How Counselors Use Creativity In Therapy

In many ways, the energy industry has impacted the fast-paced industry of corporations. Business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide have utilized advanced energy and engineering systems in different ways. It has helped improve technology, cultivate greener options, and ultimately, look for more renewable resources.

Perhaps you think about the last time you’ve used electrical energy. You will justify the reasons why you need it and probably assume its function and benefits. However, does it ever occur to you the number of resources you have consumed?

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Regardless of your reasons, using electrical devices or even just scrolling in your social media have contributed to the degradation of energy resources. The technological advancement to effectively and creatively harness sustainable energy requires innovative tools. These can help ensure that our planet reduces consumption, even in an industrial society.

Creativity is also helpful in counseling sessions. Under a qualified therapist, creative therapies can help you become more expressive and communicative through alternative methods. It is somehow different from traditional therapy or psychotherapy. It aims to resolve and alleviate distress through non-conversational techniques.

Types of Creative Therapy

Counselors base the type of creative therapy on their clients’ needs and skills. Creative therapies involve art-based and expressive activities to facilitate treatment. Here are some types of creative therapy where a qualified counselor can guide you:

Art Therapy 

This type of therapy encourages clients or patients to actively express their emotions, thoughts, and experiences through a non-verbal technique. Your counselor will instruct you to illustrate your well-being in specific moments of your life. This activity can help you acknowledge your stressors. At the same time, it helps manage your psychological distress. Some art therapy techniques involve:

  • Painting 
  • Doodling
  • Scribbling
  • Sculpting
  • Drawing
  • Carving
  • Clay molding

Music Therapy

A counselor or therapist can also provide emotional and psychological guidance through music therapy. During the session, your counselor will assess your strengths and social needs as a client. Through a verbal technique, music therapy will provide you an avenue to improve your communication skills. Some of the activities involve:

  • Listening to Music
  • Creating Music/Song
  • Singing

Other Types

Creative therapies also include drama and dance therapies. In drama therapy, the medium incorporates improvised enactment or storytelling activities. The goal is to provide an approach where they can express themselves with mobility and actions.

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Similar to this therapy, dance therapy would engage you to express yourself with no restrictions. Your counselor may let you focus on the therapeutic process of your movements. Both treatments can be approached individually or collectively as a group.

Benefits of Consulting a Creative Counselor

Creative counselors have various specializations respective to the types of therapy. Nonetheless, they are qualified mental health care professionals. They went to training to administer assessments and integrate these activities into the treatment. 

A creative counselor can provide you a safe and secure environment to express and explore your emotions, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. For instance, a music therapist can alleviate anxiety by using music to distract and comfort you. Your counselor can also help promote positive effects of music, such as elevating your mood and motivation.

Art therapy focuses on the creative process of emotional expression. Your counselor can support you in improving your self-awareness and self-esteem. Additionally, your counselor will also help you navigate and address repressed traumatic experiences. 

Therapies constituting movements such as drama and dance are also beneficial in exploring the relationship of your mind and body. A creative counselor facilitates overall healing and therapeutic actions.

Creativity in counseling provides an alternative avenue in expressing problems or even solutions for these difficult situations. Likewise, creativity and innovation provide energy companies new ways to conserve these resources.

Creativity in Energy and Engineering Systems

A renewable resource is one of the most related terms to energy. And this cannot be far from the truth. In the world of advanced technology, having the most sustainable business model and energy resources matters. In fact, it can change the face of your business massively. 

Experts today also emphasize the value of freshly developed perspectives rather than improving existing methods and techniques. Even in the modern age of automation, creativity still holds a crucial part. Creativity allows competition against other energy development corporations.

In line with this, the importance of creativity in this spectrum transcends other factors for a successful campaign. Thinking outside the box can help you gain a new approach to research regarding energy systems. It allows you to constantly innovate and improve ideas. Especially in engineering, creativity is necessary to build diversified and eco-friendly energy utilities. 

Conclusion

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Creative therapy utilizes a different medium in exploring your mental state. Creative counselors believe that you should approach your mental prowess in a limitless manner. With this, they can allow you to research various media and platforms. Through this, you can harness your creativity while releasing your thoughts and emotions.

