Category: Post Notes

Are you a rushaholic? Sure, we all want to be efficient with our time - it’s our most precious commodity. But what if it’s more efficient to do things slowly? What if going faster actually slows us down?

Take your time. Get it done right - the first time.

Rushing Wastes Time
I find I frequently forget things when I’m rushing, and end up wasting more time than I saved. Like the time we were rushing to get my parents to the airport and it wasn’t until we got there that we realized we left one of the suitcases behind. The funny thing is that there was no reason to rush in the first place - we had plenty of time; so much time in fact, that we drove the half hour back to the house, picked up the suitcase, and got to the airport with time to spare. We get so hooked on the habit of hurrying that sometimes we rush needlessly. (I guess that’s why they call us the human race.)

Time Management guru Harold Taylor, in his book, “Slowing Down the Speed of Life”, advises us to “Drive slower, walk slower, talk slower and work slower. The faster you go, the faster life seems to go.”

Accidents Increase with Speed
I can tell you from my experience, once you can get past the initial feelings of panic and guilt (that you are not doing enough) and see the amazing results, slower feels better. When we rush, there is more chance of making mistakes. This can impact our stress levels, our finances and our relationships. Just look at the benefits of slowing down and see if that shifts your view.

Benefits of slowing down:

1. increased creativity
2. decreased stress and anxiety
3. fewer mistakes
4. more opportunities
5. more productive
6. experience more joy
7. improved communications and better relationships
8. longer survival rate

(The Body Clock Advantage, Matthew Edlund)

“Speed is the enemy of time management, not its ally.” -Harold Taylor
Are you addicted to the fast paced life? Or have you tried taking it slow?

Hellen Buttigieg
Certified Professional Organizer & Life Coach
www.weorganizeu.com

Shower and bathtub safety is an everyday concern for people, even more so for the elderly and young children.

Here are some essential shower and bathtub safety tips:

1. Never clutch or use the sliding glass shower door for stability or balance. Shower doors are not meant to support human weight.
2. Discard all unsafe shower and bathtub features. This could be tub seats or towel bars that are not strong enough to provide support.
3. Install appropriate weight-bearing grab-bars. Educate the elderly about bathroom safety.
4. Avoid accidental scalding by turning the hot water heater temperature down to 120 degrees.
5. Always check bathtub temperature. Nearly fifty percent of water burns come from parents putting children in water that is too hot. These burns can be serious and lead to permanent scarring.
6. Prevent drowning in the toilet and tub as two inches of water is enough to drown a child. Do not ever leave children unattended in the tub. A lock on the toilet seat in the closed position is an effective safety practice.
7. Prevent electrocution in the bathroom with proper ground fault-protection outlets. Always keep the floor dry to prevent slips and falls. Place non-slip mats strategically.
8. Use drain covers and waterspout guards. Children often hit their heads on the waterspout, leading to injuries. Soft covers on faucets protect children’s heads.

When it comes time to sell, it’s important that your home stacks up well against the competition. In order to have it look its best, renovations are sometimes necessary. Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you’re thinking it is time to renovate:

1. Get Cracking - The kitchen will often yield the greatest return on investment. A welcoming kitchen that’s functional and up-to-date will be very attractive to buyers.
2. Clean Up - The bathroom is the second most important room in the home in terms of valuation so renovating an existing bathroom or installing an additional one pays off.
3. Go Green - An eco-friendly home is a healthy home so if you’re thinking about replacing flooring for instance, use environmentally friendly materials such as bamboo or cork.
4. Landscaping - Adding a few perennials is an easy way to improve your home’s curb appeal. A few well-placed trees and shrubs will reduce utility costs by providing shade and shelter.
5. The Convert - If you converted a bedroom into a home office, consider returning it to its original state. Buyers are more concerned with the number of bedrooms.

Your basement doesn’t have to be a dark and dreary spot anymore.

