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Make a Clean Start this Spring!

SPRING IS DEFINITELY IN THE AIR, AND IT IS A GREAT TIME TO CLEAR OUT ALL THE CLUTTER THAT HAS ACCUMULATED – BOTH IN YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR BUDGET. We've gathered some handy cleaning tips to make your Spring Clean a lot easier:

Kitchen Always begin cleaning on the right side of your stove, then move clockwise around the room. The stove is typically the dirtiest part of the kitchen, so ending with it keeps you from spreading dirt and grease. (First, soak drip pans and knobs in warm soapy water. By the time you've worked your way around, they'll be easier to clean.) Believe it or not – your dirty kitchen sink contains more bacteria than a toilet seat. If you don't have disinfectant available, there's an easy way to disinfect your sink with common kitchen products. Clean your sink with soap and water first, then spray it with a mist of vinegar, followed by a mist of hydrogen peroxide, and let the sink air-dry. (Don't mix the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide; spray one after the other.) If your sink is stainless steel, make it sparkle afterward by putting a few drops of mineral oil on a soft cloth and buffing it. This prevents water build-up, which deters mould and keeps the sink looking clean longer. Use microfibre cloths instead of paper towels. When wet, microfibre helps sanitise and clean floors, counters, glass and tiles, and eliminates the need for other cleaning products. We all know that sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria. Disinfect yours every night by squeezing it out and microwaving it on high for a minute. When it's shredded and smelly, replace it.

Bedrooms Start with the bed – if your bed is made, your bedroom looks neat. When you wake up, pull the covers up to your chin, then scissor-kick your way out of bed so it'll be half-made when you get up. Tuck the covers up and in before you leave. Most women have drawers full of clothes they don't wear, and their dresser tops soon become repositories for things they can't store. Get rid of things you haven't worn in a year and vow to put away your clean laundry each week. Keep a "pamper basket" next to your bed to store the books, knitting and other odds and ends you enjoy doing before nodding off. Leave only your alarm clock, lamp and a box of tissues on your nightstand. Gone is the clutter!

Laundry Since fabric softener and dryer sheets can strip towels of their absorbency, add a quarter cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle or throw two new, clean tennis balls in your dryer to get rid of static electricity, soften fabrics and eliminate the need for dryer sheets. Almost everything can be washed in cold water (and it's better for your electricity bill and the environment too), but use the hottest water possible for sheets, towels and underwear. Take special care to put undergarments in the dryer as soon as possible to stop bacteria growing while it is still damp.

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Eat right for your blood type

There have been many fad diets over the years: from the cabbage soup diet in the ’60s, to the low-carbohydrate Atkins fad of the ’90s. The one thing that all the wacky diets and dieting ideas throughout the decades have in common is that they are unhealthy. Many of them will work: eating only 1000 calories a day of grapefruit will result in dramatic weight-loss; or more precisely, rapid fluid loss which is then regained after the diet is stopped.

The blood type diet, made popular by Peter D’Adamo’s book, Eat right for your blood type: The individualised diet solution to staying healthy, living longer, and achieving your ideal weight, is not much different from any other fad diet.

Scientific basis?

D’Adamo’s theory about nutrition is that the way one’s body absorbs and processes foods is affected by their blood type. This means that each blood type should eat (and avoid) different foods. Further, D’Adamo says that blood types determine how people should exercise and their susceptibility to different illnesses.

This, according to D’Adamo, is as a result of ancestral lines – where some people have hunter-gatherer heritage and should eat meat, others have agrarian (farming) ancestors and should eat little or no meat.

However, there is no scientific evidence that this diet is beneficial and no research has been done to prove that this diet works to improves health, maintain weight, or to improve wellbeing in any way.

