Martha Kemigisha

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/liam-voice-puzzled-by-skin-irritation-aboard-aeroplanes-seriousness-and-prevention/yw8ylkm">Dealing with skin irritation on flights</a>

<h3>Travel hack: Reduce travel hassle with this Google Flight trick</h3>

Go to your Google Chrome search bar and type in "Google Flights".

Google Flights has a hidden trick to make travel planning easier/Courtesy

Click on the first link on the page, i.e." Google Flights - Find Cheap Flight Options &amp; Track Prices".&nbsp;

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/food-travel/6-tips-to-survive-long-international-flights/rg0wkyw">6 tips to survive long international flights</a>

Clicking on the link will take you to the "Flights" page where you can find options like your flight class, trip type and a few destinations displayed. In most cases, your location will be automatically displayed, especially the International Airport near you.

Normally, you enter your destination in the "Where to?" box, but that narrows down your search. So instead of entering a destination, leave everything else untouched and type "Anywhere" in the "Where to?" box. Press enter.

After pressing "enter", the display will bring <a href="https://www.google.com/travel/explore?tfs=CBwQAxodag0IAhIJL20vMDFyaGJxcgwIBBIIL20vMDJqNzEaHWoMCAQSCC9tLzAyajcxcg0IAhIJL20vMDFyaGJxQAFIAXACggELCP___________wGYAQGyAQQYASAB&amp;tfu=GioaKAoSCY0pL8_FHE5AEYvGxPljAWBAEhIJVOLWOp4gTsAR6XJ2DDj5X8AqAggD">flight prices for all the routes</a> you can access in the world.&nbsp;

Click on any destination and you will be given a dropdown list of airlines available for that route, the number of stops, and flight duration. Click on any airline display to get more options and information about flights.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/food-travel/7-things-to-expect-as-a-ugandan-travelling-to-kenya-for-the-first-time/6t74k7j">7 things a Ugandan should expect their first time in Kenya</a>

Google Flights has a hidden trick to make travel planning easier/Pexels

In most cases, your location will be automatically displayed, especially the International Airport near you.

Google Flights has a hidden trick to make travel planning easier

<h2>To err is to be human, but moving past errors can be tricky. It is necessary however to move past them in a way that we learn our lesson and also repair the cut they bring in relationships. </h2>

Like a sprained ankle, if the relationship doesn't get passed the hurt properly, it heals wrong and pain is bound to return.

When words are hard to come or not enough, here are some tips on how to say sorry using actions.

Your partner's love language and individual preferences.

Make sure the gesture fits the offense. If you said something wrong, the gesture may go in a particular direction, but if infidelity is our offense then the gesture takes a different tone.

Sorry doesn't always make things okay. Especially because it is misused to quickly move passed hurt feelings or anger.

Supplementing a "sorry" with action can make your apology package a self-care and relationship care package.

It shows character and recognises the impact of a situation, which can speed up the healing process and restore trust and your bond faster.

Be innovative with your gifts when you are trying to apologise. Go out of your way and do extraordinary gifting to show your partner that you value them. Forget chocolates and flowers, and surprise them. Use shock value to your advantage.

If you forgot something, plan to do it as soon as possible in a different way or manner.

<h3>2) Dig deep into the empathetic language</h3>

When your partners' feelings are hurt, don't get defensive or try to out-match their feelings. Go into their experience with them, give them space to have their feelings, and understand them.&nbsp;

Listening is an essential part of communication in relationships, <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/relationships-and-weddings/how-to-resist-making-everything-about-yourself-in-conversations/ml5rc0b">here are some tips to make you a more empathetic listener</a>.

By listening and understanding, you can make sure the mistake doesn't happen again and receive true forgiveness.

Your partner is likely to respond if you take responsibility to get you both out of the hurt. Make some personal sacrifices, initiate activities, or set plans. Do what you wouldn't normally do but seems appropriate for the moment.

You can consult your partner on what they want you to do for them. Then use that information to fine-tune the gesture in your own way of apologising. By consulting them, you also show that you care about their feelings and opinion. When in doubt, ask. There's no manual for romantic gestures for everyone, give them the choice on the matter rather than misfire.

Just like 'sorry' can be used to quickly move past hurt feelings, grand gestures can also be used to escape the humbling experience of owning one's mistake and apologising. Give a heartfelt apology which includes your mistake, why you did it, how it affected your partner, and how to move forward.

