Year: 2023

Categories
Buying a Home Moving

4 Reasons Property Searching is Better in Spring

Property searching is better in spring when the days start getting longer. It is a good time for viewing homes and getting a feel for the property. The changing weather is a huge help, and many other factors can make your experience more positive.

Property Searching is Better in Spring
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Why Property Searching is Better in Spring

The Weather is More Favorable

The spring weather is often unpredictable, but it is much better than in the winter. Additionally, the days get longer, so many sellers are open to allowing you to view a home later in the day. This is great if you have work commitments but are serious about moving. Finally, you can get hold of a reputable moving company on sites like iMOVE much easier than in the winter. Movers are more open to jobs when the weather is bright and dry.

Owners Want to Sell

Spring is known to be the best time to sell a home. And just like you are eager to buy, many owners are eager to sell. And when a homeowner is ready to sell, you will often have a better cushion for negotiating a better deal on the price. It is because, just like you, a homeowner is probably also looking at another house and is eager to move in quickly and easily. You can take advantage of this if you think they will accept a lower offer, meaning more for decorating.

Property Searching in Spring is a New Beginning

As you are aware, spring is the time for new beginnings. New life and plants spring up all around us. And this can give you the sense of wanting to start something fresh, hence the spring cleaning and redecorating rush. But a new home will help get your spring off to a great start. Because of this, you can begin thinking about all the new possibilities a new home affords you, such as having family around for long BBQ dinners.

You Can Get Your New Home Ready for Summer

Summer will be amazing if your new home has yard space, a garden, or patios and decking. You can relax in your private oasis, with no distractions, in maximum comfort, and with many conveniences. However, gardens and patios aren’t always cared for, and your home’s backyard may need some TLC. It means spring is great for getting it ready for the warmer weather. And you can also take advantage of DIY store spring sales on garden stuff.

There is More Choice

October is officially the worst month to list a home. But spring months are also the best. More buyers and sellers are eager to look at properties and accept offers. So, there is a lot more choice in the spring regarding property listings. It can be excellent for negotiating a better price. But while looking at the many more homes on well-known property sites, be aware that competition among sellers can raise prices.

Recap: Property Searching is Better in Spring

You can often find a better deal or what you are looking for when property searching in spring. The weather is better, it’s a fresh start, and you’ll have more choices.

Do you have any other tips for property searching? Leave a comment and let us know.

Categories
For the Home Home Summer

5 Simple Tips To Keep Your Home Cool For The Family

Keep Your Home Cool

As the warmer months roll around, it’s essential to do everything possible to keep your home cool for the family. There’s nothing worse than feeling hot and sweaty, unable to cool yourself down. There are many tips to keep your home cool this summer, especially if you’re expecting a heatwave or two.

Here are some helpful ideas to keep your home cool for the family. 

Keep Your Home Cool
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Get Your HVAC Checked

How well does your HVAC perform? If it’s prone to breaking down or having problems throughout the year, then it’s worth considering some HVAC services. Why? Well, it wouldn’t be ideal if the air conditioning suddenly went out during the hottest days of the year.

You’ll thank your past self for ensuring your HVAC is performing well. It’s best to get it checked out rather than hoping for the best, even if you haven’t encountered problems. You can prevent it from breaking down if you schedule regular maintenance.

Keep Your Blinds Closed to Keep Your Home Cool

A great way of keeping the home cool during the warmer months will be by keeping your blinds closed. It is essential, especially when you have areas of the home that get a lot of sun exposure through the windows.

Keeping the blinds closed or down during the day can help block out some of the heat. That way, when you get home in the evenings, you’ll hopefully return to a more bearable home temperature.

The same goes for your curtains, keep them closed, and you’ll notice a difference in the heat. You will also find that some curtains are much more effective at keeping the home cool than others – such as pinch pleat curtains made of thick fabric, for instance. If you look at any pinch pleat curtain buying guide, you will find that there are many to choose from, but whichever you go for, they are bound to help in this way.

Make Sure The Ice Box is Full

The ice box will become your best friend over the summer. You can use ice in your foot bath to cool your body temperature. Or, put it in a cocktail or iced beverage. It helps ensure you and all your family are keeping cool when it comes to your body temperature.