The disadvantages

Part of the reason that the blood type diet is problematic is because of how restrictive it is. According to D’Adamo, the following are the diets associated with each of the blood types:

•Type O

D’Adamo says that this is the oldest of blood lines and as a result, people with type O blood should maintain the diet of their ancient ancestors. This means eating a lot of lean meat, poultry, and fish and avoiding grains and legumes. They should also enjoy vigorous exercise.

•Type A

Supposedly type As come from an agrarian line and benefit from vegetarian diets and gentle exercise.

•Type B

Allegedly type Bs have the least restricted diet and can eat almost anything but should avoid or limit carbohydrates. Type Bs should exercise moderately.

•Type AB

This is a modern blood type, according to D’Adamo, which should involve avoiding animal protein and exercising regularly.

The dietary restrictions don’t take taste and personal preference into account and there is no research which suggests that this diet is beneficial for the different blood groups. Registered dietician Monique Dos Santos suggests following a well-balanced diet instead. “We need to eat from each food group rather than being limited by our blood group,” she stresses.

It is important to discuss any dietary changes with a doctor or dietician to ensure that you are eating a healthy, balanced diet.

Make a Clean Start this Spring!

SPRING IS DEFINITELY IN THE AIR, AND IT IS A GREAT TIME TO CLEAR OUT ALL THE CLUTTER THAT HAS ACCUMULATED – BOTH IN YOUR HOUSE AND YOUR BUDGET. We've gathered some handy cleaning tips to make your Spring Clean a lot easier:

Kitchen Always begin cleaning on the right side of your stove, then move clockwise around the room. The stove is typically the dirtiest part of the kitchen, so ending with it keeps you from spreading dirt and grease. (First, soak drip pans and knobs in warm soapy water. By the time you've worked your way around, they'll be easier to clean.) Believe it or not – your dirty kitchen sink contains more bacteria than a toilet seat. If you don't have disinfectant available, there's an easy way to disinfect your sink with common kitchen products. Clean your sink with soap and water first, then spray it with a mist of vinegar, followed by a mist of hydrogen peroxide, and let the sink air-dry. (Don't mix the vinegar and hydrogen peroxide; spray one after the other.) If your sink is stainless steel, make it sparkle afterward by putting a few drops of mineral oil on a soft cloth and buffing it. This prevents water build-up, which deters mould and keeps the sink looking clean longer. Use microfibre cloths instead of paper towels. When wet, microfibre helps sanitise and clean floors, counters, glass and tiles, and eliminates the need for other cleaning products. We all know that sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria. Disinfect yours every night by squeezing it out and microwaving it on high for a minute. When it's shredded and smelly, replace it.

Bedrooms Start with the bed – if your bed is made, your bedroom looks neat. When you wake up, pull the covers up to your chin, then scissor-kick your way out of bed so it'll be half-made when you get up. Tuck the covers up and in before you leave. Most women have drawers full of clothes they don't wear, and their dresser tops soon become repositories for things they can't store. Get rid of things you haven't worn in a year and vow to put away your clean laundry each week. Keep a "pamper basket" next to your bed to store the books, knitting and other odds and ends you enjoy doing before nodding off. Leave only your alarm clock, lamp and a box of tissues on your nightstand. Gone is the clutter!

Laundry Since fabric softener and dryer sheets can strip towels of their absorbency, add a quarter cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle or throw two new, clean tennis balls in your dryer to get rid of static electricity, soften fabrics and eliminate the need for dryer sheets. Almost everything can be washed in cold water (and it's better for your electricity bill and the environment too), but use the hottest water possible for sheets, towels and underwear. Take special care to put undergarments in the dryer as soon as possible to stop bacteria growing while it is still damp.

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Lunch break done right

 

 

For many people the idea of a lunch break is a quick sandwich eaten in front of the computer, while they catch up on a backlog of email correspondence. Yet it doesn’t have to be that way. Studies have shown that people who take a short lunch break are happier and often more productive, using the break as a reward for work done well. It can also give you perspective on a difficult problem and offer a vital recharge to get on with the rest of your day. And you could have a lot of fun to boot.