Low ceilings, limited light and general dreariness can make the basement a hard spot to hang out in. Here are a few ways to brighten things up in this often dark and cramped looking space:

1. Fresh Coat - Paint the walls a light shade and ceilings even lighter to give the illusion of height.
2. Lighten Up - Use various lighting sources layered at different heights including wall sconces and lamps to brighten things up.
3. Mirrored - Place mirrors across from your basement windows in order to maximize the effect of natural light.
4. Floored - Don’t break up the basement by choosing different flooring materials. Pick solid, continuous flooring so that the space will appear larger.

These are just a few ways to transform your basement from dark and dreary to bright and beautiful. Before you know it, your basement will become one of your most popular hangouts!

For many, a deck is an extension of the home. It brings indoor life to the great outdoors. With a little care, a deck can last for many years. Neglected, it can become an eyesore or worse, unsafe!

Permit
Is a permit required to build a deck? Most municipalities require a permit to build a deck. Many decks get built without a permit. The result is that many decks are poorly constructed and some are unsafe.

Deck Materials

Pressure Treated Wood: Properly maintained, a pressure treated wood deck can last 20 years.

Cedar: Cedar is a premium deck building material with a rich look and feel. It is more expensive than pressure treated wood but it has many desirable properties. It is naturally more dimensionally stable than pressure treated wood so it does not shrink and split. A well maintained cedar deck can last 20 years.

Synthetic: Synthetic decking is the most expensive decking material but it requires little to no maintenance beyond cleaning and should last many years.

Wood Sealer: The secret to a deck that looks good over the years is wood sealer. Unsealed wood will absorb water and expand and then dry out and shrink. Over time the wood splits and deteriorates.

Guard Rails: Guard rails keep you safe on your deck. The specifics of a quality guard rail are spelled out in local building codes.

Deck Collapse: “Except for hurricanes and tornadoes, more injuries may be connected to deck failures than all other wood building components and loading cases combined.” - Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory at Washington State University. Many decks fail because they are old, worn and rotted. Others fail because they were not built properly in the first place.

Your favorite color is more than a pretty predictor of your fashion or decor choices. It reveals insights into a spectrum of your personality characteristics, from your sociability to your sense of possibility.

If your favorite color is...

• Blue: You exude cool confidence.
• Red: You’re a passionate go-getter.
• Yellow: You’re a visual sparkplug.
• Orange: You’re a team player.
• Pink: You’re a romantic dreamer.
• Purple: You’re a regal artiste.
• Green: You’re a smart forward thinker.

Storage space sells so don’t forget to clean out your closets in two steps!

1. Remove at least half of all items from closets and cupboards so they appear larger and get rid of anything on the floor. Use the same hangers (no wire!) throughout.
2. Organize the remaining items so your closets and cupboards look tidier. Make sure to neatly fold up towels and linens and use attractive bins and boxes to organize any loose items.

The steps above may seem obvious but they’re often overlooked. Remember that storage space sells and if buyers see your closets bursting at the seams, they will assume your home isn’t big enough for you or for them.

Look for these signs of trouble:

• Wood rot: If you see wood rot it could be worse than you think. Rotted connections such as the ledger board to house connection could lead to deck collapse.
• Good connections: Check points of connection of major components such as the deck to house, guard rail to deck, beam to post, post to pier, etc. You should see plenty of metal brackets and bolts not nails. If in doubt, have an expert look at your deck. For example, it is very difficult to inspect the deck to house connection because it is not easily accessible. Of course, it helps if you know what you are looking for.

There are over 40 million decks in North America with over 1 million being built or rebuilt each year. With care, a deck can last many years and provide a safe place to enjoy the great outdoors.

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Have you ever become so absorbed in an activity that time seemed to just fly by? You were able to focus - without looking for distractions - and found you were super productive. Wouldn’t it be great if you could have that same experience with the tasks you’ve been putting off - like tidying up your house or tackling your taxes?

