Author: wp

Every piece of writing that has ever been published has a meaning. A central theme may be created to teach a lesson or to illustrate the influence of a specific emotion or action. As readers, our aim is to figure out what the author was trying to say between the lines in their work. We’ve completed the first phase in thematic essay writing when we actually find it! Let’s look at how to compose a thematic essay below.

What Is a Thematic Essay?

Let’s look at the concept of a thematic essay: it’s a piece of writing in which an author uses literary devices like foreshadowing, imagery, personification, and so on to create the central theme in a work of literature.

A competent essay writer will elucidate the main focus, expand on the literary devices used, and convey the theme’s overall significance. The main problem is that, while there are many topics to choose from, determining which one is the most meaningful and impactful can be difficult.

Naturally, everyone has their own unique understanding, making it difficult to reach a broad consensus on a central theme. In a nutshell, a well-written thematic essay is constructed around a sound core concept that is persuasively proven by literary devices and logical arguments.

Outline for a Thematic Essay

There are several main components to the thematic essay. First and foremost, depending on the depth of the theme, it should be five paragraphs or longer. Following that, it should have a concrete thesis statement, which is the thematic statement derived from the main subject. The reader is introduced to the topic and the thesis statement in the introduction. The body paragraphs each address one or more literary elements to support your thesis, while also providing numerous supporting information from the text itself. Finally, the end of a thematic essay summarizes the key points made and ends with a declaration of importance.

Introduction

The key topic of discussion is presented in an engaging manner in the thematic essay introduction. The first sentence of the introduction should be a hook statement that makes a provocative argument about the topic at hand. If done correctly, this will catch the interest of your reader. Following that, include some background information from the literature that will aid the audience in understanding your assertions later on. Finally, write a well-thought-out thesis statement that represents the novel’s core theme.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs are organized in the style of a thematic essay. Since the intent of each body paragraph is to present a literary device as evidence, the topic sentence should introduce the argument and serve as a portal into the evidence. A literary device and its connection to the literature must be stated in any topic sentence.

Then, to back up your point, use examples from the book to support your reasoning. There may be plot-related acts or quotes that are related to the central theme. It’s important to clarify how the action/quote relates to your thesis argument because it demonstrates your ability to back up your claims.

Keep in mind that each argument must include a literary device. It can’t be a chance occurrence or implication. The object of thematic essays is to prove thesis statements using critical literary devices.

Conclusion

Before wrapping up the entire text, there are three key goals to complete in the thematic essay conclusion. It should not present any new facts or information, but rather summarize what has already been presented. First and foremost, rephrase your thesis statement. Then, in the body of your paper, summarize the key statements you made and their effect on the thesis argument. Issue an overall closing statement with a global overview of the topic to round off the work. Leave your reader with a new hook to pique his or her interest in learning more about the topic.

Do you have that specific college in mind that you’ve been yearning to join? Well, it takes so much work because you have to go through the application process, you have to pass the exams, find all the documents needed for the application, and thinking that you’re done, there are forms that you need to fill as well. Now, the hardest job is applying for that scholarship that everyone wants really badly. The advantage of scholarship is that it helps in covering the students’ expenses and tuition fees as well. Therefore, if you wish to apply for a scholarship, then you need to be prepared to write a scholarship essay.

A scholarship essay is a piece of writing that students send in conjunction with their scholarship application. It’s the most important aspect of your submission. This essay will either help you win or lose a scholarship opportunity. A successful scholarship essay should make your application stand out and give the committee an idea of who you are, your ambitions, and why you deserve to be awarded a scholarship.

Individual organizations that aim to promote education often offer scholarships. As a result, scholarship essays should always show how the author’s passions and values fit with the organization’s goals. Scholarship essays are often mislabeled as scholarship application letters.

What distinguishes scholarship essays from college essays? All of these styles of work have one thing in common: they should reflect you and your opinions or beliefs. However, there are a few distinguishing characteristics between the two:

• Purpose – while a college essay may represent your personality, a scholarship essay must also demonstrate that you share the organization’s values and interests.
• Length – most scholarship essays are under 500 words long. Longer college essays are possible (up to 650 words).
• Prompt – college essay prompts are often much broader than those provided for scholarship essays. Furthermore, many colleges allow you to choose the subject, while a scholarship organization will require you to answer specific questions in your text (for example, “why do you deserve this scholarship?” is a common question).

The Outline

The following is a general outline for a scholarship essay:

A short introduction

A hook that piques the reader’s interest.

Statement of intent (why do you think you deserve a scholarship?)

The body

What has been the most difficult obstacle you’ve faced in your life?

How did you get through it?