 

Here are some fun ideas to make the most out of your lunch break.

 

Start a lunch-time walking club

 

Why not round up a few colleagues and start a walking club during your lunch break? Good companionship combined with the release of feel-good endorphins during exercise can go a long way in boosting your mood. A stroll around your office neighbourhood or even just your office building a few times can give you this much needed boost.

 

Learn a language

 

Always wanted to learn a new language but just never seem able to find the time? Your lunch break is a great opportunity to try. You could make real headway in learning a new language by devoting a few lunch breaks a week to studying. Try playing language CDs on a portable player or downloading them to your MP3 player which you could listen to in a nearby park or while enjoying your lunch on a bench in your office building. 

 

Explore your surroundings

 

So often we get stuck in a cycle that includes work and home with very few stops in between. By using your lunch break as a means to explore your office neighbourhood, you could go on a mini adventure. Are there any great art galleries, book stores, or local museums you could visit? Your lunch break could be a wonderful opportunity to explore these.

 

Read a book

 

Ever wanted to finally read War and Peace? Or some other literary classic that you’ve just never gotten around to? Perhaps you’d simply like to start reading more.  A lunch break of 30 minutes to an hour is great for tackling a book you’ve always wanted to start and is a great way to schedule some reading time. You may be surprised at just how much you get through in the following weeks.

 

Listen to an audio book

 

There’s a particular enjoyment to listening to an audio book, whether it’s because the speaker brings the story to life in a gripping novel or helps to put something into perspective in a helpful guide. The great thing about listening to an audio book is that you can do it anywhere – from the front seat of your car or if you’ve downloaded one to your MP3 player you could listen to it while you take a walk, sit in a park, or while you soak up some sunshine outside.

 

Play a game

 

It’s not just children who benefit from play. Make work more fun by playing a board game with your colleagues or why not try a round of office soccer or cricket, depending on your workplace culture and environment and whether it would be appropriate. Studies have shown that playing games can make you more productive. Solitary games can also be fun and good for the mind, so try a crossword puzzle or Sudoku. 

 

Pamper yourself

 

Your lunch break can be a great way to indulge in a little TLC, from a short massage, manicure, pedicure, to a quick haircut. Haven’t got the budget? Why not take yourself out for a slice of cake with a friend at a nearby coffee or tea shop. A little indulgence every now and then can be a great happiness booster.

 

Try yoga or Pilates

 

Never have time to exercise? Your lunch break could be just the ticket. Yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi are great ways to tone up without the fuss of an intense cardio workout. If you have a nearby studio, it may be worthwhile looking in to whether they offer weekly lunch break sessions. Some studios also offer corporate classes, where instructors come to your office and have a session in a boardroom – depending on whether it would be appropriate in your office.

 

Take a nap

 

A quick power nap can help you to feel recharged. Even just closing your eyes while being somewhere quiet can help you unwind. Depending on your environment, you could go for a quick nap in your car or a nearby park (so long as it’s safe to do so). Alternatively, if you have a friend who lives nearby you could always ask them if they wouldn’t mind loaning you their couch for a cat nap. 

 

Have a picnic

 

Whether you simply take a sandwich and a cold drink or go all out with a fabulous feast, taking your lunch outside does wonders for your mood. Why not try getting a few colleagues together and asking each one to bring a different item of food? Even as a solo affair, a picnic can be a great way to spend your lunch break.

 

Go out for lunch

 

Visiting a restaurant or coffee shop with a friend, a colleague, or even by yourself can be a wonderful treat. Try a nearby coffee shop you’ve always wanted to visit or a restaurant nearby that you may have heard good things about. Another great idea is to start a monthly lunch club with a friend or colleague, where you try out different coffee shops, restaurants, or even tea shops in your area.

 

While breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, there’s no reason why lunch can’t be the most fun. And with these great ideas, you’ll be well on your way to adding more fun to your work day.