If the ice isn’t enough, keep plenty of popsicles in the freezer for the hottest days.

Switch to Cotton Sheets

Cotton sheets are a godsend for those who struggle to sleep at night. If you haven’t already, switch over to cotton sheets during the warmer months. You may also find that you’ll benefit from getting a lighter duvet too.

Reduce The Use of Your Oven

Finally, try to reduce the use of your oven. While it may be hard for certain meals, you can opt for cold dinners or barbeques in your backyard.

Recap: Keep Your Home Cool

These tips can help keep your home cool this summer. Do you have any others to add? Leave a comment and let us know.

Categories
For the Home Home

How To Make The Exterior Of Your Home Look New Again

The Exterior Of Your Home

With time, the exterior of your home can start to look old and worn out. However, there are several things that you can do to make the exterior of your home look new again. The following blog post will discuss some of the best ways to refresh the look of your home’s exterior.

The Exterior Of Your Home
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Improving The Exterior Of Your Home

1. Painting The Exterior

One of the quickest and most effective ways to make the exterior of your home look new again is by repainting it. Not only will this give your home a fresh look, but it will also add value to your home. However, it is essential to choose a color that complements the architecture and surrounding landscape of your home. Remember, darker colors tend to fade faster, so opt for lighter shades if you live in an area with extreme weather conditions. 

2. Soft Washing to Improve The Exterior Of Your Home

Soft washing is another effective way to clean the exterior of your home in a short amount of time. Unlike high-pressure washing, soft washing involves using a low-pressure water spray combined with special cleaning solutions to gently but effectively remove dirt, grime, and other unwanted debris from the surface of your home’s exterior. If you decide this is the right option for you, make sure to find the best soft wash company in your area to ensure that it is done correctly. 

3. Repairing Your Roof

If your home’s roof has seen better days, it might be time to consider a repair or complete replacement. Not only will your new roof enhance the look of your home, but it will also protect it from leaks or weather-related damage. Investing in a new roof can also increase your home’s overall value if you want to sell it. When choosing a roofing material, consider the climate in your area and opt for energy-efficient options that can help you save money on your energy bills in the long run.

4. Updating Your Front Door

Your front door is one of the first things people notice as they arrive at your home. By replacing your old front door with a new one, you can instantly refresh the look of your home’s exterior completely. Choose a door that matches the style of your home and compliments its color scheme. You can also consider updating your door knobs and door hardware to complete the look. It is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to make your home look more inviting.

5. Landscaping

Your home’s curb appeal is not just about the exterior of your home but also about the surrounding landscape. So, take care of your lawn, flower beds, and shrubs. Trim the trees and bushes, add some new plants, and consider adding outdoor lighting to highlight the beauty of your landscaping. By doing so, you can truly transform the look of your home’s exterior.

Recap: The Exterior Of Your Home

There are several ways you can make the exterior of your home look new again. From repainting the exterior to landscaping, there are plenty of ways to refresh the look of your home without breaking the bank. Remember to focus on simple updates that will enhance your curb appeal. Choose colors and materials that fit your style and taste. With a little effort, you can make your home look new again.

Categories
Family Activities Health Healthy Living Life

6 Fun Creative Outdoor Activities To Maintain An Active Lifestyle

Living an active lifestyle is necessary for a healthy lifestyle, as it helps you relax, sleep better, and be happier. However, many are unclear about where to begin to be more active. Although some people like working out at the gym and training for marathons, it is not for everyone. This article highlights some outdoor activities one can indulge in to stay physically active.

Tips for Living an Active Lifestyle

1. Swimming

Living an Active Lifestyle

Swimming is an excellent way to stay active, whether you can access a pool or live near a lake. It raises your heart rate and develops muscular strength like running, but without joint strain. If lap swimming isn’t for you, try water aerobics or treading water. However, practicing water safety is essential to prevent drowning or other related injuries. Better yet, go for swimming lessons before venturing into the water alone. 

