BusinessVoice News Network

A lost or broken smartphone can turn your life upside down, so take a few simple steps to stay connected to your digital world. A sturdy case can lessen the risk that a drop could disable your phone. Use cloud backup for your contacts and photos, and enable location services but adjust the access that apps can have to your location in the settings for privacy. Source Link

Try these hacks to make better use of household tools you already have. A vegetable peeler can shave thin slices of onion faster than slicing and the hole in that spaghetti spoon helps you measure one portion. And wedging the teeth of a staple remover into a key ring can make it easier to slide on a new key. Source Link

Your water bottle needs to be cleaned every day to keep you safe from germs. Start by choosing a metal or glass bottle with a wide mouth that makes cleaning easier. Bottles with a straw collect less bacteria than those with a slide top. And don’t use a disposable plastic bottle because the ridges in it make cleaning difficult. Source Link

A free online tool will help you fight back quickly when you’re the victim of identity theft. The website IdentityTheft.gov run by the Federal Trade Commission helps you create a personal recovery plan and the paperwork needed to undo the effects of identity theft. It also offers advice on specific kinds of fraud, like credit card theft. Source Link

Can the “work-life” balance we strive for on the job also be a goal when you’re on vacation? Set aside a portion of every vacation day for downtime like a nap, lounging by the pool, reading or doing puzzles. Make mealtimes more leisurely beginning with breakfast and trim that “must-do” list because you’ll still have a great vacation even if you don’t see everything. Source Link

Your kitchen drain is no place for disposing of fats from cooking, so try these alternatives. Line a bowl with foil, pour the grease in it, let it cool and then toss out the wrapped foil. You can do the same “pour and toss” with a resealable plastic bag. Or pour grease into an empty can, let it harden and put the can in the trash. Source Link

Here’s how to get back on-track when a New Year’s pledge to get in shape is fizzling even before February is finished. Adjust your exercise goals to make them manageable for the long haul. And if weight loss is your target, consider professional help to create a successful diet plan. Source Link 

You can organize your fridge from top to bottom for convenience and better use of space. Place ready-to-eat foods like salads, fruit or leftovers on the top shelf and raw meat, seafood or poultry on the bottom shelf in sealed containers. Store priority foods somewhere highly visible but don’t put milk in the door because the opening and closing can prevent it from keeping it cool. Source Link

When your mind is buzzing as you’re heading to sleep, try some mental exercises to get down to drowsiness. List all the vegetables you can think of or count backward from 300 in threes. The goal isn’t to finish but to bore your brain into submission with something mildly challenging so there’s less room to linger on anxieties or worries. Source Link

Looking for a natural energy boost that’s not caffeinated? Hazelnuts, cashews or almonds are rich in magnesium, and whole eggs are packed with protein and B vitamins, which help convert food into energy. Fresh fruit can also provide natural sugar along with beneficial fiber and vitamin C from oranges, kiwi, mangoes, pineapple or strawberries. Source Link

Don’t believe everything you’ve heard about getting good sleep. Exercising within four hours of bedtime can release endorphins to ease stress that can interfere with sleep. You can get good sleep any time of the day as long as you do it in a dark room and it takes at least 15 to 20 minutes to fall asleep, so don’t expect to be out as soon as your head hits the pillow. Source Link

Here are some warning signs that your vacation rental may be a scam. Do a reverse image search on photos that seem too good to be true and see if they’re stock images and pause if a rental price is a lot lower than nearby listings. Don’t be rushed by a host who needs an immediate decision and never pay with gift cards, a cash app, crypto or a certified check. Source Link

You’ve decided to spend less time online and here’s how to begin the log off. Treat your internet use like intermittent fasting by going online only during set hours and not every day. If you’re doom scrolling, ask yourself if it makes you feel good or more angry or anxious. And use a free service like Pocket to save articles for later reading to free you up from having to see it right now. Source Link

There’s a lot you hear that’s not true, so let’s debunk some common myths about organ donation. You will not pay a fee to donate an organ and a doctor won’t fail to resuscitate a donor just to have an organ to harvest. And your lifespan won’t automatically be shorter because you’ve donated a kidney or part of your liver. Source Link

A simple shift in the way you look at your money might help you stop living from paycheck to paycheck. Make a savings account the first thing you fund instead of the last after all your bills are paid. Any use zero-based budgeting that allocates every dollar to savings, paying bills or for spending money. Source Link

There’s a way to read a book that has more benefits for your brain. Instead of reading for a goal of learning or finishing in a certain time, “mindful reading” focuses on the pleasure so you remain fully present and understand what you’re reading. It’s best done with a paper book because reading on a phone or tablet has distractions like notifications and the urge to multitask. Source Link

You can combat procrastination by committing to a schedule rather than a deadline. The idea of being “in the zone” is a myth because the best way to get work done is to commit to a schedule and stick to it, even if you don’t feel like it. Maybe you can only spend a few minutes on a task, but that’s better than skipping it altogether. Source Link

Cracking your knuckles is a common habit that’s often discouraged because people believe it can cause arthritis. But studies have shown that knuckle cracking is not associated with an increased risk of injury. It may be annoying for others, but cracking your knuckles isn’t likely to cause any long-term damage. Source Link