If you experience anxiety and have not responded well to traditional medication and therapy, you may consult a creative counselor to help you. Great scientific minds exhibited creativity to develop technological innovations utilizing energy resources. Creativity can be an avenue for you to restructure your overall well-being. It only takes a little step to get out of that box.

How A Counselor Can Help You Develop A Healthy Relationship With Social Media 

Humans are huge energy consumers. Energy is a vital part of our lives, considering that it powers most of our activities. When you wake up in the morning, you immediately pick up your phone and scroll for a few minutes.

Through these apps, you get to see your friend’s family photos and watch unique recipes. With the vast amount of content, you indulge yourself for a couple more minutes. Eventually, you’ve reached an hour of just mindlessly scrolling on your social media. 

If you are an entrepreneur, you have learned how growing a business is undoubtedly not an easy job. In line with this, social media has also been an effective digital platform proven to attract millions of consumers and audiences worldwide. These virtual spaces have certainly improved human connection and motivated millions to develop their creative prospects. 

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Furthermore, marketing through digitalization has been more efficient in delivering the message of the brands. Exploring multiple ways of advertising increases your chances of captivating more clients. At the same time, it can also contribute to the value of your products. 

It is an undeniable fact how technology has brought myriad ways of making our lives more convenient. It has led to building infrastructures to creating an application for fast communication. The gap between long-distance relationships has become closer than ever. 

However, the growth of online platforms has also caused concern among mental health care providers. The recent studies revealed its negative impact on personal and social life. Here are some ways a counselor can help you generate a healthy relationship with social media.

Changing Your Perspective

Counselors or therapists can shift your perspective on healthy social media use. During sessions, you will be focusing on your intentionality and control over these digital platforms. Concentrating on the value of your digital identity will provide clarity on the reasons for your continued engagements. 

Mindset shift also involves creating a social media plan. In this process, you will also begin severing ties with people you are only acquainted with. You can do this by going through your contact lists and blocking or unfollowing acquaintances.

Minimizing contact with those who used to be part of your social circle may reduce anxiety caused by unhealthy relationships. A counselor can help you filter people who have little significance in your drive to change. 

Under the treatment program, your counselor will also encourage you to meet more people with similar and different backgrounds as you. Search for new individuals with who you can have healthy relationships. Look for those who are sensitive to your condition and can help you reframe your perspective on social media.

Setting A Clear Boundary

Completely turning your mindset on social media use must also involve setting limitations and boundaries. You have to exert effort to take control of your use of these digital platforms. A counselor can support you in finding more suitable methods to prevent yourself from overusing. 

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Modifying your behavior requires delineation of specific times where you do not want to use social media. For example, eating dinner with your family or even driving. These activities do not allow you to scroll over the phone simply because you engage with a primary interaction. 

In these cases, a counselor or clinician can offer you a discussion about phubbing. Or the instance where you would resort to snubbing people to be glued on your smartphone.

Phubbing happens when the individual lacks self-control, has become addicted to the internet. It also includes those who have a “fear of missing out” or FOMO. Contrary to popular belief, boredom does not significantly influence phubbing and has a smaller role in this behavior.

In setting a clear boundary, counselors can also endorse numerous applications. These are additional help to reduce the amount of time you spend with social media on the phone or even on websites. Counselors can guide you in operating your online social accounts to develop a positive emotional interaction.

Not Discounting the Benefits

There is existing evidence showing how social media can negatively impact our mental health. But denouncing its benefits can also be a harmful and damaging idea. A counselor can help you understand how social media use can promote addictive behavior. Moreover, they can discuss how it can also limit feelings of isolation.

The key is regulation and responsible use. A counselor can aid and inspire you to develop healthy lifestyle changes from social media. For instance, these digital platforms can help strengthen your existing relationships and encourage social support.

Moreover, a systemized version of social media can aid mental health professionals and counselors. It can be a way by which these professionals can extend their reach in the online community.

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Conclusion

In today’s world, it is almost impossible for anyone to function without energy. For instance, entrepreneurs need it to seek opportunities through digital platforms such as social media. These ultimately provide a great and compelling tool to improve social and marketing strategies. Through these mechanisms, business owners can confidently generate a persuasive brand with ease and convenience.