What are your educational and/or career objectives?

What are your current educational objectives/goals?

What factors affected your decision to attend this particular college or university?

What drew you to this particular area of study?

What role would a scholarship play in helping you reach your educational objectives?

What are your long-term career objectives?

What are your plans for your degree?

What role will the scholarship play in helping you achieve your long-term career objectives?

Real-life examples to back up key points

Conclusion

A concise overview of the main points

Restate your argument (how the scholarship will help you reach your goals)

Do you need assistance writing a scholarship essay? Contact nursinghomeworks.com writing service for assistance from our academics.

If you are a student who’s in college or university, then by now you know what a scholarly paper is. A scholarly paper is a piece of writing that contains the abstract, introduction, methodology, body of the paper, and a conclusion. An abstract is a small section of the paper that gives a short description of the paper. It’s usually made up of a hundred words. Next is the introduction. This is the first section of the paper and it states the issue that the paper is resolving. Also, the introduction parts talks about how the writer is planning to address the question, and why it’s being resolved. So this part is made up of the introduction paragraph, a thesis statement, and background information.

The second section is the literature review. This section gives the important context for the study. The methodology section is a part of the paper that talks about the methods which were used in the research. Also, it talks about the ways which were used to gather and analyze the data.

Next is the main body of the paper. This part varies depending on the subject area. It could be about the quantitative findings, case study, or qualitative history. Lastly, the conclusion. This is usually a summary of all the findings and ideas based on the analyzed materials built in a logical and considerable manner.

What to Consider

The audience, intent, stance, scope, and use of technical materials all distinguish scholarly papers from other forms of legal writing. In terms of meaning, it’s important to note that a scholarly paper can serve many purposes, but there must be a central theme. First, bear in mind that a scholarly paper is written for a number of audiences. As a result, when defining the intent and synthesizing the content of the article, the diverse audience is critical.

Another factor to consider when writing a successful scholarly paper is the scope of the paper. The paper’s subject must be limited enough so that legal readers can understand the paper’s presentation. It’s difficult to choose a stance without first deciding on the intent and target audience. Aggressive, firm, careful, candid, helpful, patient, indignant, conciliatory, apologetic, and other characteristics are among the potential stances.

Don’ts

Writing an effective scholarly paper necessitates the application of a number of laws as well as the avoidance of multiple pitfalls. For example, contractions like “didn’t” and “wouldn’t” would never be used in a scholarly article. Furthermore, in scholarly articles, it is necessary to avoid using the passive voice because it blurs accountability, which is not recommended for professional writing.

Additionally, the academic writer avoids using first or second person, fragmented sentences, imprecise vocabulary, and unnecessary wordiness and quotations. Finally, scholarly papers should never contain typographical errors; therefore, proofreading is a must for anyone who writes such posts.

As a nursing student, you can get stuck by writing numerous papers that you must qualify for your nursing profession. There are also opportunities. While everything you learn prepares you for your future role, we are sure that there is little writing in your nursing profession, and therefore you don’t have to work hard to learn how to write APA papers. The mere thought of balance nursing and writing skills can lead you to give up studying, which is why my nursing research paper most often requires students to turn to the Internet.

A nursing research paper is demanding, as is every other discipline. A student needs a detailed study, an analysis of the data and a coherent argument. It can take a long time to get a student to sit down and complete the job for weeks or months. However, we believe that if you do not have proper written skills, you do not need to fight with your APA nursing research paper. This is an important article in your career; before you start the writing process, you must take a lot of caution. It is therefore appropriate to seek help from experts in medical research online, to get a chance to pick out a top grade and to keep track of college success.

Nursing Writing Services provide a confident support to students who have no idea how to write their papers and have proved themselves to be a useful option. Your writing my APA research paper is a matter of urgency and reliability to me. We have joined the nursing industry since more students are registering in various colleges and universities as the popularity of the nursing population increases. Our desire is to help them achieve quality and best nursing research paper writing services in part to the success of the new generation of nurses.

The best thing about the healthcare field, which attracts millions of students, means that the research papers are generating millions of new ideas. This is what these academic materials should essentially do. You’re not only an aspiring nurse, you’re a fellow scholar when you join college to study nursing. Your contribution to the scholarship will nevertheless be seen in your nursing study, while the success as a nurse is marked by your skill in carrying out your tasks. It is recommended to receive assistance on the paper in order to balance the two aspects of your career when you are leaving school. Who can write me my research paper in APA format? You can ask.

