It’s that time of the year when the energy around a fresh start is palpable. This isn’t just any year, though; this is the beginning of a new decade; one that seems hopeful and full of possibilities.

However, fresh starts aren’t just reserved for January 1st, a new decade or the beginning of a new month. You can give yourself a fresh start every day. It’s all in our perspective.

 

1. A Fresh Start Requires a Goal

This is something to be intentional about. What is it you are looking to achieve? Decreasing anxiety? Improving relationships? Taking your health back?

Whatever your reason may be, you first need to think about how to get from point A to point B, because sometimes – actually most times – it’s a multi-step process.

For example, you’re tired of losing focus after lunch time and the subsequent 2pm crash – it’s affecting your creativity and ability to complete assignments. Your goal is to have sustained energy and focus throughout the day.

Achieving this goal would involve action steps of going to bed at a time that allows for 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep, eating a protein-rich breakfast, bringing water to stay hydrated, packing snacks that don’t spike your insulin level and eating a lunch with protein and veggies.

If you aren’t intentional in thinking through the “how” of your fresh start, you may not put in place all of the actions necessary to achieve your goal.

 

2. A Fresh Start Begins with a Decision

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Chances are, if you’re reading this article, you either currently have a urinary tract infection and you want to get rid of it, or you’ve had one in the past and you want to find ways to avoid another one in the future.

Either way, you've come to the right place and we can offer some information to help.

First and foremost, it’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of a UTI. If things don’t really seem right down there right now, your hunch is probably right.

Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection

• A strong urge to urinate
• Despite frequently feeling like you really need to go, only being able to urinate in small amounts
• A burning sensation when you urinate
• Your urine appears cloudy
• Blood in your urine
• Fowl scented urine
• Pelvic pain

If you are currently experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should contact your gynecologist so that he/she can see you immediately and treat you, if needed.

While men can get a UTI, they are most common in women. UTI’s occur when bacteria enters your urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply in the bladder.

Types of Urinary Tract Infections

Cystitis: This type of UTI is an infection of the bladder. It’s caused by E. coli. You can get Cystitis if you are sexually active. However, even non-sexually active women can get this type of UTI due to our anatomy. (The distance is rather short from the urethra to the anus and from the urethral opening to the bladder, for instance.)

Urethritis: This is an infection of the urethra and happens when GI bacteria spreads from the anus to the urethra (for example, if you wipe back to front.) STD’s also cause urethritis.

How to Prevent a Urinary Tract Infection

Here’s...