2. Hiking

Hiking is a physically demanding sport that requires walking long distances on trails or highways. This activity ranges from modest half-day sessions to elaborate itineraries spanning more than 20 days. Hiking is a recreational activity that can be done alone, with a companion, or as part of a group. All you need are your legs and a great pair of shoes. Peak bagging, long-distance hiking, and day hiking are the three styles. It has a long-term positive impact on your health and should be on your leisure to-do list.

3. Horseback riding for Living an Active Lifestyle

Horseback riding is a more comfortable alternative to more risky leisure hobbies. However, don’t ride without first consulting with an experienced rider. Registering for a guided trail ride is essential. Even if you have prior experience, chatting with a professional about the specific horse’s qualities will be beneficial.

4. Zip lining for living an active lifestyle

One of the numerous action-packed outdoor leisure activities is ziplining. It comprises riding a steel rope on a protected seat or a belt between two points, generally in a beautiful valley. The zip line is a terrific outdoor entertainment sport because it blends thrill, speed, and nature—zip lining pleasures adventure.

5. Ocean surfing

Surfing is a surface water activity in which a surfer rides the forward section, or face, of a moving wave of water, which usually delivers the surfer to the beach. Surfing is a terrific way to get some exercise. It exercises almost all your muscles, balance, heart, and lungs. This exercise also enables you to improve your intellect because it requires concentration and commitment. A less strenuous ocean pastime is boogie boarding.

6. Rides in an all-terrain vehicle

Outdoor enthusiasts may occasionally desire an ATV ride, but it can be dangerous, especially for children. In some cases, dishonest ATV vendors sell adult-sized ATVs to minors, resulting in injury. If you’re on an ATV trip with your family, ensure each child has an appropriate-sized vehicle. If you are inexperienced, seek supervision, retain the services of a personal injury lawyer, and wear suitable clothes and safety equipment.

Categories
Food Meal Plan

5 Delicious Family Meals From Around the World to Add to Your Meal Plan

If you are a globe-trotting family, you can expect your family’s tastes to change more often. You can keep things interesting by adding meals from around the world to your regular meal plan. Here are five family meals you can try in your home today. 

*This post contains affiliate links*

Spaghetti Bolognese

Spaghetti Bolognese, Meals From Around the World
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Spaghetti bolognese is a classic recipe from Italy enjoyed by families for generations. No wonder. Spaghetti bolognese is simple and delicious.

Whether you can’t think of something to make for the family or you want to combine the traditional with the modern, look to spaghetti bolognese recipes for the answer. You can level up your spag bol by adding some olives, chili, and parmesan.

Sukiyaki from Japan is one of the Best Meals From Around the World

There are many mysterious things about the country of Japan, including the customs, the culture, the festivals, and the food. You have to see it to appreciate it. But you can delve into the culture from the comfort of your home with a famous Japanese family meal called sukiyaki. 

Sukiyaki is a hot pot meal, a little bit like a stew, but with a difference. The hot pot contains slices of beef, tofu, and vegetables warmed up and flavored with soy sauce and mirin. In Japan, locals crack an egg on top of the stew and cook it on the surface.

Kofta Kebabs 

Kofta Kebabs, Meals From Around the World
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Kofta is a loan word from Urdu that means pounded meat. Families in Turkey have enjoyed Kofta kebabs for generations. You can make them using meatballs on a skewer and covered in a delicious sauce coating for flavor.

You can make meatballs for kofta kebabs from any meat, but traditionally, people make them from beef or lamb. Try lamb kofta for your next family meal. Kebabs are super for a special occasion or a summer BBQ. 

Tacos al Pastor 

If you want to treat your family to a global food experience, you can’t ignore the food of South America. Famed for its rice, wraps, and meats, Mexico and other nations in the region have a way of creating delicious food from simple ingredients. Don’t miss tasty tacos al pastor.

Like the gyros in the Mediterranean, you can make tacos al pastor with spit-roasted meat carved off and placed into a wrap with vegetables, sauces, and rice. Since you probably don’t have a spit-roaster in your kitchen, you can grill or BBQ the meat for an authentic family meal.

Butter Chicken 

You could feed your family with butter chicken from India. Families from North India have enjoyed this dish for generations. It consists of marinated chicken, yogurt and spices, cream, and curry. Serve it with nan bread.