The dilemma faced by the majority of students is not the decision whether someone is writing their research papers; the problem is when they have to get their career papers written. When you decide to buy your APA research paper online, you are faced with certain risks, as reliable services can be obtained. For example, some firms offer cheap nursing services while websites write your papers for you are also available. If you’re ever faced with the problem writing my nursing APA research paper, you want someone to take care of me because you didn’t pay them.

We understand that you need not just the paper but quality research at Nursing Writing Services. We thus give you an opportunity to order a few of the best essay writers in the nursing industry. By placing an order, you can join our community.

Nursing is one of today’s most popular professions. In addition to the idea of participating in life-saving and patient care, nursing is an attractive career, due to the benefits its practitioners receive. Students that choose to become nurses renounced that they do more to convince their teachers that they are willing to join the profession than to understand the field’s practical qualifications. You must therefore study and memorize such things as diagnoses, doses and the lingo, which may be quite mouthful. We do not think it needs to be this hectic to be called a nurse, so we do the best to write your APA nursing dissertation. For most students, APA nursing dissertation is particularly hard to produce.

You are torn between the skills you need to care for your patients and write papers and take your course. You are torn between the skills. Although we believe that you should not pay as much attention to the latter as the former, you must be careful that the two abilities are important to your career. For example, if you do not understand the basic skills for the profession, you will not be competent in your practice. Likewise, if you do not write and submit your infants on time, you are not eligible to participate in the career. Such a dilemma causes students to wonder who is going to write my APA dissertation for them.

We ensure that we have your paper written from scratch and keep an eye on your instructions, your professor’s guidelines and the instructions for formatting. We therefore strongly discourage the option of purchasing APA nursing dissertation online before we see whether the writing style meets your needs nursinghomeworks.com

 reviews will show you why we are the most credible in the industry.

If you’re in a dilemma and you want someone to write your APA nursing dissertation, we’re your best bet in guaranteeing high quality and reliable services. We have several examples in nursing papers that we hope will help you decide to work with us quickly as they demonstrate the depth of the research we have carried out on behalf of every client.

Write my Nursing APA dissertation for me

You are probably looking for writers who help you impress your professors in a high quality paper if you go online with your written application of my APD dissertation. We are what you’re looking for. We have the highest academic skills in the fields of medicine and other sciences. Also in the industry, we’ve been long enough to understand what teachers want in their APA dissertation.

Reliability

We do not see ourselves as the industries best nursing essay writers. Our customers have confirmed their faith in us, both past and present, by bringing new customers and returning new orders. For us, we are confident in meeting the expectations of our customers.

Best quality

There is a lot of research required in a nursing APA dissertation. It has to be detailed and supported by data from authoritative sources as an important document in the case of a nursing student and the nursing profession. In addition to being flawless, the final document provides an essential addition to knowledge.

Delivery on-time

Helps beat you any deadline by collegenursingtutors.com. When you place an order, a form with your deadline will be provided to you. Our writers shall immediately start the job and deliver it before the agreed time or date.

Client support

We have a 24/7 customer support team that ensures comfort and happiness. Whenever you have a question or concern, contact us and be sure we’ll find a quick solution for you. This makes nursinghomeworks.com

 one of the industry’s leading nursing services, as we respond in real time to all of your needs.

Unlimited revisions 

We allow each customer a 14-day period to make revision requests after submitting their dissertation on the agreed date. This is a way to further cultivate student opinions, making the paper even more personalized.

We all know that nursing assignments can be hectic and demanding for students. It is important to note that a correctly done capstone project paper is a way of letting your supervisors and potential employers acknowledge your level of skills.

Being a complex project that requires many steps to prove what experiences a nursing student has gained at the end of their program, it is crucial to get Nursing Capstone Project Writing help from our medical writing experts. They understand what the final project represents when it comes to the nursing students’ accomplishments. These types of assignments are very critical to a student’s last year.

This capstone course will include experiences similar to those students are likely to confront as newly employed baccalaureate-prepared registered nurses. Students will have one-on-one work experience with baccalaureate nurse preceptors in selected clinical settings. An emphasis is placed on the development of personal and professional strategies needed to make the transition from student to graduate nurse by highlighting role development skills of bedside nurse leaders.