Nonetheless, navigating through social media and the internet may have both advantages and disadvantages. For instance, it could be addictive. On the other hand, it can be a tool for motivation and inspiration. Social media and other digital platforms can improve connections, relieve social isolation, and maintaining relationships.

It is necessary to consult a counselor to proactively regulate your social media use. Counselors are vigilant on signs of deteriorating mental condition and negative social-emotional behavior. They promote healthy social media use and guide you in fostering a positive emotional connection with your virtual friends and followers.

Frequently Asked Questions On Anxiety Relaxation Techniques

 

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Relaxation techniques are a wonderful means to help manage stress and anxiety. Relaxation does not only mean achieving peace of mind or being satisfied with a hobby. Relaxation is a process that reduces the impact of stress on the body and mind. Relaxation strategies help you manage your daily stressors and stress associated with different health issues, like pain and heart disease.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve managed your stress or you still haven’t controlled it – either way, relaxation techniques can be beneficial to you. Learning and practicing basic calming strategies is not that difficult. These are also often affordable or free, and they present with very little risk. What’s more, is that you can do them anywhere.

Benefits

When confronted with several obligations and tasks or the burden of a disorder, relaxation techniques might not be important for you. However, this would also mean that you could miss out on the many benefits of relaxation, including:

  • Improves digestion
  • Slows heart rate
  • Lowers activity of stress hormones
  • Decreases chronic pain or muscle tension
  • Lowers blood pressure
  • Normalizes breathing
  • Increases blood flow to the major muscles
  • Decreases fatigue
  • Pacifies frustration and anger
  • Improves quality of sleep
  • Improves self-confidence

To take advantage of the benefits, utilize the relaxation techniques in conjunction with other positive habits, such as problem-solving, exercising, time management, positive thinking and self-talk, getting sufficient sleep, and finding support in loved ones.

Healthcare providers like doctors, psychotherapists, and complementary practitioners can teach different relaxation strategies. But if you want, you could also learn some calming techniques by yourself. Overall, relaxation techniques entail re-centering your focus on something invigorating and improving awareness of your body. It doesn’t matter what kind of technique you opt to use. What matters is that you learn how to relax regularly and to experience the benefits.

Types of Relaxation Techniques

  • Progressive muscle relaxation. In this technique, you emphasize gradually contracting and then relaxing each of your muscle groups. This helps you center on the difference between relaxation and muscle contraction. You then become more aware of the sensations that occur in your body.
  • Autogenic relaxation. Autogenic signifies something that arises from within yourself. In this technique, you utilize both body awareness and visual imagery to decrease stress.
  • In this type, you can create mental pictures and use these pictures as you go on a visual journey to a serene, soothing place or event. To calm your nerves using visualizations, try to integrate all the senses you can, including touch, sight, smell, and sound. If you picture yourself relaxing at a beach, for example, think about the sound of the waves, the smell of the seawater, and the heat of the sun touching your body.

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Here are more details about relaxation techniques and how they can help alleviate anxiety.

What are 10 ways to reduce stress relaxation techniques?  

Here are some relaxation strategies to help lower your stress levels:

  • Meditation
  • Deep breathing
  • Mindfulness meditation
  • Listening to music
  • Mental imagery
  • Biofeedback
  • Counseling

What are the three most commonly used relaxation techniques?

The three most widely used relaxation strategies include deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and autogenic training. The latter utilizes both body awareness and visual imagery. 

How do you calm an anxious brain?  

Getting into the habit of rethinking your anxieties will help practice your brain develop rational ways to manage your anxious thoughts. Deep breathing is one of the most common techniques. Additionally, the 3-3-3 rule is also recommended. This is done by looking at your surroundings and naming three things that you see around you. 

How can I relax my brain?

To relax your brain, learn mindful meditation and deep breathing exercises so that you will be able to learn how to concentrate on other things instead of thinking about your anxiety. You can also listen to soothing music or write in your journal. Finally, soaking in a warm bath will definitely take that tension off your body. 

What to drink to calm nerves?

Favorite drinks to calm anxiety include chamomile tea, green tea, turmeric, valerian root tea, and lavender tea, among others. 

