Fall Maintenance Checklist

Keeping a house in tip-top shape requires that some things be tackled only once a year. Fall is an excellent time to work around the house! Save this list to ensure you don’t forget any important tasks.  Identify and seal cracks and gaps in windows, doors, walkways, and the driveway.  Have the fireplace and chimney inspected for damage and hazards.  Inspect the roof for broken, loose, or missing shingles or tiles.  Check age of hot water heater – if it is older than 10yrs schedule replacement.  Check the home’s exterior for chipped paint and cracks in the foundation and fix as necessary.  Remove showerheads and clean built-up sediment.  Service your furnace and have all filters replaced.  Pump the septic system, if applicable.  Update your home disaster kit. Check ready.gov/kit for a comprehensive list. Be ready for fall and winter power outages.

Fall Immune Boost

Here are a few habits you might want to get into to boost your immune system this fall.  Move! There are many reasons why daily physical activity is good for you, and you can add immune boosting to the list. Movement helps reduce stress, and stress taxes your immune system. Try to get at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise weekly (walking, hiking, bike riding).  Be mindful of what goes into your body. It’s no surprise that you’ll help your immune system by quitting smoking and limiting alcohol, but the same is true for adding more plant-based foods into your diet. Even some herbs and spices contribute to immune health, including cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, and thyme.  Get a little sun. Yes, you can take vitamin D supplements, but sun exposure is still considered the best way to get vitamin D into your system—and some evidence indicates it may help your immune system. A good rule is 10-30 minutes, a few days a week (just don’t get burned).  Plan a Vacation Many Americans have unused vacation time, and more companies are going with a use it or lose it policy instead of offering to cash out accrued hours. Planning a vacation is half the fun and you will absolutely boost your mood and boost your immune system.  Relax. This doesn’t mean you have to learn to meditate, but it does mean that it’s important to your immune system that you don’t let stress take over. Set aside some time every day to do something that relaxes you.  Laugh. When we laugh, our stress levels decrease, and that’s good news for the immune system. Hang out with a funny friend!

Teach 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. • 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.

Procrastinating

Procrastinating is a learned behavior. The good news is that it can be combated, as long as you’re focused on how to prevent it. Here are 5 steps to help you stop procrastinating and get in gear. 1. Get Rid of Distractions – Turn off the phone, shut the door, put on headphones, whatever it takes to drown out tempting diversions. 2. Break Tasks Into Chunks – Things like “wash dishes, do laundry, and vacuum” are more specific, and chances are you’ll be more apt to tackle those tasks than the gargantuan-sounding “clean the house.” 3. Do Your Hardest Task First – The sense of accomplishment when you complete the biggest item on your list first will help propel you forward toward crossing off more things on your list. 4. Perfect is the Enemy of Done – Keep in mind that if you’re only striving for perfection, you’re less likely to even start a project. 5. Reward Yourself – Give yourself a pat on the back for getting stuff done, whether the reward is a night out or simply a favorite treat.

5 Ways to Beat Stress

When we’re stressed, we’re less able to focus and we’re doing damage to our overall health. Here are some science-based methods for de-stressing quickly. • Breathe – Stress makes us take short breaths. Concentrate on deep breaths through the nose, exhaling through the mouth, for several minutes to increase oxygen flow and reduce tension. • Pattern Reset – Forcing your brain to focus on something else, such as the repetitive task of doing dishes or knitting, can help get your mind off whatever’s bothering you. • Go for a Walk – Not only will a 10-minute walk physically remove you from any stressful situation, the exercise releases stress-relieving endorphins in your brain. Dancing to your favorite song works, too. • Take an e-Break – We love technology, but it can also cause a huge amount of stress. Turn off your phone or computer to increase your ability to relax, and don’t leave your email inbox open all day. • Have a Snack – It’s important to be mindful about snacking (stress eating is nobody’s friend), but some nibbles can be helpful. Potassium can help modulate blood pressure, which can in turn reduce stress levels, so have a banana. Something like a handful of nuts offers a satisfying crunch and the energy your brain needs to get past the stress.

10 Ways to Live Well

We all want to feel better, look better, and live as if we are a finely tuned instrument, or well-maintained vehicle. Here are some tips I’ll share to get you started on the road to feeling, looking, and living better and increasing your chances for enjoying life. Your age is just a number fight, fight, fight!! 1. Smile. Researchers at Harvard found that people with positive attitudes are more likely to have fewer heart ailments. 2. Take Monday Off. Researchers in New York found that missing a few days of work lowers your risk for stroke by 30 percent…not to mention most heart attacks occur on Monday morning! 3. Eat Oatmeal Cookies. University of Connecticut researchers found that eating oat-bran cookies daily can lower your LDL cholesterol by 20 percent. 4. Go To Bed Early. People who are fatigued have high levels of fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein that reduces blood flow to your heart and brain. 5. Wash Your Hands. German scientists found people with high levels of antibodies from fighting infections also had more clogging of their arteries. 6. Read A Good Book. Need I say more? 7. Meditate 30 Minutes A Day. Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found meditation may reduce depression and anxiety by up to 25 percent. 8. Drink Cranberry Juice. People who drink 8 ounces of cranberry juice a day increase their HDL cholesterol levels by 10 percent…reducing heart risk by 40 percent, according a New Jersey study. 9. Bike Your Blues Away. Biking was found to be as effective at relieving depression as antidepressants reported Duke University researchers. 10. Join A Group. People who have a circle of friends handle stress better and have less heart disease, according to University of Chicago researchers.

Service to Others is Service to Self

” Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth” – Muhammad Ali. Serving others doesn’t just help the people we’re supporting, it often enriches our own lives in powerful ways. Just think of how much support you have received from people like your grandparents, parents, and close personal friendships and it is easy to see how you can repay that by making a commitment to be in service of other people in your life. Here are just a few of the benefits: 1. Happiness and fulfillment. Acts of service stimulate the release of fee-good brain chemicals like dopamine which boost mood and create a lasting sense of purpose in your life. 2. Stronger relationships. Helping others builds trust, empathy and connection, expanding your social circle and deepening existing bonds. 3. Improved health. Studies show that people who volunteer or regularly serve others have lower rates of depression and even some chronic illnesses. 4. Sense of meaning. Being part of something bigger than yourself provides a deeper reason to get up each day. We all have something special to share with others. There is always someone in more need than us. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked” Luke 12:48 If you look around, you will see countless examples of people giving to others, paying it forward and making the world just a little better. A better world ultimately benefits everyone, including us. “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person that is nearest to you”. – Mother Teresa