Take responsibility for your actions and show genuine remorse.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Apologies and grand gestures can complement each other but neither should be used to escape the situation. The mistake is the focal point of the hurt feelings and this focus shouldn't be turned to personal apologies or grand gestures. An appropriate apology can be complemented with a grand gesture, and a grand gesture should always come after owning the mistake.

To err is to be human, but moving past errors can be tricky. It is necessary however to move past them in a way that we learn our lesson and also repair the cut they bring in relationships.

5 best romantic gestures when you want to apologise

Chronic stress from our busy lives can have disastrous effects on our health. Since stressful situations can be inescapable most of the time, it is essential to get stress relief measures in place.&nbsp;

Believe it or not, going to a shooting range can be relaxing and enjoyable. Here are a few reasons <a href="https://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/top-10-health-benefits-going-shooting-range/">why shooting at the range should be included</a> on the list of your stress relievers.

If you’ve ever started as an inexperienced newbie at anything and worked at becoming a pro or felt the rush of trying something new, you know how that is an incredible confidence booster. Handling firearms and shooting in a controlled environment can be rewarding for your self-esteem and the great care that goes into the experience can give your mind a break and space to feel safe and in control.

Knowing your way around a firearm can give a significant boost to your confidence.&nbsp;

<h3>2. Increased hand-eye coordination</h3>

One of the more impressive traits we’ve been gifted through evolution is hand-<a href="https://www.therange702.com/blog/shooting-with-one-eye-open-or-two/">eye coordination</a>. Our ability to focus on something and have our brains instruct our hands and fingers to perform complex tasks is incredible, especially at the highest levels.

Focusing on a target, aiming, and sending a round toward it all take significant hand-eye coordination. This helps you find your dominant eye, become <a href="https://bestpracticeguides.org.uk/firearms/marksmanship/">a more skilled marksman</a>, and improve your focus.

Vinka goes shooting: 5 benefits of shooting at a gun range/Pexels

Ranges are a great place to meet new people, make friendships that can last a lifetime, and even improve your skills by watching others perform at high levels. Becoming part of a community that enjoys shooting just as much as you do can be therapeutic in many ways.

A gun shooting range is undeniably an unusual set-up with unusual gear. This new environment offers a new experience that most people never come across. It is also a way of switching up from being cooped up in the house, the office, and the entertainment centre you frequent. So take all that pent-up energy and leave it all on the range.

Shooting is known to release endorphins and have a <a href="https://www.therange702.com/blog/biology-behind-shooting-infographic/">real biological effect</a> on our bodies. The shooting range can be a place to have fun and the concept of play is hugely important to achieving a healthy mental state and arriving at balance in your life.&nbsp;

Vinka goes shooting: 5 benefits of shooting at a gun range/Instagram

Handling firearms and shooting in a controlled environment can be rewarding for your self-esteem and the great care that goes into the experience can give your mind a break and space to feel safe and in control.

Vinka goes shooting: 5 benefits of shooting at a gun range

Your bedroom should be the most calming, serene space in your home. It should be where you put on your cosiest pyjamas, pick up a book, bring in a cup of chamomile tea, and drift off into dreamland. This is why you need less clutter and more beauty in the form of essentials that create an environment of restful retreat.

These eight things help you create that relaxing space with a little bit of practicality, a dose of technology, a few comfy paraphernalia, and a bedside accessory or two.

Here are the things everyone should have somewhere in their bedroom.

8 bedroom essentials that will enhance your restful retreat/Pexels

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, your bedroom window is the eye into the world. This is where you first get a <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/mungs-house-rare-exterior-design-gives-any-home-a-palace-look/xk2xm8p">glimpse into the outside world</a> when you wake up, so it must be sparkling clean! A beautiful and clean window will also let in more fresh air, not to mention it will encourage you to open it up more often. So remove any items you keep on the window sill and the ventilators and clean the window to a sparkle.&nbsp;

8 bedroom essentials that will enhance your restful retreat/Courtesy

There’s something about pouring water from a glass carafe or pitcher that feels supremely fancy. It brings indulgent boutique hotel vibes to every single night and morning. So get a glass pitcher and matching glass for your bedside table today.

This is a great addition if you like to relax in your bedroom with a good book or movie. Get a comfortable chair in the corner or pick out a beanbag. Add a rug in front of the chair while at it.

