Declutter Your Space To Clear Your Mind

An interesting study published by the Princeton Neuroscience Institute highlighted that “having multiple visual stimuli present within range of one’s view will result in those stimuli competing for neural representation”. In simplest terms, you are likely to get distracted when you are working in a messy place.

Clearing your mind may not solely rely on your working environment but, it is a good start. Here are some tips to efficiently declutter your space:

IS YOUR TIME UP?

When you are faced with a task, you typically focus on the deadline. A deadline gives you a tangible quantity of time to complete your task. Apply the same ideal to your home.

How much time can you spare to organize your flat? Pick a space or a corner that you can realistically declutter within the given time frame. You do not want to end up with a larger mess than what you have started with!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Designate a specific day of the week as your “Cleaning Day”. My sister and I sets aside a portion of our weekends to cleaning the house. We drop either our Saturdays or Sundays to mop the floors, change the sheets, wipe the corners, and change the towels. This habit inspires us to continue a healthy routine throughout the coming week.

ADDING INSULT TO INJURY

By buying more items beyond your household needs, you are making a displeasing matter worse. Keep clutter into a minimum by tossing or by donating these things aside. Prevent impulse purchases by asking your trusted partner or friend for advise.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

As I was about to sleep last night, I reflected upon my to-do list. I was determined to finish a single task to shorten the list. This made me adamant to organize my clothes before sleeping. Finding this glistening motivation helped me achieve the task. I was able to collate a donation pile too!

Find something or someone that will motivate you to clean your space. For instance, you may play your favorite songs or audiobooks while cleaning.

TAKE EVERYTHING OUT

Starting with a fresh slate helps you to rigorously declutter your space. You need to know what items or products you own by taking everything out. Last night, I discovered several clothing articles that I have owned since 2011. It is embarrassing to see how many holes some of these clothes have. Needless to say, most were transported to the donation pile.

Once everything is out in the open, you can wipe the shelves and dust the corners. It will be easier to determine what you want to toss and to keep too.

USING APPROPRIATE LABELS

Putting labels on everything is one of the reasons why I do not get lost at my boss’ office. Labels are utterly useful when multiple people utilize a common area.

You see, labelling your household storages allows your family to know where each item will go. They do not need to pull out random boxes (and make a mess) while searching for an item! You simply have to put chalkboard or paper labels throughout your space.

ARE YOU DRESSING THE PART?

Contrary to popular belief, professional cleaners do not stay updated with the latest cleaning gadgets found at the TV infomercials. Professional cleaners opt for comfortable clothes and sturdy shoes instead. You may also wear knee pads to spare your knees from potential bruises. Furthermore, you may protect your hands against harmful chemicals by wearing gloves.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

My mother’s sensitive skin is aided by all-natural solutions such as the Castile soap. Castile soap is a versatile product that you can use as a body wash, a laundry detergent, and a dish-washing liquid. Search the renowned “Dr. Bronner’s Organic Pure Castile Liquid Soap” to be educated about the hype.

Sources: 1,  2, & 3

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Tried and Tested Home Saving Tips Taught By Moms

The legendary Stevie Wonder once said:

“Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.”

The great things we learn from our mothers are more than just tips – they are well-kept traditions, family secrets, and wonderful memories that we must treasure.

That said, here are 6 Tried and Tested Home Saving Tips As Told By Moms…

In cleaning:

1. RE-USE YOUR OLD SOCKS

I still remember the days when my cousins and I would slide through the slippery floor that we splashed with baby powder. Hit LIKE if you have done this fun activity too.

It brought us countless minutes of happiness but the mess scattered through the floor and furniture was the enemy our mothers had to face. Fortunately, you can save several bucks on furniture dusters by using your clean old socks. Simply slip a piece in your hand, spray the cleaning solution, and start cleaning!

2. KEEP THINGS NATURAL

Using DIY natural cleaning products will not only reduce the risks of toxins and environmental damage but also save you piles of cash. Make your own glass solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of dish soap, half cup of white vinegar, and 3 cups of distilled water in a bottle. Then, spray it directly to the windows and mirrors.

You can also use the mom-approved “microfiber cloth” to clean practically anything from rugs to glass, granite to stainless steel. Just damp it with water and you are ready to go! This magical cloth costs about S$15 you can get it for only S$5 at Qoo10.

In cooking:

3. SPRINKLE SOME SALT

One of the best cooking tips you can get from the mothers online is to sprinkle some salt to boiling water. “Why?” you may ask. Salt is a great and inexpensive way to add flavour to the broccoli, pasta, or anything you are boiling.

4. SAVE YOUR BACON FATS

Another way to add a wonderfully strong flavor is to cook with bacon fats. After frying the strips of bacon, you can save its fats for later. After which, use it to saute your roasted potatoes or vegetables.

In grocery shopping:

5. BUY THE IN-HOUSE LABEL

As much as possible, buy the store’s brand products for home items such as rice, sponge, bleach, and sugar. And if a better deal comes along, check the price tag and compare it with the in-house label. Doing the maths can go a long way!

6. MAKE A LIST AND STICK WITH IT

Instead of going with the flow, make a list of the items you need for the week and stick with it. This is an age-old trick used by my late grandmother. She plans the weekly menu first and sets a budget accordingly. If there is excess cash, we can buy the stuff we want such as ice cream. Who doesn’t love ice cream?

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

Sources:  1, 2, 3,4, & 5

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5 Eco-Friendly Home Ideas To Save You Money

One of the simple things we can do to help save the environment is to reduce our energy consumption and plant more trees. Little do you know that these things along with other innovative ideas can not only help the Earth but it can also save you a decent amount of money.

Here are 5 Eco-Friendly Home Ideas To Save You Money

1. USE BLACKLE.COM

Blackle.com is a search engine that is powered by Google Custom Search and created by Heap Media. It helps users save energy consumption because of its predominantly black and grey display. According to Wikipedia, the Blackle’s black screen can save up to 4 mWh of electrical energy consumption.

2. KEEP THE WATER BOTTLES IN

Did you know that a barely stocked fridge has to work harder to stay cold than a fully stocked one? So, put your water bottles inside the fridge to help maintain its efficiency.

Image Credits:  Steven Depolo via Flickr

Image Credits: Steven Depolo via Flickr

You may also put a water bottle in the toilet tank to displace the water and help reduce water consumption.

3. THRIVE A GREEN THUMB

Instead of purchasing the S$299 branded air purifier, go natural and grow your own succulents.

Image Credits: teresaphillips1965 via Flickr

Image Credits: teresaphillips1965 via Flickr

Plants are more than just decorations as it can improve the air quality in your home by absorbing dangerous toxins. Go for the inexpensive and easy to maintain plants such as ferns, green spider plants, English Ivy and dracaenas. Furthermore, growing your own food is organic at its finest. If you do not have a backyard or an apartment balcony there are community gardens for you to plant your own seed.

4. CLEAN YOUR DUST WITH NO MUSS

Buying a bunch of paper towels and cleaning spray products can be costly. So, use a microfiber duster instead. It is not only reusable but it is also effective. Home Depot sells Microfiber Duster with Soft Grip Handle for only US$3.98 or S$5.39. Just toss it in the washing machine to clean it.

5. CLEAN YOUR COMPUTER

Most of the germs live in your keyboard so it is tantamount for you to tidy it up. Rather than buying cleaning sprays, special wipes that contain chemicals or even buy a new one…turn your keyboard upside down and shake the dirt out. Then swab a cotton tip with alcohol or a double-sided tape to clean between the keys.

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