Be Ready In An Emergency

It’s always a good idea to have an emergency preparedness kit ready to grab at a moment’s notice. Some items are standard, regardless of who you are or where you live, such as a flashlight, first aid kit, and multi-purpose tool. Consider the specific needs of those in your family and geographical location as well. Find pre-made lists and help in building an emergency kit at ready.gov/kit and redcross.org.

Get Ready For Exercise or Sports

Here are tips to avoid getting hurt when exercising or playing sports: • • Have A Fitness Test: A visit to your doctor is important if you are starting a new exercise program. Your doctor may find an undiagnosed heart condition or other disease that will require workout modifications. • Know Your Body: It sounds basic, but many fail to make adjustments to account for known body weaknesses. For example, if you have knee problems you may want to try a stationary bike instead of a treadmill. • Wear Proper Attire: Wear proper shoes that fit and grip the ground to avoid slipping or tripping. Workout clothes that keep you warm but not hot are best to avoid getting overheated and passing out. • Act Your Age: When you get excited about a new workout or sport, you can do too much, too quickly and push yourself too long. Work with a trainer, and make sure you’re using the correct technique. • Feed Your Muscles And Hydrate Your Body: A high protein meal one hour before your workout will give you the fuel you need to keep going. Thirty minutes before you exercise, drink about 16 ounces of water. Drink more water during your workout to replace the fluids you’re losing. • Know The Injury Warning Signs: If you have any of the following for more than 48 hours, see a physician: joint pain (including swelling, redness and heat), reduced range of motion, or numbness, and tingling.

Long Commute

The average commute to work is around 25 minutes long. Get the most out of yours.  Experiment with the route. Leave 10 minutes earlier or later to see if the traffic patterns change.  Get the most bang for your buck. Do the math and find out if it makes sense to drive or take public transportation – or even a combination of the two.  Make it fun. Listen to an audiobook or podcast, or find a friend to share the ride.

West Seattle Golf Course

I first played West Seattle in 1984 when I was a freshman at Nathan Hale HS. Back when I was young, they still had concrete pads with cutup tires for tee boxes. Back then condition at any of the city courses were suspect. If you go for a round today you will be very impressed! They keep the course in outstanding condition all year but by late spring it is ready to host a major tournament! The greens and fairways are super lush and healthy. The layout is one of my favorites because you rarely get a flat lie so you need to be able to hit a wide variety of shots so you never get bored. You better keep the ball below the hole too; they have some of the steepest greens that will test your skills and patience. It is even possible to putt off a couple of the greens when they have front pins…like 16 which I have done before. Golf season is finally here, so go play WSGC!! 206-935-5187

Adult Siblings

If you have siblings, count yourself lucky. These relationships are the longest-lasting family ties you’ll have. This can be tough for those who had rough sibling relationships growing up, but a recent study found two-thirds of people said a brother or sister was one of their best friends. It’s never too late to turn that special family relationship into one of your most treasured, especially around the holidays. People spend lots of effort improving friendships and romantic relationships, but a brother or sister may outlast all of those relationships. Don’t take a sibling relationship for granted. Research by West Virginia University shows people are more verbally aggressive with siblings than anyone else. Being aware of this and actively offering affectionate support goes a long way to strengthen familial ties. Also, don’t compare your sibling relationships with those of other people. These are your unique relationships, so shake off expectations. Siblings may not unconditionally confide in or spend every holiday with you, and that’s okay. Instead, enjoy the time spent together and conversations you do have. Focus on the good instead of what could be!

Life Skills

Teaching kids how to approach and solve life’s challenges is one of the biggest jobs parents face. Here are a few tips to help your children (or grandchildren) grow into self-sufficient and responsible adults: • Teach Kids To Look For Solutions. When kids are faced with a problem, have them identify several options and solutions. Then you can help them choose which solution works best. • Teach Kids Responsibility: Let kids know they are responsible for their actions. They have to do their homework, but you can offer them two “positive choice” options: Do you want to do it in 15 minutes or 30 minutes? Teach them how to organize, and give them the tools to stay organized (calendar, palm pilot, notebook). • Teach Kids How To Make Good Choices. Giving kids choices empowers them to make their own decisions. Have them weigh the pros and cons of their choice, and let them make the decisions. • Teach Kids How To Deal with Failure. Teach your children that failure is not personal, permanent, or pervasive (i.e. losing a soccer game doesn’t mean you’re bad at other things as well). Developing a positive explanatory style early in life will help your children live a happier, healthier and more successful adult life.