Unless you are the type to welcome the shock of cold tiles first thing after waking up, a nice soft carpet is a great addition to the bedroom. Aside from being a better option for slipping into sandals and hitting the cold floor, it can also offer more room to settle or even do some workouts.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/why-the-floor-cushions-sheilah-gashumba-is-sitting-on-should-be-banned/4fyfnrw">Why these floor cushions Sheilah Gashumba was sitting on should be banned</a>

They are less of a fire hazard than the normal candles on a candle stick. Scented candles save you from having to spray air freshener in your bedroom and you have your favourite scents clinging to you luring you to sweet sleep and relaxation.

Try to match your bedding to your bedroom aesthetic. Get your favourite colours, fabrics, and patterns.

Humidifier therapy adds moisture to the air to prevent dryness that can cause irritation in many parts of the body. They are <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/best-outdoor-and-indoor-household-gadget-buys-this-week/exb2clp">particularly effective</a> for treating dryness of the skin, nose, throat, and lips. They can also ease some symptoms caused by the flu or common cold.

However, you have to keep them clean <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/humidifiers-and-health#What-is-a-humidifier?">to avoid causing respiratory problems</a>.

Hang some artwork or photos that you love. It can be paintings or prints in your bedroom colours and theme, posters of your favourite sayings, or photographs of friends and family.

This is why you need less clutter and more beauty in the form of essentials that create an environment of restful retreat.

8 bedroom essentials that will enhance your restful retreat

Check out these eight juices and <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/why-you-should-start-your-morning-with-this-8000-year-old-fruit/4eymnzn">fruits</a> that act as natural laxatives and how to ingest them for results, according to <a href="https://tastylicious.com/author/shirin/">Shirin Buta</a>, a registered Medical Laboratory, Immunology and Serology Scientist.

8 effective natural laxatives for stomach relief/Courrtesy

Prune juice is the best juice that will immediately make you poop because it has high sorbitol, fibre, and fructose levels that soften and bulks up the stool.&nbsp;

Prune is a dried plum that produces a sweet taste when juiced. A cup of these tiny fruits contains 12 grams of dietary fibre, around 50% of the required daily fibre intake. They also have the highest sorbitol levels among fruits, making them the best natural laxative.&nbsp;

Sorbitol acts as a stool softener by drawing water into the gut, ensuring quick digestion and regular bowel movement. Moreover, prune juice contains more than 80% water, and it is also rich in fructose (14.8 grams), facilitating constipation relief.&nbsp;

How much prune juice should you drink to relieve constipation?

To relieve constipation, you should take a glass of prune juice or 6 pieces of dried fruit to observe relief.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This should resolve occasional constipation within 2-3 days, and chronic constipation within 1-3 weeks of drinking prune juice.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/6-drinks-to-have-monthly-to-keep-your-body-toxins-free/ngmrtz0">6 drinks to have monthly to keep your body toxins-free</a>

Like prune juice, pear juice is a rich source of dietary fibre, sorbitol, fructose, and water. A single medium-sized pear provides around 21% of the required daily fibre intake and contains 80-84% water, and 100 grams of pears contain 2.1 grams of sorbitol, making them an excellent juice for constipation relief.&nbsp;

Pear juice also contains high levels of vitamin C, a potent antioxidant that fights digestive infections and has a mild laxative effect. Each glass of pear juice provides 141% of the required daily vitamin C intake.

How much pear juice should you drink to relieve constipation?

You are allowed to drink up to two glasses of pear juice a day to relieve occasional constipation.&nbsp;

Drinking pear juice in the morning will relieve occasional constipation and make you poop within 24 hours. However, if you have chronic constipation, it might take a week before you see improvements. Increasing the dosage is unnecessary, as too much pear juice might cause diarrhoea. Drink 6-8 glasses of water along with 2 glasses of pear juice for faster results.

Grape juice is probably the tastiest juice with natural laxative effects and offers immediate constipation relief. Aside from containing fibre, grapes are a rich source of sorbitol and magnesium. Magnesium plays an essential role in constipation relief by relaxing bowel movements and acting as a stool softener, making it one of the common contents of most over-the-counter laxatives.&nbsp;

Grape juice also contains tartaric acid and malic acid as its main acid contents, which regulate digestion by maintaining the pH of your digestive system.&nbsp;

How much grape juice should you drink to relieve constipation?