How can I quiet my thoughts?  

These simple steps can help quiet your mind:

Position yourself comfortably, and then take a deep, slow breath. Be aware of your breathing while you close your eyes. Focus on your breathing and detach yourself from your anxious and negative thoughts.

What are the top 5 ways to reduce stress?  

The most effective ways to lower your stress levels include breathing, meditation, spending time with yourself, learning how to organize, and being physically active. 

What are 5 emotional signs of stress?

People who are emotionally stressed should be aware of the following changes that they might see in them:

  • They seclude themselves, and they withdraw from others.
  • Their behavior changes.
  • They are unusually anxious, moody, and angry.
  • They feel overwhelmed by their suffering, and they feel hopeless.
  • They do not want to take care of themselves.

Which fruit is best for stress?  

Citrus fruits like grapefruit and orange are among the best fruits to get your vitamin C dose from, which research show effectively lowers stress levels. Vitamin C is also a potent antioxidant that helps strengthen your immune system. 

What is the best medicine for stress?  

There are different medications available in the market, which can decrease or manage some indications of stress. For instance, your doctor might recommend sleeping pills or mild tranquilizers if it’s difficult for you to sleep. He can also give you antidepressants if you are suffering from anxiety or depression.

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Practice Makes Perfect

As you learn how to relax, you can be made more aware of muscle contraction and other physical stress perceptions. When you know what the stress response is like, you could now create a conscious effort to learn a technique when you begin to feel the anxiety and stress symptoms. This will ultimately keep stress from getting out of control.

Remember that these techniques are actually skills, and like any skill, your capability to learn how to relax takes practice and mastery. Be patient and don’t give up easily. Your stress over your frustrations will eat you up, which becomes another stressor for you if you do.

If you tried a specific relaxation technique a number of times and still haven’t worked, then move on to the next technique. You’ll certainly find the perfect one that you can regularly use to keep your stressors at bay. If none of the techniques have helped you relax for some time, perhaps you should talk to your doctor about other choices you might have.

 

 

 

Mental Health Tips: Avoid Stress By Saving Your Money On Expensive Electric Bill

One of the stressors that most adults can’t shield themselves from is financial matters. Of course, there is too much to handle when providing food at the table and saving money for the family and children’s needs. But the part that needs to be taken care of all the time is the utility bills, particularly the electric. You may think that it is only a portion of your finances. But the truth is, it can cost you a lot if you do not consider learning some of the better ways to reduce your electric consumption. So I will share some of the important tips you have to practice to save your hard-earned cash on the expensive electric bill.

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Let’s Talks About The Fridge

The fridge is the primary source of your unwanted and a bit expensive electric bill. It hogs almost thirteen to fifteen percent of your house’s total electric consumption. To reduce that, you have to make considerations. Let’s say you have a vintage or very old type of fridge that you still keep until now. It would be best to upgrade or change it to a newer fridge. Not because the newer fridge is stylish and classy, though it is also a factor. But for the mere reason, the latest and innovative fridge nowadays consumes less energy than the old ones. There are a lot of fridges that have advanced technological systems that offer convenience and practicality. It will be just a matter of what you prefer and what fits your house.

Aside from that, as we all know, it is significantly vital to keep your fridge close all the time. Because every time you open it and then close it, the fridge needs to power up. Yes, there are probably a lot of things you need to get from it. So understandably, you will have to repeatedly open and close it from time to time. However, to save energy, never allow the fridge to stay open longer than 5-minutes. If you need to get something out of the equipment, make it quick and instant. You do not have to scan all the shelves just to make up your mind on what you need to pull out. You can arrange everything in order as well or put things in a container. That way, you would know where to find the things you need. That will not only save you a minute but will also help the fridge conserve its energy more.

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Another thing you must take note of is to keep the fridge full. Of course, you do not want it to be entirely stuffed with many things because you might end up not using any of the excess food in the fridge. Thus, it would be a waste of money when you finally throw that excess stuff. However, it would help if you never emptied it. That is because when there is more space in the fridge, more air is present inside. So when you open it, the more cool temperature goes out. And again, the fridge will need an ample amount of time to power up to bring back those released cool air. If you are not aware, a fridge at the right temperature can sustain the foods 24 to 48 hours much longer. That is, even if the power goes out. Thus, enough space you have, enough stuff inside the fridge, and less air-circulation, it can guarantee to keep everything good.

