I understand how superwoman came into our society. In the 60’s, women had to demonstrate that they could do it all. Such as having babies, raising children, running a household AND holding a paying job outside of the home – in order to be taken seriously. Our foremothers needed to juggle it all. And juggle it well to earn us the seats we sit in today in factories, offices and boardrooms across America. Life balance falls to the background when we’re making crucial changes in our culture….
Feeling Like Yourself Again Postpartum
Feeling Like Yourself Again Postpartum
You’ve done it. You’ve done one of the most difficult, but most beautiful things the human body can do. Your bundle of joy is finally here! But often, pregnancy can have a massive impact on the way you see yourself, since your body changes so much in the process.
However, being a new mom doesn’t mean you can’t love the skin you’re in. So in this article we will share some tips to build your confidence in yourself, and your body, postpartum.
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection
Consider Surgery
There’s no doubt that after having your baby, you may not have as much time to focus on getting back into shape. More so, after pregnancy, your skin may droop or sag, which can’t easily be fixed with exercise.
Abdominoplasty, which is more commonly referred to as a tummy tuck, is a highly sought-after surgery post-pregnancy. The procedure creates a flatter stomach and a more contoured torso by trimming excess skin and fat from the abdomen and tightening the muscles in the area.
Patients are able to resume most of their daily routine two weeks after the surgery, and can expect full recovery from the surgery in just 12 weeks. This makes it a great option for moms. Especially since they can still carry out their responsibilities after a short period of rest time.
The results can have a very positive impact on your self-confidence, and will make you want to show off your postpartum body.
Prioritize Self-Care
It’s important to continue looking after yourself after having a baby. You might not feel like yourself, as you are spending so much time making sure the little one is okay, and you may end up neglecting yourself.
The trick is, a little goes a long way. The key to improving your confidence could be getting a new hair-do or sprucing up your wardrobe. Freshening up your style can give you a new lease on life and greatly improve the way you see yourself.
You may wish to seek inspiration from mood-board websites such as Pinterest, where you can search for a new hairstyle depending on your hair length, or the right makeup for your skin tone.
Even a quick face mask or taking yourself out for a pamper day can be the difference between feeling down and feeling amazing.
[Read: 101 Self Care Ideas for Busy Moms]
Take Up a New Fitness Activity
Keeping fit and exercising is proven to improve your mental health and body image since it releases endorphins, also known as the ‘feel-good hormones’.
If going to the gym or exercising from home can feel mundane and boring after pregnancy, you may wish to try out a new way to keep fit.
Rock-climbing, swimming and yoga classes are a great way to invigorate the body but have fun at the same time. Bouldering might be a challenge, but completing this activity can give you a sense of achievement and build your confidence.
Importantly, these exercises and activities are proven to keep the weight off in a way that doesn’t feel grueling. Getting your self-confidence back after having a baby will simply happen without you even realizing!
Conclusion
It’s really important to maintain a positive mental attitude after giving birth, because you can easily let yourself go. But, by taking the small or big steps, you can reinstate your self-confidence.
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection
About the Author
Jenn Walker is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.
How to Help A Friend Recover From a Hardship
If someone you know is suffering from hardship, you can help by offering them support, advice, and resources. You may have already reached out and given them a shoulder to cry on, providing them with food to eat, a place to stay, or take them to the doctor or hospital. However, maybe now is the time to do a little more. But what can you do to ensure that the person you love gets through this difficult time? Continue reading below to learn how to help a friend recover from a hardship.
For more on this topic, check out the full Tough Times collection
Why People Fall On Hard Times
Many people fall on hard times, and many of them don’t realize it. For some, the fall is sudden, like a job loss, a car accident, or losing a loved one. For others, the fall may occur gradually due to a bad marriage, financial issues, or a poor diet. Sometimes they feel like everything they do is going wrong, and they feel as if their life is going downhill. But whatever the reason for the fall, it’s essential to deal with the situation appropriately. When a friend of yours may experience tumultuous times, you should look for the warning signs. Oftentimes they might be too proud, or even too embrassed to admit they need help. Some symptoms are similar to those of depression and can include:
Ignoring proper hygiene
This is very similar to depression. You will see right away if they are neglecting their hygiene from the way they look. The most common signs are excessive beard growth for men, unbrushed hair, dirty clothing, etc.