You should take a cup of grape juice a day until you see improvements. It may take a week for grape juice to work, but rest assured that you can get more than just constipation relief when drinking it.

Aside from providing fibre, vitamin C, magnesium, and fructose that aid digestion, pineapples contain bromelain, a digestive enzyme that breaks down protein. When taken in adequate amounts, bromelain helps digestion by breaking down meat and other food that delays digestion.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/food-travel/pineapple-on-an-empty-stomach-is-surprisingly-a-great-idea/ntw8wfq">Drinking pineapple juice on an empty stomach is surprisingly health</a>

Aside from being a natural laxative, pineapples contain high levels of antioxidants that prevent inflammation and cancer. In addition, regular intake can ease irritable bowel syndromes, relieve digestive system inflammations, and reduce the risks of colon cancer and rectal cancer.

How much pineapple juice should you drink to relieve constipation?

You can drink a glass of pineapple juice a day and increase the dosage to two glasses when needed. It should relieve occasional constipation and make you poop within 24 hours but may take a week to relieve chronic constipation. However, people with allergies, diabetes, and kidney problems should prevent drinking too much pineapple juice to avoid complications.

Like prune juice, <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/8-foods-you-should-eat-often-to-increase-the-energy-hormone-testosterone/5dzb0qh">pomegranates are rich</a> in fibre, fructose, sorbitol, and water, making them an excellent home remedy against constipation. Since pomegranate juice is not highly available in local grocery shops, you can make your pomegranate juice using fresh fruit. Not only does this method ensure fresh juice, but including pomegranate arils in the juicing process increases the fibre and sorbitol levels in your juice.&nbsp;

Aside from functioning as a stool softener, pomegranates also hydrate the gut, as it is composed mainly of water. Since dehydration is a typical cause of constipation in adults and toddlers, pomegranate juice should resolve the symptoms.

How much pomegranate juice should you drink to relieve constipation?

You can drink a glass of pomegranate juice to relieve constipation and increase the dosage to two glasses when needed. You can expect symptoms to alleviate in 3 days. However, if you suffer from chronic constipation, it might take 1-2 weeks before you finally see improvements.&nbsp;

Although a root crop, beet juice also offers a natural laxative effect, just like other fruit juice on this list. You might not expect the same sweet taste as you can get from fruit juice, but beet juice also contains soluble and insoluble fibre, vitamins, antioxidants, and betalain. This powerful digestive tract aid promotes faster digestion and maintains stomach acid values.&nbsp;

Due to the presence of betalain, you can expect your stool and urine to turn red once excreted. Passing red or pink stool no longer than 24 hours after beet ingestion signals that your digestive faculties are back to normal. Meanwhile, excreting pink or red stool more than 24 hours after beet ingestion indicates slow digestion or constipation.

How much beet juice should you drink to relieve constipation?

Some people may have betalain allergies and develop allergic reactions after drinking beet juice. You can drink two glasses of beet juice.

Unlike other fruit juice on this list, watermelon contains only a small amount of sorbitol. However, it is composed of 92% water and has high fructose levels that make one poop. Since most constipation is due to dehydration, drinking watermelon will hydrate their gut, soften their stool, and facilitate easier passage.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/6-reasons-watermelon-seeds-are-vital-for-mens-health/fzvv3mk">6 reasons to add watermelon seeds to your meals</a>&nbsp;

While fructose occurs naturally in fruits, consuming it in high amounts triggers the intestines to flush them out through bowel movements. For example, a glass of watermelon juice contains 19 grams of sugar, which is high enough to get you going number two.

How much watermelon juice should you drink to relieve constipation?

You can drink as much as 2 glasses of watermelon juice a day. The effects vary depending on the severity, but it can usually ease occasional constipation within the day.

Although lemon juice is <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/food-travel/whats-so-special-about-the-viral-sprite-lemon-tea-drink/dfrbf3t">mainly used to enhance a salad’s flavour</a>, these little yellow fruits are full of organic acids that aid digestion. Some of the most potent acids in lemon juice are citric acid, malic acid, and ascorbic acid. These natural acids draw water into the gut and balance the stomach acid to aid digestion.&nbsp;

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/health-benefits-of-eating-lemon-juiceraw-onions-before-meals/b06h6p6">Lemon juice and raw onions before meals</a>

However, lemon juice has a pH value of 2-3, making them very acidic. For this reason, we recommend squeezing a fresh lemon into a glass of water. This lemon water aids in hydrating the gut while hastening digestion.&nbsp;

How much lemon juice should you drink to relieve constipation?