Course Objectives

• Integrate theoretical concepts from nursing and other disciplines in understanding nursing practice issues.
• Refine personal leadership abilities based on self-assessment and analysis of personal leadership styles.
• Evaluate the health care environment utilizing a systems framework to consider policy, resources, and quality and safety concerns related to the selected nursing practice setting.
• Propose improvements for safe nursing practice using national patient safety initiatives and evidence based research.
• Evaluate and incorporate evidence based research related to professional development for the practice setting.
• Provide evidence based patient centered nursing care for a variety of a patients.
• Evaluate the utilization of patient care technological support systems that support patient care and prevent medical errors in the practice setting.
• Develop collegial relationships with inter- and multidisciplinary team members using management and leadership concepts and therapeutic communication skills while adhering to professional standards and behaviors.
• Prioritize and implement nursing aspects of multidisciplinary health plans which reflect legal and ethical standards of care and practice.
• Perform reflective ongoing self-evaluation of growth in professional nursing practice and attainment of professional practice goals.
• Provide for the safe and effective care of multiple patients and their families through direct care and delegation of care to other members of the health care team.
• Demonstrate the use of critical thinking and clinical judgment as a basis for decision making in clinical practice.

Additional Considerations

The decision as to when to take your capstone is an important one. Once you submit your intent, it should only be changed in extenuating circumstances and in collaboration with your advisor. Additionally, you are responsible for finding your own housing during your capstone experience. If you believe you will have difficulty with that, share this with the course instructor or your advisor. They may be able to put you in contact with alumni from the area that are willing to host you during your time.

Choosing a Capstone Site

We make every effort to help you have a meaningful experience. You will be asked to consider possible specialties and locations for your capstone. When thinking about locations, please take into account that your capstone instructor will try to plan a site visit with you during your experience. Because of state laws regarding nursing education and nursing licenses, you will be limited to considering a capstone location in Iowa, Minnesota, or Wisconsin. More information on locations are on pages 4-5.

Some students feel that choosing a practicum site is one of the hardest things that they have to do before graduation! If you are having trouble deciding what to request you are not alone. Here are some tips to think about as you get ready to make a request.

1.       If you are shaky and/or feel at all weak in your basic nursing skills, have a low G.P.A., or need to improve organization and priority setting skills, then we recommend that you request a basic medical-surgical nursing unit experience.

2.       If you feel you have strong clinical skills and you have a strong G.P.A., perhaps you might consider a specialty placement such as an ER or ICU. While typically placement in a specialty area is your choice, if a clinical site limits the number of students in a particular setting, the placement will be at the discretion of the instructor. Your previous clinical instructors may be contacted to determine appropriateness.

3.       There are times when students feel an inpatient setting is not for them. That’s okay! Historically, students have had challenging experiences when in a home health care, hospice, or public health placements. However, outpatient clinics, procedural areas, and long term care facilities are viable options.

4.       Consider the location. If location is an issue due to costs or commuting, please consider this and indicate your needs when completing this request. Be sure to explain your facility preference as a strong factor in your rationale statement.

5.       Already know what nursing area you want to practice in? Then be sure to list the area as your top rationale and then provide choices of hospitals/agencies that provide that experience.

6.       Haven’t a clue? Think about what is important to you–geographical area? Size of hospital? Type of care model seen in hospital? Patient population? Readiness to take NCLEX exam? Ask your advisor, clinical instructors, and people who know you best to help you brainstorm. Then carefully craft what you feel would be best, second best and third best for you.

7.       We will do all that we can to place you in your first choice location. However you must know that there is no guarantee that you will be successful in first choices. There are several reasons for this––one is that we are very dependent on the availability of slots in the various hospitals/agencies and we do not have control over their decision to take a student.

Nursing capstone project ideas

If you’ve been searching for the best capstone project ideas for nursing, we’ve got you. We will guide you on the best capstone topic ideas to choose from. Being passionate about what we do, many nursing students want to be associated with us.

When you are ready for your BSN or MSN capstone project, it’s easy to get confused because many ideas flood your mind. You might even end up picking a capstone project idea that is insensible with no content online. With so many nursing capstone project ideas, you must choose one that best suits you. Our professional nursing writers will help you make the capstone project outline as well.

We are a reliable internet-based nursing service, and we make every effort to complete all the assigned projects according to your instructions and on time.

Our Research is based on Numerous Sources

Before recruiting any writing services, you need to find out about its reputation and capacity. We have invested in modern technology to provide our clients with high standard projects to score good grades. We give our writers access to many e-books and digital libraries to research their work well. The sources we use are the ones published within the last five years. When it comes to methodology, we ensure that we choose the appropriate and well-explained methods for your specific project.

We Follow Instructions Provided

We assure you that our BSN nursing capstone project writers will follow all the instructions when writing your capstone project. Also, the writers ensure that they come up with a capstone project that stands out. Our writer will analyze significant and present evidence-based literature when evaluating because they utilize recent journal articles, online directories and other scholarly sources.

We operate 24/7. Get in touch with our support through the live chat for any enquiries. You can email us as well, and we will assist you quickly.

There are many possible risk factors for developing postnatal depression. Some women will be exposed to more than one, which increases their chances of developing the condition. However, this is not always the case and many women who are exposed to multiple risk factors never go on to become postnatally depressed.