Keeping The Kitchen Organized

From that first bowl of cereal to the final midnight snack, kitchens are among the most used rooms in the house. Organize it now to make it easy to get around and find what you need later.  Separate dedicated areas. Keep areas for prepping, cooking, and storing food, and then keep similar items – such as baking equipment – together within each of these places.  Store items in clear containers. Small items like tea bags and gravy mixes should be stored with like items in a storage unit that can be easily identified with a quick peek.  Invest in risers and drawer dividers. It’s much easier to access cookware and dishes in cabinets if they’re sorted and stacked on risers. Ditto for small items separated using drawer dividers.  Think seasonally. If you don’t use that crock pot in the summer or the ice tea container in the winter, tuck them out of sight and out of mind until the proper season rolls back around.  Look for a lazy Susan. On countertops, they can be used for oils, spices, and other ingredients you might need at a moment’s notice. And in the pantry, use them to store cans, jars, and condiments.

Key To A Longer Life

According to Harvard’s School of Public Health, men who have lots of friends, social contacts, and relatives live longer, more satisfying lives. In a study of 28,000 men in their early 40s to late 70s, researchers found that men who were socially isolated loners were 20 percent more likely to die prematurely. The socially isolated group also was 53 percent more likely to die from heart related diseases and stroke. Unmarried men included in the study had markedly higher death rates than married men with a strong family support system did. It appears that making friends and nurturing social relationships not only will make you healthier, but it could make you a lot happier too!

Emails - Make the Most of Them

Estimates are that 269 billion emails are sent every day worldwide, many by professionals in a working environment. While you may know proper email etiquette, follow these tips to make sure your business emails aren’t deleted.  Use a concise, compelling subject line. “More information” and “new program” only ask the recipient to say “about what?” Better to say “Action Items On Project XYZ.” Say “urgent” if necessary.  Don’t use long lists of email addresses if the subject only pertains to some of them. Type the relevant addresses into the address line ("To" line) and use the BCC line for the others.  Keep your message to the point. Say why you’re writing within the first two lines and try to limit yourself to one topic. Using bullet points helps you organize your thoughts. Re-read or print your email out (if you have time) before you send it.  Be careful with humor and irony. Emails aren’t good at conveying emotions, and humor, inside jokes or over-used phrases don’t really build a dynamic business relationship. Avoid phrases like “can I pick your brain” (what are you offering in return?); or “please advise” (better to say “can we discuss this further?”).  Respect confidentiality. Should everyone read this?  As a recipient, do not “reply all” unless everyone needs to know. You know this but people still do it, sometimes accidentally.  Respond promptly. Don’t leave people hanging. Include your signature and phone number for follow-up.

How To Enjoy Your Own Company

Although the idea of “me time” has become more popular, there are people who equate being alone with loneliness—and no one wants that. Solitude can seem hard to find if you live in a busy city or a crowded house, but intentionally carving out time for yourself can have positive mental and physical health benefits. If, that is, you embrace being alone. Experts say that if being alone is your choice, you’re much more likely to enjoy the solitude and less likely to succumb to loneliness. But this doesn’t mean you have to become a hermit to be happy alone. It means you’re able to find happiness in solo pursuits of your choosing— exercising, birdwatching, creating art, or even working. If you struggle to do something you love when you’re alone, you may want to try an activity that boosts endorphin levels. After all, if you’re getting a happiness high from the activity, you’re more apt to do it again. Physical activity like gardening or beachcombing can work here (you don’t have to go to the gym to be physical), but you can also do volunteer work. Studies show volunteering makes people feel more fulfilled, and solo volunteer work may even be something you can do from home—think preparing meals for houseless people or making hats for preemie babies. The Japanese practice of “forest bathing” is a poetic term for something research has shown time and again: Spending time in nature is very good for us. Taking a solo hike in the woods is great, but movement isn’t necessary. You could knit in the park on your lunch break or watch flickers dig for ants in the backyard. It can also be a meditative experience, immersing yourself in the natural environment to allow you to take it in with all of your senses. Treat yourself to something special that you usually need company to justify, like dinner at a fancy restaurant or a ticket to the opera. And this doesn’t need to be expensive or even outside the home. You could cook a favorite meal, for instance, served on your good dishes. You don’t have to skimp on things you’d enjoy just because you’re flying solo.

Too Much Water

Drinking enough water to keep your body hydrated is essential for health, but too much can make you sick if your body can’t process all the fluid. Here’s a quick guide to know you’re drinking the right amount: • You’re drinking enough water if your urine is light-colored and you rarely feel thirsty – doctors say you should expel about 6.3 or more cups per day. • If you’re exercising, try to drink before and during exertion so you don’t drink too much at once. Too much fluid too quickly can deplete your body’s salt levels. A sports drink with electrolytes can help replenish the lost salts, but the real danger is too much water. Drink only when you feel thirsty. • More than one liter of water an hour is too much for most people. You can buy a liter water bottle and keep that with you during the day to better monitor your water intake.