You can benefit from drinking a glass of warm water with a tablespoon of lemon juice in the morning. This method has been proven to make people poop within the day.

8 effective natural laxatives for stomach relief/Courtesy

At some point, we’ve all experienced the difficulties of constipation. Struggling during a bowel movement may seem normal, but unmanaged or chronic constipation can lead to serious diseases. While you can resort to commercial laxatives, drinking natural juices is a better way to relieve constipation.

8 effective natural laxatives for stomach relief

To make the entire process more efficient and better for your skin, there are healthy shower habits to live by. The tools you use, the water temperature, and even your choice of body wash can have an effect on your skin. These are the most common mistakes that occur during shower time.

<h3>1. You’re taking extremely hot showers</h3>

Lukewarm water for showering is better than a hot shower. Hot showers open the pores, strip the skin of natural oils, and wick much-needed moisture away from the skin.

Showering two or more times a day can dry out the skin because you’re constantly rinsing away your body’s natural oils and moisture. Unless you get sweaty every single day, you really only need to shower a few times a week at most, according to Marina Peredo, M.D., cosmetic and medical board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital.&nbsp;

Start by shortening the time you spend in the shower if the thought of skipping a shower makes you uncomfortable.

<h3>3. You’re using products with irritating ingredients</h3>

Your beloved tropical, fruit-infused body wash may cause you problems. Unless you’ve <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/7-ingredients-you-should-avoid-in-beauty-products-skincare-makeup/6j3hxl9">read the ingredients label</a>, you probably have no idea what’s really inside that bottle. Many cleansers are made with fragrances, preservatives, and sulfates that can increase the chances of irritation. This is especially true if your skin is cracked, dry, and sensitive.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/the-difference-between-lightening-whitening-and-brightening-creams/87n1hbh">Difference between whitening, lightening, and brightening creams</a>

Look for oil-based cleansers formulated for sensitive skin, since the oil will help your skin retain moisture.

8 things you are doing wrong during your shower/Pexels

<h3>4. You’re re-using yesterday’s washcloth</h3>

No matter what fabric your washcloth is made of, you shouldn’t be reusing the same washcloth two days in a row without throwing it in the laundry. Damp fabrics are a breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and mould. If you don't want to add your sponge to the laundry pile, try using your hands with a foaming body wash instead.&nbsp;

<h3>5. You’re leaving your loofah in your shower</h3>

The hot and steamy environment in the shower is a breeding ground for bacteria. This is why you are discouraged from leaving your exfoliation items in the bathroom. Your shower loofah is supposed to be super dry in between use and bleached regularly.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/10-beauty-care-best-buys-this-month-according-to-beauty-brand-new-arrivals/5xbxjlg">10 beauty care go-to items</a>

<h3>6. You’re overdoing it with the scrubbing</h3>

Exfoliating helps get rid of dead skin cells that sit on your skin’s surface, leaving your skin looking dull. However, over-exfoliation (exfoliating beyond two to three times a week) will expose below layers of your skin, weaken skin-barrier function and, in some cases, trigger inflammation. If the barrier function is damaged, the skin becomes vulnerable to infection from microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, and leads to sensitivity and irritation.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/the-right-way-to-use-body-scrubs-for-glowing-skin/1g8jcyp">The right way to use body scrubs for glowing skin</a>

<h3>7. You’re shaving in all directions</h3>

Try your best to stick to shaving in the direction in which your hair grows. If you shave in many different directions, you increase the chances of razor bumps, irritation, and even ingrown hairs because of the angle the hair was shaved off.

<h3>8. You’re not moisturizing immediately after you shower</h3>

Studies have shown that moisturizing immediately after bathing gives <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/beauty-health/5-life-saving-essentials-to-beat-the-heat-at-work/xgj6g6p">significantly better hydration</a> compared to delayed moisturizing or not moisturizing at all. This is even more important when you’ve just shaved your legs in the shower.&nbsp;

We recommend a petrolatum-based moisturizer to coat and protect the skin post-shower.&nbsp;

<h3>Sticking to a healthy shower routine</h3>

Turn down the shower water temperature, shorten the duration of your showers when you don't need a heavy cleanse, tone down the scrubbing, practice shaving discipline, wash your exfoliation items, and moisturise as soon as the shower ends.

