Life Tips Daily

Easily divisible into two categories: salty and sweet, junk food includes but is not limited to the following:

Sweet

• candy
• cookies
• chocolate bars
• pastries
• icecream and similar dairy products

Salty

• chips and similar treats
• french fries
• buttery popcorn (unless you’re eating light or no fat versions)

For each category of item listed above, I can name my favourite brand, and name 4 “lesser” brands; this is not the sort of familiarity anyone should ever be able to brag about. Junk food tastes good, is addictive (you can’t eat just one can you?) and is convenient-if you choose wisely, no cooking or baking is involved. It’s no wonder then that eating too much of it is a bad habit that can be easily picked up.

The consumption of junk food is usually a bigger problem with women than men (it may just be the men I know but they seem to prefer their junk food in liquid form (beer), although it is worth mentioning that the consumption of beer often increases their consumption of true junk food).

The only positive effect of eating too much junk, is the taste: it tastes good, which makes your tastebuds happy. The negative effects, however, have the potential to last longer than any of the good feelings.

Health and weight gain
The delicious sweets and salty snacks that we love so well are often high in calories and fat. Increased calories and fat are never good news: expect to experience some weight gain!

Besides making you feel and look less attractive, weight gain above your healthy weight is implicated in far too many diseases to name. The main disease that is currently increasing at alarming rates in North America is diabetes. Increased weight also affects your blood pressure, which in turn affects the heart’s ability to function. Impaired cardiac function can lead to blockages in arteries, and heart disease. Weight gain also affects your cholesterol levels: it increases your body’s levels of bad cholesterol, which leads to an increase in your chances of getting the previously mentioned diseases.

Add to that the fact that many of the salty snacks that are prepared in or with oils have a chance of being prepared with hydrogenated oils, which are saturated fats, a particularly unhealthy type of fat, and it’s easy to see where the weight gain comes from in the beginning.

So we agree, junk food is bad. If you find yourself surrounded by these unhealthy treats, here’s what we need to do:
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It’s that time of the week again: your turn! I hope you’ll speak up about what you would do in the following situation; don’t be shy! Please leave your solution in the comments.

Here is this week’s situation:

You carefully read these entries on how to be a good host, and planned for the arrival of your guests. Since their arrival, you have taken time off from work to entertain them, and you provided them with the means to access activities they might enjoy on their own when you are not around. You’ve opened your home to them and invited them to use it as they would like. The problem: you have been too kind, too welcoming. Despite starting off as guests who followed the rules (at least initially) and:

• told you when they were coming
• …and when they were leaving
• came bearing gifts
• came with enough money to take care of your own
• came ready to follow the house rules

your guests have developed an inclination to say on, indefinitely, while you have tired of their stay, the constant need to clean up the house more regularly than you normally would, and entertain guests who have begun to complain that they are bored (clearly we are not talking about guests who visit for the evening and linger). When you ask them when they will be leaving, they tell you that they seldom see you and are so happy that they can spend this time with you. You are even asked jokingly if you’re trying to get rid of them, something you deny automatically, although it is true.

So, how do you get rid of your unwelcome guests? Does the fact that they are family change the way you would deal with them compared to if they were good friends?

unwelcome guests, guests house guests

Yesterday’s entry on habits, namely what they are, was the launch of a new series on bad and good habits that we have and how we can get rid of them, or encourage them to stick around (depending on the habit we’re faced with).

Nail biting is an expression of anxiety for some, and a temporary cure for worry or similar emotions. By engaging in this activity, your mind is comforted by the repetitive action and focused, albeit temporarily, on something else. Eventually it becomes an unconscious activity that you do even when you’re not particularly on edge about something: it has become a habit. Of all the bad habits we’ll discuss, nail biting is probably the most benign: raggedy nails are unattractive and one nail biter that I knew had a tendency to smell like saliva, but other than that, I don’t believe ingesting your fingernails (as some nail biters do) will cause you any serious health concerns. The habit could have some unpleasant social consequences, however:
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A habit is anything that you become accustomed to doing regularly, and proceed to do regularly. Good habits lead to overall health and well-being, as defined by a health professional, most likely (you probably feel good after eating two or three more slices of pizza than you ought to eat but whether this was actually a good move is probably a decision best left to your doctor). Even habits that seem neutral are good for you from a social or health point of view: regularly bathing, for example, is a habit that I pray most have fallen into, and those of you who do it because…you just do have probably noticed that when you don’t bathe, you’re faced with wrinkled noses, a general refusal on the part of most people to sit close to you, or other behaviours that don’t make you feel so good. Before experiencing any of these reactions, you may already feel gross, dirty or smelly, and therefore bathe to avoid that feeling. And of course bathing is a great way to rid yourself of germs that could make you sick.

