ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

How to Upgrade Your Period Property

How to Upgrade Your Period Property

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We all dream of a period property. Living somewhere with a sense of history, gorgeous original features, and high, airy ceilings is many people’s ideal home situation. But period properties can be difficult to upgrade. You want to make the most out of your home – as with any other big investment – while at the same time ensuring that you maintain and look after the features that made you fall in love with it in the first place. If you’re looking for some ways to make your period property more efficient and practical for you and your family’s lifestyle then read on.

1.       Windows

You lose 20% of your home’s heating through poor-quality glass which is badly insulated. But the windows of a period property are one of its most enticing features, so how do you keep the glorious aesthetic of your home and at the same time improve your energy efficiency? Try looking for Replacement Windows that are in keeping with the look of your home and, at the same time, can provide you with eco-friendly and durable windows that are exactly designed to meet your specifications. Work with experts in window-fitting and you won’t regret upgrading your windows for both the look and feel of your home.

2.       Electricity

There are some clear signs that it might be time to replace your home’s electrical wiring. In all likelihood, it was built in a time before electricity was commonplace, which means that the wiring will have been installed over time and so might not be of the best quality. Not only is bad or faulty wiring frustrating, but it can also be dangerous and cause fires or shocks. Contact an electrician is you think you have an old-fashioned fuse box – you can tell if it has a wooden back. Cast iron switches are also a clear indicator that it’s time for an upgrade. Not only will this enhance the safety of your electrics, but a modern fuse box will also up the value of your home.

3.       Decide on your aesthetic

There are lots of options when adding on to a period home. You might find that there just isn’t as much space as you’d like, or the shape of the rooms doesn’t quite fit with your lifestyle. If that’s the case, then it’s worth considering an extension. But how? An obvious option is to go up, take advantage of high roofing and expand into the loft. You can gain two or three additional rooms by simply building upwards, and you’re less likely to run into planning regulation difficulties.

Another possibility is to extend onto the back of the property. When you’re buying, find out how much surrounding land you own and so you’re aware of how far you can build out, adding onto the back or side of your property. If you’re meeting with an architect, decide how you want your property to look. Although it can be tempting to try and make extensions fit in with the property, remember they’ll never look exactly the same so you might decide instead to make a feature of the new.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Diet And Exercise Are Great… But Are You Neglecting These 5 Other Aspects Of Your Health?

Diet And Exercise Are Great… But Are You Neglecting These 5 Other Aspects Of Your Health?

Your health matters now more than ever! WIth doctors and medical centers doing all they can to help those affected by the coronavirus, we’re all learning to be more autonomous when it comes to managing our health. The good news is that we’re all finding inventive ways to work out without gyms and offices. We are focusing on our digestive health, getting creative in the kitchen, cooking from scratch more and enjoying more fresh wholefoods. 

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A lot of people have also upped their herbs and vitamins. Though nothing is guaranteed to stop the virus, people are doing their part to boost their immune systems naturally through Zinc, Vitamin D, and CBD. Some vitamins and herbs have been almost impossible to get in the stores, but now is much easier to get great quality supplements online as the pandemic slows.

Still, while diet and exercise are important, there’s more to your health than these twin pillars. If you’re not also taking care of the following, your overall health and wellbeing may suffer…

Mental wellbeing and stress management

The nationwide lockdown is likely to start to take a toll on our mental health, causing us to feel stressed and irritable. This condition is called cabin fever and while it’s perfectly natural, it can be ruinous to your relationships with others in your home. There are many things you can do to try and counteract this, although the most popular option at the moment is undoubtedly using CBD. A simple search for “Buy CBD gummies UK” online will show you all of the best places to purchase this if you are based in the UK and looking for something to help your mental health.

Dental health

You won’t have a visit to your dentist on the cards for the next few months. But this is all the more reason to double down on your dental health. And, sorry, but brushing twice a day just isn’t enough for most of us. You should be flossing and using mouthwash after brushing to keep your mouth free of the food residue and bacteria that can damage teeth and gums. 

Digestive health

Good digestive health is about more than just staving off indigestion, bloating and cramps. Your digestive health can have a surprising impact on your overall health. The tiny ecosystem of flora and microorganisms within your gut are often referred to as the second brain which can influence our mood and overall wellbeing. 

