You might have heard some buzz about love languages – this idea was originated in 1992 by Dr Gary Chapman, a marriage counsellor, who had noticed that, amongst his clients, there was a considerable difference between how they give and receive affection and love.

Dr Chapman observed that this difference often caused tension between partners – for example, one person regularly giving their partner gifts and trinkets, with their partner seeming to not appreciate it – or another person feeling upset and lonely because their partner prefers to spend time alone on the weekends, rather than connecting with them.

The Love Languages that he identified were:

Acts of Service

Words of Affirmation,

Gifts

Quality Time

Physical Touch

At the core of the Love Languages philosophy is the idea of developing empathy and understanding for your partner, and tailoring your behavior to meet them where they are. This means that, even if your love language is physical touch, you may need to use words of affirmation with your partner to ensure they feel loved.

How do I determine my love language?

If you are interested in learning more about love languages, you can take our quiz on the Relish app for FREE during your free trial. In addition to finding out what your love languages are, you’ll immediately start to receive customized exercises, date nights, and activities that will help you feel closer than ever to your partner. Understanding your love languages and the love languages of your partner will offer essential insight into your dynamic. It will also show you how you should show other people love in order to make them feel the most seen.

Tell me more about the five love languages!

Once you’ve determined your love language (and asked your partner to take the quiz so you can learn theirs too!), you can start using them to your advantage. Here are some more details about each of the Love Languages:

Words of Affirmation – This might include validating or praising your partner day to day, and especially on special occasions. People with this love language LOVE validation and hearing that they are loved – in fact, they might like it even more than receiving a gift. The good news is that it also makes us feel good to offer praise and positive feedback – so win/win!

Quality Time – People with this love language might not appreciate a big, expensive gift for their birthday – instead, they might love a picnic together followed by a hike, or an adventure treasure hunt for you to do together. Their love tank is filled up by spending time with YOU – and quality time together ticks all these boxes.

Acts of Service – As un-romantic as folding the laundry, or getting the car serviced, may sound, for those with this love language, there is nothing more valuable and affirming. People with this love language truly appreciate it when you do things for them – it is a sure sign of love and commitment – and they are likely to appreciate a practical action (like doing their grocery shopping or cooking them dinner) than an expensive gift, or heartfelt speech about your love and commitment.

Physical Touch – We know there are people who LIVE for physical touch – and if your partner has this love language, upping your physical contact (hugs, stroking hair, kissing on the cheek) is going to make their day and boost your communication. We each get a little burst of serotonin and oxytocin when we touch our partner – even non-sexually – and these small actions can go a long way in keeping up the connection and love.

Gifts – For some people, physical gifts are where it is at! If your partner has this as a love language, they are going to really appreciate your thoughtful gestures – even the small, day to day things like bringing them home some ice cream or splurging on a new phone accessory ‘just because’. A thoughtful gift can mean the world to someone, especially if this is their main love language.

If you’re curious and would like to learn more about Love Languages, as well as relationships, love and intimacy, then you and your partner should try Relish. Relish is a relationship coaching app that offers couples personalized quizzes, articles, games, and tailored relationship advice so that they can set and achieve goals related to their relationships. Relish has a team of expert coaches that can help you identify your love languages and use this knowledge to achieve your relationship goals as a team. Relish is a great tool because it is so convenient to use. The app is much cheaper than traditional relationship therapy, and MUCH more convenient.The easy to use app brings relationship help to the palm of your hand and makes taking that first step to get help so much easier – and currently offers a 7-day free trial so you can try it for yourself.

Leisure time is vital for any human being. Having leisure time doesn’t have to be boring because you didn’t wake-up to your regular working schedule. Some of us will go to the park during our free time, and others opt to stay at home watching some movies. What happens to those who aren’t taking part in any of these recreational activities? Will you snuggle in your duvets the entire weekend? Jigsaw puzzles are a proper way to keep your free time engaging and entertaining.

What is a jigsaw puzzle?

A jigsaw puzzle is a tiling puzzle game that needs the gamer to organize several shaped interlocking pieces to form a pattern. The game was established around the 18^th century. The jigsaw puzzles were initially created from wood, but different materials and mobile applications are available with modern technology.

The popularity of jigsaw puzzles is gradually spreading, and it has seen much improvement during the lockdown period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most exciting aspect of having a jigsaw puzzle is that you can work as a team or solo.

Its benefits

• They are family connection channels.

When you have a jigsaw puzzle package in your home, as a mom, this is the best way you would get all your young ones from the screen. You had a busy week and want a proper way to spend an entertaining moment with your family, get a jigsaw puzzle game package. Take out the pallets and place them in your sitting area table, and you will attract everyone to take a moment in solving the puzzle. Playing jigsaw puzzle games as a family would be both collaborative and competitive. As a parent, you get room to start conversations with your gamers in an interactive and lively manner.

• It gives room for meditation and relaxation.

Remember, you can make a jigsaw puzzle playing a solo moment. Are you tired of staring at your laptops and phone all day? Assemble those beautiful jigsaw pieces on your table, and as you try working out the puzzle, you will see the magic. All your thoughts and senses focus on the puzzles, trying to determine which pieces match the other perfectly. In the process, your body enjoys some relaxation.