All of that to say that habits are retained for a reason: they make us feel good. When we don’t do them, we usually feel “off” or like something is missing.

How do bad habits start? For that matter, how do good habits start?

The problem with bad habits is they are good…on some level…or people wouldn’t be inclined to do them. Some common bad habits are:

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Do you take advantage of any of the following free or inexpensive services in your community?

Libraries
…are not just for book nerds anymore! Most libraries have lounging areas for you to catch up on your favourite magazines without buying them, allowing you to use this time as “you time”. They have also increased the number of programs they have available for the community to participate in, from book club meetings to seminars on how to file taxes, learn how to use the internet, or garden, really quite a range of things. Not all of these workshops are free but the vast majority are.

If you enjoy volunteering and love books, the library is a natural fit. Call and find out what areas volunteers are needed in. Volunteers may also be needed to run these workshops–if there is an area where you think you could instruct others in, don’t hesitate to suggest it to your local library.

Museums
Again, you may have to do some research as not all museums are free all the time, but many have special days or times of the week when you can enjoy the museum for free. Don’t be shy about contacting the museum to find out. Museums provide a different way of learning things that you could read about, and appeal those who are more visual in nature.

Not all cities have museums for a wide range of things but as a start, check out what your city has in the way of science, civilization or the history of your country or city, clothing/fashion, or even food! Whatever your interest, there just might be a museum for it, and hopefully one that is nearby.

Does something have to be exciting in order to be worth it for you?

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It’s one thing to let yourself down, but what do you do when you let someone else down?

No matter how hard you try to please everyone, it is inevitable that somebody will feel treated by you in a way that makes them feel less than stellar. Just like when you let yourself down, you can’t allow a single incident to define you as a person. Instead, pick yourself up and do the following:

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Yesterday’s focus was on reusing and using up things you find in the kitchen. Today, we’ll focus on the bathroom.

Shampoo, conditioner, shower gels and anything in a bottle
You know when you get to the end of the bottle and smacking the bottom of it just doesn’t dislodge the last glob of liquid? Add more liquid-in the form of water-to mix with the shampoo, conditioner or shower gel. Sure, the result will be more dilute that what you usually use but you’ll know you got almost every drop.

Toothpaste
Those tubes can be hard to squeeze at the end. Why hurt your fingers when you can grab a pair of scissors and cut the tube open? Once open, you can run your toothbrush along the inside of the tube, and scoop up as much paste as you need. Note: this is not for mess freaks!
Toilet paper tubes
If you have children, this is an item that can be added to the craft pile. Let your child use his or her imagination and use these tubes to make a telescope or a pair of binoculars…or something completely different (cut them up to make wheels for a 3-D car perhaps?). Older people may want to use the tube to keep cords neat (wrap up any extra cord and stuff it in the tube). If these ideas fail, toss the tubes in the recycling box!

And my personal favourite…
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A reader, Shannon, left a comment on this entry where she said she cancelled her magazine subscriptions because she can get a lot of the same information online. While this is true, let’s say the most exciting articles in your favourite magazine aren’t posted online. How can you get your hands on them?

Check your local (or not so local library)
I hope you’re lucky enough to live in a city with a good library because it is one resource that I don’t think I could live without: not only do libraries carry the latest books and cds, but it is also a great place to go to get away from it all. My local library has slackened its rules but one thing that hasn’t changed is the fact that it’s still a quiet place to go to (just stay away from the children’s floor if you’re seeking tranquility!).

Most libraries have a lounging area, and near this area is the latest issue of most magazines. If you have a couple of hours to spare, get thee to the library and flip through some helpful magazines, pen and notepad in hand if needed. If you’re not interested in the very latest issues of magazines, older issues can be signed out.

Ask someone
Just because you’ve cancelled your subscription doesn’t mean your friend or coworker has! Tell them what magazines you’re interested in and ask if they would mind passing the magazine on to you when they are finished (either permanently or as a loan). Even if they don’t subscribe to the magazines you desiret, maybe they know somebody who does.