Recap: Meals From Around the World

Your family will love these meals, and they’ll help your kids get a taste of food from other places. Do you have any favorite meals from around the world? Leave a comment and let us know. 🙂

Categories
Buying a Home For the Home Home Moving

5 Ways to Make Your Long-Distance Move A Little Less Crazy

Long-Distance Move

Moving to a new home is always going to bring some stress. It can compound when the move gets longer than usual, especially when moving to a new country. However, there’s a lot that you can do to make your long-distance move less crazy and more manageable. This post discusses the prep work you can do to take some pressure off your shoulders.

Make Your Long-Distance Move Less Crazy
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How to Make Your Long-Distance Move Less Crazy

Start tidying things up early

Even before packing begins, you can take steps to make the process a lot easier on yourself down the line. Start by eliminating the clutter around the home, and selling your unwanted goods to make more space. Keep a moving box in each room in the weeks approaching moving day. Then, you can begin packing away the little things you don’t need immediately.

Get your moving services ready early

Don’t wait before you call up the moving services you need. The longer you leave it, the sooner your moving day. When you wait, there is an increased chance that other people will have already booked the service. Then, you must rely on second-rate movers. Get an idea of how much stuff you need to move and the distance you need to take. This way, you can ensure you can find the team with the vehicles and equipment to handle it.

Know you might not be able to bring everything in one trip

If you can’t manage your move in one trip, you must deal with the possessions you can’t bring immediately. Until you can get your home ready and get settled in, you might want to look at hiring mini storage units. Returning for the second leg of the move can be more convenient when things are less hectic.

Pack an overnight bag to Make Your Long-Distance Move Less Crazy

After a long trip, you likely want to spend most of the time in your new home resting. You might even be ready for bed as soon as you arrive. While you need to unpack a place to sleep, at the very least, you should have an overnight bag full of the stuff that will help you get through that first night without worries.

Check out the area beforehand

A new neighborhood or town can feel alien and alienating. Take a walk or a drive around it beforehand, acclimating yourself to its layout and sights. If you can’t do it before you move, try to prioritize it shortly after you arrive. It eliminates the “stranger in a strange land” feeling.

Recap: Make Your Long-Distance Move Less Crazy

A long-distance move is going to feel a little hectic. You have limited preparation before making a big trip and ensuring you get everything right. You can get started now to ensure you have the easiest long-distance move.

Categories
Buying a Home Decor For the Home Home

Spark Joy in Every Room: Tips for Decluttering and Redecorating

home, health, healthy home,

Tidying up and rearranging your home after a long winter is about creating a space that makes you happy. It can be hard to know where to start, but these suggestions will assist you. These tips for decluttering and redecorating your home from winter to spring can help bring out colors and textures, allowing you and your family to enjoy your home.

1. Make a list of furniture you want to move

Getting rid of all furniture pieces filling spaces and having no use can make it more open and inviting. You can also reposition furniture to improve flow or change the space’s focal point. Adding special features, such as new dining chairs or a new comfortable sofa, could be just what your home needs to breathe new life into it.

2. Create a comfy, happy atmosphere

A comfy atmosphere can be created by adding warm, inviting touches. Soft lighting, comfy pillows, and cozy throws or blankets will create a soothing atmosphere that encourages restful relaxation. Incorporating natural elements such as plants, wood furniture, or light-colored textures will add a calming effect to the space.

Incorporating meaningful items or artwork into the decor can add charm and personality to the overall design of your home. With time and thoughtfulness, you can create an inviting and relaxing atmosphere in every room that brings joy to all who enter.

Decluttering and Redecorating
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3. Clear out the Clutter to Work on Decluttering and Redecorating

When decluttering and redecorating, start by listing changes you want to make. Begin by picking one area at a time and sorting items into categories such as keep, donate, or recycle. It will help reduce the amount of clutter in each room. Replace old furniture with new items more suitable for the space available in the room and upgrade outdated decor.

Making use of natural light sources and wall space can also brighten up darker rooms while adding a bit of extra personality. Lastly, use storage solutions to keep all areas tidy without sacrificing their aesthetically pleasing look.

