Find yourself a free and fun screensaver to protect your screen when you are not working on your computer. There are many free ones to be found online and programs to create your own. Change it from time to time especially if it can be seen by others. Explore what the computer already might have stored for your use.
Choose a tune to whistle in a public place today. Challenge yourself with something versatile. Note the reactions of colleagues, family, or friends. It could be a conversation starter or a mood lifter. Try not to overdo to the point of being annoying. Have a “go to” tune you can execute well. Can’t whistle? Try to learn.
Someday your personal life’s details will be reduced to a small chip. In some ways, we are already there. Until we reach that point for complete easy access, having important information available could be life-saving. What happens if you become incapacitated and cannot communicate? Keep a short list of medical conditions, allergies and critical medications in your wallet or purse…just in case.
Informally tally up your calorie or carbohydrate intake for one day (depending on your chosen food pyramid). Read labels when they are available. Don’t change regular eating habits; just pay more attention to what you are taking in. Grazers beware. Those extra trips to the kitchen for a mid-day snack or an added handful of something may be costing more than you know. MyFitnessPal is a great app for tracking calories if you decide to do it regularly and it connects to all other kinds of exercise apps too!
If you need to take action based on your observations, think it over after you have that final cookie.
Someone once told me that bathrooms are made to create a bit of an illusion, sort of like mirrors in a funhouse at a fair. The standard lighting fixtures are often chosen to present a “glowing” and “air-brushed” looking you. The lighting may have a slight tinge to it instead of bright white light. Your make-up and/or clothing may even look different depending on which bathroom you use. Try getting ready for work in a new room to see if it does not change the way you prepare for the day. But don’t get dressed in the dark!
Gardens are not just for country folk. A small garden is as close as a window sill. Start an herb garden in your kitchen! Basil, fennel, cilantro and many others can be easily started right from seeds, and if you choose, they can be transplanted later. Fresh additions to your meals can be at your fingertips. Do little research on the amount of sunlight and soil your selections need. Many herbs are low maintenance requiring only periodic watering and can be placed on a window ledge until needed.
Some of us still indulge in sending letters through snail mail. The next time you go to the post office for stamps, find something that says something indicative of you. While many people traditionally choose stamps that depict hearts and love for wedding invitations, there are also dignified as well as silly images to choose from for other purposes. There is a wide variety of images to choose from: Elvis, Hawaiian shirts, Disney characters, etc. You can also create custom stamps!
Solitaire is a basic game that comes loaded on most computers for passing the time or real strategizing. Instead of letting the mouse do all of the work, get yourself a real deck of playing cards and set up a game on the kitchen table, the floor, or on your desk (only if the boss is out of the office). In an age where everything is going electronic, sometimes it is good to do some things the old-fashioned way.
Need to vent? Feeling appreciative? Just need to be heard? Consider writing a “letter to the editor” for a local newspaper or online forum/blog. If you are writing to complain, be sure to propose a feasible solution. If you are writing to thank an individual or organization, be specific about what actions were taken and who benefited. Chances are you will feel better afterward and someone will be reassured they are not the only ones with similar feelings or grateful you took the time to thank someone deserving.
There are all too frequently stories on the news of house fires without a specific known cause. Take some preventive measures today and take notice of electrical outlets (particularly those that do not work) and any frayed cords that are plugged in. Replace cords if necessary. Be sure flammable items are away from possible heat sources. An ounce of prevention…