Risk factors can be categorised under the following:

• Physical
• Psychological
• Environmental.

Physical Risk Factors

A sudden drop in the hormones oestrogen and progesterone are thought to be a major contributing factor in the onset of postnatal depression. Both hormones surge during pregnancy but then begin to drop before birth in order for labour to begin. After the birth of the baby, the levels can drop dramatically and this is what is thought to cause ‘baby blues’. However, when women are very sensitive to changes in hormone levels, this means that their levels may not return as quickly to pre-pregnancy levels and this is what is thought to trigger postnatal depression to start.

Additionally, if someone has had a difficult birth, this can mean that their physical health in the wake of the birth is not as good as usual. Many women experience extreme fatigue in the early days after giving birth, but when accompanied by a lack in mobility due to a difficult birth, it can cause women to feel helpless, which can be a contributing factor in postnatal depression.

Caesarean sections

Women who undergo a caesarean section are thought to be at increased risk of postnatal depression because of the physical and psychological effects that it has on the mother.  Many women who have had a caesarean struggle to be as active as they were before their operation and many will feel intense guilt at not giving birth naturally, especially if the procedure was carried out as an emergency.

Difficulty breast feeding

Many women who find it difficult to breastfeed their baby can also develop feelings of failure and inadequacy, and when added to other physical factors such as exhaustion, this can be debilitating on their ability to care for their baby. This can develop into a cycle where their feelings of hopelessness get worse.

Physical issues with the baby

Physical issues that affect the baby can also be risk factors for postnatal depression. If parents are unaware that their baby has got a disability before it is born, then this can be extremely shocking and can lead to feelings of guilt and disappointment because they can feel as though they have failed their baby. These are also issues for women who have had premature births and women whose babies have developed an illness soon after birth and so have to be placed in a special care unit, which reduces the chances for them to bond.

Psychological Risk Factors

Previous mental health

If a woman has had a previous experience of postnatal depression, this is thought to raise her chances of developing it again after subsequent births. Also, women who have incidents of other types of depression are also thought to be at increased risk of experiencing postnatal depression.

Women who have experienced other types of mental illness are thought to be at increased risk of postnatal depression, which may develop more rapidly than in women who do not have other mental health issues. This is thought to be linked to fluctuating hormone levels and the effect that they have on brain chemistry, which regulates moods.

There are lots of different types of medication for mental health problems, for instance there is more than 1 type of anti-depressant. Each have slightly different ingredients or doses, as medical advances happen more medication will keep coming out. Like all medication, people can get side effects from them or one type of medication may not agree with them where as another will.

Environmental Risk Factors

There appears to be more environmental risk factors of developing postnatal depression than any other. This is possibly because a woman’s ‘environment’ encompasses many aspects of her life.  For example, if she lacks social support or has a poor relationship with her partner this can lead to postnatal depression because she may feel overwhelmed with responsibility and be unable to cope.

If she is currently undergoing stressful life events this can also be a contributing factor. This is because caring for a new baby can be all-consuming and having other stressful things to worry about as well can also lead to feelings of being overwhelmed.

Some women may have previously had little experience of caring for a baby and this may make her feel inadequate and like she is floundering, unsure if she is doing the right thing. This can be made even worse by other women who seem to be able to adapt to motherhood with ease, even though those women may be experiencing exactly the same feelings of inadequacy privately.

Isolation

Isolation becomes a risk factor for some women, especially if they live a long way from their family and they do not have many friends in the same area. Caring for a baby can be a job that takes up a lot of time and leaves little time for the mother to have time for herself, and if she does she may feel too exhausted to do anything anyway. This can lead her to be detached from her own social network, especially whilst she is on maternity leave from work, leaving her with little adult contact.

Resentful

Some women become very resentful at being cut off from their adult world and these feelings can be exacerbated if they have given up work for good to care for their baby. Giving up work can also lead to worries about household finances, which can also be a contributing factor in the onset of postnatal depression.

Additionally, if someone has had a difficult birth, this can mean that their physical health in the wake of the birth is not as good as usual. Many women experience extreme fatigue in the early days after giving birth, but when accompanied by a lack in mobility due to a difficult birth, it can cause women to feel helpless, which can be a contributing factor in postnatal depression.

People who follow good health habits in their younger age tend to stay relatively more robust irrespective of their age. But it is never too late for a healthy lifestyle. Following good health habits can help elderly people to find ease in lifestyle. It could even prevent serious health issues.