8 things you are doing wrong during your shower/Courtesy

Unless you get sweaty every single day, you really only need to shower a few times a week at most.

8 things you are doing wrong during your shower

It is important to set boundaries with people on what we can and can't tolerate. However, when we have to set a boundary with a loved one or a friend over a certain remark that they may claim is a joke, it brings up the question: Why do they feel the need or feel comfortable to make that joke in the first place?

READ: <a href="https://thesystemsthinker.com/the-high-cost-of-negative-humor/">Why you should reject negative humour</a>

The jokes we are talking about are those negative remarks, snide comments, sarcastic comments, passive-aggressive statements, friends make and when you call them out on them, they claim to be "joking". It may be during one-on-one interactions or with other people involved.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/relationships-and-weddings/5-types-of-friends-to-keep-off-for-personal-growth/w0jgnp5">5 types of friends to avoid for personal growth</a>

Why you should dump friends who crack 'jokes' that make you uncomfortable/Pexels

These jokes tend to cross a line or an unspoken boundary that makes you uncomfortable, upset or hurt. <a href="https://www.verywellfamily.com/signs-your-friend-is-controlling-and-a-bully-460803">You may be accused of being sensitive or fragile</a>, which only highlights how they don't care about your feelings and more about their freedom to say what they want while you grow some skin.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/relationships-and-weddings/how-to-be-a-good-friend-for-lasting-friendships/3r19lsy">How to create lasting friendships</a>

Now back to the question; Why do they feel the need or feel comfortable to make that joke in the first place?

Let's say you tell them how you feel and set a boundary for future interactions, what is stopping this person from <a href="https://medium.com/@nessachez98/are-you-cracking-jokes-at-someone-elses-expense-632596243bac">making these poor jokes about you with other people or in your absence</a>?&nbsp;

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/relationships-and-weddings/4-important-things-we-get-wrong-about-friendship-expert/dmkbmyl">4 important things we get wrong about friendship</a>

Yes, your boundaries are your responsibility and you have no control over what other people do with your boundaries. But a good friend shouldn't need boundaries around what bad jokes they make about you in the first place and <a href="https://burg.com/2014/02/making-a-joke-at-someone-elses-expense/">they certainly shouldn't be making them at all</a>.

READ: <a href="https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Focdn.eu%2Fpulscms-transforms%2F1%2FlUjktkpTURBXy8yNjBkZTJhZDE5NmQxMmQyYjI2MDdlOTI4ODhhOTU3MS5qcGeSlQMAzQEkzQI0zQE9kwXNBLDNAnY&amp;tbnid=d07Fhu9IiIDUAM&amp;vet=12ahUKEwjQu4-EurmBAxXTpCcCHeA3BbMQMygzegUIARC7AQ..i&amp;imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pulse.ug%2Flifestyle%2Fhow-to-handle-a-friend-bringing-their-partner-on-a-friends-only-trip%2Fg24b0gd&amp;docid=sZTqSa6C7G4YMM&amp;w=1200&amp;h=630&amp;q=friends%2C%20pulse%20uganda&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjQu4-EurmBAxXTpCcCHeA3BbMQMygzegUIARC7AQ">When your friend brings their partner to an only-friends trip</a>

In such cases, whether that friend admits it or not, their intentions are just as bad or worse than the "joke" itself. Intentions can be to embarrass you, make you feel stupid or foolish, isolate you, make other people "turn on you", to "humble you", or to silence you.

If it bothers you, address it and distance yourself from such people.&nbsp;

Why you should dump friends who crack 'jokes' that make you uncomfortable/Courtesy

Why do they feel the need or feel comfortable to make that joke in the first place?

Why you should dump friends who crack 'jokes' that make you uncomfortable

Barreca, a member of the UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, observed that there tend to be fewer U.S. births in April and May, nine months after the warmest part of the year.&nbsp;

“If you look nine months after a heat wave in August, the following May you see significantly fewer births,” Barreca said.

It’s not that people have less sex in hot weather. (In fact, unpublished research by Barreca indicates people actually have more sex when temperatures rise.) Rather, the pattern is likely due to heat’s effect on male fertility: Studies show that sperm production falls in hot weather, he said.