Eating more wholefoods, taking smaller bites, chewing thoroughly and getting enough sleep (more on that later) are crucial to gut health. 

Genital health and hygiene

Why are we so loath to talk about our downstairs buts with anyone other than our doctors? For all kinds of reasons, we need to make sure that we pay attention to our genitals. We need to make sure they’re clean and dry to stave off yeast infections and UTIs. If you experience pain or discomfort during sex and / or incontinence or constipation, you may be among the 1 in 3 women with a pelvic floor disorder. The good folks at Pelvic Floor Pro can give you the support you need. Even while under lockdown. 

Sleep

Of course, it’s unlikely that anyone reading this will be deliberately missing out on sleep. Still, it’s safe to say that many of us won’t be getting enough. At a time when we may know that loved ones are suffering and it seems like our bank accounts are leaking money, a good night’s sleep can be hard to come by.

Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t help yourself. Try to limit your exposure to artificial light (including blue light from screens). Try and get some exercise every day, even if it’s just a brisk walk. Be aware of your caffeine intake, especially in the afternoons / evenings. Take a hot bath around an hour before bedtime to lower your core temperature, and try keeping a diffuser with ylang ylang, jasmine or lavender essential oils by your bed.   

Keep all of the above in mind, and you’ll ensure a holistic approach to your health while under lockdown.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

FIVE TIPS WHEN DRIVING TO AVOID CAR DAMAGE

Store Your Car Under Shelter

Whether it’s a used Vauxhall Adam or a brand new Land Rover, you should always try to store your car under shelter. That goes for when you’re at home, i.e. a garage or parking in a public space. Public parking may be a little more difficult, but if there are any free spots that have shelter above it, then it’s worth choosing that as a place to park, rather than somewhere that’s out in the open. From a security viewpoint, it’s also beneficial to park within eyesight of a CCTV camera.

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Be Aware Of Those Around You

As mentioned above, being wary of drivers is key. Not everyone is going to be as careful as a driver as you are, and accidents do happen. It is important, therefore, to be aware of everything going on around you. Keep an eye on your wing mirror and rear-view mirror at all times to make sure that you are doing everything you can to maintain a safe distance from other drivers. Look out for pedestrians who often have a bad habit of running across without the go-ahead of the traffic lights.

If you do experience an accident, make sure to stop straight away. This is an absolute essential. You need to make sure anyone who is hurt receives immediate medical attention. If there are no injuries, you will need to swap insurance details to ensure damage can be repaired. If you can’t come to an agreement on whose fault the incident is, you may need to get legal professionals, such as a Board of Appeal Lawyer involved in order to determine what should happen here on out. Using a lawyer is much more likely to swing the case in your direction than representing yourself.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Plugging Up Your Home’s Spending Leaks While on Lockdown

This is a time of great anxiety for many of us. The Coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown are beginning to take their toll on our health, our wellbeing and our budgets. Many of us are struggling financially. Some freelancers and business owners have lost clients, some employees have lost their jobs or been placed on furlough without pay. Even the luckiest of us will likely have had to take a pay cut of at least 20%. 

Image by Igrow via Pixabay

Still, it’s easy to think of our financial wellbeing as something beyond our control. However, this mentality does us no favors in the long term. All it does is cause us additional stress, and as we all know, stress can compromise our immune function. Which is the absolute last thing we all need right now. As such, let’s look at how we can take control of our financial health by plugging up some of the spending leaks that can occur while we’re on lockdown.  

Electricity

We’re all relying heavily on our energy supply right now. Most of us are cooking more at home, but we’re also spending more on heating and / or AC since the whole household is indoors all day. Not to mention powering the myriad TVs, computers and electronic devices that the whole family relies on to work and stay entertained all day and night.

That all adds up to a lot of energy usage. While much of this may be unavoidable, spending over the odds is not. Here are some ways you can take control of your energy spend;

  • Carry out a price comparison and see if another provider can give you cheaper energy in line with your usage.
  • Limit use of TVs and games consoles to specific hours in the home. 
  • Encourage kids to read books, play board games or spend time in the garden
  • Stop charging your phone overnight. 
  • Stop leaving TVs, consoles etc. on standby overnight. This uses almost as much energy as if they were switched on. Turn them off at the plug. 