In a research, it was analyzed that one could add extra five to eight years to their lifespan, by following a healthy lifestyle. Accepting the changes is the first part in acquiring stable health. With aging, there will be variations in blood pressure, heart conditions, and lesser immunity towards illness. These changes can affect both physically and emotionally. Leading a healthier life can boost both the physical and mental state. Healthy eating and regular physical activities are the primary solutions for good health at any age. But with more refined tips and a little more care, older adults can improve their living, leading a healthier lifestyle.

Through this article, let us discuss some valuable tips that could help seniors in achieving a healthier life and to live longer without struggles.

Regular health checkups

Health screenings play an essential role when it comes to old age. Screening should be done for a broad spectrum of diseases and health conditions such as cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, etc. Regular checkups can reduce the risk of severe illness and could improve health with proper medications and diet.

Regular eyesight, hearing and dental checkups

Older adults should have an eye test and get their prescription reviewed every year, as well as have their eyes screened for health issues such as glaucoma. Having the right pair of glasses can significantly diminish the prospect of falls. Hearing loss occurs commonly with aging, often due to exposure to loud noise. So hearing checkups should be done in a regular interval of time. Visiting the dentist once every six months could exclude the risk of cavities.

Maintaining healthy weight

Obesity and overweight can raise the risk of heart diseases, cholesterol, diabetes, and blood pressure. Hence it is imperative to manage a healthy weight, and this should be in accordance with the body mass index (BMI). Diet and exercise have a vital role in having a healthy weight. Individual medications should also be considered to balance the lifestyle.

Stay physically active

Even with conventional medications and better health, some people at their old age doesn’t convey much. It is always required to be active, and being active encompasses both mental activeness and physical activeness. Morning/Evening walks and exercise classes can aid in physical activeness. Mental activities could be hastened by having talking sessions with other people, including family members, younger people and people of the same age.

Sound sleep

Insomnia and frequent waking in the night are typical among older adults. There is nothing wrong with a nap in the midday to catch up on some snooze, but it’s vital to ensure the room is a calm, quiet and comfortable place for them to get as much sleep as they need. Afternoon naps could help seniors in being active, but frequent naps could result in tiredness.

Quit smoking

Smoking is harmful, and for older adults, the consequence is higher. Being old, it is troublesome to regulate the performance of the lungs, and with a constant obsession with smoking, the risk is double. It is always required to keep the lungs protected and hence smoking should be avoided.

A healthy working environment is essential for good productivity, happy employees, low absence rates, and the all-round wellbeing of staff and managers. Fortunately, it’s neither hard nor expensive to make some small changes that’ll have a big impact; just follow our eight essential tips, and you’ll see positive results in no time.

1. Strike the right tone with a careful colour palette

The colours you choose to decorate the workspace can have a surprisingly profound effect on workers’ mood, creativity and overall wellbeing. Here are some you might want to try out:

• Orange: often used in fitness centres, its known to encourage energy and enthusiasm. Can be very effective when used sparingly, such as on accent walls, cushions and artwork
• Red: increases energy levels, blood pressures and heart rates. Can also stimulate conversation and collaboration. Red is another colour best suited to careful, sparing use on accent features such as sofas and rugs
• Pale blue: because it encourages focus and a sense of productivity, this is a great shade to use throughout a workplace

2. Enable healthy food choices

When feeling low in mood or energy, it’s all too easy to reach for a quick pick-me-up in the form of a sports drink, bag of crisps, or chocolate bar. But frequent snacking on processed, sugary or fatty foods will ultimately have a negative impact on your employees’ health.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a café or canteen on-site, think about ways to encourage staff to make healthier decisions when they choose their snacks or meals. Stock up on water or juice drinks over caffeinated sports drinks, and make sure fresh fruit is both widely available and competitively priced compared with sugary snacks.

Nudge theory can be a great way to encourage people to make food choices that are better for their long-term health: check out this guide from Irrational Labs for small but effective nudges you could introduce to guide people in the right direction.

3. Encourage movement

Public Health England recommends that adults do at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise every day, so encouraging regular exercise and activity is a great way of improving the general health of employees. Consider introducing a cycle to work scheme as part of your benefits package, organising sporting activities after work (such as football or netball), taking a stroll during your lunch break, or even simply encouraging staff to take the stairs rather than the lift.

4. Invest in supportive furniture

British people reportedly spend nine hours a day sitting day – with much of this sedentary time associated with work and commuting. With 8.9 million working days in the UK lost to work-related musculoskeletal disorders in 2016-17, the importance of investing in ergonomic chairs – and encouraging staff to maintain good posture – cannot be underestimated.

There is a growing trend of employers investing in standing or treadmill desks, but so far academic research into the potential benefits of standing rather than sitting at work has proved inconclusive.

