Lifestyle Tips — tips
The Ultimate Guide to Healthy Work-From-Home Habits for Wellness 0
How do you navigate the blurred line between the office chair and the couch? How do you get the motivation to exercise, keep away from distractions, or the constant temptation to reach out for snacks from your fridge? In this article, we will explore eight healthy work from home habits to help you deal with the physical, mental, and social challenges of working remotely.11 Spring Cleaning Tips 2020 0
When the sun shines, it's time to open the windows wide open, take your cleaning supplies, and get ready for some spring cleaning. Are you looking for a useful way to spend your time during this season of isolation and social distancing? Spring cleaning during this season will be productive and remove your mind from the bad news all over and leave your house clean and free from germs.
You don't have to dread spring cleaning. If you want to enjoy a deep clean in your home, believe it or not, it will not only leave your house sparkling clean but also give you a sense of satisfaction. Here are spring cleaning tips that will make every minute that you spend indoors productive and most definitely gratifying.
Make a Schedule
Spring cleaning ought not to be a marathon. You’d feel overwhelmed if you wanted to clean your whole house in one day. The best way to enjoy spring leaning is to scope out your home. Start with the areas that need to be fixed urgently and put last those areas that you can skip.
Have a plan on how to tackle each room. This spring cleaning tip will keep you focused on your goal. Break the cleaning goals into small chunks of short cleaning areas that would take 10-20 minutes. For instance, you can split the tasks into dusting all surfaces, cleaning doors and windows, and cleaning the kitchen cupboards.
Declutter Your Home
One of the most crucial spring cleaning tips is to declutter. Imagine coming home to a pile of clutter, be it a cluttered desk or a closet full of unsorted laundry. Take advantage of this isolation time to get rid of clutter that has been weighing you down.
For this spring cleaning tips to be a success, you need to keep your home organized. Decluttering has psychological benefits, like reducing your stress levels. Identify the critical parts or rooms that you need to declutter. Plan for time to organize your closet, organize your desk, and unused trash items in your junk pile.
Group the items in terms of those that you can store, those can you can give away, or those that you need to trash. Give away items that are in good condition that you longer need and donate to a good cause. Decluttering will make spring cleaning very easy. You'll be surprised how good you will feel after you eliminate unnecessary junk from your house.
Clean Room by Room
Spring cleaning room by room is the best way to clean your home effectively. Create a checklist for every room and areas that need the most attention and those that you can skip. Start with those that need fast attention or have not been cleaned recently.
Do spring cleaning chores with your family
Get your family involved in spring cleaning. This is the best time to work together and bond as a family. It will help to spend time during isolation. Getting help will make a massive difference in reducing the workload. Reward the family members who are willing to help without being pushed. Giving incentives will motivate the kids to be of help, and you'll get more done.
Choose Natural Cleaning Products
The supermarket aisles are stocked with commercial cleaning products with beautiful promises that you can be overwhelmed to choose what best for you. Resist the temptation to fill your cabinet with dozens of cleaning products; otherwise, you'll have more decluttering to do in no time.
You actually need minimal cleaning supplies. In fact, the real supplies you need for spring cleaning is an all-purpose cleaner, disinfectant, and microfiber cloths. You can even make homemade cleaners and save money and protect the environment while at it.
Establish New Cleaning Habits
Spring cleaning is a perfect opportunity to establish a regular cleaning routine. It helps you keep your house clean and your next spring cleaning way more manageable. Create simple 15 minute clean up chunks a few times a week. It will be remarkably easy to keep a tidy home all year long.
Have a Spring Cleaning Checklist
It can be tough to create a comprehensive list, especially when you don't know where to start. Use the schedule of the cleaning areas you want to focus on to create a simple checklist that can help you keep on track. A checklist is easy to track since you can tick off areas that you're done with. Just like a daily to-do list, the joy of ticking off tasks from your checklist is very fulfilling.
This spring cleaning tip will motivate you to just focus on one area at a time and prevent the feeling of being overwhelmed. Tackling one task at a time will keep you motivated. A checklist can include simple tasks like dusting all ceilings, cleaning all your shoes, or putting away all your unused items. Plan an activity to do each day for 21 to 30 days.
Use a Vacuum Cleaner
Having the right vacuum cleaner will make these spring cleaning tips way easy to implement. A high-quality vacuum cleaner will trap the dust, allergens, even dust mites on the floors, furniture, and the car. You can use it to clean tight spaces like in the corners or behind furniture
Don't Forget the Windows and Walls
Most people clean the floors, clothes, and rooms but often forget the walls and windows. Use a microfiber cloth with soapy water to wipe the walls starting from the top to bottom. Using water mixed with vinegar to clean the window glasses. Don't rely on chemical cleaners.
Pay Attention to the Bathroom and Kitchen
The kitchen and bathroom are the most frequently used rooms aside from the bedroom. They tend to be trouble areas. Declutter the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and wipe the shelves. Replace towels and toothbrushes in the bathroom. Check the lighting in the bathroom and install or upgrade your bathroom fan. Clean all the utensils in the cupboard and arrange them neatly. Trash broken plates or mugs.
Check On the Air Filters
The furnace and HVAC filters and air conditioners tend to be forgotten during spring cleaning. Replace the filters to keep the air flowing into the house clean. Check the air conditioner to see if the ducts are blocked by dust. Clean the filters or upgrade them to ensure that you're breathing fresh, healthy air. Purchasing an air purifier for your home will also help you and your family gets rid of allergens, odors or chemical. Add these to each person's bedroom.
Try out these 11 spring cleaning tips and be productive in this isolation period.
