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October 27, 2025 By GOQii 2 Comments

Simple Ways to Overcome Depression

Overcome DepressionMost of us tend to feel low when things don’t work in our favor. At times, we give a 100% to a task expecting something good in return. When these expectations aren’t met, we succumb to negative thoughts and depression.

Depression drains you of energy and hope. At times, it makes you feel helpless. It makes any task all the more difficult. Depression becomes a problem when it fails to pass and we don’t fight back. Feeling low is a part and parcel of life and is completely natural. But if this feeling intensifies and stretches over weeks or months, it could become problematic.

Are You Really Depressed? 

It is important to identify whether we are really depressed or we are just upset. It is easy to work on it once you know for sure. If we are upset, it is just a matter of time and everything is normal. If we are in depression, the sinking feeling of helplessness, loneliness and other negative feelings can go on for weeks or months with no end in sight. Depression is unhealthy for your mind and body but you can fight it!

Simple Ways To Overcome Depression

  • Get Into a Routine: If you feel depressed, have a routine and follow it regularly
  • Start Small & Stay Focused: If you feel the work you are doing is too much, break it into small tasks. For instance, if you are unable to walk 10km at a stretch, start with 1 km and gradually increase it. Eventually, you will be able to complete 10km at a stretch
  • Talk to Your Friends: Talk to a friend you trust. You will feel relaxed and your thought process will change
  • Sleep: Depression leads to issues with sleep. We should aim for at least 8 hours of sound sleep
  • Eat Healthy: There is no diet that can fix depression. It is better to keep an eye on what we eat. If Depression makes you feel like overeating, then keep portion control in mind
  • Challenge Negative Thoughts: To overcome depression, a lot of work is mental. Change the way you think. We tend to leap to the worst possible conclusions when depressed. The next time you are feeling terrible about yourself, use logic as a natural depression treatment. Ask yourself why you are feeling this way? Is this really true? Can you do anything about it? Is it possible to let go? It takes practice to clear your mind, but in time, you can beat back those negative thoughts before they get out of control
  • Exercise: It temporarily boosts endorphins and makes you feel good. It may also have long-term benefits for people with depression. Regular exercise seems to encourage the brain to rewire itself in positive ways

The solution to a depression-free life is to use all the tools you can to get better. If you feel that your depression is getting worse, seek professional help. Needing additional help doesn’t mean you are weak, it is the most practical solution. It is completely possible to get lost in negative thoughts. Just remember that depression can be treated and you can feel better!

We hope this article helps you overcome depression. Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. For more by our emotional wellness expert Divya Thampi, check out Healthy Reads.

#BeTheForce 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health. Images shown are for representation purposes only and may not depict the exact recommendations or outcomes.

May 8, 2025 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Finding Inner Strength: 12 Ways to Manage Health and Stress

Managing a medical condition such as diabetes or hypertension can be both mentally and physically taxing. Whether you’re navigating daily health challenges or recovering post-surgery, it’s essential to find ways to support your overall well-being. Embracing these practices is about nurturing both body and spirit.

Incorporating relaxation techniques into your daily routine can significantly enhance your quality of life and empower you to manage your health more effectively. Here are some practical strategies to help you feel stronger and more in control:

  1. Tailor Your Diet to Your Mood: When you’re feeling low, it’s tempting to reach for sugary snacks. Instead, opt for protein-rich foods like lean meats, eggs, cheese, and seeds. These have a minimal impact on blood sugar and aid in producing dopamine and serotonin—chemicals in the brain that promote well-being.
  2. Embrace ‘Good Enough’: Striving for perfection can lead to burnout. Recognise that doing your best is sufficient. Allowing yourself to accept ‘good enough’ frees up mental energy, enabling you to focus more on self-care. This aligns with the value of approaching life’s challenges with balance and patience (Sabr).

  3. Prioritise Quality Sleep: Restorative sleep is crucial for healing. Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to help your body repair, reduce inflammation, and strengthen your immune system.
  4. Soak Up Some Sunlight: Exposure to natural light, especially in the morning, can boost your mood and provide a healthy dose of vitamin D. A gentle stroll can also help regulate your body clock, leading to better sleep.
  5. Incorporate Physical Activity: Engaging in activities like yoga or deep-breathing exercises can reduce stress hormones and increase endorphins, enhancing both physical healing and mental well-being.
  6. Dedicate Time to Relaxation Daily: Set aside moments each day for activities that relax you, such as engaging in prayer or Dhikr (remembrance), listening to calming sounds, practising mindfulness, or meditating. These practices can alleviate anxiety and improve concentration.
  7. Combine Music with Movement: Dancing or moving to your favourite tunes can make exercise enjoyable. Whether it’s stretching at home or walking to a lively playlist, combining music with movement can enhance your exercise experience.
  8. Plan Enjoyable Activities: Having events to look forward to can provide motivation. Arrange coffee catch-ups with friends or plan a movie night to break the routine and uplift your spirits.
  9. Laugh Often: Laughter is a natural stress reliever. It reduces stress hormones, strengthens the immune system, and fosters connections with others. Share a joke or watch a comedy.
  10. Explore New Hobbies: Trying something new can stimulate your mind and boost confidence. Whether it’s learning a skill or experimenting with a new recipe, novelty can elevate your mood.
  11. Consider Pet Companionship: If circumstances allow, having a pet can offer companionship, structure, and unconditional love—all of which can reduce stress and enhance emotional well-being.
  12. Practise Gratitude: Each day, reflect on three things you’re grateful for. This practice is at the heart of the powerful Islamic concept of Shukr, which deepens our connection to blessings. This simple exercise can shift your focus from challenges to positives, fostering a more hopeful outlook.

