Tag Archives: fyi

Dec6

Knowing What To Do When Things Go Wrong Is Key To Getting Through Disaster

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Knowing What To Do When Things Go Wrong Is Key To Getting Through Disaster

It can sometimes feel as though disaster is waiting around the corner – there are so many things that can go wrong. Don’t let that stop you living life to the fullest, though! The trick to dealing with disaster is knowing what to do when it strikes. Considering what could go wrong and what to do if it happens will allow you to breathe easy. Planning will enable you to know that you can cope, no matter what happens. We’re going to look at a few things that could go wrong and how to deal with them!

Home Disasters: When things go wrong in the home, it can seem like a huge setback. We spend so much time getting our homes perfect, and when things go wrong, it comes as a massive blow. Get to grips with the kinds of problems you could face and how to deal with them. The faster you can get your home back to normal, the quicker you’ll be able to move on.

Plumbing problems are one of the more pressing household issues. Knowing your local plumbers and what their numbers are will save you hassle should anything happen. Plumbers, such as http://www.plumberannandale.com.au, will normally come out on the same day. There’s no need to panic if you know the problem can be fixed straight away. You’ll also have to deal with electrical problems and external damage disasters. Find a number for every eventuality and keep the emergency list in a safe place, just in case you need it one day.

Health Disasters: Our health can go wrong, as well as our homes. Health emergencies are never nice, but finding yourself unprepared will make matters worse. You don’t need a list of emergency numbers here, though it might be worth writing down the number for your doctor’s office. Some medical emergencies aren’t so pressing as to need an ambulance. If there are no appointments at your doctor’s, sites like www.findadoctor.com can help you find an alternative. If the emergency does warrant an ambulance, don’t hesitate to dial 911. Placing your health insurance details somewhere close at hand can save time in an emergency. You don’t want to have to rummage around for them if there’s a health problem taking place!

Financial Loss: Financial loss is yet another emergency many of us have to face through our lives. This can come about for a variety of reasons, but it’s never pleasant. Theft or sudden loss of a job can leave you feeling as though there’s no hope for the future. But the trick when it comes to financial loss is looking to the future. This is the only way to move forward. You can protect yourself from theft by taking security measures and taking out insurance. Getting an insurance payout doesn’t undo the damage, but it will help ease any financial burden caused. If you’ve lost your job, focus on finding another one. It’s also always worth setting money aside so you have a rainy day fund of sorts.

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Nov25

Don’t Make These Common Errors With Your Heating System This Winter

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At this time of the year, it’s vital to switch on your heating system. After all, the weather is freezing so you need it on to ensure that your family stays nice and toasty. However, a lot of people make errors when it comes to their heating system and they pay the price when their bill arrives. Here are some common errors people make with their heating system so that you can avoid them!

Not Getting it Checked out Before Switching it on: It’s easy to turn on your heating system and then walk away without a second’s thought. But do you know if your system is working efficiently? Before you switch on your heater, you need to make sure you get the heating system checked out by a professional. They will check for any problems and will make sure that you won’t end up with a high bill. Also, in between maintenance appointments, make sure you are changing your air filter which can become clogged up with dust over time which restricts the airflow. And as this feature explains, the longer it goes on, it will be harder to keep your home at the right temperature.

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Setting it to High All Day Long: A lot of people switch their heating system on high during the winter due to the freezing weather. But if you do this, you will end up with an expensive bill. Make sure you get a thermostat installed which will let you adjust the heating during the day. That way, it can be on low when your family is outside of the home. It will stop you from having to set it to high for the whole day. And remember, putting it on high won’t make the furnace heat your home any quicker so be patient with your heating system!

Not Replacing it When Necessary: You need to make sure that you are replacing your old heating system when it’s past its sell-by date. Furnaces tend to last around 18 years, but if you are noticing problems, it might be time to get a new one. Safety for your family is paramount in this situation. You can find lots of information online about new systems available such as on furnaceprices.ca. There are even some great high-tech options which would be perfect for your family!

