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Mindless eating often goes hand-in-hand with watching TV, but does what you watch affect how much you eat? Researchers found that action shows prompted people to eat twice as much as talk shows. Sad programs are also more likely to make you pile on the calories compared to upbeat programs and comedies. Source Link

You face them during every clothes closet cleanout – that pair of jeans or swimsuit that’s too small but you keep as a motivator to lose weight. But if that piece of clothing makes you feel ashamed about your body shape or size, it’s time for it to go. Should you reach a new milestone in weight or size, you can always reward yourself with a shopping trip. Source Link

These myths about healthy eating need to be crossed off your menu plan. Frozen or canned vegetables are as nutritious as fresh, white rice is just slightly lower in fiber than brown rice and microwaving doesn’t zap all of the nutrients in food. And processed convenience foods like frozen dinners can be a nutritious alternative to meal prep kits. Source Link

Money may buy you happiness, but it depends on whether you enjoy an instant high or long-lasting comfort. Experts say purchasing something like a car with lasting value can give you long-term happiness, while spending money on experiences like a concert or a vacation can provide more-intense but short-term joy. Source Link

A warehouse store lets you buy in bulk at a great price but what products can stand the test of time on your shelves? Canned or dried beans, frozen fish, pasta and butter that’s been frozen are among the best long-term buys. Paper products like toilet paper and paper towels are also less expensive when bought in bulk and they’re easy to store. Source Link

You don’t need an expensive bag of ice melt to keep driveways, steps and porches slip-free. Dissolve rock salt or table salt in a bucket of warm water and use a garden sprayer to hit those slick spots, or use a 60-40 mix of vinegar and water. And you can melt ice on a windshield by spraying it with a 50-50 mix of rubbing alcohol and water. Source Link

Tin foil isn’t just for cooking or leftovers. Fold a 12-inch long sheet of heavy-duty tin foil into six layers and cut with a pair of scissors to sharpen them or line an ironing board cover with tin foil to press both sides of an item at the same time. And a ball of crumpled tin foil can be used with soap and water to scrub burnt-on food from pots and pans. Source Link

Timing may be important to keep your bedtime routine from interfering with sleep. Instead of turning on a bright bathroom light to brush your teeth or wash your face just before bed, do those things before you begin your wind-down. That way, you’ll be ready to get into bed and fall asleep as soon as you get drowsy. Source Link

Try these simple steps to make wearing earbuds or headphones safer for your ears. Turn down the background noise to avoid turning up the volume and take a five-minute listening break every 30 minutes to reduce the risk of hearing damage. And use over-the-ear headphones for more protection from outside noise. Source Link

The average American spends five hours a day looking down at their phone and that can cause tight muscles and serious pain known as “tech neck.” The condition may require medication, physical therapy, steroid injections, or even surgery in the worst cases. The solution is to hold your phone at eye level as much as possible. Source Link

Doing your grocery shopping online could help you save money in several ways. It stops impulse buying in the store and lets you easily compare items from different brands. And you’ll have a better handle on what you’re spending because an online grocery cart keeps track of the total cost as you fill it. Source Link

How you answer your phone could put you at-risk for being hacked. Because scammers can easily clone your voice with a phone recording, don’t say “hello” when answering. Better yet, don’t say anything and let the caller speak first. The best defense is to not answer calls from unknown numbers. If it’s important, they’ll leave an email. Source Link

There are a number of simple ways you can fight a fever at home. Try lukewarm baths, stick to a single layer of light clothing and resist the urge to crawl under a heavy blanket when you have fever chills. And drink more fluids like water, juice, broth or decaffeinated tea with honey. Source Link 

Simple activities may help you cope with grief after losing a loved one. This could be completing a task, getting enough sleep, dining out, connecting with a friend, or spending time with family. Research showed that these uplifts helped just about everyone, regardless of age or financial status. Source Link 

The 90-90 Rule may help you declutter that overstuffed closet one season at a time. Ask yourself if you’ve worn an item in the past 90 days or if you plan to wear it in the next 90 days. If both answers are “no,” it’s probably a seasonal item you no longer need or something that needs to move out to make way for this season’s clothes. Source Link

Here are some natural ways to keep your home smelling fresh. Avoid the lingering aroma of fried fish by adding a dollop of peanut butter to the oil first. An open bowl of white vinegar can absorb many kitchen odors and a spray bottle filled with unflavored vodka can be used to kill odor-causing bacteria on smelly clothing. Source Link

Your smartphone has a built-in feature to help filter out noise from things like nearby office conversations. On an iPhone, go to Settings, Accessibility, and Audio and Visual to choose from Background Sounds to mask the noise. On Android phones, say, “Hey Google, play ambient sounds” or “play rain sounds.” Source Link

There are several ways to make a new habit stick. Think ahead and visualize the benefits and track progress, but not perfection to keep from discouraging yourself. Embrace the power of scheduling to carve out specific times to do your new activity and be ready to reevaluate and refine your goals to continue to make progress. Source Link