Auto insurance

Many of us will be overspending on our car insurance during lockdown, but this is entirely avoidable. First, see if your current insurance company is prepared to offer you a smaller premium in line with your reduced vehicle use. Failing this, there may be options to pause or cancel your policy or remove members of your family to save money. If all this fails, maybe you should consider switching to a new auto insurance provider. It’s a common fallacy that insurance companies will reward your loyalty. The truth is that they’re counting on you to let your policy roll over so they can hike up your costs.

Food

Finally, food is an essential expense. But paying a fortune for it isn’t. As important as fresh fruits and veggies are, resist the urge to overspend on them. If you don’t use fresh produce quickly, it will start to wilt and it may end up wasted. Get plenty of canned and frozen goods in and master the art of batch cooking. You’ll be amazed how far you can stretch your grocery budget. Not to mention emerging from quarantine leaner and healthier than ever.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

Making Plans For The Future of Aging Parents

Making Plans For The Future of Aging Parents

Nobody wants to think about their parents getting old and potentially suffering from poor health.  We must, however, be prepared for the event that they develop a chronic health problem or increased fragility, because if or when the time comes you may need some extra help.

What do you do if that time comes and your parents need home care agencies near you in Pennsylvania or any other area around the country? Where a parent will live and who will be taking care of them can be a heavy and emotional topic, especially if you’re in the middle of a crisis. Prepping ahead of time can ease an already difficult situation. Such decisions need to be shared with the whole family so that everyone knows what to do if the worst happens.

In the early stages of the transition, contact a Denver elder law lawyer or someone your parents already trust, because knowing your parents’ legal wishes can help defuse any future arguments if they should lose sound mind.

Here are some helpful in-depth ideas on how to plan for the future of an elderly parent.

Image credit: Pixabay CC0 License

Talk to your parents

It will never be a simple or enjoyable conversation to have, but nevertheless, it is an important one. This concerns your parents, and this is only fair that you speak to your parent(s) about the plans when they are fully in a position to have the conversation. If you have brothers or sisters, do try to include them in the conversation, because everyone needs to be on the same page to prevent any conflict from arising in the future. Things to take into consideration include:

  • Their needs when it comes to future care 
  • Their wishes as they grow older
  • Where they would like to live
  • Their financial situation
  • Any support that they may need now 

How this discussion will pan out depends on your family dynamic, so try to pre-empt any triggers for potential fallout and tension during the conversation. This way, you can have an appropriate response ready beforehand to try to keep the discussion as calm and as productive as possible.

Read: HOW TO ENSURE YOUR ELDERLY LOVED ONE MAINTAINS POSITIVE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

Assess their needs

You may have concerns regarding your parent’s health and wellbeing now. Maybe they have recently lost weight or had a few falls, or begun to forget the occasional thing. Maybe their vision and hearing are not quite what it used to be. If this is the case, you need to think about and assess whether they have any urgent needs, such as mobility aids or more specialist care.

Most people will have strong feelings when it comes to their living arrangements when they are older, so it is important to talk to your parents about the options available to them and be sensitive when it comes to it.

Talk about their housing options

While your parents might be lively and able to live an independent life at the moment, they might one day need a little more support like memory care Danvers, MA offers or perhaps in-home care. To ensure they enjoy a good quality of life, it is worthwhile talking about their different senior housing options, such as:

For example, a nursing home might be the best option if your mom or dad requires a high level of medical and one-to-one care.

Assisted living allows them to retain independence as much as possible. However, in-home care can provide your elderly parents with extra support within the home, such as help with laundry and meal preparation so that they can maintain a reasonable level of independence. Hospitality Laundry services are just one of several services that get overlooked when parents age. Clean clothes and personal hygiene are an important part of assisted living since many of the elderly struggle with general self-care practices. Options like these can help your parents maintain a healthier lifestyle and keep more common bacteria infections like Staph at bay.

Read: CAN YOUR ELDERLY PARENT STILL LIVE INDEPENDENTLY?

Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

Everyday Tips from Tia