Another thing to note is the importance of replacing the heating oil when necessary to avoid not having heat on a cold winter’s day. You can save yourself a lot of hassle in this regard when you look into the auto delivery benefits of getting oil bought right to your door once a month (or whenever you may require it).

Not Making Sure the Doors and Windows are Air Sealed: It can be frustrating when your home seems to be freezing even though your heating is on. But rather than turning the heating higher (it will cost a fortune), you should ensure that your doors and windows are properly sealed. That way, no air is escaping during the winter months. You can buy some excellent sealing products from hardware stores. And remember to keep doors closed while the heating is on to retain the temperature. Just don’t forget to keep hoovering as well-sealed doors and windows can cause the air to go stale. As I said before, during this time, you might find more dust in your home.

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***AND: Remember to get a good carbon monoxide alarm put next to your furnace. That way, it will alert you if there is an issue!

Nov15

The Top Ways Your Smartphone Could Be Entertaining You

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The Top Ways Your Smartphone Could Be Entertaining You

Almost everyone has a mobile phone these days. And of the people who have them, a smartphone is the popular choice. While some people choose simpler phones or don’t have one at all, smartphones are taking over. Many people who own a smartphone don’t use it to make calls too often. They might text and message on it as their main methods of communication. They also use it as a media center, from internet use to listening to music. Even if you use your phone every day, you might not be making the most of it. There are some great ways that it can entertain you and you might not even be using them.

Play Games: Playing games on smartphones is something people have been doing for a while now. Some of the most popular ones include Angry Birds or Candy Crush Saga. However, playing games on your smartphone doesn’t have to involve only small apps like these. With many smartphones, you can play games that are more sophisticated. If you want to play games on a smartphone, one with a larger screen will serve you well. You get a better picture, and it will be easier to control. You can also use your smartphone alongside your computer or console, such as with FIFA 17.

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Watch Movies: Many people are moving away from the traditional model of having a television with aerial, cable, or satellite reception. Fewer people own DVD players or similar machines, too. It has become more common to stream movies or to download them to either a storage device or the cloud. Smartphones are excellent for watching movies. You can use them to store them or find apps that allow you to stream them. There are some great apps that offer free movies for Android. With some of them, you can hook them up to Chromecast and similar devices to put them on a larger screen. You can also use your smartphone with a projector.

Learn New Skills: Smartphones don’t have to be all about passive entertainment. You can also engage in some apps that will improve your education. For example, you might want to learn a new language. There are lots of apps that you can choose from, several of which gamify the process of learning. Apps like Duolingo can help you to learn the fundamentals of a language, although you still have to use other materials.

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Be Your Music Library: Your phone can make a great music library, too. Many people don’t bother having a separate media player anymore. They can just put their music on their phone. And it’s easy to hook it up to speakers. You can put your phone in a speaker dock, use Bluetooth, or use Apple AirPlay to play music from your phone. The music doesn’t need to be on your phone, either. You can just use it to stream, assuming you have a decent internet connection.

Your phone could be much more useful than it currently is. Make sure you use it to its full potential to get your money’s worth.

Featured Image By: Public Domain Pictures

Nov14

Why Your Smartphone Could Be Damaging Your Health

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Why Your Smartphone Could Be Damaging Your Health

It’s becoming hard to imagine a time when we didn’t have smartphones. Despite their small size, these devices have become something we cannot leave the house without. They provide us with entertainment, help us stay connected, and give us the ability to capture the world around us. But despite all of the benefits they can give to us, there is a downside to using a smartphone regularly. As our dependence on them has increased, so have the amount of smartphone-related health conditions. While they might not sound severe, they can be extremely damaging to your health. Read through these health issues which can be a result of using your phone too much.

Insufficient sleep: Sleep helps our bodies to repair and regenerate at the end of each day. This allows it to function correctly while also giving us the energy we need for the following day. However, smartphones can prevent many of us from getting the vital sleep our bodies need. The light on your phone screen can trick your body into thinking it is daytime. This can prevent you from feeling tired while also encouraging you to stay up later. It can also disrupt your body’s production of the hormone melatonin which tells your body when it’s time to sleep. To increase the amount of sleep you get each night, keep your smartphone away from your bedroom or shut it off at a certain time each evening to prevent those late night Facebook binges.