4. Add some color to your home with fun accent pieces

Adding color to your home with fun accent pieces can help spark joy in every room. Incorporate bright and bold colors as statement pieces, or mix and match patterns for a unique look. Wall art, rugs, pillows, blankets, curtains, and plants are great ways to add life to any space.

For a modern look, try adding pastel hues or metallic accents for an elegant touch. Get creative with DIY projects such as painting wooden furniture or building shelves for storage and display. With a few simple changes, you can transform a dull room into one full of personality.

Recap: Tips for Decluttering and Redecorating

These considerations can only make your home more beautiful and enjoyable for you. Being creative with different ideas and incorporating some of these tips can help bring joy to every room in your house.

Do you have any other tips to add? Leave a comment and let us know.

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Beauty How To Life

5 Ways to Take Care of Your Appearance as You Age

Your Appearance as You Age

As we age, we must put more effort into our daily beauty regime to get the desired look. It doesn’t matter how old you are, being happy with your appearance is essential to your overall well-being. Although we may need to adjust how we perceive ourselves, there is no reason why you cannot be attractive at any age. All it takes is taking care of your appearance as you age and having the right attitude. If you can look your best, it will increase your confidence level and make you feel happier. The good news is that you can care for your appearance in many ways. To help you out, we have listed a few of these ways below:

Your Appearance as You Age
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Exercise

Exercise is one of the most important things you can do for your appearance. As you age, it becomes more and more essential. You should have a regular exercise regime in place by your mid-thirties. Although if you are already older than this, do not fear; starting at any age will be fine.

Exercise is essential for how your body appears as it eliminates stress, builds muscle, prevents things like osteoarthritis, reduces pain, and more. It also helps you burn fat and look trimer and makes the skin red, which means that blood and oxygen have risen to the skin’s surface to nourish it. It helps eliminate toxins from the skin and the rest of the body, and sweating helps unblock pores, but you need a shower afterward. Exercise can also improve your mood and can help combat things like depression. Remember, how you think you look is influenced by your mental health, so you need to be happy to feel attractive. 

What You Eat

Eating well is important all your life, but even more essential as you age. Your metabolism slows down, so you can no longer eat what you used to without gaining weight. So, you’ll have to be more careful. You must change the game if you have bad eating habits like overeating fast food, relying on microwave dinners, or eating too many chocolate bars and salty snacks. You don’t need to deny yourself the things you love, but you need to outweigh the bad with the good and build up healthy eating habits.

When you are in the supermarket, put back some of the bad and replace it with the good, picking up more fruits and vegetables in the fruit and veg aisle. If you find home cooking a chore, you need to try and find ways to change this perception. Can you refurb your kitchen to make it a more appealing space to spend time in? How about buying a new cookbook and trying some weird and wonderful recipes? You could have some fun by making a themed night, so every Wednesday could be Mexican night, for example, to get back into the swing of creating healthy home-cooked meals. A diet full of good stuff nourishes your body with vitamins and minerals. It will help you to look younger and stay slimmer. 

Drink More Water to Take Care of Your Appearance as You Age

One thing you can do to make yourself more attractive and feel a lot better is to up your water intake. Nearly three-quarters of adults in the west have some level of dehydration. It may surprise you considering the ease these people have to fresh water. However, dehydration can cause many issues, from headaches to kidney damage. 

In terms of your appearance, more water will help you hydrate your largest organ, the skin. It can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines, smoothing out your features. More water can help you lose weight oo. A lot of weight gain is caused by the food in our digestive tract not being watered down enough. More water helps speed up the digestive process and moves the food you have eaten more. Along with this, chewing your food more actually helps. So sip more water when while you eat and chew it properly.  

Get More Sleep

If you are not getting enough sleep, not only will you feel terrible, but you will also start to age prematurely. You need to try and find ways to sleep more. Seven hours is the recommended minimum amount per night, so you should try to get this in. If you have problems with this, there are many methods you can try to increase your sleep.