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Yesterday, I promised to go into detail about what makes an online dating profile stand out. We’ll look at the first two today:

• Using proper grammar and English (or language that you are communicating in)
• Using spell check

Using proper grammar and English (or language that you are communicating in)
I hate to say this but it is my experience that women are far more likely to judge someone based on their grammar and their command of the English language than men. If I am wrong, please direct me to this one male paragon and I will marry him immediately. I’ll even do dishes and clean the toilets too! If he has an accent too, all the better!

Just as body language can lead you to “say” something other than what is coming out of your mouth, the quality of your writing is important too. It gives the reader clues to the type of person you are in areas such as your attention to detail, and an indication of your education level or intelligence.

Here are some grammatical errors that should be avoided:
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First I tell you what kinds of pictures to post. Then I tell you what kind of information to disclose. On day 3 of this online dating focus, we will look at your online dating profile.

You’ve chosen a couple of pictures of yourself: one is a full body shot of you looking your natural, everyday best, one is of you dressed up, if you wish. Any other pictures you add help to show off your character (and hopefully do not give “is a psycho” vibes)-perhaps a picture of you doing a sport or activity you enjoy, hanging out with friends, having fun. All pictures you’re sharing are less than a year old, and do not depict a version of you that differs significantly with respect to hair length/distribution on your head, or your body weight. Perfect.

Along with the visual impression you’re giving your captive audience, you want them to get a better pictures of who you are (because you’re so much more than a pretty face, right?). How can you establish this? Some of the topics I will be discussing tomorrow are:

• Using proper grammar and English (or language that you are communicating in)
• Using spell check
• Being honest about who you are and what you want
• Injecting your personality into your profile
• Not relying too much on clichéd phrases

In yesterday’s post, ways in which one can misrepresent themselves online by their photos were discussed. Feel free to check these five areas here. Today’s focus is on important information that people sometimes fail to disclose. These things do not have to be discussed during the first few conversations but once it is apparent that there is something worth pursuing, be it friendship or a relationship, the following are areas where a frank and honest disclosure is best given voluntarily.

Your marital status
In your author’s perfect world, only singles would be trying to make (love) connections online. However, that is not the case: some married folk and people in (monogamous but unmarried) relationships are not above seeking someone else while still involved with another person. If you are the one who is not quite single, share your marital status frankly, and let the person decide if they can handle it. If you aren’t sure whether your new acquaintance is married, ask, knowing that there is no guarantee that you’re getting an honest reply.

If you’re going through a divorce or messy breakup, you may want to wait until the latter stages of this process before throwing yourself into online dating-if anything it’ll simplify your online status anyway!

Financial situation
Money is very powerful, capable of making and breaking human relationships. While you wouldn’t want to flash your bank account balance to anyone who “pokes” or “winks” at you online, or sends you an instant message, if you have problems with money, these should be laid out sooner rather than later. If you are in a lot of debt and therefore will not be able to go on expensive dates, make that clear from the beginning. It’ll save you the anxiety of the first date and what to do if an expensive restaurant is chosen, or if you’re expected to pay the full bill.

On the topic of money, don’t take advantage of somebody else’s financial situation: if you happen to meet somebody who seems
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If you suffer from insecurity, it can be hard to present yourself online in a positive and attractive light. There are a number of ways to resolve self esteem issues but in the meantime, if you will be posting a profile online, perhaps on a social networking site or a dating site, avoid the following, lest you be accused of misrepresenting yourself online.

PROFILE PHOTOS

Posting headshots only
This is one of my biggest pet peeves. Sure, some people can’t get away with posting a headshot that doesn’t reveal that they have a wide face with a number of chins but some know that if they tilt their head just so while snapping a picture, said chins disappear. So they take a bunch of photos in this classic pose and the result can be shocking to someone who sees you without the head tilt.

Posting artist headshots
What is worse than only providing headshots in your profile picture? So called “artistic” headshots, that’s what! These are the shots that have been photoshopped to remove all facial blemishes, from crows feet to moles to forehead lines, leaving a person that looks somewhat unreal. Or, every picture is given a sepia or black and white tone, blurred a bit, with colour added only to specific parts of the picture. There is no need for you to provide a picture of how you would like your potential beloved to see you; let them see the real you and they can picture the artistic rendering of you they prefer, on their own.