Repetitive Strain Injury: Repetitive strain injuries, otherwise known as RSI, is a health condition that has seen a significant increase in recent years. It causes pain and even numbing in the hands, wrists, and arms. It is caused by doing the same task continually over a prolonged period of time. Medical experts believe that texting on a smartphone is the reason why many people have developed this condition. If left to progress, this condition can intensify and could result in a disability. You might need to wear compression gloves, take medication, or need specialist massages to help you manage your symptoms. The best way to reduce your chance of developing an RSI is by reducing the amount of texting that you do on a daily basis.

Depression: Recent studies have found that spending too much time on your phone can increase your chances of developing depression and anxiety. Being constantly connected can make you overly reliant on the comments and status updates of your friends and family. When you don’t get a response straight away, this can cause you to feel anxious and question your relationships. Spending every spare moment on your phone can make it harder to care for your mental health. You don’t have time to cook healthy meals, exercise, or see friends in person because you’re permanently attached to your handset. To reduce the risk of your developing depression and anxiety, you need to decrease your usage immediately.

Each of these conditions can progress and become more severe. While you might not want to give up using your smartphone altogether, make an effort to reduce how often you use it so you can remain both healthy and connected.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov10

Invisible Health Conditions And How to Manage Them

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Invisible Health Conditions And How to Manage Them

Some painful health conditions are very visible. Joints swell, rashes appear, and people visibly look unwell. But not all condition manifest in this way. There are a lot of silent or invisible conditions that can make your feel awful yet have no outside symptoms to show others that you are unwell.

Dealing with these conditions can provide an additional strain apart from the issue itself. This strain is that others around us cannot tell that we are suffering, so their expectation of us are likely to be higher. This can lead to a lack of sympathy or even discrimination. That is why it’s important to know about these type of conditions and how to deal with them.

Depression: Depression is a tough thing to go through. It can feel like everything is hopeless and there is nothing left to live for. It can make getting out of bed in the morning one of the most challenging things, let alone getting dressed or getting to work.

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Choose Hope!

One of the problems with depression is that it is an invisible illness. That means that unless someone tells you that they are depressed, you wouldn’t necessarily know. This can be a real problem in society today because there is so much pressure on people to be positive in school or in the workplace. This results in people putting on a mask, which is doubly difficult if you are depressed because it takes up your depleted store of energy.

If you or someone you love is depressed, then it is important to get help. Depression isn’t something that has to be put up with. In fact, there are a lot of things that you can do to alleviate the suffering such as therapy or medications. Of course, a multifaceted approach to treating depression is always best and scheduling an appointment with a therapist San Antonio (or your local area) is a great place to start. You can seek or offer support to those considering therapy by researching a good fit for a therapist together. It’s a small and simple way to show that you care and are there for them. If you are concerned that someone in your life is suicidal, there are also prevention helplines to call.

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Back Pain: Back pain is another invisible illness. Unless it is so bad that it is changing the way that you walk, it can be pretty hard for people to tell if you are suffering from this problem. Back pain is bad because it can be hard to get comfortable in any position. This can make getting on with your day to day life very problematic. There are different types of back pain that are common such as lower back pain, upper back pain, and sciatica. Each one has a range of different treatments that you can do to help relieve some of the discomfort. For example, for things like lower back pain you can try manual spine manipulation. Chiropractors are well versed in relieving pain and it could be a good option to visit one to improve yours. You will be amazed at the difference it can make after a few appointments. Simply enter a search for “alternative chiropractic center denver” (or your local area) to find a well reviewed practitioner near you. Be sure to seek recommendations from friends and family too.

For sciatica, some people rely on a heating pad and others try things such as yoga. Sometimes back pain is caused due to injury of the spinal cord itself. If you are having prolonged pain with no relief, it is a good idea to see a specialist. Surgery like the ones offered at Deuk Laser Disc Repair (or a similar practice in your local area) might be recommended. Living life pain free will have you feeling like a brand new person!