Oversleeping or Undersleeping
A genuine hardship, whatever the reason, can cause people to simply shut down. And oftentimes they turn to sleep. If this is the case, or if they are experiencing stress, they might feel like they can’t get enough sleep.
Losing weight
Weight loss is a warning sign that their situation is beginning to affect their health. You should intervene right away if you see signs of lack of appetite or weight fluctuations out of the ordinary.
A change of demeanor
When a person has something on their minds constantly, they will typically change the way they act. Their mind may be elsewhere, or they could be overcompensating for something.
Drinking during the day
Drinking or taking drugs during the day is a warning sign that things are getting on top of someone. This occurs when people want to forget what is happening in their life.
Failing to meet responsibilities
If your friend is missing regular payments or neglecting their children and families, this could be a sign that something is amiss.
Mood swings/ emotional instability:
People will often lash out when they are stressed. If this happens, it could be quite hurtful for the people around them, but you shouldn’t ignore them.
Isolation
When life gets too hard, most people will opt to stay away from all forms of stimulus, good and bad.
How you can help them get through their struggles
Hopefully you are now in a better position to help them since you understand some of the indicators. Of course, how you help them will depend on what is causing them such grief.
If They Are Injured, Help Them Get Justice
Personal injury results from a harmful event, usually occurring from another person, an animal, or a work-related injury. Even though external events cause these injuries, personal injury is an important topic to discuss to see how it affects them. For example, if they live in a busy, industrial city like Philadelphia, their injury could have been caused by a negligent employer. This can seriously affect a person’s well-being, and if this was the case, helping them hire expert personal injury attorneys in Philadelphia might be of benefit. In addition, these kinds of injuries can be emotional and can make some victims feel helpless. By offering your aid, you can ensure that they can receive the justice they deserve and begin a process of moving on. You can also go with them to court to support them through the process if they become involved in a situation where they have to fight a legal case.
Pay Attention To Their Problems
Listening is one of the most important things you can do to help a friend. It may seem obvious, but just listening to their problems can go a long way in assisting them with their recovery. When someone has the burden of the world on their shoulders, it can seem like there is no end. Listening therapy is an appropriate therapy for a variety of emotional or psychological issues. It is a form of psychotherapy that involves your focused, empathetic, and non-judgmental engagement with your friend to come to a deeper understanding of the issues that are troubling them. Listening therapy is generally used to treat a range of emotional and psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, phobias, trauma, grief, panic attacks, or flashbacks. Seeing that they are not alone will make them feel better.
Remember that an addiction recovery center can be contacted should you notice that they relapse or are not getting better in order to get them professional help.
Provide Them Comfort
When someone close to you is going through a hard time, how do you help them cope? Comforting and being with them is the simplest solution. You can let them know that nothing lasts forever and even hard times will pass. There is a beautiful quote from an unknown Sufi poet: “this too shall pass.” The meaning behind it is that whatever hardship someone is going through will eventually pass, and brighter times will arrive. When somebody is suffering for whatever reason, the outlook can appear bleak. Therefore by giving them a new perspective on life and enabling them to see beyond their current situation, you could boost their spirits. Moreover, by letting them know that they are not alone, you could give them a new lease on life.
Hardships can come in many forms, from financial troubles to medical issues. Whatever the reason, the outcome is often the same. Depression, a feeling of hopelessness and loneliness, and the thought that nothing will ever improve. To help a friend who is going through an adverse situation, you can lend a shoulder to lean on to help them overcome whatever challenges they face.