Using old pictures
Some post a full body picture, displaying a fairly attractive body…45lbs ago! Now tell me: what is the point of this? Unless you have a miracle diet that will whisk 45lbs off your body when needed, why not post a current picture? Don’t post pictures of a physical representation of you that even your mother would have a hard time identifyng! If you’ve lost most of your hair, don’t display a picture of the last time you had a full head of hair-12 years ago!

Dressing your formal best
It’s nice to post a picture or two of you looking your absolute best. Perhaps you were a groomsman or bridesmaid in a wedding and you cleaned up really well. Share that picture. But also be sure to post pictures of you in jeans and a t-shirt, a picture of you doing something you enjoy doing, looking very natural. This is likely how you will be seen most of the time anyway should the relationship move offline, so give potential love/lust interests a good idea of who they will be meeting.

Posting someone else’s photo
This last one is an obvious “don’t”. If you are trying to meet people online, you need to post pictures of you. It’s the right thing to do.

The term “recycling” is often used for other initiatives that encourage the reusing of products, or the safe disposal of items no longer being used. Without further ado, here are some things you can do to go easy on the environment:

Compost
Most composters have a backyard in which to do this so I don’t recommend this as a good idea for apartment dwellers (unless your building happens to have a compost heap). Composting is simply allowing things to break down as they naturally would. By “things” we’re talking mostly about fruit and vegetables (the parts you don’t eat, fruits and veggies that have gone bad) or coffee grounds in their filters. Through the process of composting, your banana peel and apple core eventually become nutrient-rich soil that can be used in the garden. To find out more about how to do this, check out The Composting Guide.

Bring it back
For many things like paints, batteries, wine bottles, you can return them to where you bought them and the business will take care of them in an environmentally responsible way. Keep in mind that businesses are usually not open to receiving things every day of the year: instead, days are set up when residents are encouraged to drop things off. Check out your city guide to see if such a program exists in your neighbourhood.

Donate to a charity
Under the category of reusing, the donation of your still usable goods to a charity is a great way to give back to your community. Many not-for-profit organizations sell your donation to earn money for their cause. Before you toss something, ask yourself if somebody else can still use it. If not, wave good bye but if so, keep it and give it away. Some charities will even come to your house and pick up your no longer needed items.

How do you do your part to be environmentally responsible?

I have shared a variation of this dilemma before but I guess the fact that I’m sharing it again is proof that it bothers me.

Being of a romantic disposition, my perpetually single status can be quite painful, and I can’t deny that finding myself constantly in the company of couples who are either married, newly married, engaged, dating, or newly dating is hard to bear. I look longingly at couples holding hands, sharing inside jokes, asking for one bill for the two of them and I feel like I’m missing out on something big, and I feel like there was a contest or race to find your mate and I missed the race; I didn’t even get the consolation prize!

So, my questions are: What should I do to get over myself? Am I justified in wanting to reduce the number of couple-full events I take part in? Do I need a new posse of single friends?

So, ready to recycle? Got your blue, black or green or cardboard box?

Let’s do it!

The reason some don’t recycle is it does require an investment of time. If you live somewhere where there are two or more boxes to consider when recycling, you have to sort your recyclables before tossing them into the appropriate box.

Recycling paper is very straight forward. In my municipality, almost anything goes paper-wise: egg cartons (as long as they are not made of sytrofoam), cardboard, magazines, flyers and newspapers are all fair game. As long as the paper isn’t mixed with any non-paper materials, you’re fine. But when we come to the blue box contents, you will need to exert yourself a bit more:

• Rinse all containers
  This is good for you and for the person who will be picking up your recycling. By rinsing your containers out, you will prevent the stench of curdled milk or pasta sauce that’s not quite as fresh as it used to be from invading your garage or backyard. Avoiding attracting wild animals is always a plus.
• Remove paper where it is possible to do so
  This rule appllies most to tin cans which often are covered in paper. Of course you’ll be tossing this paper you remove into your paper recycling bin, right?
• Check if your product is recyclable!
  I too used to think that all my plastics, glass and metal were recyclable, until I found out that in my city, the following items will not be picked up (see here for a complete list for the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada area):
• metal clothes hangers
• drinking glasses
• bakery and produce plastics

Happy recycling! It will probably take a while to get to the point where you consider the recycling box(es) before tossing something into a garbage bin but with time, it’ll become second nature to do so. I’ve been bitten by the recycling bug so badly that I separate the clear plastic bit above facial tissue (kleenex) boxes and throw that part away before recycling the cardboard portion. You too can get to this level, I promise you.