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Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition with no visible symptoms. That means it can get a bit better or worse at any time but will never go away completely. It causes pain all over the body and can also be linked to conditions like IBS, sleep problems,and an increased sensitivity to pain.

Fibromyalgia is usually diagnosed as a result of ruling other conditions out. If you experience muscle weakness and pain across different sites in the body, it is worth asking for a doctor’s opinion on what it could be so that you can get the right treatment.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov1

Real Home Security Is About Combining These Four Strategies

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Real Home Security Is About Combining These Four Strategies

Home security is on the minds of a lot of people these days. We feel like we’re living in more dangerous times. Home invasions, particularly when a home is empty, are one of the more prevalent crimes, too. We want to keep our homes and our things as safe as they can be. But we can’t all afford a panic room. The answer isn’t all that expensive. It’s all about combining the following four strategies.

Deterrence: The truth is that most criminals are cowards. They don’t get into the business because they’re brave, but because they have few scruples. If they sense a risk, they’re likely to move on to an easier target. So you need to make sure you don’t look like an easy target. Instead, make it clear that no-one’s getting away unscathed. Setting up CCTV cameras that are visible and secure is one of the best ways of doing that. Some even set up fake CCTV cameras, but these have obvious flaws.

Alarm: The right tech is also going to make sure that your home remains vulnerable for as little time as possible. With tools like Vivint Home Security, you can do more than sound the alarm in the vicinity of your home. Smart home security systems might be more expensive than the run-of-the-mill ones. But that’s because they’re set up with operators on the other side. Operators who can get in touch with you and the authorities all the quicker to make sure the danger is gone as soon as possible.

An alarm is such a critical part of home security and is one of those things that you should have regardless of how much you hope it never needs to be used. Just the sound of the alarm can send burglars running and quick access to local law enforcement is paramount. To set up a consultation for a new or improved alarm system, simply enter a search for “home security experts in Salt Lake City” (or your local area). The peace of mind alone is going to be well worth it.

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Reinforcement: Making it harder to get any worth from your home is going to make your home a lot harder to rob, as well. Reinforcing all your entrances and exits is a start. Most important is the lock reinforcement. When breaking into a home, breaking the lock is how people will try if they’re looking to ‘brute force’ it. You should also be making your valuables harder to get, too. Whether it’s by hiding them in smart spots around the home or putting them in a safe. Even if they do break in, then, you won’t be losing anything too valuable to them.

Awareness: Information is just as important a part of keeping safe as anything else. If you’re in a new neighborhood, get to know everyone around you. Naturally, most of them aren’t going to be the criminals. It’s likely to be people from other areas. But if people know you, they’re more likely to keep an eye out for you. They’ll quickly recognize when someone who shouldn’t be at your home is there. Similarly, you can ask them to keep an eye out when you’re out of the home or on holiday. Similarly, let the police know when you’re on holiday, too. Trustworthy neighbors can be a huge help in home security.

Keep your home secure. Deter the bad guys. Reinforce and keep safe your home and valuables. Use modern tech to sound the alarm. Know the power of information. We hope the tips above on those four strategies help you feel a little safer in your own home.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Oct31

The Great Escape: Pretty Expensive Panic Rooms

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The Great Escape: Pretty Expensive Panic Rooms

This is straight out of The Purge! Best believe I would want a panic room in that situation! 😉

The Great Escape: Pretty Expensive Panic Rooms

Home security and safety is a cause of concern for all of us. There are petty thieves out there who will jump on any opportunity to steal someone else’s things. There are also smart criminals out there who play the long game and know exactly when and where to pounce.

The best ways we can protect our home and deter criminals is with the use of a CCTV camera, security lights, and home alarms. But what about those billionaires out there who have sparkling diamonds and billions of dollars to protect? Well, you’d be surprised at how many of their magnificent mansions have secret panic rooms in preparation for a great escape. Curious to find out more? Read on to discover just how tight security measures can get.