One surprisingly easy solution is to declutter your sleeping space. Clutter harms the mind and can cause stress and insomnia. Other ways include changing your duvet and pillows to ones that are cooler or allow more air through. You could try earplugs and eye masks or black-out blinds. If you have a few bad habits like alcohol and smoking, try and avoid these too close to bedtime. Coffee and tea should not be consumed after 3 pm as they can disrupt your sleep patterns. However, it’s best to visit your doctor if you have a sleep issue.

Get Some Extra Help

As we age, sometimes we need a little more than what’s listed above to make us feel great. There is no shame in getting a nip and tuck or even having a nose job or breast augmentation. Other treatments you could try are more modest, like manicures, hair dying, spray tans, and facials. If you have problems with your teeth, why not have full mouth dental implants for seniors? Being able to smile again has such an impact on your happiness levels. Many men find that testosterone therapy from Huddle Men’s Health helps them to maintain their good looks long-term. There is no point in suffering from an issue if treatments are available to fix it. If something is bothering you, you can investigate and see what you can do.

Recap: Your Appearance as You Age

You can take care of your appearance as you age, helping you feel better about yourself. Do you have any tips to add? Leave a comment and let us know.

Categories
For the Home Home

9 Helpful Home Maintenance Tips All Home Owners Should Know

Your home is your sanctuary and as such you need to make sure that you take care of it. Home maintenance tips should always be on your list of priorities throughout the year. However, there are so many home maintenance projects, it can be easy to lose track of all of them. 

One way to make sure that you are always on top of projects is to have a checklist ready for the things that you need to do throughout the year. Take a look at these home maintenance tips that you can use to create your checklist to use throughout the year.

home maintenance tips

Home Maintenance Tips For Home Owners

Fire and Security Devices

One of the best ways to make sure that your home is safe is to have your fire and other security devices up and working all the time. This means that your smoke detector and your carbon monoxide detector should always have batteries inside them. Check them regularly to make sure that they are up and running. 

You could schedule this check twice per month. Both are very important but carbon

monoxide in particular can be a silent killer, so always make sure that this important safety detector is working.

Schedule Landscaping

Landscaping your home is important you want to make sure that your curb appeal is always intact. Do not let weeds, dead leaves, and debris begin to grow and collect all over your front yard or even your backyard. It will attract rodents and insects, who feel that they can hide in the debris. 

Also, having a lot of debris laying around me present a fire hazard as well. You need to spend time each month doing some landscaping work. If you don’t have the time for this you should hire a landscaping company to come in intermittently and do the job for you.

Check Your HVAC System

Your HVAC system is one of the most important systems in your home and you need to make sure that it is always up to date and working correctly. 

If your HVAC system is not working properly it can be very problematic for you during the summer and the winter. It’s a good idea to run checks on it right before the major season changes such as winter and summer.

Plumbing System and Home Maintenance Tips

Another important system to the running of your home is your plumbing system. You need to examine your plumbing system regularly. 

You need to inspect it every three months. When you are inspecting it look for signs that there is damage as well as wear and tear. 

If you have metal pipes look for discoloration on the pipe. If you have plastic pipes you may experience cracking or crimping of the plastic.

Once you notice that there are problems you should call a professional to help you immediately. Plumbing problems are one of the most annoying issues that homeowners can face. The only way to curtail the problem is to pay attention and try to solve them as quickly as possible. 

Remember to check your basement as well to ensure moisture is not gathering there. If it is, you may need to get your sump pump repaired click here to learn more.

Check Your Roof

An area of your home that you must check regularly is your roof. This may be easy or hard depending on the type of roof you have.

If you have a flat roof then it’s very easy to do the inspection yourself. However, if you have a sloped roof. Things can become a little bit more difficult.

In this case, the best course of action is to call in a roofing contractor to do an inspection of your roof for you.

Get Your Gutters Cleaned

Your gutters are responsible for getting channeling water that is coming off your roof away from your home. This is a very important job as water needs to be channeled away from the foundations of your home. 

When water starts getting into the foundation of your home it can cause foundational damage. Foundational damages shift the underlying structure of your home and it can be very costly to repair.

This is why you always need to make sure that your gutters are working properly. If there is debris in your gutter be sure to clean this out as soon as you can.