The <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13524-018-0690-7?wt_mc=Internal.Event.1.SEM.ArticleAuthorOnlineFirst">study</a>, which was published in the journal Demography, found that high temperatures have a significant negative effect on fertility and birth rates and that cold temperatures have relatively little impact. The research projects that as climate change drives temperatures up and increases the number and severity of heat waves, getting pregnant may become harder than ever.

<h3>Excessive heat affects sperm production</h3>

While the rest of the body may feel the chill that comes with the end of the year, sperm are quite happy without the excessive heat. Men are advised to avoid heat around the testicles when trying to conceive. A lower temperature is needed for optimum sperm production. If it’s too warm, it can slow production and cause a higher number of abnormal sperm.

It's harder to get pregnant during these three months - Research/Pexels

The ideal environment for sperm is four degrees cooler than the body. A number of things can cause that temperature to go up, like:

<ul><li>Wearing briefs instead of loose boxers</li><li>Wearing tight-fitting clothing</li><li>Sitting with a warm laptop on your lap</li><li>Relaxing in a hot tub or sauna</li><li>Fever and other health issues</li></ul>

<h3>Higher testosterone means higher fertility</h3>

Testosterone levels are at their highest during colder months. That leads to a rising libido. A stronger sex drive combined with more testosterone means higher fertility and a better chance of conceiving. Studies found that sperm concentration is lowest in August through October and then picks up again as the temperature cools off.

November and December were identified as the most fertile months, with the highest number of births nine months later.&nbsp;

A stronger sex drive combined with more testosterone means higher fertility and a better chance of conceiving. Studies found that sperm concentration is lowest in August through October and then picks up again as the temperature cools off.

It's harder to get pregnant during these three months - Research

Bodabodas are an integral part of our everyday lives. There has been a surge in bodaboda use post-Covid19 lockdown. However, we should be careful lest they become part of the ills instead of relief to our livelihood.

Here are five things you should not tolerate from a bodaboda rider

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/why-boda-boda-rider-transporting-expensive-tv-screen-sparked-heated-debate/t50b2hh">Why a bodaboda carrying expensive TV sparked heated debate</a>

You should always <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/news/kcca-bans-boda-bodas-in-kampala-city-centre/q90x47y">reject a change of route</a> at night, but also during the daytime. Bodaboda riders assume they know better than you about traffic and tend to force or coerce you to go along with their option. Some people choose their routes based on comfort, dust trails, and fashion choices, but most importantly, you are a paying customer and your choice should be respected.

Avoid price negotiations based on fuel prices. You rarely have information to challenge them at best and at worst it is a ploy to <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pulse.ug%2Fbusiness%2Fboda-boda-riders-say-shs75000-for-registration-training-exercise-is-too-high%2Fl28b10v&amp;psig=AOvVaw30E8pGQMnKL-9N149UgZ5e&amp;ust=1694850313135000&amp;source=images&amp;cd=vfe&amp;opi=89978449&amp;ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCOD-3NiPrIEDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAv">squeeze more money out of you</a>. This is especially true when you are used to a certain price on a given journey. They may also use this tactic at point on the journey.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/10-reasons-boda-bodas-are-kampalas-most-beloved-transportation/kw9xxvn">10 reasons bodabodas are Kampala's most beloved transportation</a>

5 things you should not tolerate from Bodaboda riders/Pexels/Dialo

Overtaking big trucks and riding full speed between lanes is common among the bodaboda riders. Unless you specifically request for the Flash (which you should always reconsider) the rider shouldn't rush you for whatever else they have to do.

READ: <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pulse.ug%2Flifestyle%2Fnever-get-on-a-boda-boda-when-you-have-diarrhea%2F4ej13bz&amp;psig=AOvVaw30E8pGQMnKL-9N149UgZ5e&amp;ust=1694850313135000&amp;source=images&amp;cd=vfe&amp;opi=89978449&amp;ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCOD-3NiPrIEDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD">Never get on a bodaboda when you have diarrhoea</a>

Other than speeding, riders tend to slither through traffic laws like red lights, making u-turns at dangerous spots, adding a stranger(s) to the ride without your consent, and riding in the opposite lane, among other tendencies. This risky behaviour puts at risk so many lives including your own.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/food-travel/10-mistakes-to-avoid-when-ordering-food-online/xgyd1rv">10 mistakes you make when ordering food online</a>

You shouldn't jump at low prices, especially at night no matter what they use to justify it. Your life and possessions may be at risk with the low price as a ploy to lure you.