No matter the medical condition you’re facing, managing stress can profoundly impact your health. These strategies are about thriving, finding joy, and empowering yourself to live fully. Take small steps, cultivate supportive habits, and remember: you’re not alone on this journey. Find strength in your faith, your community, and your own resilience.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance.

April 21, 2025 By Arooshi Garg Leave a Comment

Improve your immunity with yoga

Interesting facts about yogaOur immune system is constantly working behind the scenes to protect us from illness and infection. But sometimes, it needs a little help. The good news? Yoga can offer that support. Practised regularly, specific yoga poses not only strengthen the body but also stimulate the physiological systems closely linked to immunity—such as the digestive, circulatory, endocrine, and nervous systems.

Let’s explore how yoga can enhance your immunity and the simple poses you can start with today.

How Yoga supports immunity?

  • Stimulates key systems: Yoga activates the digestive, circulatory, endocrine, and nervous systems—each crucial for immune function.
  • Improves detoxification and oxygenation: It boosts lymphatic circulation, helping your body remove toxins more efficiently.
  • Balances body chemistry: Through stimulation of glands like the thymus and thyroid.
  • Reduces stress and fatigue: Chronic stress compromises immunity—yoga counters this by calming the mind and body.
  • Supports digestion: Better digestion leads to improved nutrient absorption and toxin elimination.
  1. Legs Up The Wall (Viparita Karani)

legs-up-the-wall-pose-viparita-karani

This gentle inversion helps drain lymphatic fluid, refresh tired legs, and ease tension in the lower back.

How to do it:

  • Sit side-on to a wall and swing your legs up as you lie back.
  • Adjust your hips closer to the wall for comfort.
  • Rest your arms by your side or on your belly.
  • Stay for 5–10 minutes, breathing slowly and deeply.

Benefits:

  • Reduces swelling and fatigue
  • Aids circulation and relaxation
  • Calms the nervous system

Avoid if you have: Glaucoma, hernia, hypertension, or serious cardiac issues.

  1. Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana)

Bhujangasana-2

A gentle backbend that stimulates the thymus gland—boosting T-cell production and improving immune response.

How to do it:

  • Lie on your stomach, hands beneath your shoulders.
  • Press into your palms as you lift your chest, engaging your core.
  • Keep your elbows close and neck neutral.
  • Hold for a few breaths, then release.

Benefits:

  • Strengthens the back and spine
  • Improves breathing capacity

Boosts circulation and energy

Precautions: Common postural errors during this asana include overarching the neck and lower back. One recommendation is to keep the gaze directed down at the floor and focus on bringing movement into the area between the shoulder blades (the thoracic area, or middle back).

  1. Fish Pose (Matsyasana)

Fishpose-3

This heart-opening posture supports lung health and stimulates the immune-regulating thymus gland.

How to do it:

  • Lie on your back and prop yourself up on your elbows.
  • Gently arch your back and allow the crown of your head to rest lightly on the mat.
  • Breathe deeply and hold for 30 seconds to a minute.

Benefits:

  • Enhances respiratory health
  • Releases chest and sinus congestion

Improves digestion and spinal mobility

  1. Downward Dog Asana (Urdhav Mukha Svanasana)

Adho Mukha Svanasana-4 - Copy

This classic pose energises the body, stretches key muscles, and improves blood flow—especially to the head and sinuses.

How to do it:

  • Start on all fours.
  • Tuck your toes and lift your hips, forming an inverted “V”.
  • Keep your spine long, arms strong, and heels reaching towards the floor.

Benefits:

  • Strengthens the whole body
  • Drains sinuses and boosts immunity
  • Calms the mind and relieves fatigue
  1. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana)

setu -5

This restorative backbend opens the chest, massages the spine, and relieves stress and tension.