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Again, the fridge takes 13 to 15 percent of your entire electric bill. But when it has a built-in running ice machine, the electric consumption calculation tends to be different. It actually adds another 5 percent to the total consumption. To avoid that, it would be best to turn off the ice machine. If it is not a hassle, try making your own ice by filling up the ice trays.

Another thing that you should also practice is keeping your fridge coils clean. It is important to clean it twice a year to avoid clogging. Because the coils get clogged, the fridge will have difficulty in properly releasing heat. With that, the compressor suffers because it will have to exert extra effort to work overtime. That particular issue can be damaging because it can shorten the lifespan of the fridge.

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 Insight

Perhaps you understand the value of these helpful tips, especially when it comes to your electric consumption. I get that an instant transition is entirely difficult. If you are not used to considering these tips, it will be hard to change your habits. But once you managed to incorporate these energy-saving tips for fridge use, you will be amazed at the benefits it can provide. That is because aside from lowering your energy consumption and saving you extra cash, you also help the environment.

How To Reduce Your Family’s Energy Consumption

Energy consumption is important because it makes people’s lives a lot easier. It is the controlling power of most of everybody’s home technology. It is essential in economic and industrial functions as well. However, its resources are limited. Thus, you and your family should understand the significance of reduced energy consumption.

Why Should You Save Energy?

Energy, particularly electricity, is generated from natural resources. During the process of formulating a usable power, harmful wastes get produced as well. These toxic chemicals then pollute the environment. Thus, when you think about the whole logic of the energy cycle, reducing your consumption also reduces waste. Aside from that, power energy costs a lot. So when you reduce energy use, there is also a guarantee that you will save a lot of money. So how can you and your family minimize energy consumption? Here are simple ways to do that.

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Turn Off Electronic Appliances And Devices When Not In Use – One of the most common things to do when you want to save energy is to turn off electronic devices and appliances when not in use. Understandably, everyone wants a quick start-up of their home technological equipment. However, putting these electronic gadgets in standby mode requires a phantom load of vampire energy. Meaning, regardless if you are using it or not, but it is on, you are still consuming a lot of electric power for the unuseful device mode.

Always Unplug Your Devices – Aside from turning your appliances off, you should also consider unplugging them to protect your family from additional costs. Do not leave the house with your devices still attached to the socket because even if you are not using them, these appliances still contribute to electric bill surges. Also, plugged machines sometimes cause some sorts of potential hazards. Therefore, your family should regularly check and unplug devices and appliances to prevent unnecessary use of energy.

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Use Energy Efficient Devices And Appliances – The use of energy-efficient appliances helps minimize energy use. Thus, these items enhance natural resources conservation, such as water, coal, oil, and natural gas. Aside from that, energy-efficient appliances produce a lesser amount of greenhouse emissions. Therefore, your family does not only saves energy and money but also contributes to the betterment of the world’s environment.

Avoid Constantly Opening The Fridge – You may already know this, but constantly opening your fridge can cause an electric surge. If you let the refrigerator open for too long, the unit’s compressors will run hotter. It will soon have a problem with overheating as it takes a more extended period before it can cool down. And not only can your fridge’s parts get damaged but also the food inside it as well. When you keep on opening the fridge, some foods may become partially thawed and unsafe to use or eat.

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Wash Your Clothes Only In Bulk – One of your home’s most energy-consuming appliances is the washing machine. That is because not only it requires electric energy to function; you also won’t be able to use it without loads of water. Thus, to avoid wasting electric and water resources, your family should consider washing your clothes to the full load capacity of the washing machine. And if ever it is not a hassle, you can consider hand-washing them as well and allow the clothes to dry naturally under the sun.

Rely On Sunlight Instead Of Turning The Lights On – An essential factor that your family should consider is the house’s lightings. It would be best to consider the sun’s natural light instead of using the electricity to light up your home. Also, to save as much energy, consider using energy-efficient or LED bulbs. That is because it consumes up to 90% less power than any other type of bulbs. LED bulbs are also cost-efficient, low on maintenance, and have a long-lasting life span.