5 things you should not tolerate from Bodaboda riders/Courtesy

You shouldn't jump at low prices, especially at night no matter what they use to justify it. Your life and possessions may be at risk with the low price as a ploy to lure you.

5 things you should not tolerate from bodaboda riders

As women continue to <a href="https://www.savethechildren.org/us/charity-stories/how-gender-norms-impact-boys-and-girls#:~:text=Often%20women%20and%20girls%20are,the%20restriction%20of%20outside%20opportunities.">challenge social norms around gender</a> and push for empowerment, there is a divide among women.

There seems to be an assumption that all women should first shake off the "shackles" of traditional gender roles and then decide if they actually want to stay in these roles.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/relationships-and-weddings/its-okay-to-marry-a-powerful-woman-speaker-tayebwa/j6kkqfq">It is okay to marry a powerful woman - Speaker Tayebwa</a>

However, this is unrealistic at best and <a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_gender_stereotypes_are_so_hard_to_fight_at_work">unethical at worst</a> as individual choice and consent are disregarded.

So what should women consider before <a href="https://www.iberdrola.com/social-commitment/gender-stereotypes-women">attacking fellow women</a> who abide by traditional gender roles?

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/relationships-and-weddings/is-being-an-understanding-girlfriend-a-bad-thing/5l3rmwy">Is being an "understanding girlfriend" a bad thing?</a>

But most importantly, it takes a few people at a time or at all. Not all women feel the same way despite the "<a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/understanding-gender-roles-and-their-effect-on-our-relationships-7499408#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWhen%20we%20internalize%20traditional%20gender,and%20a%20lack%20of%20intimacy.%E2%80%9D">evidence of damage</a>" from some traditions. Women who seek to upset tradition shouldn't feel "betrayed" by those who love and abide by tradition. There is also a sort of moral superiority when "traditional" women suffer at the hands of the gender roles that fellow women attack them with as if to say they deserve it for sticking to them.&nbsp;

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/relationships-and-weddings/why-men-should-and-shouldnt-incur-costs-during-dating/9twdchm">Tweep unleashes on women who can't afford transport money</a>

Why 'empowered' women shouldn't attack women who love traditional gender roles/Pexels

Many traditions have mental and emotional control over individual behaviour and experience. Trying to change some of these traditions, such as gender roles, can come with a lot of guilt and shame, even for women who want to upset the gender roles. This requires a lot of help to remove which very few women and people in general can access.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/relationships-and-weddings/5-types-of-friends-to-keep-off-for-personal-growth/w0jgnp5">5 friends to avoid for personal growth</a>

Some women genuinely love being traditional women even with the challenges that come with it. Refusing to accept this fact has nothing to do with the woman who loves being traditional, rather it has everything to do with you who wants her to "be different". And that is just hypocritical since <a href="https://www.eveprogramme.com/en/32491/gender-stereotypes-nature-nurture-debate/">"forced conformity" is what tradition is about</a>.

Some women have formed their <a href="https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/how-gender-stereotypes-less-than-br-greater-than-kill-a-woman-s-less-than-br-greater-than-self-confidence">values and identities around gender roles</a>. Changing this would mean an individual crisis trying to discover who they are without their values. While some women can and have done this, it doesn't mean every woman can and should do it. And most importantly, there is nothing wrong with having these values and identities tied to tradition.

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/relationships-and-weddings/i-just-want-to-be-held-tiktoker-sums-up-this-generations-intimacy-thirst/t81gxh2">TikToker decries this generation's avoidance of intimacy</a>

Women who attack women who love traditional gender roles tend not to have a replacement for these roles. Freedom, independence, doing whatever you want, equality, and chasing your dreams, <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2277975220975513">are simply not enough most times</a> to convince someone to leave their security and comfort. This kind of thinking ignores women who are independent even in traditional gender roles, those who do thrive!

READ: <a href="https://www.pulse.ug/lifestyle/relationships-and-weddings/5-ugandan-experiences-that-make-the-search-for-love-difficult/3hpx29t">Gender wars are the least of your problems when looking for love in Uganda</a>

Some women love and thrive in traditional gender roles and they don't need saving. There are many factors that can make it hard for women to leave their roles but it is a personal decision and experience to change.

Martha Kemigisha

Articles written by the author

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