Deal With Unlikeable People

Despite your best intentions to get along with the people you meet, occasionally you’ll encounter someone you simply do not like. If this happens to you, here are a few tips on how to proceed with tact.  Focus on the positive. Even though this person has habits or characteristics that drive you crazy, don’t focus too much on these negative attributes. Try to find something positive to focus on instead. Though this might be difficult, it will likely help you tolerate this person a bit better.  Be kind. It’s true what they say: Act the way you would like to be treated. You don’t need to go out of your way to be friends with an unlikeable person, but at least be nice. If you are polite and kind to him, perhaps his actions will eventually reflect yours. Also, don’t talk badly about him behind his back. Try to be truly kind. This is to help you stay positive and perhaps let go of the negative feelings completely. Love your neighbor as yourself!

Depression

Depression isn’t talked about often, but about 7% of adults in the United States (nearly 16 million people) have shown signs of being depressed in the past year. If you know someone who shows signs of depression, here are four tips to help your friend or loved one: 1. Recognize symptoms. Common signs include lack of interest in things the person used to enjoy, problems with sleeping, showing feelings of hopelessness, and withdrawal from daily activities and conversations. 2. Listen. Do not deny what the person has to say. Instead, validate their feelings. Keep in mind that speech may be slow and less coherent, so be patient. 3. Encourage them to find help. You can provide support and listen to their concerns, but a trained professional should assist with long-term care. Offer to help find information for mental health resources or make an appointment, if necessary. 4. Enlist help from others. If they are resistant, talk to other important people in their lives (such as family, clergy, or healthcare professionals) to ensure they get the help they need.

Fall Festivals in Washington State

Are you looking for something fun to do this fall? We have some great options around here. Consider taking a 3-day weekend and enjoy! • One Sky, One World Kite Festival – Long Beach. Let’s go fly a kite, nothing could be more fun on a windy day on the beach. Since 1986 thousands of people have attended. October 14th-15th • Fresh Hop Ale Festival - Yakima. Of course, it will be sunny and warm in early October, and it is THE must attend event for beer lovers. 70% of the world’s hops are grown in Yakima. October 7th -8th • OysterFest – Port of Shelton. If you’re hosting an out-of-town guest and want to show off our amazing fresh oysters, be sure to check this out! Entering its 41st year and crowning a shucking champion it will be a fun event! Aw Shucks – October 6th-8th • Oktoberfest - Leavenworth. No one knows more about hosting a truly memorable Octoberfest than the German themed town in the Cascade Mountains. The flower baskets will still be in full bloom and there is a ton of great lodging options and fun activities for the whole family. Three Weekends – Sept 29th-30th – Oct 6th-7th and 13th-14th

Charisma Boost

1. Be confident. When introducing yourself say your name and then tell something about yourself. This helps to draw a question from the other person, and can lead the person into a conversation with you. 2. Walk with purpose. Pause before entering a room and project confidence as you walk into the room. 3. Use the double hand shake. When you shake someone’s hand, use the two-handed grasp. While shaking with right hand, your left hand grasps the person’s arm at or below the elbow. 4. Focus on your goal. Charismatic people know what they want and are passionate about it. Focus on what you want and how to get there. 5. Be a good listener. Listen when other people talk. Value their opinions and make eye contact. Take the time to learn about the person you are talking to and make an effort to care about who they are.

5 Foods That Fill You Up

If you’re watching your weight, you can eat more than salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner. These foods will help fill you up, not out: • Oatmeal (not instant). It’s a healthy carb with a high fiber content. • Eggs. Eat them for breakfast and you’ll have about 330 calories less than usual throughout the rest of the day. • Dark chocolate. Researchers say compounds in dark chocolate slow down digestion and make you feel full longer. But don’t eat the whole bar! • Soup. A Pennsylvania State study showed that people who had two servings of low-calorie soup daily lost 50 percent more weight than those who ate the same number of calories in snack foods. Choose broth or vegetables, not the creamy variety. • Pine nuts. They contain pinolenic acid, which stimulates hormones that suppress your appetite. Plus, your mouth likes the crunch.

Furnace Tune-up Season

In just about 7-8 weeks you fire up the furnace and get ready for cold fall and winter days. A quality furnace should last more than 20yrs if you properly maintain it. A standard service is a couple hundred dollars and takes about an hour. Glendale Heating is the company I trust and have been recommending for many years. Glendale Heating will get your furnace ready for the season! 206-243-7700