Do a Walkthrough for Home Maintenance Tips

Every month you should do a walk-through of your property to take a look at all the things that you may need to attend to. 

Look for rocks, mold, and insects. All these things will help you to pinpoint problems before they get out of hand.

Check your sidings as well to make sure that there is no warping taking place. You should also go ahead and check to see if there are any problems in your garage as well. 

The bottom line is that no stone should be left unturned. A thorough inspection will help you find issues before they start and get out of hand.

Kitchen and Appliances

You should also take a look at your kitchen appliances and make sure they are working. Clean them thoroughly to make sure that you remove all dirt and grease from them.

Wipe your cabinets and remove expired food from them and throw them into the garbage. Make sure that you thoroughly clean the area where all your pots and pans are going. Clean your dishwasher, as well.

This is also a good time to use storage containers to organize your pantry as well. You can buy storage containers for your pantry to make it look even more organized. Be sure to write expiry dates on everything you throw out in a container.

Prepare Your Checklist

Now you know exactly how to go about preparing your checklist for your home maintenance all year round. 

Create a sheet on your computer or use a pen and paper to create your checklist. Make several copies of it and place them in areas where you can see them regularly. A great place to put it is on your fridge or a notice board in your kitchen.

Recap: Home Maintenance Tips

These tips can help you maintain your home and make it an enjoyable place to spend your time. It can seem overwhelming if you don’t have a plan, but these ideas can help ease the issue. Do you have any other home maintenance tips? If so, leave a comment and let us know. 🙂

Categories
Life Mental Health

Neurodivergent Breaks: How They Recharge Based On Their Personality Traits

Neurodivergent Breaks

When taking a break, it is essential to recognize that not everyone needs the same type of break. Neurodivergent breaks allow those with neurodivergent personality traits to recharge in the way that best fits their needs.

As workplaces are becoming more and more inclusive, we see a lot of new talents appearing from the neurodiversity world. It is not uncommon for someone with ADHD or extreme social anxiety disorder to be essential to the team. However, neurodivergent employees require breaks as much as any other employees. Yet, it is crucial to appreciate that their breaks may look and feel different.

This blog post will explore how neurodivergent breaks differ based on personality traits.

Neurodivergent Breaks
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ADHD and Coffee

People with ADHD often have an increased ability to think outside the box and generate creative solutions. They can be valuable assets in problem-solving and coming up with innovative ideas. These people also tend to work fast in short bursts of energy. Those with ADHD may find it difficult to stay focused on tasks or projects for long periods.

When recharging, a quick cup of coffee can be a great way to provide some much-needed relaxation for the ADHD brain. Caffeine in coffee can help the brain focus and increase alertness, helping ease unnecessary stimulation and focus on the work.

Social Anxiety and Nicotine 

Social anxiety disorder manifests as fear of being judged or criticized by others in social situations. People with social anxiety can be an asset to their team by bringing their skill set, empathy, and attention to detail.

People with social anxiety may feel overwhelmed taking a break in public settings or engaging in conversation. Nicotine is one way to alleviate stress and can be a common coping mechanism. Many try to gradually quit smoking and move to vaping, which can provide a safe platform for socializing during their breaks. The vast range of flavors, seen in stores such as The Vape Mall, can also provide additional stimulation that helps soothe the anxious brain. 

OCD and Music

People with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) tend to be detail-oriented, analytical, and highly organized. It can be extremely beneficial to a team environment as it ensures tasks get completed efficiently and accurately. However, the anxious thoughts that characterize OCD can also make it difficult for a person to relax.

Neurodivergent Breaks
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Earworms are frequent for the OCD brain and can make it tough to relax. One way the OCD brain can escape from stressful obsessions is by listening to music during breaks. Creating playlists can soothe the brain and help it relax. It can help to have multiple playlists that bring a sense of structure. A playlist of songs with a specific length or genre can also help provide comfort and focus.

In an inclusive workplace, it becomes crucial for businesses to appreciate that people who are not neurotypical will bring a unique approach. Some excel at thinking outside the box, others create a unique people-focus approach, and finally, some are more detail-oriented. By welcoming these unique skill sets, you also make room for different recharging methods during breaks.