What Is A Panic Room? Those that are the super wealthy among us demand tighter and better security options at every turn. And a panic room is one of those features that all millionaire’s mansions should have. A panic room is basically a safety bunker hidden behind a secret door in a home. It’s somewhere you would run to for safety if people are invading your home. This is why they are so appealing to the ultra high net worth individual and many a celebrity. Panic rooms are hidden behind bookcases, painting, wardrobes, mirrors, and more. This is nothing brand new – even medieval lords had safe rooms created in case they were under siege.

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Why Are They Useful? To the regular person, having a panic room may seem a little paranoid. But for those who are very wealthy or in the public eye, they offer added security and peace of mind. Secret chambers contain communication systems as well, so that once you bolt the door shut you can contact the emergency services. Does it all sound a little bit James Bond? Well, as we advance more and more with technology, it’s likely that they will become increasingly more common in homes. For the truly paranoid you can also add in smoke systems and have switches to lock down the entrance of your panic room with a reinforced door.

High Tech Panic Rooms: These billionaire bunkers are getting more and more high-tech as new technology comes on the market. The really high tech ones come with reinforced materials, sound-proofing, and gas masks and potassium iodine tablets in them in the case of nuclear or biological attacks. Panic rooms are also used if there is the threat of hurricanes or tornadoes. They may also contain weapons, surveillance cameras, and a fully stocked fridge.

Many panic rooms are there to hide expensive goods, rather than people. So they are like a big luxury safe. The wealthy among us may be trying to protect expensive art, opulent diamonds, or rare antique books. Those who work in secret services may be protecting computer hard drives and other information. And because keys could be misplaced or lost, panic rooms instead have interior deadbolts or retinal or fingerprint scanning as a safety precaution. All sounds a bit crazy? You probably wouldn’t think so if you had millions of dollars to protect!

Personally, my closet is getting a little too claustrophobic when I need some alone time so a panic room sounds just right! 😀

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Oct27

Moving To A House In The Middle Of Nowhere: Everything You Need To Consider

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Moving To A House In The Middle Of Nowhere: Everything You Need To Consider

There are a lot of draws for families when looking at a house which is in the middle of nowhere. For one thing, you are more likely to have a lot of land which is perfect for children. You could even create a den in the garden for somewhere to escape to in the evenings! And you don’t have to worry about annoying neighbors and the trouble they may cause. After all, you might be miles away from another property. However, before you make an offer, here is everything you need to consider about buying a house in the middle of nowhere.

Will it Take Forever to Get to Work? It’s so important to work out how far away your new property is from the primary locations you go to every day. One of the top ones is yours and your partner’s workplace. You don’t want to be miles away from work if you buy the new house. So work out the route and decide if it’s too far before you make an offer on the property. Also, you should be thinking about future possibilities when you move into a new home. You still want to be close to a city or town where you can go to work if you ever need a new job. As well as your workplace, you should consider how far away schools, doctors, and shops are from the house before making a purchase.

What Will Happen in an Emergency? If you have an emergency, you want to be able to get in touch with a contractor to come and help you as soon as possible. For example, if the power goes off after a storm, you need to be able to get someone to help quickly. You might want to look into local companies and ask them if they would make the distance in the emergency. If you do go ahead and buy the home, make sure you have all the resources you need in case someone can’t get to you straight away. For example, you might want to look into a backup energy generator to give you power until someone can come out. You can look online for diesel generator suppliers in your area. And also stock up on candles so that you can light your path in an emergency!

How Will You Keep Your Family Safe? Although there are lower crime rates if you live in the middle of nowhere, you still need to consider if it’s a safe place for your family. It might take ages for the police to get to your home in an emergency. You should make sure that if you do buy the property, you install a burglar alarm and CCTV at your home. You can even get the alarm connected to the police so that it alerts them if there is an issue!

Remember to consider the weather when deciding if you want a house in the middle of nowhere. After all, if there is snow, nobody might come down your road to salt it for you so that you can drive safely. Therefore, if you do make the purchase, make sure you plan ahead for all of the elements you may face!