The tendency to put off repetitive routine chores is common, so you are not alone. In fact, many people feel physically uncomfortable when faced with these types of tasks, because they find them downright boring. If you can’t seem to find the motivation to do what you have to do, you might just be avoiding boredom.

There are several ways to combat boredom and make mundane tasks more exciting - or at least more bearable.

The secret is to make the job more stimulating by keeping your mind engaged:

1. Spice things up. A meal without spices would be bland. What ingredients can you add to your tasks to liven them up? How about adding a few drops of essential oil to your laundry detergent to brighten up wash day, getting some stylish file folders to make filing fun, or listening to music (or an audio book) to help make cleaning the house more pleasurable?
2. Add some fun. Adding an element of play can make even the most boring tasks more exciting. Get creative and make a game out of chores you’ve been avoiding. Set a timer and challenge yourself to beat the clock. You can also plan something enjoyable to do right after you complete the task, as a reward.
3. Invite a friend. Sorting hundreds of old photos on your own can be tedious. Inviting a friend to sit with you at the dining room table as you sort the photos can turn a boring task into a social event. Partner up and suddenly you can sort for hours without even realizing it. Your friend doesn’t even have to help you; the person can be there for company and conversation.
4. Find a stimulating environment. Working at home or sitting at a desk is not for everyone. For a more interesting environment, take your laptop to a neighbourhood coffee shop. Being in the company of others may be all the stimulation you need to focus and get that report done.

Next time you find you are procrastinating on a job that needs to get done, become aware of how you are feeling. Notice your thoughts. If you are dreading it because you hate to be bored, try some of these boredom busters. Not only will you be amazed at what you can accomplish, you might even enjoy yourself.

What have you been putting off and which boredom busters work best for you?

Hellen Buttigieg
professional organizer & life coach
www.weorganizeu.com

A barbecue master is looking for the best prime performance at all times, no matter whether they fire up the old-faithful every year or splurge on a new top-of-the-line grill. Here are some go-to cleaning tips to get the most out of your barbecue all summer long.

Give it a good wipe down.
Clean the exterior with soapy water to remove any build up that can occur from sitting outside. Try to do this every couple of weeks to help remove any dust and residue.

Choose your weapon wisely.
When cleaning inside, traditional brushes with bristles work well for porcelain enamel-coated grates, whereas grillstone blocks or a warm cloth with soapy water are good for stainless steel grates. Not familiar with grillstone blocks? When you rub these back and forth, the shape of the block will conform to the grates to make access to narrow areas easy.

Turn it up before turning it off.
Make your clean-up process easy by increasing the heat after cooking. Close the grill and set the control on high for 10 minutes. The extreme temperatures will burn off any remaining food items like cheese or chicken and the charred remnants will be easier to remove.

No one likes a party crasher.
Gas pipes are notorious for housing spiders and getting clogged with spider webs which can affect the level of gas getting to your burners over time. Once you have made sure that the propane tank is turned off, use a pipe cleaner to remove anything that may be stuck.

With these stylish secrets for keeping cool, you can relax all summer without worrying about the energy bills.

Use nature’s air conditioner. Open the curtains and crack the windows in the a.m. hours to let in cool air, then close them when it starts to heat up.

Bring nature in. Give your rooms a quick pick-me-up by filling them with plants from your garden. The plants will filter indoor toxins so you feel fresher.

Enjoy your outdoor room. Expand your living area onto a covered porch or deck, which will shade you from the heat of the sun. Plump pillows and potted plants make you as comfy as indoors.

White is right. White reflects rather than absorbs sunlight, keeping rooms cool. Give tables, shelves or cupboards a coat of shiny white paint.

Dine outside. Enjoy family dinnertime on the patio at night when the temperature is cool and comfortable. Keep kitchen heat under control by using small appliances like a microwave or toaster oven instead of the stove oven when possible.