For more on this topic, check out the full Tough Times collection
6 Fun Activities That Will Help Your Kids Improve Their Skills And Be Creative
6 Fun Activities That Will Help Your Kids Improve Their Skills And Be Creative
Nowadays, kids’ behavior gets more problematic because of spoiled attitudes and screen addiction. It is immensely difficult to keep your child busy and occupied for a longer period of time. So the easiest way is often by turning on the cartoon that will last for a length of time. On the other hand, this has some negative effects on the kid’s development, like speech and some behavioral responses. Therefore it is important to wake up their imagination and trigger their thinking. Here are some suggestions on how to effectively improve your kid’s skills and creativity.
For more on this topic, check out the full Summer Safety & Activities collection
Lego
Lego cubes have been a favorite toy of kids for years! And they are one of the most beneficial when it comes to mental development. It is amazing how it can influence shape and color recognition, and problem-solving like puzzles. It is especially beneficial for fine motor skills development. For putting Lego pieces together, a child would need precise and fine movements along with good coordination. Above all, when playing with Lego, the only limit your mind has is the imagination. The fear of failure is completely erased. Lego can be put together in an endless number of combinations, and your children will love it because there are no limits to their thinking. This allows for their imagination to run free. Additionally, Lego has a positive influence on children who have some form of disability. There is one positive example of this where a child suffering from autism created an identical Titanic replica by using over 50,000 Lego cubes. This piece of art is now preserved in the official Titanic Museum.
Coloring Books
Coloring books are a classic when it comes to creative toys. And nowadays, there are even coloring books for adults. Children adore coloring books and drawing. But to make coloring even more interesting, add in some glitter pens that are good to color with. Create something outstanding that will trigger them to see every image as their small success. This is immensely important because of the positive reinforcement. Coloring books will give your child a sense of fine lines and how to color inside the shapes which will influence their fine movements. On top of it, they will learn colors and how to recognize them. If your child is having a problem with eyesight and color recognition, this will help you to identify it instantly.
Consider scrapbooking too! It’s similar to coloring books, just with more materials and extra steps. The materials usually include stickers, patterned papers, special writing and coloring pens, and stamps that you can easily get through from Japan Crate’s subscription boxes. Unlike coloring books, scrapbooks are more flexible and versatile. You can scrapbook anything. It can be pictures from a family vacation, baby pictures, or a compilation of dinosaur pictures! It’s a great activity to channel your child’s creativity and imagination. You’d be surprised by the output.
Hand Painting
This is an excellent opportunity for you to capture memories with your children by imprinting their handprints on the canvas and producing a one-of-a-kind family masterpiece. All you will need is a canvas and a couple of bowls of paint in different colors. Use some old cloth to put under the canvas just to avoid stains. Let your children dip their hands into paint and transfer it to the canvas. And you, as parents, should join in this family time activity. Once the paint is dry, make sure to sign names and hang the painting somewhere in your home that will always bring back nice memories.
[Read: How To Create Your Own Art Station]
Drawing Challenge
Here is a chance to boost your child’s imagination. Do not go with some obvious objects that are easy for them to draw. But look for abstract things that represent happiness, excitement, friendship, etc. You can also adapt it based on the color, so you can say “Draw something painted blue”. You can use any color you like, as long as it is challenging for your children and they are thinking about what they are drawing and painting. This will wake up their imagination, so be prepared for some of the most unique drawings you have ever encountered in your life.
Puzzles
Just as Lego, puzzles are an amazing way to improve the intellectual skills of your children. Today, there are puzzles for different ages. But you should try to elevate the game for a step and let your children finish the puzzle on their own. Another thing you can do is to purchase puzzles for adults and include the whole family in puzzle solving. This will not only trigger the most creative parts of your children’s brain, but will make room for some good quality family time.
[Read: Prepare For A Fun Family Night In]
Picasso Dictation
This is a favorite activity among students, and something that your children will absolutely adore. How is it done? All you will need is a simple picture that you will accurately describe to your children while they are trying to draw it as you dictate. It is basically image dictation. They will be able to develop better spatial skills since you will often go “On your left, there is a brown painted chair” and something similar to it.