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Only Charge Electrical Appliances Or Devices When Necessary – Constantly charging devices even when it still has enough energy can result in a lot of negative things. Sometimes, the habit can cause a mechanical device to fail. To avoid the hassle, only charge the machine when needed. Most appliances or electronic devices have a warning signal for energy replacement. Thus you should follow the necessary power requirement of the device to avoid complications. Also, do not forget to unplug them from the socket once fully charged. Leaving it for an extended period also causes an issue.

These are only a few of the things that you and your family can do to save energy. Practicing all of these habits not only saves your family’s time, effort, and money but also helps in reducing the release of toxic fumes that damages the ecosystem. Thus, your less energy consumption contributes to a better and healthier world. So be mindful of these helpful tips next time you use your electric energy.

Overcoming The Challenge In Conserving Energy Under Home Quarantine

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The pandemic has changed a lot of our habits and daily routine. Now that every one of us is spending more and more time at home, we are also facing new challenges. Aside from increased anxiety and restrictions in what we can and cannot do, we are also facing more practical problems. As adults transition to working from home and kids to homeschooling, we are spending more energy than usual.

Since this pandemic has also brought economic challenges, some of us may not be doing well financially at the time. Saving energy while under home quarantine can help lessen our worries when it comes to expenses. Now more than ever, we need to develop habits that will conserve power. Here are some tips that could get you started:

Use Natural Light And Switch To LED

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This textbook tip: turn off the lights when not in use—can help significantly decrease electricity use. In the day, try to use natural light as much as possible when doing your tasks. Strategically rearrange your workspace so that light comes in in areas that you regularly occupy. Open your windows or blinds during the day so that you can still work on chores even without needing lights.

Furthermore, our body needs sunlight to function well. Victoria L. Dunckley M.D., an integrative child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist, says, “Disregarding the biological adaptation to sunlight is a recipe for poor health because so much of our biology is regulated and influenced by the full spectrum of light.”

Additionally, switching to LED light bulbs can massively reduce your overall energy consumption. It lasts 25 times longer than the ordinary. Of course, don’t forget to turn off the lights at night as you prepare to sleep.

Lessen Shower Time

Taking a shower is indeed relaxing and can take off a lot of our load in mind. It’s no wonder why we tend to take a lot of time in the shower. However, aside from water spending, heating the water also uses a lot of energy. Lessening your shower time by a few minutes can significantly reduce your accumulated energy consumption.

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Air Dry Your Laundry

If you were previously using a dryer when drying your laundry, you might want to consider air drying. You can hang clothes on a clothesline or a drying rack and let air and sunlight naturally dry it. It is an excellent and no-cost way to reduce your energy consumption when doing laundry.

Unplug Devices When Not In Use

You may be turning off your home devices when not in use, but when was the last time you unplugged them? Unplugging appliances is a typical household mistake that most of us overlook. As per the Natural Resources Defense Council, we spend $165 per household per year for unplugged devices that are not-in-use. Make sure to take the time and do your rounds before going to bed and unplug idle appliances.

Switch To Power Strips

If you rely on wall sockets for your appliances, now may be the time to look into using power strips. It efficiently distributes energy to devices and tools to avoid draining unnecessary energy. Furthermore, when doing your rounds of unplugging, you can unplug multiple devices at once with ease.

According to the U.S, The Department of Energy, relying on power strips, can save at least  $100 a year.

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Use Home Appliances Efficiently

Having more time at home can be tempting to do chores that can be an eyesore always. You might get the urge to do the dishes after every use or doing laundry every day. However, doing full loads of laundry and dishes is more efficient when it comes to saving energy.

Also, washing the dishes by loading it in the dishwasher can help save gallons of hot water than washing by hand. However, instead of heated drying, use air drying racks instead to minimize energy use.

Meanwhile, when it comes to refrigerators, try to maintain 37 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit to minimize energy costs. Keeping your fridge full can also save energy as food acts as insulation. What happens is that it lessens the required time that the refrigerator needs to stay cold.