Additionally, having a solo jigsaw puzzle solving moment would be a way of meditation. You have un-distracted “me-time,” and it would be beneficial to do some personal reflections.

• Gaining and advancement of new skills

Playing jigsaw puzzles equips the gamers with incredible new skills. When you are spinning your head to match those pieces, some develop pattern-matching skills and talents in the process. If you are interested in some fashion working, adding jigsaw puzzle games to your entertainment list makes excellent sense. Jigsaw puzzle-solving demands a lot of concertation ad organization skills. The more you challenge yourself with the puzzle, the more you develop your organization skills.

With the benefits mentioned above of playing jigsaw puzzles inclusive of the health and physical advantages, one would say that a jigsaw puzzle is a lifesaver game.

The best Dubai pet foods have superb quality and all the nutrients required to keep your cat as healthy as possible for as long as possible. From the nutrients they need to the importance of water and the benefits of cat food toppers, read on for the four essential things you need to know about your cat’s nutrition.

1. Only feed them high-quality pet food.

Your cat needs nutrients in order to maintain their energy levels and to ensure that their metabolic machinery (which is required for maintenance and growth) is working properly. Your cat needs protein for growth, maintenance, reproduction and repair, as well as fats for energy and protection for internal organs. They also need to consume carbohydrates as they provide energy for their body’s tissues and critical organs and vitamins for normal metabolic functioning.

The most important thing you can do to ensure that your cat is consuming the necessary nutrition is to feed them high-quality pet food. Because the food is formulated to the highest standard, by providing them with high-quality pet food, your cat will be able to get all the necessary nutrients.

All cats, regardless of age, need to be eating high-quality, nutritious food in order to maintain their health. The amount you need to feed an adult cat is going to depend on their size and activity levels, as this plays a large role in determining their caloric intake. At this age, it is generally suggested that you feed your cat twice a day and implement portion control.

If your cat is overweight, you will need to reduce their caloric intake and increase their activity levels. Remember that (just like humans), cats should consume treats in moderation and should instead be mostly eating a nutritionally rich diet of regular meals.

2. Encourage your cat to drink more water.

Cats are notorious for not consuming enough water on their own accord. If they don’t drink enough water and become dehydrated, they can develop bladder and kidney issues, which can often be painful and potentially fatal. Therefore, you must encourage them to stay hydrated so that they can remain happy and healthy.

In order to get your cat to drink more, you want to make sure you are providing them with fresh water every single day. Keep in mind that cats love running water, so opting for a water fountain can make a significant difference.

If you choose to go with a water bowl, make sure you use a shallow one as this will help to prevent “whisker stress.” This occurs when a cat has to eat or drink from a deep bowl which then brushes against their whiskers, putting pressure on them and leading to severe sensitivity or pain. Additionally, it would be best if you cleaned the water bowl regularly and kept several water containers around the house in different places.

Furthermore, you should add a small amount of water to your cat’s wet food to help them drink more water.

3. You may need to offer them cat food toppers.

In some instances, even the most delicious dry food can be a hard sell for your kitty. Many owners find it challenging to encourage their cat to eat dry food. After all, cats are stubborn and often a lot fussier when it comes to kibble than wet food. However, it is still vital for your cat to eat the dry food as it is key to good nutrition, and it also plays a significant role in keeping their teeth healthy.

Therefore, if you are looking for ways to get your cat to eat dry food, you may want to experiment with cat food toppers. You can pour products such as Applaws Cat Soups or Kit Cat cans over the kibble to encourage your fur baby to eat their dry food.

Additionally, cat food toppers provide your cat with more moisture, something their diet is usually lacking. As mentioned earlier, cats do not typically consume enough water on their own, so you want to provide them with more moisture whenever possible. Therefore, supplementing their diet with cat food toppers is a great strategy.

4. Pay attention to your cat’s specific needs.

At the end of the day, every cat is different, which is why it is so essential that you pay attention to your cat’s specific needs. To get the balance right and aid your furry friend in leading a long and healthy life, you need to really know your cat.

In addition to ensuring that they are consuming the right amounts of the five major nutrient groups (protein, fats and oils, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates), you also want to make sure you are feeding them the right amount. To ascertain how much they should be eating, you need to take into account their breed, activity and lifestyle.

Start by following the feeding guidelines listed on the cat food packaging and then from there, you can slightly increase or decrease depending on your cat’s size and activity level. Therefore, it is essential to remember that the amounts listed on the cat food are only guidelines and the actual amount your cat needs may be different. You can monitor your cat’s weight and use it as a basis to adjust the amount of food you are feeding them.

What do you think are the most critical aspects of managing your cat’s nutrition? Do you have any additional tips or relevant insights to add to this list? Alternatively, are you experiencing any challenges when it comes to your pet’s diet? Let us know your thoughts and ask your questions in the comments below!

AUTHOR BIO

Farah Al-Khojai is the Managing Partner of Pet’s Delight. A passionate entrepreneur, Farah holds a Bsc in Government from the London School of Economics. She is always on the lookout for new opportunities to develop and grow the pet and equestrian retail and wholesale market in the UAE and beyond, and is proud to be at the helm of the first and the largest pet care provider in the market representing world-class brands including Orijen, Applaws, Hunter, Savic, Flamingo, Ruffwear and Rogz.