When it comes to children’s games, there are a plethora of options that will entertain and inspire them. The worst thing you can do is put them in front of a screen to calm them down.
For more on this topic, check out the full Summer Safety & Activities collection
Useful Tips for Parents on Buying Pajamas for Their Kids
Useful Tips for Parents on Buying Pajamas for Their Kids
As a parent, you want to make sure your child is comfortable and happy. One way to do that is by buying them new pajamas! But with so many different styles and brands available, it can be hard to know which ones to choose. That’s why we’ve put together this list of tips for parents who are shopping for pajamas for their kids. Keep reading for advice on everything from materials and sizing, to style and price.
For more on this topic, check out the full Sleep collection
Consider the material
When it comes to pajamas, comfort is key. You’ll want to choose a material that’s soft and breathable, like cotton or bamboo. Avoid scratchy fabrics like wool or polyester, which can make your child uncomfortable and irritable. If you’re not sure what material to choose, always err on the side of comfort. Especially girls sleepwear focuses on the comfort and the quality of the fabric. Another thing to keep in mind is how well the pajamas will hold up over time. Some materials, like flannel, tend to pill or shrink after a few washes. If you want pajamas that will last, look for ones made from high-quality materials like 100% cotton.
Pay attention to the size
When it comes to pajamas, size matters. You don’t want your child to be swimming in their PJs, but you also don’t want them to be so tight that they’re uncomfortable. To get the perfect fit, take a look at the size chart before you make your purchase. Pay close attention to the measurements for chest and waist, as these can vary depending on the brand. And if you’re unsure about what size to choose, always err on the side of larger rather than smaller. Your child will probably grow out of their pajamas before they wear out, so it’s better to have a pair that’s too big than one that’s too small.
[Read: Promoting Healthy Sleep: From Birth to Beyond]
Think about the style
Pajamas come in all sorts of different styles, from onesies and footies to two-piece sets and nightgowns. Which style you choose will largely depend on your child’s preferences. If they’re always cold at night, a cozy onesie or footie pajama might be the best option. If they prefer something more lightweight, a pair of shorts and a t-shirt might be better. And if they like to move around a lot in their sleep, loose-fitting pajamas like nightgowns might be the way to go. Ultimately, it’s up to you and your child to decide which style is best for them.
Don’t forget about the price
Pajamas can range in price from a few dollars to over $100. You’ll want to consider the price when you’re shopping for your child’s pajamas. But that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank. There are plenty of high-quality, affordable pajamas on the market. And remember, your child will probably grow out of their pajamas before they wear out, so it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money on a pair that will only last for a few months.
We hope these tips have been helpful as you shop for pajamas for your child! Just remember to focus on comfort, sizing, style, and price, and you’ll be sure to find the perfect pair. Happy shopping!
For more on this topic, check out the full Sleep collection
How to Handle Your Relationship with Your Kids When They Become College Students
How to Handle Your Relationship with Your Kids When They Become College Students
One of the biggest push/pulls of parenting is wanting your kids to grow up and into the adults that they are meant to be. But also never wanting them to grow up and leave the nest. And one of the biggest adjustments with this dynamic, is how to transition your relationship with them as they start to lead their own lives. There is no instruction manual to show you the steps to take that are ultimately right or wrong, no matter what. But that can actually be an advantage. You have spent eighteen years preparing your kids, and yourself, for this time, and you probably know more than you think. But just in case, here are few pointers to consider along the way.
For more on this topic, check out the full All About Teen and collection
Help But Don’t Hover
True you child is more capable of being independent now than in years before. But that does not mean that they do not still need your guidance in certain areas. While they might not want you calling them every day to make sure they are eating healthy foods, they might appreciate your wisdom in more tactical areas of college, like finances. Paying for an education is not cheap. And if loans are involved, it is not as easy as writing a check and that’s that. Loans involve applications, qualifications, interest rates, terms, lenders, and much more.