Another useful tip is to get your ingredients in one go instead of opening and closing it every time. The longer you keep the fridge door open, the harder it has to run to maintain the temperature.

Be Smart While In Quarantine

Spending a lot of time indoors can be taxing on our health and our finances. As we progress with the pandemic, bills may pile up as it is harder to continue on our routine. In the meantime, the tips mentioned above can help you cut down your carbon footprint and lessen your spendings.

Challenging Engineers During The COVID-19 Pandemic

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Normalcy was taken away by the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus utterly upended the lives and livelihood of people all over the world, including engineers. Some engineering fields are considered essential workers, thus continues to serve people despite the risk of infection. Others, on the other hand, remain at home to follow quarantine restrictions. Engineers, essential or not, are not spared from anxiety resulting from the uncertainty the pandemic brings.

The source of uncertainty of engineers is not only due to the possibility of infection. The anxiety may also be caused by the impending slowdown of the economy, which may drastically affect various industries where engineers work. The pandemic has changed and will reshape the engineering world. Fortunately, engineers can adapt and solve challenges that may arise.

Making Necessary Adjustments

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Different countries have implemented strict orders to stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus. This measure means that companies would have to close their offices and function from the homes of their employees. Fortunately, engineers can work remotely. They have to have the right equipment and programs to keep connected and productive through the quarantine.

Another concern that engineers may have to deal with is the adjustment of scheduled projects. The need to stay at home would force on-site projects to pause. Engineers would have to deal with this change and create necessary adjustments to the progress charts.

No matter which engineering field, communication lines among clients, and the entire engineering team should be open. It is to assure that instructions are effectively disseminated and understood by all. Companies and engineers alike should ensure that correspondence remains private. Also, necessary adjustments should take place to strengthen data security.

Coping With The Changing Times

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Lauren Hallion, Ph.D. says, “There are so many ways you can distract yourself from anxiety.” She adds, “The best approach is to try a lot of different approaches to find the ones that work best for you and your family.”

Trial and error are problem-solving methods engineers are familiar with. The same technique can be useful to deal with anxiety caused by the pandemic. No one can escape from feeling anxious about the current situation, even engineers who supposedly know the answer to everything are at risk of suffering from mental health issues.

Solving problems is the bread and butter of an engineer, but the sudden increase of stressors could take a toll on the mental health of engineers. Aside from work-related problems, some engineers may also be having a hard time adjusting to the pandemic. Some people may only be having a hard time finishing tasks amidst the fear the virus brings. Furthermore, financial issues and work security may also add to an engineer’s anxiety.

Dealing with anxiety is a case-to-case basis. You may try to look for methods that are most suitable for you. Experts in the field suggest engineers share their thoughts and issues with their colleagues. By doing so, ideas may be affirmed or accordingly adjusted to avoid future problems. During challenging times like today, it is essential to stay connected both with our friends and our colleagues.

Taking On The Challenge

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The new work from home setups is not the only challenge imposed by the virus. Engineers need to provide ventilators for COVID-19 patients in severe conditions. The quick spread of the virus and the absence of the vaccines result in an increased demand for more ventilators. Engineers have resorted to 3D printing to ramp the production of these immensely needed devices.

There are also new challenges imposed on engineers to help society transition into the new normal. Post-pandemic situations may require a change in the design of public transportation, queuing systems, among others, to maintain social distancing. Also, there is a need to address the implementation of new systems that are efficient yet compliant to the new normal.

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically changed the way people live. Everyone needs to adjust to these trying times. A more significant challenge is upon engineers to make the shift as smooth as possible. For engineers, the battle against the virus is not over once the curve has flattened. The real win for engineers can offer practical solutions to the changing times.

4 Ways To Prevent Mishaps In A Warehouse Storage

More than the advanced tools that can be found in a warehouse storage facility, how the business owners guarantee the security of the laborers should get much consideration. The life of every person is valuable, after all, regardless if they are on your payroll. That is the reason why several precautionary measures need to be in motion before they even start working.

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Below are the four ways to prevent mishaps in a warehouse.