5. Decorate with living plants

Having plants around the office not only improves the appearance of the workspace, but also assists with employee health and productivity. Check out our top seven benefits of having plants in the office.

6. Put on some music

Listening to music triggers the release of dopamine, a feel-good chemical, putting us in a better mood.

Music can also be a great motivator and concentration aid – particularly if you work in a busy, open-plan environment. Before you boot up Spotify, though, consider the feelings of your co-workers: will they appreciate listing to the new Taylor Swift album on hard rotation all week? If not, plug in a pair of good-quality noise-cancelling headphones, so they can work in peace – and so can you.

7. Deploy good lighting

Natural light is more preferable for most workers – and especially for migraine suffers, who may find that harsh fluorescent lighting triggers their attacks. Make sure that lights are positioned so they don’t reflect off other objects, because this can cause eye strain and headaches.

8. Offer free fruit

Ditch the traditional workplace ‘cake altar’ and offer your employees free fruit to snack on instead. Fruits that are particularly beneficial for your health include:

• Apples – important for colon health and controlling blood sugar levels, apples are also a good source of vitamin C
• Cherries – have the highest concentration of anthocyanins 1 and 2, which help block enzymes associated with inflammation
• Grapes – loaded with vitamins A, C, and B6, and folate, as well as several essential minerals
• Blackberries – are rich in the antioxidant lutein, which helps promote eye health

We all know the health risks of smoking, but that doesn’t make it any easier to kick the habit. Whether you’re an occasional teen smoker or a lifetime pack-a-day smoker, quitting can be really tough.

Smoking tobacco is both a physical addiction and a psychological habit. The nicotine from cigarettes provides a temporary—and addictive—high. Eliminating that regular fix of nicotine causes your body to experience physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Because of nicotine’s “feel good” effect on the brain, you may turn to cigarettes as a quick and reliable way to boost your outlook, relieve stress, and unwind. Smoking can also be a way of coping with depression, anxiety, or even boredom. Quitting means finding different, healthier ways to cope with those feelings.

Smoking is also ingrained as a daily ritual. It may be an automatic response for you to smoke a cigarette with your morning coffee, while taking a break at work or school, or on your commute home at the end of a hectic day. Or maybe your friends, family, or colleagues smoke, and it’s become part of the way you relate with them.

To successfully stop smoking, you’ll need to address both the addiction and the habits and routines that go along with it. But it can be done. With the right support and quit plan, any smoker can kick the addiction—even if you’ve tried and failed multiple times before.

Your personal stop smoking plan

While some smokers successfully quit by going cold turkey, most people do better with a tailored plan to keep themselves on track. A good quit plan addresses both the short-term challenge of stopping smoking and the long-term challenge of preventing relapse. It should also be tailored to your specific needs and smoking habits.

Questions to ask yourself

Take the time to think of what kind of smoker you are, which moments of your life call for a cigarette, and why. This will help you to identify which tips, techniques, or therapies may be most beneficial for you.

Are you a very heavy smoker (more than a pack a day)? Or are you more of a social smoker? Would a simple nicotine patch do the job?

Are there certain activities, places, or people you associate with smoking? Do you feel the need to smoke after every meal or whenever you break for coffee?

Do you reach for cigarettes when you’re feeling stressed or down? Or is your cigarette smoking linked to other addictions, such as alcohol or gambling?

Identify your smoking triggers

One of the best things you can do to help yourself quit is to identify the things that make you want to smoke, including specific situations, activities, feelings, and people.

Keep a craving journal

A craving journal can help you zero in on your patterns and triggers. For a week or so leading up to your quit date, keep a log of your smoking. Note the moments in each day when you crave a cigarette:

1. What time was it?
2. How intense was the craving (on a scale of 1-10)?
3. What were you doing?
4. Who were you with?
5. How were you feeling?
6. How did you feel after smoking?

Do you smoke to relieve unpleasant feelings?

Many of us smoke to manage unpleasant feelings such as stress, depression, loneliness, and anxiety. When you have a bad day, it can seem like cigarettes are your only friend. As much comfort as cigarettes provide, though, it’s important to remember that there are healthier and more effective ways to keep unpleasant feelings in check. These may include exercising, meditating, relaxation strategies, or simple breathing exercises.

For many people, an important aspect of giving up smoking is to find alternate ways to handle these difficult feelings without turning to cigarettes. Even when cigarettes are no longer a part of your life, the painful and unpleasant feelings that may have prompted you to smoke in the past will still remain. So it’s worth spending some time thinking about the different ways you intend to deal with stressful situations and the daily irritations that would normally have you lighting up.