The hot weather has finally arrived, and while many of us enjoy basking in the sun, when we are inside our homes we prefer the cool comfort of air conditioning. That said, it is important to keep a close watch on how you use it, because keeping the air conditioning on full blast could lead to hefty energy bills.

Use ceiling fans to circulate cool air. Fan blades should operate in a counter-clockwise direction to move air downwards and maximize air circulation so your air conditioner does not have to work so hard and cost you more.

Don’t lose money cooling rooms not in use. Close vents and shut the doors in unused rooms. Also make sure to clear the vents you are using from dust and obstructions. Close curtains or blinds on windows that receive direct sunlight to keep heat out of the house.

Landscaping around your air conditioner unit can help block the sun so it works more efficiently, but make sure trees, plants and hedges are planted at least three feet from the unit to avoid restricting airflow.

The face of air conditioning is changing from efficiency to comfort.

A/C Efficiency The goal of air conditioning is to get as much cooling as possible for the least amount of energy input. SEER or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio is a measure of efficiency. The higher the number, the more efficient the system. Minimum SEER legislation has kicked in requiring all new A/C systems to be at least SEER 13, with many of the top models are now over SEER 17.

Avoid Installation Problems
One way manufacturers are making their systems more efficient is by making the heat exchangers larger. The outdoor and indoor components are larger than before. You may have to replace your air handler or furnace. There may be workarounds that a novice may not know about. If you are in this situation, make sure you ask if there is an alternative such as any minor ducting modification. It is probably worth a second opinion if the installer has no suggestions.

Two Stage Compressors
Modern two stage compressors solve the capacity dilemma. If the air conditioning system is sized to operate optimally on the hottest day of the season, it’s probably oversized the rest of the time. An oversized system will cool the house very quickly. This means short on cycles. This is inefficient and it does not dehumidify the house properly. The result is that many systems are not achieving their rated SEER and the houses are cold and clammy. There are systems that will operate at two capacities. It’s like having two air conditioning systems in one package. An undersized mode that will have very long on cycles and a larger capacity mode to keep you comfortable on the hottest days.

From great frothy milkshakes to sky-high sundaes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this unofficial dessert of summer - and the way you take your ice cream can say some surprising things about you.Just find your favorite ice cream “style” to learn more about yourself.

If your style of ice cream is …A cup of ice cream: You’re a future-focused go-getter.

A milkshake: You’re a youthful dreamer.

A sundae: You’re an adventurous novelty-seeker.

A popsicle: You’re an in control multitasker.

A cone: You’re a risk taker.

An ice cream sandwich: You’re a laid-back people-person.

The kitchen is the center of the family’s financial, physical and emotional well-being. Here are some tips to increase your clan’s good fortune.

1. Use lots of warm accent colors, like yellows and reds, and images of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Their symbolic bounty will boost the family’s abundance.
2. Place something green in the room, like a plant. Stoves and sinks represent fire and water, and in the same room can encourage conflict. But green, a healing feng shui color can temper frayed nerves.
3. Put out a bowl of nine oranges. Nine is a feng shui number and oranges represent good luck.
4. Keep knives in a drawer. Displayed knives create “poison darts” of negative energy.

A well-maintained air conditioning system will last longer and cool better than a neglected system.

• Clean or replace the filter in the air handler regularly, not just for clean air, but also because the filter protects your heating and air conditioning equipment. Dust can clog the evaporator coil, reducing the heat transfer, efficiency, and life of the system.
• Trim vegetation away from the condenser for free air flow. Do not enclose the condenser with trellis or anything else that might block air flow.
• Have the system serviced regularly. Servicing is inexpensive and will increase the life and efficiency of the system. A technician typically cleans the condenser coils and checks the refrigerant pressures, adjusting the refrigerant charge if needed.

Like any system in your home, a central air conditioner will work at its peak efficiency and performance when it is properly fitted for capacity and regularly maintained.

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