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How To Prepare For Traveling For The Holidays 0
This season is a perfect opportunity to spend time with your family. It's also a wonderful opportunity to teach your children selflessness by sharing family dinners and giving gifts. You can also utilize this time to reflect on the good memories of the year and plan for the new year. Are you considering traveling over the holidays, but are stuck on what to do? Where do you start from?Planning a trip can be daunting. It is easy to get overwhelmed with the process, especially if this is your first trip. You need to plan well, so that you don’t arrive at your destination and realize that you forgot something important. Here is a guide on how to make your planning less overwhelming.
Select your destination
Where do you want to go? Knowing where you want to go is the first critical task. A definite goal makes it easier to plan and commit to it.1 Don’t select a destination without proper research. Check out the security and weather conditions first to avoid disappointments and adverse outcomes.2 Also, keep in mind how long you will to be away to determine the total cost of the trip.
Set up a budget
Now that you’ve decided where you want to go and for how many days, nail down to how much money you need for the entire trip. Research the cost of air ticket, accommodation, and trips at the destination. This will help to estimate the total amount you need for the trip.1 Check for travel deals at travel agencies. You may get better deals that come in a package that will save you some dollars.3 Ensure that you have a limit of what you’re willing to spend on the holidays, so that you don’t have to repay debts in January because you strained your budget.1
Prepare your traveling documents
Depending on your destination, you may need a visa. Apply for a visa early enough to avoid any delays.2 It can take about 6 weeks to get a passport. If you already have one, check to see if it’s valid. Your passport needs to be valid at least 6 months after your return date.3 Check the expiration date before you travel, because it can be a lengthy process to get it renewed. Also, get travel insurance to cover you for the trip. In case anything happens, you’ll be sure that the insurance will cover the expenses.3
Yes, you may be healthy at the moment and think that you don’t need travel insurance, but you just never know what may happen. Life is uncertain, plus the insurance is not only for medical protection.4 It also covers when your flight is canceled, if your camera breaks, or if something gets stolen, or if a family member dies and you have to go back home.
Book your flight and accommodation
Planning will ensure that you know the exact dates that you will be at your destination. Book your flight and accommodation in advance to get to get the best packages and airfares. Select early morning flights or late in the day flights because they are less likely to have delays.3
Before you book, check if you can get cheaper deals.1 Use Google flights to find the cheapest flights and compare the desired travel dates.4 Also, some travel agencies offer packages for flight and accommodation. Be on the lookout and shop around booking sites to get as many options as possible before settling on one.3
Book accommodation for the days you’ll be spending at the destination. If you’re staying for a few days, you can book a room for the entire trip. If you’re going to stay there long term, then just book for a few days. Consider taking package deals, which at peak seasons tend to be competitive.2
Take the necessary immunization
Check if you need to take any vaccinations before you travel, depending on your destination.1
Prepare a traveling checklist
Have a checklist of what you need to do before and during the trip. Pay bills before going for the holiday and organize with a neighbor to collect your mail in case you plan on staying for a long time.2 Ensure you have copies of your travel documents in case they get lost.
Packing
Start packing three days before the trip and check off items from your luggage checklist as you add them into the suitcase.3
Flights have rules about the liquids and gels you can carry onboard, so select small containers.3 Choose a suitcase with better quality and the appropriate weight. Check its construction and the style of its wheels.2 Get good backpacks with comfortable straps that protect your laptop and are comfortable to carry in the airport.4 If you have regular medication for a preexisting condition, ensures that you carry enough and even extra, in case you lose some of them or stay for an extra couple of days.
Prepare your activities beforehand
Planning your trip will help you find out what activities you can do. and book reservations for the activities if need be. Check out how much they cost and plan how to pay for them in advance.4
Prepare for the unexpected and every eventuality
Anything can go wrong. You need to know and be aware of any challenges that could occur during your trip and prepare ways to handle them in advance.
- To make payments oversees easy, inform your card companies that you’re traveling so that the payments that you make don't get flagged and your card gets blocked.3 Carry with you several methods of payments and have some local currency and credit and debit cards to cover any unexpected costs.4
- Check the weather of the city or the country you’re visiting. You need to be ready for any extreme weather changes, such as unseasonably cold weather or extremely hot weather.2 Planning accordingly, and always pack an extra change of clothes.
- You may have booked your trip early enough, and all systems were okay; however, life is dynamic and things change quickly. Stay informed and keep up with the current news of your destination to avoid any eventualities, like weather changes or political instability.2
- Leave early enough for the airport, because of traffic jams and security checks, to counter any delays ahead.3
- If you’re connecting within cities, book flights with some time in between to cater to any delays or weather problems.
- Avoid picking peak travel dates, such as the Wednesday that is the eve of Thanksgiving. You can choose to travel on the holiday, since fewer people travel then, to get affordable deals.2
- However, for Christmas and New Year, the peak dates vary depending on the days of the week they fall on. Just select dates that will not be too expensive to travel. If you’re not sure, check for packages that have flexible travel dates that have a good combination for the best deal. 3
- Use a ride service in the airport, such as Uber, taxis, or airport shuttles. Avoid going with your car to avoid paying for parking or inconveniencing a family member to give you a ride to the airport. Uber is a fast and inexpensive option.4
- In case you plan to drive abroad, be aware of the traffic rules before you drive.3
- Fill in the emergency contact details on the passport so that your family members can be contacted in case of emergencies.
- Leave the details of your flight and trip accommodations with a relative or friend so that they can contact you in case of emergency.2
Now that you have all in check, go ahead, and have some fun. Keep in mind the the real meaning of this holiday season, which is to spend time with family and be grateful for what the year has been
Enjoy.
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