Your child is going to need you to help them navigate the world of borrowing money so that they make sound choices now that set them up to be able to manage them successfully in the future. You can take out a student loan from a private lender to pay for college and get help with tuition costs not covered by traditional student loans. Be sure you are acting as a guide, and a reference though, doing everything for your kids throughout this process does not teach them anything. Instead let them drive the bus and simply be available in the passenger seat when they need some extra support.
Find a Communication Rhythm
Some parents speak to their children every day. While others at a lower frequency, and that is what is the norm for their family. When your kids leave the house, you might be saddened by the fact that you do not see and speak to them every day by default of them living in your home. However, that sadness is not their burden to bear. And you must make the effort not to make it so. Find a communication rhythm that makes sense for your family in this new stage. Maybe that means a pre-determined weekly Zoom, or daily texts to check in. However, this looks for you, resist the urge to track your child’s phone and check in incessantly when loneliness strikes. Give them the space to build their new life as a young adult in college.
[Read: 7 Life Strategies Your Child Needs Before They Go to College]
Be Their Safe Space
The last thing you want is for physical distance to create emotional distance as well. You have been a safe place to land for your kids up until this point, and it is important that they know you will continue to be in spite of this new stage of life. It can be difficult for kids to open up to parents when the subject matter is sensitive. So reassure them that there is nothing they can’t share with you. It’s fact that ignoring your emotions is unhealthy. And when kids internalize emotional struggles it can manifest in behaviors and choices with long-term, and sometime dangerous consequences.
For more on this topic, check out the full All About Teen and collection
Tips For Traveling With Children Post Pandemic
Tips For Traveling With Children Post Pandemic
We have been longing for a sense of normal. But traveling and meeting people for the holidays could become really complicated with the pandemic still doing rounds. There are new variants emerging and several nations are still struggling with the rising number of cases. Even with more people getting vaccines and booster shots, there are children under the age of 5 who have not been vaccinated yet.
Even if the children are wearing masks but are unvaccinated, they are at the risk of getting infected in transit or during travel. However, if you decide to travel, there are some things you can do to lower the risk.
For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection
Should you take the car or plane?
It is important to limit contact with the public. This is why traveling by car if you have a young child is a good idea. When taking breaks at the rest stop or the gas station, it’s recommended to keep the mask on and use hand sanitizer. Maintain distance from others and consider carrying your own snacks. You can make the car journey smoother for your little one with a comfortable car seat and head supports for car seats for them to take a nap.
However, if you are headed to a destination where driving is not possible, you should consider taking a direct flight so that you do not walk through different airports to change planes. Do not eat or drink on the flight if it is less than two hours. Since babies and infants cannot be masked in the flight, it is best to avoid taking one unless absolutely necessary.
Protect yourself while traveling in the car
When you consider all the options, you will realize that it is the safest to take a car. But in order to avoid riding with the germs, there are several precautions you will have to take. You need to start by cleaning and disinfecting the vehicle well and keep the hand sanitizer in your car so that you can use it whenever you make a stop.
Limit the number of people in your vehicle since it is not possible to sit six feet apart. But you must ensure that everyone is wearing a mask in the car. Before you stop for food or gas, designate a runner for the task and have a couple of people who are not at high risk go in and grab snacks. Ensure that they mask up and clean their hands before they get back in the car.
Protect yourself at the hotel
When you are headed out of town, you will need a place to rest. Whether you opt for a hotel or a rental home, you need to stay safe. The privacy of a vacation rental home might be appealing at this time. You must speak to the property managers about the social distancing, hygiene, and safety rules. If you are choosing to stay in a hotel, look into the cleaning protocol. Choose a hotel that has high safety and maintenance standards.
Protect yourself on a cruise
Ship travel is not a zero-risk activity. And if you are traveling with kids, it is best avoided. But if you have to take the cruise, you should remain up to date with the vaccination doses, and get a viral test done three days after the cruise.
How to plan your travels with children
Several countries have opened up and they do not have a vaccination requirement to enter. So, if you are excited about taking the much-awaited trip with your little ones, there are some things to keep in mind. It is best to travel within your country so that you are well aware of the current status of the virus and vaccination.
