pull from on a day-to-day basis. Things like “coffee” quickly turned into things that meant more, like “waking up excited to do my job today.”
    The gratitude portion quickly made me see just how valuable gratitude journaling can be. I found myself searching for positive things to write down throughout my day to fill out my journal the next morning, which actually just made me look at the positives throughout the day more overall. 
    I am historically not much of an emotional wellness girl, so my real challenge came from needing to fill out the affirmation portion of my journal. Even though the journal was completely private and just for me, I found it interesting that my instinct was to feel a little embarrassed and cheesy when writing down a new affirmation every day. After taking a deep dive into affirmation ideas, it definitely got easier for me and was a whole new way to give myself a little boost throughout the day. It was one thing to write it down, but another to think about it and actually affirm myself throughout the day, but with a little bit of practice (and writing each down on the page of my daily planner every day as well), it got a lot easier, and it got me into thinking of myself in a more positive way—something that I struggle to prioritize. Coming up with a new affirmation every day made me push myself into thinking about the parts of me that I truly love and what I’d like to believe about myself.
    Lastly, and maybe most importantly, the “What would make today great” prompt made me think about my day in a way that I normally don’t. My days are usually dictated by one thing: my to-do list. In the beginning days, that part of my journal would be filled with things like “get ahead on X project” or “go to Y workout class.” Quickly, I realized that isn’t what actually makes my day great. As someone who tends to be achievement-oriented (Enneagram Three baby), I often equate my happiness with what I perceive as my successes; if I’m productive and achieving what I need to in a day, that means I’ll be happy, right? Not necessarily. Taking a moment in my morning to think about what would really bring me joy was enough reflection to prioritize myself in a whole new way. Rather than it being checking something off my to-do list, it evolved into things like “taking a walk without music or a podcast” to spend some time with myself, which made me feel much more fulfilled throughout the day than any to-do-list task ever could. 

    My nighttime journaling
    Much like my morning journaling, my nighttime journaling really only stuck when I kept it next to my nightstand and did it right before I turned my light off to go to sleep. 
    Even more so than the morning, the nighttime journaling was truly a test in positivity. On a day that was “good,” it was easy to fill out my favorite parts of the day, but on a day that I was going to bed stressed and overwhelmed, it could take some digging. As someone who doesn’t normally challenge myself like this, it was incredible how taking those couple of minutes to try to think of something good in a bad day made me adjust my mindset to be more positive as a whole. And the best part? Even on those not-so-good days, I definitely could think of something that I learned, which made everything I wouldn’t have preferred to happen a bit more worthwhile. 
    Seeing the good in every day isn’t something that most people do, but writing about it and trying to think of something positive in even your worst day helps to not dwell on the bad quite so much. And often, after I turned out the lights, I found myself trying to think of more good, whereas I ordinarily would probably have been stressing about the bad. It made small things like a stranger complimenting me or making myself a really good meal feel bigger than singular moments, and my brain adjusted to seek those things out eons more than I ever had in the past.

    The verdict
    Over the past month, this journal truly has changed the way I think more than I ever thought it could. Rather than needing to make one huge change to feel and think differently, it was about making one singular, small change throughout every day and that consistency adding up. I was able to stick to it much easier than I’ve been able to stick to anything else (looking at you, meditation podcasts!), and mindfulness turned from a chore into something I truly looked forward to every morning and night.
    In the midst of the craziness of work and social plans and life in general, there has never been a reason to really slow down, reflect, and dig a bit deeper than my normal days required me to—but this journal gave it to me. Rather than going to bed thinking about what I needed to do the next day, I was spending time thinking of the good from the day I just experienced, which was a reach of success I never believed I’d actually achieve with this. Once my six months are complete, I know I’ll be ordering another one to continue my journaling ritual, and it’ll continue to make every day just a little bit better—and if I can do it, anyone can.

    90 Journal Prompts For When You Feel Like You Have Nothing to Write About More