  1. Educate The Workers In Advance

Your staff members need to know how to perform their tasks accurately, as well as what proper clothes to wear inside the storage house. That will help them become more attuned to their job post and avoid any slip-ups in the future. The training has to be implemented by a professional who can examine their capabilities right after as well.

  1. Examine The Facility’s Flooring

When a person is immersed at work, there are instances in which their eyes will only focus on what is ahead of them, not on where their feet land. However, if someone carries a pile of racks and unknowingly steps on a wet or uneven floor, the worst-case scenario is that they will topple over or slide and hit their head on the ground. Neither is an attractive consequence, so the condition of the flooring ought to be monitored frequently.

  1. Revisit The Warehouse Equipment Twice Or Thrice A Year

Do not wait for an accident to occur before you check the status of the apparatuses in the facility. Because of the continuous work that the employees do, there is a possibility that the tools will malfunction over time. The racks may have cracks, the forklifts may need some lubrication, and the various apparatuses may require calibration. Scrutinizing them can eliminate the chances of halting the operation because a liquid product on the top rack has fallen in and ruined the other goods or the heavy machinery are generating defective merchandises.

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  1. Conduct Safety Drills

Often, mishaps take place because the employees are not aware of how to handle a particular situation. For instance, if a small fire starts at one station, the most practical thing to do is to eradicate it using the fire extinguishers. Where these items stand, therefore, should be known to all the workers. In case the problem goes out of hand, they should also know the designated emergency exits and hotlines. On your part, you have to instill in their minds that any object should never block these departure points. Thus, conducting safety drills in every department is essential.

 

The laborers in your warehouse are as crucial as the products that you make there, if not more. Without these people, no one can validate that the raw materials are being thoroughly mixed. There is not a single soul to check on the packaging process as well or the quality of the goods that the consumers will receive.

Learn these four ways and prevent mishaps before they truly happen.

 

Possible Basement Damages After Low-Temperature Winters

The winter season being well in motion for at least a few more weeks is a blessing for folks who love the snow. It can immediately become a bane, however, as soon as it passes and you realize that the low temperature inflicted damages to your basement.

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That is too big of a mess to handle for anyone, without a doubt. The foundation of the house is there as well, and it won’t be exempted from the havoc that winter may cause.

Possible Basement Damages

While the season is identified as cold, in general, the temperature fluctuates more often than not. It affects the sources of water in and around your home by enabling the liquid molecules to contract and expand each time. Here are the probable issues that it can impose:

Forming Foundation Cracks

Think of what your home’s framework comprises. Apart from the wood, cement, or steel, some pipes extend to other parts of the house.

The thing with this plumbing system is that it does not come freeze-proof. As you’ve read earlier, water molecules can change their sizes at different temperatures. If the tubes are merely attached outside the foundation when its content becomes freezes and unfreezes, everything will be fine. You can replace any destroyed piping in a heartbeat without it causing extra destruction. However, in case they are within the walls, then you may see the cement cracking. If left uninspected, it may weaken the base of your residence over time.

Widening Existing Cracks

Experts suggest pushing snow away from the house whenever you try to pile it neatly. It isn’t because the ice can cover the beauty of your humble abode. It’s more because there may be little cracks on the basement’s walls and foundation that you cannot see.

Water can seep through even the tiniest gaps, you know. It can evaporate from the cracks during the summer, yet it remains frozen there once wintertime arrives. That is a type of risk that you should not ever take a gamble with since you may find even bigger breaks in no time. For sure, it may result in needing to repair other parts of the house, too.

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Causing Spring Leaks

The end of the winter season is the beginning of spring, the time when heavy rains fall. Sadly, it is also around this period when the downpour comes, and the snow melts almost at the same time.

Simply imagine how much water can be produced by these phenomena together. Any snow on your roof will drop to the ground as well. It may not seem like a flood on your yard, but that’s what’s extra bothering. It entails that the soil already absorbed the excess water, thus letting it travel to the basement undetected.

You can prevent spring leaks from happening by having the area checked and waterproofed before the season changes.

What You Should Do To Avoid Basement Damages

  • Take care of the plumbing system.
  • Devise a drainage plan for the yard.
  • Shovel snow away from the house.
  • Seal the cracks.
  • Keep windows closed and clean.