When traveling as a family, take a car and choose a vacation rental. This will help avoid meeting other people in common spaces like the gym or pool. You can easily find luxurious rentals that fulfill all your needs. If possible, head to destinations like jungle retreats. Or consider glamping since you do not have to meet a lot of people here.
Remember to carry all the essentials including masks, sanitizers, snacks for your journey, water, and medications. If you have recently recovered from Covid-19 and are taking any medications, remember to carry them with you.
Traveling with Kids Conclusion
Traveling with kids can be exciting and equally overwhelming. Your entire trip could turn into a horrible experience if something goes wrong. And now that you are headed on a trip after two long years, there is nothing you want to risk. Consider the age of your child and speak to their doctor before you plan the trip. Do not forget that children below five are unvaccinated and they are at constant risk of catching the virus.
For more on this topic, check out the full Travel Tips collection
Self Care Tips for Parents
Parenting can really take it out of you. Kids need lots of attention, and it can sometimes feel like your needs take a back seat. To help you design a great self-care regime, consider these tricks and tips. Keep reading below for self care tips for parents.
For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection
Self Care Tips for Parents
Use a journal
According to Positive Psychology, journaling is helpful to ‘enhance your sense of well-being and reduce symptoms of depression.’ Journaling has plenty of benefits, such as:
- Journaling can boost your mood.
- Can help you to express gratitude.
- Can help you to express an emotional or traumatic event.
- Journaling can help you to relax and improve your sleep.
If you’re not sure how to get started with a journal, you may want to try a journaling app. Applications like Reflectly and Grateful include lots of journaling exercises.
Practice meditation
Studies indicate that meditation is useful to improve our mental health. Mediation can help you to relax and become more mindful. Mediation can be used to challenge negative thought patterns, and focus on the positives. To learn about mediation, try meditation podcasts like One Mind with Morgan Dix, or The Mindful minute podcast. Both of these tools are perfect for beginners. Once you learn the ropes, you can reflect on which style of meditation you like best.
Allow yourself alone time
Life as a parent can be incredibly busy and sometimes stressful. You might feel like you don’t get any time to yourself. Challenge yourself to reclaim that alone time. Hire a babysitter every once in a while, and treat yourself to a kid-free day! Think about the activities that you enjoy doing by yourself. You might like to visit museums, go hiking, read books, or enjoy the theatre. Spending time alone can help you to unwind, reflect, and even learn new things. After a day by yourself, you’ll feel calm and refreshed.
[Read: 101 Self Care Ideas for Busy Moms]
Brief acts of self care
When you’re rushed off our feet it can feel hard to make time for self-care. The good news is, you don’t need lots of time to spare. There are so many brief acts of self-care which are so worthwhile. For a few ideas, consider these:
- Spend ten minutes doing a yoga video on YouTube.
- Take fifteen minutes to write a poem or a short story.
- Make a delicious smoothie out of your favorite fruits.
- Dance to a song you love.
- Spend ten minutes practicing aromatherapy.
Keep on top of health checks
Parents spend lots of time concerned about the health of their kids, but it’s important to focus on your own health too. Remember to book in regular health checks, from Lively hearing tests to eye tests and the dentist. . If you’re facing oral health issues, restorative dentistry services can help.
From your physical health to your mental health it’s important to create a good self-care routine. Set yourself small self-care goals, whether it’s about your diet, or an exercise target. To avoid burnout, it’s so important to take good care of yourself.
For more on this topic, check out the full Self Care collection
Separating Your Work and Home Lives for Healthier Approach
Keeping your work and home lives separate can be tough. Especially when you work from home. If you live and work in the same place, it’s often difficult to stop your home life from leaking into your work and vice versa. But, by keeping them separate, you can find that you feel less stress. That you can be more productive at work. And that you’re able to focus on what matters most when you’re not working. It may not always feel easy to separate the two, but making an effort to do so can deliver plenty of benefits to your life as a whole. Continue reading below to learn how to separate your work and home lives.
