HealthyLife Articles

Tag: timers

  • Secure Your Home For Vacation

    WELL-BEING

    Small wooden home on table with hands protecting it.

    When you’re gone on vacation, you want to know your home is safe and secure. Ideally, you want to avoid letting your home look unoccupied and unwatched.

    Tips to protect your home while away

    *  Set lights on timers, both inside and out.

    *  Check doors and windows before you leave.

    *  Arrange for lawn care or snow removal.

    *  Have the post office hold your mail until you return.

    *  Cancel other deliveries.

    *  Enlist a neighbor to keep an eye on things.

    *  Check if your local police department offers vacation home checks.

    *  Invest in a security system.

    *  Install a video doorbell.

    *  Don’t post about your vacation on social media.

    *  Hire a housesitter to visit or stay at your home while you’re away.

    *  Invest in quality locks on all exterior doors.

    *  Leave a car in the driveway.

    *  Set up motion-activated lights in the backyard.

    *  Turn off your garage openers.

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine

  • 3 Ways To Avoid Distractions At Work

    WORK LIFE

    Close up of hands typing on laptop keyboard.

    It’s a common problem: you need to focus on work, but you keep getting distracted. Here are three quick ways to focus and check things off your to-do list.

    1. Turn off the “rings” and “dings.” Turn off notifications for emails or texts on your phone before you start a task.

    2. Set a timer. Work blocks can be a valuable tool to help you get things done. Set a timer for 25-40 minutes and focus on one task during that time. When the timer goes off, take a 5-minute breather. Get a drink of water or go for a quick walk.

    3. Schedule email check times. Check your messages at scheduled times between work blocks. Spend a few minutes checking and responding. Then, set your timer and start another work block.

    Source: Society for Human Resource Management

    © American Institute for Preventive Medicine