BusinessVoice News Network

Sleeping in a bedroom that isn’t black as night could be making you blue. Researchers found a strong association between even low-level nighttime light exposure and depressive symptoms. Seeing any light at night might throw off the body’s internal clock and change hormonal functions in the brain and that could lead to psychological problems. Source Link

When you’re wondering if your child has an unhealthy relationship with social media, ask these questions. Do they do anything significant each day besides going to school or spending time on screens, and how many hours a day do they use social media? Also ask yourself, does your child have a very hard time stopping, and does social media interfere with their sleep, homework or general daily functions. Source Link

You can put a “halt” to overeating by spelling out that word every time you reach for food. Are you H for hungry, A for angry, L for lonely, or T for tired? Only hunger should lead you to eat, and using the HALT method may prevent overeating and help to teach you to be introspective and identify what you’re feeling before you eat. Source Link 

Online grocery shopping may be more convenient, but there’s a way it’s not so healthy. Many grocery websites don’t make it easy to see nutritional information for products. The surge in online grocery buying got ahead of any government rules about displaying nutritional information on a website or an app. Source Link

If push comes to shove, what’s your financial survival number? Find it by totaling the cost of rent or mortgage and utilities, groceries, dining out, transportation, household costs, clothing, health care and entertainment. Then take everything that isn’t a fixed cost and cut it down to the bare minimum. Source Link

You’ve tried banging on the lid to open that stubborn jar and it’s not working, but there are other techniques that might open things up. Holding a dish towel or wearing rubber gloves while you open the jar can give you more gripping power and sometimes you can loosen the lid by slapping the base of the jar with an open palm. Source Link

A summer heat wave can be hard on your heart, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart disease or are obese. Triple-digit high temperatures may double the number of deaths from heart disease and strokes can be more severe. Staying hydrated is important and don’t wait until you feel thirsty. Drink water regularly throughout a hot day. Source Link 

Getting rid of apps you don’t use can pay big dividends. It saves space on your phone or tablet, keeps you from scrolling through endless screens and reduces the risk of security breaches. Make a list of apps you use every day and work back from that to find what can go. And remember to close out accounts online as well as deleting the app. Source Link

Try the “90-90” rule to decide what stays and what goes when you want to thin out your wardrobe. For each item, ask yourself if you used it in the past 90 days, or if you’re likely to use it in the next 90 days. If the answers to both questions are “no,” then it can go. And make the next step easier by keeping a box in your closet where you can toss items that are going away. Source Link

If you’re prone to dialing calls with your derriere, you might blame it on the voice that runs your smartphone. Using helpers like Apple’s Siri or Google Assistant can make a butt dial more likely, so check the sensitivity settings. And be sure to set your lock screen to trigger immediately before you slip that phone into your hip pocket. Source Link

Setting up for tomorrow the night before can give you more time to make the morning start right. When you lay out tomorrow’s clothes, set a timer for that pot of coffee and get out the pan to cook your eggs, you have fewer decisions to make first thing in the morning. And that gives you time to make your bed and create a calm, uncluttered setting when you come home from work. Source Link

Skin cancer is the most common type and you can stay on-guard by remembering your A-B-Cs and D-E-Fs. Look for a mole that’s asymmetrical, has a border with ragged edges, a color that’s uneven, a diameter larger than a pencil eraser or is elevated or raised. If you see any of these in a monthly self-check then it’s time to visit a dermatologist. Source Link 

There are some telltale signs that you might be a victim of identity theft. If a merchant refuses your check or that monthly bill you’re expecting never comes in the mail, or you get a credit card you didn’t open, your personal information may be compromised. Experts say keeping a close eye on bank statements and bills is the best defense. Source Link

Here’s the right way to use the crisper drawers in your fridge. Set one for low humidity for items like apples, avocados, ripe bananas, melons and mangoes. The high humidity drawer will keep leafy produce fresh, along with broccoli, carrots, peppers, strawberries and watermelon. And try to keep each drawer at least two-thirds full to get the best performance from it. Source Link

How about a diet that can take off pounds and maybe add more years to your life? Studies have shown that low-fat diets in general can help prevent heart attacks and premature deaths, but one stands above the rest. The Mediterranean diet that’s heavy on fish, vegetables and good fats from olive oil and nuts may lower the risk of heart attack and stroke. Source Link

You don’t need to hover over the volume control for your TV to avoid when the sound gets too loud in a movie or TV show. You might have a “night mode” setting on the TV to reduce the difference between loud and softer parts of the soundtrack. And with a three-channel sound bar or set of speakers you can adjust the volume of the center channel that carries most of the dialogue. Source Link

There are some things you should never do on a work computer in the office or at home. Assume that all of your activity can be monitored by the boss, so don’t use desktop folders or work accounts like email or Google Docs to keep personal records. The same is true for personal passwords and don’t try to remove any security software. Source Link

A potato can be mashed, baked, cut into fries, or kept with other household cleaners. A sliced raw potato rubbed on clothing can be a stain remover, or dip the cut side into baking soda or dish soap to clean away rust. Soak tarnished silverware in water that was used to boil potatoes or rub a piece of raw potato on hands that are stained by beets or berries. Source Link