For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection
Seek Support for Any Issues
When you have personal issues, it can be hard to concentrate on your work. Similarly, when something stressful is happening at work, it can affect your home life. When you’re having any kind of issue, seeking the right support can help to make it easier to deal with. More and more companies are offering the services of workplace chaplains to provide support for their employees’ health and well-being. In your personal life, you might reach out to friends, family, or a professional, such as a therapist or pastor. You can get support from many different places to help you deal with all kinds of issues.
Physically Separate Work and Home
Creating a physical separation between your work and home life can also help you to be healthier when you’re working from home. It makes it easier to put work away at the end of the day and come back to it when you’re ready. Having a separate workspace is useful but it’s not the only thing that you can do. You can also make sure you limit your work to certain devices. Don’t set up your work email on your personal devices if you want to make sure they don’t interrupt you at inconvenient times.
Take a Step Back from Coworkers
Spending all day in communication with your coworkers can wear you down. It can even feel different from being in an office because you’re constantly receiving emails and messages or getting on a call for a meeting. If it’s too much, taking a step back from communicating with them all the time can benefit you. The first thing to do is ensure they’re not contacting you outside of your work hours. You can also try to reduce the number of meetings you have and even let your coworkers know when the best time to get in touch is.
Get Away from Home
If you can, getting out of the house can really help you. For anyone who doesn’t need to be at home, finding somewhere else to work is a good way to separate your work from home. But if you need to stay home, you might be able to find opportunities to take breaks and get outside or to do things outside of your home when you’ve finished working.
Separating your work and home life helps you to manage both parts of your life in a healthier way.
For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection
It’s Time To Clean Up Your Computer: Tips To Get It Done Efficiently
Owning a computer is a necessity in this day and age. Your computer is where you live in the digital world. You likely conduct a large portion of your socialization, household management, and work via your personal computer. As you are so reliant on this ubiquitous piece of technology, you need to ensure that it will continue working well for you. Here are some tips on how to clean up your computer with ease.
For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection
Make More Space on the Computer
Is your computer running out of space? If you rely on your computer to store personal documents, work files, and creations or photographs then you need more space. When you have additional space on a computer, you obviously have more room to store essential items. In addition, a computer that is not filled to capacity with excessive files will run quicker and more efficiently.
Get the job done right the first time by utilizing the storage tab to clear out space and clean things up on your computer. When you prioritize the efficiency of your workhorse of a computer, you ensure it will run well when you need it to.
[Read: 9 Ways to Be More Productive While Working From Home]
Physically Clean the Computer
Simply by using your computer, it will get dirty. Between fingerprints, daily dust that floats through the air, food crumbs, and animal hair, your computer’s components will need a physical cleaning from time to time.
Use caution when caring for and cleaning any technological device. Use water sparingly, if at all. If you need to use liquid, apply it directly to a lint-free microfiber cloth and not on the computer itself. Make sure you only use lint-free fabrics as ones prone to leaving particles behind will add more dust and debris to your computer instead of removing it.
Watch this video for guidance on how to easily clean your laptop.
Backup Your Files
You have multiple important files floating around on your computer. If you lost them, it would be a problem to try and recover them. Instead of worrying about what could happen, back them up.
Backing up files is a seamless task when you use an external hard drive. Select one that has a sufficient amount of space for your current and anticipated future storage needs. Another option is to use a cloud service to house your valuable files. With a cloud backup, your essential information is secure in an online environment.
While you are working on your myriad files, remember to secure your pictures, too. Pictures are notorious for taking up too much space on your computer and increasing lag time. They are precious memories that can never be replaced. In addition to removing them from your computer to increase performance, you should back them up for posterity.
Conclusion for Cleaning Up Your Computer
You rely on your computer for so many essential (and entertaining) activities. It must function properly whenever you need to use it. Make it a priority to learn some new skills and clean your computer today. You will be so glad you took the time to take care of everything the next time you log on.
For more on this topic, check out the full Work Life Balance collection