How to do it:

  • Lie on your back, knees bent, feet hip-width apart.
  • Press your feet into the floor and lift your hips.
  • Clasp your hands under your back and roll onto your shoulders.
  • Hold for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Benefits:

  • Stimulates the lungs and thyroid gland
  • Relieves anxiety and fatigue
  • Encourages spinal flexibility

Yoga is more than physical movement—it’s a tool for resilience. Regular practice can support immunity not only by enhancing the body’s natural defences but also by calming the mind and easing stress, both of which are critical for immune health.

That said, if you have an existing medical condition, are recovering from illness, or are new to yoga, please consult your doctor before beginning any new exercise routine—especially if you’re unsure whether certain poses are safe for you.

Start small. Choose one or two poses that resonate with you and practise them daily. Over time, you’ll feel stronger, calmer, and better equipped to handle whatever life throws your way.

#BeTheForce

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health.

March 20, 2025 By GOQii 9 Comments

Does Happiness Affect Our Health? 10 Benefits Of Being Happy

Happiness and HealthHappiness is a wonderful feeling! Whether you associate it with optimism, joy, wellbeing, or personal achievement – or perhaps all of these – it naturally goes hand-in-hand with healthier habits. People who are in good spirits tend to eat better, move more, and sleep more soundly than those who are not. In turn, these healthy habits activate the hormones and neurotransmitters that influence our happiness.

When our mood is low, we’re more likely to skip exercise, indulge in emotional eating, and struggle with sleep.

This International Day of Happiness 2025, we embrace the theme “Caring and Sharing” – a powerful reminder that spreading joy, kindness, and connection not only uplifts others, but also has a profound impact on our own health and wellbeing.

Let’s explore the fascinating ways that happiness can boost your health – and why sharing a smile could make all the difference.

10 Health Benefits Of Being Happy

 1. Smile, Even If You Don’t Feel Like It
Science suggests that when we smile, whether we’re feeling happy or not, our mood improves. Smiling stretches the muscles in our face, triggering the brain to release “happy hormones” that make us feel good and reduce stress. Your smile not only brightens someone else’s day – it lifts your own spirits too.

2. Laughter is Truly the Best Medicine
Laughter helps you exhale more air and inhale more oxygen, purifying the blood and leaving you refreshed and relaxed. It boosts circulation, relieves tension, and even reduces pain. No wonder laughter clubs exist in parks all over the world – people are choosing joy for their health!

3. The Power of Happy Hormones

Our thoughts and emotions translate into chemicals in the body – either promoting healing or contributing to ill health. Let’s meet the “happy hormones”:

  • Endorphins: Natural painkillers – they allow us to push through challenges.
  • Serotonin: Enhances mood, social connection, and emotional stability.
  • Dopamine: Keeps us motivated, focused, and rewarded.
  • Oxytocin: The “love hormone,” strengthening bonds and trust.
  • Estrogen & Progesterone: Help regulate mood, anxiety, and sleep.

4. Stronger Immune System

There’s a link between happiness and stronger immunity. Studies show that happier people respond better to vaccines and have more robust immune responses, protecting them from infections. Chronic stress, on the other hand, weakens our immune defences.

5. A Happier Heart

Happiness is linked to lower heart rate and blood pressure, as well as better heart rate variability (a marker of heart health). Happy people are less prone to coronary heart disease – it’s that simple.

6. Healthier Blood

Happy individuals have lower levels of fibrinogen, a blood protein that causes clotting. High fibrinogen levels increase the risk of heart attacks – keeping stress low and mood high helps maintain healthy circulation.

7. Reduced Aches and Pains

Happiness seems to ease physical discomfort. When we’re in a good mood, our bodies release endorphins that naturally block pain. Chronic conditions like arthritis or muscle tension often feel less severe when we’re happy.

8. Lower Stress Levels

Happiness can help temper the harmful effects of stress. Happier people recover faster from stressful events and have lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone linked to high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

9. Even Our Genes Respond to Joy

Remarkably, happiness can influence gene expression. People who report greater wellbeing show lower levels of inflammatory gene activity and stronger antiviral responses. Love and happiness activate “growth genes”, promoting healing and resilience.

10. Live Longer, Live Better

Happiness is linked to longevity. Happier people are less likely to experience frailty, mobility issues, or early death. Staying upbeat can keep inflammation in check and help fend off disease.

Mother Teresa, who spent decades caring for the sick and dying, lived until the age of 87 – a testament to how compassion, purpose, and happiness can support lasting health.

Happiness is more than a fleeting emotion – it’s a state of being that nourishes your body, mind, and spirit. And the best part? It grows stronger the more you share it.

This International Day of Happiness, let’s make a conscious effort to care for ourselves and others – through kind words, acts of compassion, and positive connection. When we choose happiness, we create ripples of wellness that touch everyone around us.

💬 How do you practise happiness and share it with others? Let us know in the comments!

#BeTheForce

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