Menstrual cramps, or dysmenorrhea, are throbbing pains in your lower abdomen. They result from the uterus' strong contractions. Many women have cramps before and during their periods. Menstrual pain symptoms include: Intense, throbbing pain in your lower abdomen Dull, constant ache in your abdomen Pain that radiates to your lower back and thighs Nausea Loose stools Headache Dizziness Begin taking the pain reliever at the beginning of your period or when you feel menstrual cramp symptoms. Continue taking the medication as indicated on the packaging (or by your doctor) for 2 to 3 days. You also may stop taking medication if your cramps subside. There are many options available for pain relievers: Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, etc.) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) can help relieve your cramps. The menstrual pain reliever Midol contains the pain reliever acetaminophen plus the stimulant caffeine and antihistamine pyrilamine maleate. Midol works to decrease menstrual pains, headaches, and bloating. If your cramps do not subside with pain killers, talk to your doctor about hormonal birth control pills. These pills contain hormones that prevent ovulation and reduce the severity of menstrual cramps. You can also receive hormones in other forms including via injection, an arm implant, a skin patch, a vaginal ring, or an intrauterine device (IUD). All these methods can reduce your cramps. Talk to your doctor about which is right for you. If over-the-counter pain relievers don't work for you, you can talk to your doctor about prescription-strength nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If your menstrual pain is extreme, talk to your doctor about tranexamic acid (Lysteda). This prescription drug is taken to reduce heavy bleeding and severe cramps. You only need to take it during your menstrual cycle.
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One-sentence summary -- Recognize menstrual cramp symptoms. Take pain relievers. Use birth control. Talk to your doctor about stronger options.

Practice focusing on the positive in your life by keeping a gratitude journal. Keeping your eyes peeled for the blessings in your life helps you better appreciate all you are, and all you have been given. For example, you could decide to look for five things in your life every day, or every week, for which you are thankful and appreciative. This might include your gratitude for a particular relationship, nature, or even something small like a conversation with your neighbor. There are numerous smartphone apps you can download where you can record your thoughts. They may also have reminders that can help you turn this into a daily habit. An entry in a gratitude journal might look like: "Today I am grateful for the beautiful sunrise, my coworker bringing donuts, listening to my daughter laugh with her friends, my wife's sense of humor, and getting to the gym." Consider downloading a gratitude journal app that can remind you to record all the things for which you are thankful. Don't look to material things to help you appreciate yourself. Make an effort to avoid purchasing an item that you think will help you feel better about yourself most of the time, things cannot make us happier long-term. Look for fulfillment within yourself and having meaningful relationships with others instead. Being content with all that you already have helps gets you out of a competitive, if-only-I-had-this mindset that prevents you from appreciating who you are at the present moment. Try telling yourself, "This new thing will not make me better. I already am enough and have enough." It's okay to pamper yourself, but try pampering yourself with experiences rather than items. For example, take a vacation instead of buying something expensive that costs the same amount. Often people are much harder than themselves than they would ever be on someone else try to treat yourself with the same compassion you would show a friend. If you catch yourself thinking something negative about yourself, stop and consider if you would ever say those things to a loved one. Self-compassion includes your self-talk as well as tending to physical, mental, and emotional self-care. Don't call yourself names or beat yourself up for mistakes. If you catch yourself doing so or engaging in any other forms of negative self-talk, stop an re-evaluate. For example, "No, I'm not stupid for forgetting about that meeting. I had a busy morning and was rushing around." Instead of beating yourself up, figure out something you could do to do better next time. For example, if you missed your meeting because you were rushing around that morning, you could say, "I'll start waking up 15 minutes earlier so I am less rushed in the morning. I'll also put reminders in my phone as soon as I know about an event." Being mindful and present helps you stay out of judgment of yourself and others. Staying present or mindful means staying focused on your breathing, the sounds and sights and smells around you, and observing thoughts without judgement. The result of this practice reduces brain chatter, which will help reduce any negative self-talk you may have. Staying present helps you stay peaceful. Instead of focusing on all the things you need to do (or haven't done), you focus on the moment and your breath. Everything else that isn't connected to the moment (your feelings, your to-do list, your worries) can be exhaled out with your breath. This takes practice, so don't become too frustrated if you don't get the hang of it right away. Stick with it!
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One-sentence summary -- Keep a gratitude journal. Be content with less. Show yourself compassion. Stay in the moment.

Base your prices on your overhead costs, what your competitors charge, and on your location's median income level. Add up your operating expenses (including products, equipment, mortgage or rent, and utilities), taxes, costs to maintain permits and licenses, and any outstanding loans. Figure out how much money you need to make to cover these costs and maintain a profit margin of at least 10 to 20 percent. For example, if you want to make $52,000 per year to maintain a 15 percent profit margin, you need to make $1,000 per week. If $80 for a women's cut and $40 for a men's cut are reasonable prices in your area, you'll need to book enough appointments at these rates to meet your weekly quota. While reasonable prices and discounts can build your client base, you need to charge enough to cover your overhead and generate profit. If you undersell your services or offer too many discounts, your profits could take a hit. At a minimum, your services should include cuts, washes, and styling. High end services, such as a $200 precisely sculptured cut, work well in wealthy areas. However, you might want to focus on inexpensive basic cuts in less affluent locations. You might focus on cutting and styling a particular gender or hair type. Factor in your local customers' needs and, if necessary, broaden your skills so you can build a larger customer base. Hair coloring and extensions can add variety and help you book more appointments. You'll need to maintain an inventory of all necessary materials, which you can purchase at beauty supply stores. Keep in mind that your local jurisdiction might regulate the use of chemicals or require additional permits. For instance, in the UK, hairdressers must administer a patch allergy test before coloring a client's hair. Additional services allow clients to patronize your business in between cuts, giving you more opportunities to make money. If necessary, invest in a class to develop these skills yourself or hire staff to help you provide these services. You may start with basic services first, then see if adding other services like facials, make up, and waxing make sense for your home business. They may be good options if you are not getting as many hair clients as you'd like or if you'd like to try out different skills on your clients. Retail is a quick and easy way to generate revenue. A business license allows you to purchase products from wholesalers, which you can then sell at a marked up price. Most retailers use a 50 percent markup. If you purchased a product wholesale at $7, sell it for $14.
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One-sentence summary --
Price your services competitively. Offer basic services that target your local market. Include coloring and extensions to broaden your clientele. Offer additional services, such as facials, make up styling, and hair removal. Display and sell retail products.