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Oct26

Stop Your Phobias Taking Over Your Life With These Must-Know Tips

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Stop Your Phobias Taking Over Your Life With These Must-Know Tips:

Nearly every single one of us has some type of phobia. The severity of these can vary, as can their impact on your life. For example, a fear of spiders (arachnophobia) is much more likely to affect your daily life than a fear of clowns (coulrophobia) – simply because we see more spiders than we see clowns. It is difficult to pinpoint the origin of most people’s phobias seeing as a phobia itself is an irrational fear. This means that there is no specific root cause behind such a fear.

However, some studies have been performed which appear to show a link between traumatic events (mainly childhood ones) and irrational phobias. Plus, some experts have also claimed that phobias could be due to our genes. Wherever they come from, they can be debilitating and can cause the individual a lot of anxiety. This is especially true if you have a phobia of something that could potentially save your life. Read on to identify some of the most common medical phobias and what you can do to beat yours.

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Needles: A fear of needles is a very common phobia in young people and adults alike. It is known as trypanophobia and is said to affect up to 10% of the population. Of course, no one really enjoys having an injection or getting their blood tested. But it is when this fear puts the patient’s life at risk that there is a cause for concern. You may need to receive an injection of medicine or maybe you need to give blood to help someone else. Whatever the situation, we all face needles at some point in our lives, so overcoming your phobia is essential. Cognitive behavioral therapy is commonly used for overcoming this kind of fear, and there are other things you can do yourself too. Explain to your nurse that you are nervous and make sure to reward yourself after your injection.

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The Dentist: Dental phobias are also very common. This can be the fear of undergoing a painful examination or the sounds and smells may bring back bad childhood memories. Whatever it is, you will be relieved to know that most dentists understand their patient’s fears and will do everything in their power to make your visit as easy as possible for you. Getting over your fear of the dentist is important as there may come a time in your life when you need emergency dental care. In order to relax more during your appointment, talk to your dentist prior about having a signal you make with your hand that shows them you need a break. Taking a friend with you or listening to relaxing music during the procedure can also help to ease your fear.

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Flying: Despite it being statistically the safest way to travel, around 20 million people in America suffer from a severe fear of flying. Many of us naturally get nervous if flying through bad weather or if there is turbulence on our flight but a true phobia of aviation can be crippling. If your fear of flying has started to have a negative impact on your life, there are things that you can do to ease your anxiety. Fear breeds on ignorance, so familiarize yourself with just how safe planes are and how they work. Speaking to your pilot before taking off, if possible, can also help you relax. Always try to travel with someone you know and trust and let them know what your triggers are so they know how to calm you down.

What are some of your phobias? What are some of your tips to overcoming a phobia? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct24

Monday Update: Lil Red Edition

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Monday Update: Lil Red Edition

Howdy! I feel like I haven’t updated you guys too much lately on what is going on in the world of Lil Red and let me tell you – my life is a doozey! I have eight weeks left until I graduate from Cuyahoga Community College with my Associate of Arts degree. My full time course load is in combination with three jobs, volunteering for Canine Lifeline, coaching figure skating for the Special Olympics, and still having some semblance of a social life. All the while, I am planning my trip to Europe for the spring of 2017. Holy moly!!

To say that I am ready to graduate is an understatement. Without constant homework, I would still be doing a lot but to add it on top of everything else is getting to be a bit much, to say the least! Naturally, during the home stretch, all I can think of is wanting to do anything but school work! And, of course I had to put off my hardest classes until my very last semester because would I even be a college kid if I didn’t? Sigh.

Every single day for the past eight weeks has brought about new challenges and these following eight weeks are really going to be testing me. I just have to keep thinking about the end goal which is a nice little diploma with my name on it! College life is hard. Work life is hard. And you know what? Right now, life in general is just hard. What I could really use is a nice, long vacation. But, for now, that will be limited to this twenty minute blogging break instead!

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^^^ The face of a burnt out college kid. -_-

As you can tell by this Monday Update: Lil Red Edition, I am in the midst of some trying times! So I need all of you to leave me some suggestions on how you deal with your life when everything starts too feel like a bit “too much”. What are some of your best time management tricks? How do you work in time to relax during a jam packed day? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah