Lifestyle Archives - Page 13 of 52

Tips for Taking Care of Aging Relatives

Family caregivers are often thrust into their roles with little warning or instructions about what is to come. When you found out that your loved one needs help, you might have jumped right into your duties without hesitation. Or, you may be exploring your options for providing them with care while they are still in the hospital working on their recovery. In either case, these tips will help you meet your loved one’s needs without putting yourself at risk for caregiver burnout.

Identify Your Loved One’s Needs

The first thing you need to do is find out what your aging relative needs to age in place. You can perform a home assessment to see if they need to make accommodations such as putting in a wheelchair ramp or bathtub handrails. You’ll also want to talk to your loved one about their current abilities. For example, you’ll want to know if they need help with cooking or housekeeping. Some seniors may also need help with changing their bandages or taking their medication.

Hold a Family Meeting

Your next step is to talk to your loved one about their preferences and find out how much your other family members can help out. For instance, your sibling might be willing to drop off meals a few times a week or help make sure that their bills are paid. A long-distance relative might be able to make regular phone calls and provide emotional support. Once you’ve identified each person’s roles, remember to write it down. It may also help to create a shared calendar that everyone can use to keep up with important dates.

Work With a Home Health Aide

Home health aide services are designed to help with this exact situation. It’s easy to find reliable elder home care in NYC and other cities, and doing so gives you a professional who can work along with your family to make sure that all of your loved one’s needs are met. Home health aides go through rigorous training and screening procedures to make sure that they are the ideal fit for working with your loved one. You can even arrange for an initial meeting to make sure that their personalities mesh.

Get Their Paperwork In Order

Your loved one may need to set up legal documents to outline what they want to be done if the worst should happen. For instance, they may need to set up a power of attorney to make decisions for them if they are incapacitated. Setting up a will also helps your loved one know that their assets will be distributed according to their wishes. Additionally, they may need to set up an advanced directive that outlines when they wish for life-saving services to stop. Having this in place helps take the burden of decision-making off of your shoulders, and your older loved one will feel better knowing that their wishes will be honored.

Make Their Living Environment Safer

A senior is more likely to get injured at home than anywhere else. Making sure that a caregiver is available to assist with things such as getting out of bed is helpful. You can take this even further by walking through your loved one’s house to see if there are any safety hazards that need correction. Creating clear walking paths and adding additional lighting are excellent ways to prevent fall-related injuries.

Remember to Have Fun With Your Loved One

Senior citizens are having a good time together in the nursing home

Life as a family caregiver can often start to feel like you are weighed down with responsibilities. Make sure to take advantage of the extra time that delegating tasks to a professional provides by planning a few fun activities. Depending upon your loved one’s health, you might be able to help them record their memoir. Or, you might enjoy playing games together during your time together at their home. Spending more of your time engaged in enjoyable activities together helps you to bolster their mental health while creating sweet family memories.

Caring for an aging loved one is a continuous work in progress. At times, you’ll need to revisit their current care plan and make changes to fit new needs that arise. Your loved one may need additional care services at home after they receive a new health diagnosis or return home from a recent hospital stay. Staying on top of their needs helps you to readjust their plan as needed so that they always have the services they need to thrive.

Different Types of Care for Elderly Needs

A person’s old age condition usually differs based on an individual. Some people remain vibrant and active. Others face numerous challenges based on their physical issue and health condition. Whatever the case, every person experiences significant changes as they get older. This creates the need for someone to seek help for their elderly needs. The following are some types of elder care you should consider for you, your loved one, or your friend.

Nursing Homes

Nursing centers or homes are essential long-term care facilities for seniors who entirely depend on caregivers. Accredited nurses are usually present in these facilities to offer 24/7 quality skilled assistance and medical care.

Moreover, some nursing centers offer short-term rehabilitative space for older adults recovering from illness, surgery, or injuries. However, most patients usually have complicated medical issues and high care needs that require full-time care and professional nursing services.

Typically, if you or your loved senior enroll in a nursing home, you can share living areas and take your meals in a common dining space. However, this is exempted for weak patients.

Assisted Living

This type of care is also known as a personal care home. So, you should consider this type of care if you or your loved one cannot live safely on your own, but you are somehow independent that you do not need high care level.

You can find assisted living locations in Minnesota that provide private residential apartments, including small kitchen spaces and have common dining spaces for meals. Moreover, the staff in these facilities offer 24/7 assistance, including meals, housekeeping, medications, and other daily living activities. Assisted living also offers accredited nursing amenities, entertainment, and social events, and planned transportation. These are just a few of the myriad benefits of living in assisted homes.

Bariatric Care

If you or your loved elderly relative is severely overweight, bariatric care is the perfect care to enroll in. Typically, factors such as mobility or other health concerns linked to obesity usually determine your care plan. Apart from individual care, it is essential to determine whether your care needs assisted moving. This is because some individuals seeking this type of care usually require multiple caregivers due to this reason. Moreover, receiving more than one caregiver can boost your comfort and that of the caregivers as you are moved.

Memory Care

It is common for seniors to have memory issues due to various reasons. Most memory care centers usually provide dedicated services for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Furthermore, some institutions exclusively deal with older adults with impaired memory. This form of care needs 24-hour support and cautiously selected activities that cannot compromise their well-being and safety.

Home Care

Home care services enable seniors to continue enjoying the independence and comfort of remaining in their residences. Caregivers are usually available to offer services such as bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and other Activities of Daily Living. Besides, they also provide essential daily activities, including and transportation, paying bills, and making appointments.

So, if you or your loved elderly one needs elderly care in a familiar environment, this is an ideal option for you. Moreover, you can opt for caregivers to offer their services during specific times or on a full-time basis.

Senior Independent Living Communities

These facilities are also referred to as congregate care or retirement communities. Independent living communities are suitable for you if you are strong enough with few medical issues and can live independently. Typically, their housings are in the form of apartments that differ in size. If you enroll in this type of care, you will have access to personalized meal packages and several entertainment events and social outings to select from. These facilities usually need private payment plans.

Palliative Care

This is a type of care for a person with severe long-term health problems or untreatable conditions. Palliative care facilities help people with pain management and various care needs for people with severe conditions. People with severe illnesses or terminal conditions may receive hospice care. This is a form of palliative care given to people in their final stage of life. Hospice care aims to fulfill a person’s last wishes in a comfortable manner.

Aging is usually an inevitable stage of life. Most seniors need special care due to their advanced age or various health conditions. Fortunately, you can offer your loved ones the care they need and deserve by enrolling them in various facilities based on their care needs.

6 Ways to Lower Your Energy Bill

Energy allows for the proper function of your household, making it livable and comfortable. However, energy bills can be costly depending on the quality and size of your space, usage patterns, and the surrounding climate. Other factors affecting your energy are seasonal changes, extra equipment or appliance use, billing rates, and appliance efficiency. Energy rate changes also impact your energy bill. Below are a few ways to lower your energy bill.

1. Use energy-efficient appliances

Energy-efficient appliances are a great way to reduce your energy bills. Besides being environmentally friendly, Energy Star appliances reduce your energy consumption and costs. This is why you should ensure your refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines, and dishwashers are Energy Star certified. You can also do your laundry in cold water and air dry.

Consider using the smart settings on your dishwasher, like turning off the heat boost and air drying your dishes. Additionally, keeping your freezer and refrigerator full can also reduce energy consumption.

2. Rethink your lighting

Lighting is an easy way to save energy while ensuring your home is well-lit and comfortable. Consider switching to more energy-efficient lighting like LED and installing lighting controls such as occupancy sensors, dimmers, and timers. For your outdoor lighting, consider using photocell technology or motion sensors. You can also take advantage of natural lighting whenever possible to save energy.

3. Focus on heating and cooling costs

Cooling and heating your home contribute a significant amount to the energy bill. However, you can lower your heating and cooling costs by investing in an energy-efficient central air conditioning unit and installing a programmable thermostat to reduce air conditioning whenever you don’t need it.

Consider installing a ceiling fan and insulating your home to save energy throughout the year by keeping the house warmer in winter and cooler during summer. Use weatherstripping to seal leaks, reducing drafts and energy costs. Change your air filters to keep the furnace functioning optimally. Consider sealing and insulating your HVAC’s ductwork to boost its efficiency. You can also install energy-efficient windows to reduce energy usage, saving costs.

4. Reduce water heating costs

Water heating takes about 18% of your home’s overall energy usage. To save money and energy, consider resetting your thermostat to 120 degrees. Reduce hot water usage and insulate your piping and water heaters to keep in the heat. Consider replacing your water heaters with more energy-efficient ones to save costs and preserve energy. Additionally, you can switch to using solar water heaters to cost-effectively generate hot water for your household, reducing the energy bill.

5. Get rid of phantom loads

Phantom loads refer to the power your electronics consume after turning them off. Plugging all your electronic devices into a power strip will help eliminate these phantom loads. Once you’re done using your electronics, unplugging the power strip shuts off power to the devices, reducing energy usage and costs.

6. Pay attention to the roof

Using a reflective roofing material such as white or painting your roof white causes the sun to reflect off it, cooling your home. You may also install a green roof as it acts as insulation for absorbing heat from the sun and keeping in warmth in winter, reducing energy usage and saving costs.

Endnote

Saving on energy bills requires you to be intentional and conscious about it. Consider using the above tips to lower your energy costs.

How to Make Baby Videos Go Viral on TikTok

Going viral on TikTok whether for baby videos or for something else boils down to just a few things.

Those are authenticity and originality and of course your ability to capture the attention of the viewer within just the first few seconds.

Making baby videos go viral uses the same techniques as do any other video. However, there are some tips and tricks that when utilized will make any video go viral, and anyone can adapt those as soon as you finish reading this blog.

Stick to the very end, for you have prepared a special tip. But that special tip cannot be understood without reading something, that which you need to find within this article.

Play with the emotions of the audience

That might sound like something bad. It is in fact not a good thing to be playing with the emotions of other people.

But the sad reality and the fact remains that the whole entertainment business and the social media, marketing and sales, are built on the premise that you need to be able to trigger emotions if you want someone to do something for you.

For salespeople, it might be that they want to sell you something by triggering certain emotions while marketing may want to sway you towards certain products.

In the same way, you should make videos that incite certain feelings in people when they watch your videos.

The harshest one, or the most popular one that is so damn sticky in our day and age, is FOMO. if you don’t know what FOMO is, it is fear of missing out.

Millennials are full of it. Even Gen Z and all the other generations have caught on to this feeling.

This ugly feeling is what makes people make the kind of decision they make rather than financially and psychologically, like buying a new iPhone every time it releases another version.

In the same way, if you are to make a video that ignites this very feeling in the hearts of the viewers, you are guaranteed to receive twice more than the number of followers you have. Buying followers on TikTok also might help in your efforts for baby videos to go viral as the algorithm rewards following growth.

This is not to say FOMO is necessarily negative. But there are other emotions that play as big a role if not better.

They are aspirations, admirations. If you are to show the best side of your baby, couples expecting a baby are more prone to watch it.

How does playing with positive emotions work?

Playing with emotions means teasing them with the good sides of what you are having. If you intend to make the baby videos go viral on TikTok. Then show the good sides.

Wren.eleanor — TikTok channel example- *credit to @wren.eleanor*

Film the moments when they are cute and are doing something that is out of the ordinary. Something that may make the audience interested in the idea of what it is like to have a baby.

You can consider success when your videos convince people to have a baby. While this is really difficult to do, it should be the bar you are aiming to hit.

Making baby videos go viral then comes down to this one point. It is how well you can fire up that emotion.

However, that should not just be limited to shooting. Including great music that affects the subconscious is another great way to make any video go viral.

If you have ever spent some time on TikTok then you perhaps came across a similar or the same song more than once in one session.

When songs go viral onTikTokthey go viral like crazy and be everywhere. Of course, you will need to filter that music out to find what fits best for baby videos on TikTok.

But the tactic is the same and it works for every other type of video as well.

TikTok challenges and trends

There are numerous challenges on TikTok all the time. From hashtags challenges to trends to challenges encouraged by celebrities and influencers.

Taking part in those challenges helps your content with discoverability and depending on the content, its engagement might make it go viral.

It also depends on how well you utilize the tricks above and those below that are about to come.

Because just those are enough to make baby videos go viral on TikTok or any other video for that matter.

Have you ever heard about the Ugli baby challenge?

You perhaps did not. But if you did you know how a lot of creators went viral due to their content.

But those were just the type of content that actually would have gone viral regardless of the trend. This is not to take away anything from the trends which we so highly spoke of.

But to add to the importance of the point we are about to make next. It is that originality plays a huge role.

Whether you want to make your baby videos go viral on TikTok or make your business known. Original content is the type that attracts people.

Originality doesn’t mean without edits and poor quality resolution and poor aesthetics. It just means it is you, and your baby in the video.

Unlike other platforms, TikTok is not that evergreen. If you are to post something or follow along on a challenge, you are to be vigilant and keep doing that again and again.

The untold secret of viral videos on TikTok

The untold secret of going viral on TikTok is that you need to make an impact as soon as someone sees your content.

Chloeboboey — TikTok channel example – *credit to @chloeboboey*

This means you will need to make a video that captures the attention of a person within seconds. Which is why we call this secret “The Seconds Secret”.

For example, when you are surfing on TikTok, have you ever skipped a video just because it wasn’t interesting and engaging. I’d argue you do this a lot, and perhaps all the time.

Well, you are not the only person who does this. That is why when you are creating a video you should think about it from the perspective of the user.

If you can’t keep them for three seconds you can’t keep them at all.

Thus, focus overly hard on the beginning of the video and how it affects the viewers. Because once they stay, chances are they will watch it till the end.

Plus, longer watch times send signals to the algorithm that your content is interesting and is worth watching. And the algorithm will recommend it to many other users as well.

Making baby videos go viral takes this content even more literally. Because an average TikTok user is not interested in watching babies, especially the Zoomers or the youngest generation.

Although TikTok initially was known for its young demographics, nowadays it has been balanced a little bit with the inclusion of millennials.

This means baby videos will be of more interest to those older demographics, which makes it even more necessary to make the dazzling intros into each and every one of your videos.

Video is the most powerful communications technology on the planet. And, if you are looking for ways to make your videos better, Larry Jordan’s tutorials are a great resource: https://larryjordan.com/free-tutorials/

To wrap up

Before summing up, it is important that we mention like many blogs do that choosing a niche, and working on high-quality content is also important.

Those tips and advice have become so cliche that this article focused on the more psychological part of making any video go viral including baby videos on TikTok.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how you get views, it just matters you get them.

However, by following these three tips you increase the chances of getting views organically and in a way that will increase the chances of engagement.

How to Have a Happy (and Calm) Holiday Season

We all know what it’s like to be simultaneously looking forward to the holiday season and also dreading all of the stress that comes along with it. You’re not alone if the holidays stress you out; tons of people suffer not only from Seasonal Affective Disorder, and the stress of planning for big holidays compounds on top of that. Thankfully there are ways to minimize your stress levels during this hectic time of year, so you can focus on what matters most – and that’s spending time making precious memories with your children and other loved ones. Let’s dive into how to get that done so you can have not only a happy but a calm holiday season this year.

Recognize The Realities

Right off the bat, one of the easiest things you can do to simplify your holiday stress levels is recognizing that some of the negative stress is expected, and some of it is even positive stress. Some people thrive under deadlines and workloads, so if you have a little bit of that in you, expand on it and get things done! After all, as mothers, we’re used to juggling many balls at once, so embrace the season and its ups and downs. And remember, the outcome is priceless as we get to see the joy on our kid’s faces, we have memories we will cherish for a lifetime, and we get to eat all that delicious food we’re cooking, too! If you can recognize that things will get hectic as soon as Halloween is over and will stay somewhat chaotic until New Year is an easy way to try and go with the crazy flow!

Give Gifts Differently

Another area to take a load off yourself is taking a look at giving gifts differently this year than you may be used to. Instead of spending a small fortune on each child and all the things they’ve been asking for, try to pare it down. Consider giving experiences over physical gifts. For example, you could travel with kids to a place they’ve never been to. Or you could try gifting the kids one item they want, one thing they need, something to wear, and something to read. Christmas doesn’t always invoke the spirit of minimalism, but it’s worth considering if you want to take some of the last-minute running around and shopping off your plate. When it comes to buying for other adults in your life, you could talk to them and see if you all want to forego gifts this year. If you still want to shop for other adults, keep it simple with consumables like wine or subscriptions to services they would use.

Do You Need All That Decor?

One thing that not only takes a lot of money but additionally a ton of your time during the holiday season is all the decorating you do. While it’s essential to think of fun, creative and eco-friendly ways to decorate for the holidays (after all, your kids love it), do you need to go all out on every room and table? Not only does it take a lot of time to set up, think of all the time spent taking it down! So, while, of course, you don’t want to skip out on carving pumpkins and trimming a Christmas tree, rethink how much decorating you need to make things fun and festive.

Guard Your Mental Health

One of the most important things that will keep the holidays calm and happy is if you guard your emotional well-being during this time. You can do this through simple things like making sure you get enough rest and eating a healthy diet. Of course, you’re going to indulge in the sweet treats all around you, but making sure the rest of your meals and snacks are nutritious and balanced is critical. Another way to protect your mental health is being picky about parties. That’s right, and you don’t have to RSVP “yes” to every event you’re invited to. And, when it comes to hosting and planning your events, keep things simple – people are there to see you and your family and create memories, don’t add stress by trying to throw a party with too many unnecessary details.

The holidays are a magical time of year, but when you think about why, it’s for the simpler reasons – twinkling lights, hot cocoa, seeing snowfall. Try to remember the beauty and simplicity of the season as you implement the above tips. Happy Holidays!

Tips for Finding the Right Home for Mom and Dad

It is nearly impossible to pay back our parents for everything they have done for us. The sacrifices they made helped run not only society but also shape the lives of all around them. However, as they age, once strong and capable men and women become fragile and require personalized care. This reality necessitates searching for an alternative living solution to cater to their medical, physiological, and psychological needs. Statistics today show approximately 1.4 million individuals in nursing, assisted, and independent living nursing institutions. Moreover, the senior care industry earned $976.2 billion in the year 2020 alone. Since the services offered created a profitable business opportunity, it is imperative to identify traits that distinguish technologically advanced quality homes from substandard care institutes.

Look for senior living facilities utilizing the latest software designed to improve resident engagement and the patient experience. For example, today’s market has centers that cater to chronic ailments such as orthopedic, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular conditions that affect the elderly in society. Essentially, one has to ascertain the home’s ability to accommodate a client’s medical needs. Typically, this quality can be tested by how well equipped the nursing home is. For example, most institutions offer mobile medical equipment used when providing assistive care or patient transport. However, there is a need for adequate provision of oxygen tanks, medication, gurney alongside medically trained staff certified by the state and federal healthcare bodies. In addition, the ideal homes tend to have modernized devices such as wrist bands that aid in monitoring the client’s movements, heart rate, level of activity, and diet. These gadgets also offer alerts on any abnormal break-in pattern in the care regimen or treatment option selected. Therefore, one has to seek out the available medical equipment to ensure effective treatment for elderly patients.

The wheelchair has also advanced to integrate technology for effective senior care. Nurse attendants use these mobile medical tools to ferry people from one place to another within a nursing home. However, as technology progresses, the chairs are now equipped with monitoring software that furthers telemedicine to implement more specific medical interventions. This device can be seamlessly introduced into home-based care. The sophisticated chair uses biosensors to monitor and measure vitals such as blood pressure, electrocardiogram levels, temperature, heart auscultations, blood oxygen levels, and breathing. Furthermore, it can evaluate the patient’s diet through monitoring food intake and medication regimens. Though this option is reserved for elderly patients in need of intensive care, it can be applied to any individual to deliver personalized attention.

Senior citizen homes should also have advanced monitoring systems which track the client’s movements. Most people are against camera surveillance over privacy concerns. However, some institutions offer discreet sensors that record and track individuals along with their daily routines. These gadgets are placed at different positions within the nursing home, alerting personnel to any anomaly detected. The integration of sensors also provides a platform for two-way video conferencing between the residing attendants and their patients. This advanced cellular technology enables seamless interaction, monitoring, and evaluation to necessitate any treatment plan or medication change.

Nursing homes should also have automated drug dispensing services. Technology has exponentially advanced this activity by creating intelligent medication solutions through telemedicine and software integrated into a pillbox. These tools are connected to the internet, which allows them to send reports to the physician and patient on medication routine appropriate for the client. This avenue works through alerts and warnings on non-compliance to reduce non-adherence levels among elderly patients. Some institutions also have dispensers that provide pre-packaged medication at the selected interval pointed out in the treatment plan. These pouches follow a designated pattern that alerts the client and the attending physician when the pattern is broken. Therefore, these alternatives streamline medical attention and drug adherence through technology.

In conclusion, geriatric care has received significant assistance from technology. Clients looking for a good nursing home looked only for activities, diet preparation, comfort, services, hygiene levels, and a welcome policy for all who desire to visit. However, technological advances now provide patients with privacy by eliminating cameras and unnecessary monitoring. Additionally, integrating sensors into wheelchairs and medical wristbands enables medical assessment, thereby minimizing the risk of medical negligence or fatigue from attendants. These qualities are crucial for a senior living facility. Finally, technology gives the patient control over their surroundings and creates an open communication channel to the physicians within the home and the world outside the walls.

How to Raise a Healthy Dog

Statistics show that 95.5% of dog owners consider their pets to be a part of their family. A companion to play outside with and lounge on the couch with. Dogs can be a calming presence in a busy home and give more than they take. Keep reading to learn a few tips on how to raise a healthy dog to live a long life with you and your family.

Proper Nutrition

What your dog eats will have an effect on how long it will live. Many dog owners overfeed or underfeed their dogs, so learning the proper amount based on your dog’s breed and their activity level is important. A young labrador may eat more than an older German Shepard. There are many different brands to choose from, so finding a fit that agrees with your dog’s digestive and gut health is key. Be careful when switching brands of food, as your dog may take time to adjust to the new recipe.

Focus on Regular Exercise

Like humans, dogs need regular exercise. They are active pets and are not meant to be sedentary for 20 hours a day. This exercise can come in many different forms. First, you can take them for a walk. This is an easy solution that you can build into your morning and evening routine. It also lets you keep track that they exercised for 20 minutes in the morning and 40 minutes in the evening. The dog will appreciate the routine as well and come to expect it as a part of their day.

Keep up on Grooming

Have you ever seen a pet that has been ungroomed? Do they look healthy? The lack of grooming not only affects the outward appearance of a dog but can have damaging effects on its skin. Dirt, moisture, and bacteria can build up and cause issues if it is not addressed. One way to avoid this is to groom your dog regularly. This includes brushing their fur every few days and regularly bathing them yourself or taking them to a pet place that does grooming. In addition, trying salmon bites for dogs regularly can help them maintain a healthy coat and skin. This will supplement the grooming that you are already doing and help their skin stay healthy long-term.

Interaction with other Dogs

Dogs crave social attention and not all of this can be solved by the owner giving them attention. This can be achieved by going to the local dog park or getting together with family and friends that also have dogs and letting them play for a few hours. This will help break up the mundane day-to-day for your dog since they don’t travel to work and other places like humans do. There is a new sense of energy and discovery whenever dogs meet for the first time and get to play together.

Proper Amount of Attention

Neglected dogs are a difficult sight to see. You probably have seen the result of this in rescue shelters or maybe even in your neighborhood. People that are too busy to care for a dog or no longer want it, typically don’t treat them with respect. Giving your dog the right amount of attention so that it feels loved and cared for is an important part of its overall health. Rewarding good behavior and finding ways to calmly address poor behavior will help the relationship between you and your dog.

Vet Checkups

Humans typically go for a yearly physical to see a picture of their overall health. This same concept is important for dogs to go to the vet. Not only can they get the preventative flea medication they need or the rabies shot, but you can also see what their overall health is like. You may find that your dog is overweight and needs to make nutritional and exercise changes moving forward.

Practice Patience

Dog — A dog is looking straight to its owner

Dogs are not humans. As much as they feel like they are a part of the family, owners can have unrealistic expectations of how the dog will act. They are an animal and will occasionally go crazy with energy when they spot a squirrel. Chasing the neighbor’s cat up a tree is a burst of adrenaline for them and seems harmless. Practicing being patient when teaching your dog how you expect them to act will help the process go smoother for both you and the dog.
Now that you have read more about tips for raising a healthy dog, you can start practicing these tips today. Adding a walk into your day with your dog can bring many positive benefits to both of your health. Check out our website for more helpful articles like this one.

Things You Can Do with Your Kids Outside

If you are not the most athletic and adventurous person in the world, you might be wondering what you can do to get your kids out of the house and away from that PlayStation. You could always just take it away. But that doesn’t seem like a winning move. What You want to do is better motivate them rather than bully them into living a healthier lifestyle. Sometimes, raising smart, healthy, confident children requires more negotiation. The type of negotiation depends largely on their age. You can just force a child to go play outside if they are young enough. But that strategy does not scale well and often backfires in tragic ways.

Your best bet is to lead by example. You are always the first role model your kids see in the morning and the last before they go to bed. If you have no interest in outdoor activities, they will be less likely to develop such interests. That means you have to find something outdoors that keeps you coming back for more. Better still, you can find ways to kindle outdoor passion with your kids. It is not about what you do individually, but what you do together. Here are a few suggestions that will get you on the right path:

Add an Outdoor Kitchen

Outdoor kitchens are all the rage. They can serve to add value to your home and be the spark that gets you and your family outside a lot more often. You don’t have to wait for special occasions to have a cookout. You can enjoy a barbecue anytime you like. Birthdays will be a lot more fun. And it will be a lot easier to have guests that are happy to be there, as opposed to just fulfilling a social obligation.

Don’t stop with the kitchen. While you have the contractor’s attention, build a gazebo or deck. Furnish it like a park, or like a beachside cabana. It is perfectly okay to be as whimsical as you like. If none of those ideas strike your fancy, craft a putt-putt golf course through your backyard. You don’t need 18 holes and an animated gorilla to have a fun place for your kids and their friends. Use part of the yard to plant a tomato garden with your kids. They will be hooked the first moment they pick a fruit they actually grew themselves. If you want to get the kids outdoors, start with your own backyard. Everyone loves an outdoor kitchen.

Camping

Do you know what else you can do in your backyard with your kids? Camping, that’s what. It is surprising how easy it is to transform your backyard into something new and exotic just by pitching a tent. When you are ready to take your camping to the next level, there are countless destinations within easy reach of wherever you happen to live.

You are definitely going to need some basic equipment for a first-time camper. One thing many take for granted is how incredibly uncomfortable the ground is when used as a bed. So be sure to bring good bedding made for camping. Don’t let anyone cajole you into roughing it in a way that is extreme and unhealthy. You will enjoy the outdoors a lot more if you are dry, warm, and comfortable. Experience it that way, and you’ll want to experience it again.

Photography

Photography might be the most fun way to enjoy the outdoors because it encompasses many interests. You can photograph everything from live sports to birds and insects. Photography might take you on the water in a canoe on a quiet lake. You don’t want anything that could tip you and your camera gear into the drink. If you are into adventure such as rock climbing, someone has to take pictures. After all, pictures, or it didn’t happen. When you can get your kids interested in photographing the world, they will want to be out in the thick of it all the time.

You might have trouble sending your kids outside. But you won’t have any trouble taking them with you outside if you add an outdoor kitchen, take them camping – the kind that doesn’t involve roughing it too much, and nurture their interest in photography. That is truly the Trojan horse of the outdoors lifestyle.

5 Things to Do Before Dropping Your Teen Off at College

While you’re excited for your child to be embarking on their new life as a college student, it can be overwhelming and stressful at the same time. Whether you’re traveling from the Illinois area where you live to another state or your child is staying in the local dorms it can be confusing.

The last few weeks and even days before you drop your teen off at the dorms can be rushed. If you’re looking to go the extra mile in those last few weeks, then try the following things long before you head out on your trip.

1. Take Them to the Doctor and Dentist

Growing up, your child’s health was always your top concern, and that doesn’t change just because they’re leaving the nest.

If your teen is going far away from home and won’t be home until winter break, go ahead and make an appointment with their doctor and one of the Oak Park dentists if you are near Chicago, or one in your area. This will give you peace of mind in knowing your child is in great health before they start their new life as a college student.

Dentist — The dentist is examining the patient while using the help of RTG record

2. Teach Them How to Do Their Own Laundry

While some teens have been doing washing their own clothes for years, many haven’t been. If you’ve always done your child’s laundry for them, take the time now to show them how to separate their whites from their darks, how to wash them, and how to fold them as well.

It’s best to have them wash a least a couple of loads themselves before they leave.

3. Go Shopping

While you may have already gotten the laptop, books, and other items needed for classroom time, you also need to go shopping for essentials for dorm life.

Clothes, sheets, dishes, coffee makers, and more should be on your list of necessities to help your child settle into college without a lot of stress.

Not only will you be picking up the things your child needs to be a happy while away from home, but it’ll also give you time to spend an entire day together before he or she heads off to the dorms.

4. Have a Family Dinner

It’s long been known that family dinners are beneficial to the entire family. If this isn’t something your family normally does, or even if it is, scheduling a special family dinner at home or at a restaurant right before they leave is a nice touch.

It gives your family time to catch up and talk about how exciting going away to college is, gives you time to be together and just bond the way a family should.

5. Pack Gifts to Open When…

Most kids at college for the first time get homesick at some point. If you’re worried this is going to happen to your teen, pack some gifts for them to open at certain times.

For example, one gift could be to open when they’re bored, another for when they’re lonely, and yet another for when they are under stress. Don’t forget one for when they’re low on cash. The types of gifts can vary but should be appropriate for the moment and mood they’re in.

Not only will these little gifts help them get through their first weeks away, but it also shows them just how much you care and are thinking of them while they’re gone. After all, it’s the little moments that count with family, don’t you think?

Going off to college can be scary for you and your teen. Doing these few things in the weeks leading up to them going away will help you keep organized and do things together before the day arrives that your chick flies the coop.

7 Tips for Getting Into Drumming

If you are thinking of learning how to play the drums, you may also be asking questions about how you can learn to drum as a part of a band or what the best and easiest drum songs to get started with will be. Like the majority of tasks in life, when it comes to getting started with drumming, the first steps can often be the most challenging. But if you are enthusiastic about getting into drumming, it’s going to be this that motivates you to put in the necessary practice and reach your full potential as a drummer, even if right now, it’s completely new to you. Read on to find out more about the basic information that you need to get started with building a solid foundation for the best possible drumming experience.

Getting the Right Equipment

To get started with drumming, you will first need to invest in the right equipment. At the least, this will include a pair of drum sticks, a playing surface, and the right materials for practicing including sheet music exercises and rudiments. For those who are completely new to drumming, the first piece of drum equipment that you can use is actually your own body! You can get started with hand drumming, whether that involves tapping on your thighs or using a pillow. Tap along to your favorite songs and stay focused on playing along with the drummer. If you don’t have access to sheet music, you can still practice keeping up with a steady tempo, which involves alternating between tapping with your right and left hands.

Getting Started with Learning

Once you have all the equipment that you need and have gotten to grips with some of the basic drum notations, it’s time to start practicing. Just like any other skill that you can learn, good practice habits are essential to getting better at what you do. Start out with some easy drum songs for beginners and essential drum beats, and master these before you move on to anything more complex. Pirate.com has some great information on getting started with drumming, including posts on how to hold drumsticks; this is a great guide for beginners when it comes to getting the technique right. You can also use Pirate.com’s recording studios around the world to create professional music that you can listen back to and hear your progress.

Reading Drum Sheet Music

To get good at drumming, it is a good idea to learn how to read drum notation. Most drummers are also expected to know how to read sheet music. This is typically a requirement if you are in a professional ensemble such as a school concert band, jazz band, marching band, and more. Understanding drum sheet music can be your secret weapon and help you get more opportunities for making music. Drum notation is simpler than you might realize. Once you have the basics down, you will begin to find it easier to apply the knowledge to a range of more advanced concepts. For beginners to drumming, it’s important to start out with reading very easy and simple starter drum rhythms, before you move on to something more intermediate and complex.

Start Out Simple

It’s best to get started with something simple and easy to master. For example, you can start practicing drumming exercises that use a combination of quarter notes and quarter rests, with all the notes played on just one drum. Before you start to play them on the drums, it is a good idea to read the rhythmic exercises out load, since this will help to strengthen the connection between your limbs and your brain along with getting you more mentally prepared for the exercise. In addition, by reading out the exercise before you play it, you will have a better chance at locating any rhythms that you might find challenging so that you can spend more time working them out beforehand. When you’re starting out with rhythms, focus on the coordination of your left and right hands, making sure that you are playing in time with a metronome.

Coordinating Your Limbs

Many beginners to drumming will have trouble coordinating all three limbs, so to make this easier for yourself as you start out, you can break the exercise down to only focus on two limbs at a time. Before you start to put all three together again, make sure that you are comfortable with each limb combination. Eventually, as you practice and become more coordinated as a drummer, you will want to start introducing some fourth limb practice – the hi-hat pedal foot. Like you did with your hands and foot, you should also start out with some very basic simple exercises to get used to coordinating all four limbs before you start learning more advanced beats.

Get the Techniques Right

Drums are played by a professional drummer

As you practice, it is important to make sure that you are checking in with the techniques that you are using to ensure you’re using the right ones. For example, as you are practicing, keep making sure that you are holding the sticks correctly. You can work with a drum teacher or tutor who can check your progress and offer feedback or use one of the many online guides and videos that are now available to help people teach themselves drumming and get good at it.

Practice Makes Perfect

No matter how good you get at drumming in the end, any good drummer knows that practice makes perfect no matter what level they are at. No matter where you are headed, you can practice drumming by tapping on your thighs or carrying a pair of sticks with you so that you can work on beats as much as possible. Once you have mastered drumming on your own, you may want to consider practicing as part of a band – if you have friends who play musical instruments, practicing together can be a great way to learn how to coordinate your skills with other musicians and a lot of fun too.

Drumming is a fun skill to learn and as a drummer, you’ll be needed in all types of bands. Keep these tips in mind to get started, even if you have never played drums before.