Tips for avoiding common triggers

Alcohol. Many people smoke when they drink. Try switching to non-alcoholic drinks or drink only in places where smoking inside is prohibited. Alternatively, try snacking on nuts, chewing on a cocktail stick or sucking on a straw.

Other smokers. When friends, family, and co-workers smoke around you, it can be doubly difficult to give up or avoid relapse. Talk about your decision to quit so people know they won’t be able to smoke when you’re in the car with them or taking a coffee break together. In your workplace, find non-smokers to have your breaks with or find other things to do, such as taking a walk.

End of a meal. For some smokers, ending a meal means lighting up, and the prospect of giving that up may appear daunting. However, you can try replacing that moment after a meal with something else, such as a piece of fruit, a healthy dessert, a square of chocolate, or a stick of gum.

Coping with nicotine withdrawal symptoms

Once you stop smoking, you’ll likely experience a number of physical symptoms as your body withdraws from nicotine. Nicotine withdrawal begins quickly, usually starting within an hour of the last cigarette and peaking two to three days later. Withdrawal symptoms can last for a few days to several weeks and differ from person to person.

Common nicotine withdrawal symptoms include:

1. Cigarette cravings
2. Irritability, frustration, or anger
3. Anxiety or nervousness
4. Difficulty concentrating
5. Restlessness
6. Increased appetite
7. Headaches
8. Insomnia
9. Tremors
10. Increased coughing
11. Fatigue
12. Constipation or upset stomach
13. Depression
14. Decreased heart rate

As unpleasant as these withdrawal symptoms may be, it’s important to remember that they are only temporary. They will get better in a few weeks as the toxins are flushed from your body. In the meantime, let your friends and family know that you won’t be your usual self and ask for their understanding.

Manage cigarette cravings

While avoiding smoking triggers will help reduce your urge to smoke, you probably can’t avoid cigarette cravings entirely. Fortunately, cravings don’t last long—typically, about 5 or 10 minutes. If you’re tempted to light up, remind yourself that the craving will soon pass and try to wait it out. It helps to be prepared in advance by having strategies to cope with cravings.

Distract yourself. Do the dishes, turn on the TV, take a shower, or call a friend. The activity doesn’t matter as long as it gets your mind off smoking.

Remind yourself why you quit. Focus on your reasons for quitting, including the health benefits (lowering your risk for heart disease and lung cancer, for example), improved appearance, money you’re saving, and enhanced self-esteem.

Get out of a tempting situation. Where you are or what you’re doing may be triggering the craving. If so, a change of scenery can make all the difference.

Reward yourself. Reinforce your victories. Whenever you triumph over a craving, give yourself a reward to keep yourself motivated.

You may also gain weight if you replace the oral gratification of smoking with eating unhealthy comfort foods. Therefore, it’s important to find other, healthy ways to deal with unpleasant feelings such as stress, anxiety, or boredom rather than mindless, emotional eating.

Nurture yourself. Instead of turning to cigarettes or food when you feel stressed, anxious, or depressed, learn new ways to quickly soothe yourself. Listen to uplifting music, play with a pet, or sip a cup of hot tea, for example.

Eat healthy, varied meals. Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, and healthy fats. Avoid sugary food, sodas, fried, and convenience food.

Learn to eat mindfully. Emotional eating tends to be automatic and virtually mindless. It’s easy to polish off a tub of ice cream while zoning out in front of the TV or staring at your phone. But by removing distractions when you eat, it’s easier to focus on how much you’re eating and tune into your body and how you’re really feeling. Are you really still hungry or eating for another reason?

Drink lots of water. Drinking at least six to eight 8 oz. glasses will help you feel full and keep you from eating when you’re not hungry. Water will also help flush toxins from your body.

Take a walk. Not only will it help you burn calories and keep the weight off, but it will also help alleviate feelings of stress and frustration that accompany smoking withdrawal.

Snack on guilt-free foods. Good choices include sugar-free gum, carrot and celery sticks, or sliced bell peppers or jicama.

Helping a loved one to stop smoking

It’s important to remember that you cannot make a friend or loved one give up cigarettes; the decision has to be theirs. But if they do make the decision to stop smoking, you can offer support and encouragement and try to ease the stress of quitting. Investigate the different treatment options available and talk them through with the smoker; just be careful never to preach or judge. You can also help a smoker overcome cravings by pursuing other activities with them, and by keeping smoking substitutes, such as gum, on hand.

If a loved one slips or relapses, don’t make them feel guilty. Congratulate them on the time they went without cigarettes and encourage them to try again. Your support can make all the difference in helping your loved one eventually kick the habit for good.