Strategies for Getting Organized

Below are tips for keeping healthy eyes. Get more tips by reading articles about aging and your eyes ,  maintaining good eyesight ,  promoting eye health with nutrition  and workplace eye safety .  Find more articles at websites maintained by the American Academy of Opthamologists , the  National Institutes of Health , and  WebMD . Avoid Eye Fatigue Several times per hour look away from computer screens for a minute to prevent eye strain. Make Healthy Choices Make  smart food choices , be  physically active , maintain a  healthy weight , and stop smoking .  Get Annual Checkups   Get annual eye exams by an optometrist or ophthalmologist . Monitor Underlying Conditions Maintain normal  blood pressure  and  Diabetes - manage  diabetes  (if you have it). Wear Sunglasses Protect your eyes from sunlight by wearing sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) radiation and a hat with a wide brim when you are ou...

Covid is expected to continue to have surges and plateaus. Below are tips to prepare for future surges and resources for implementing them.  Preparing for Covid Surges Boost Ask your doctor about how frequently to take a booster vaccine to prevent Covid Be Safe Implement protective measures like avoiding groups, limiting travel, practicing hand hygiene, and wearing masks. Take extra precautions if you live or care for someone who is elderly, sick, or immunocompromised.  Buy Supplies Prepare for surges by stocking your home and office with masks, at-home test kits, tissues, and cleaning supplies. Purchase  decongestants, ibuprofen and other remedies to treat Covid symptoms. Keep Current Read daily news reports to stay current on COVID counts and be alert to surges  Get Tested Gest tested immediately if you have symptoms. Treatment must be started within days after sysmptoms first develop.   Seek Treatment Talk to your doctor right away if you test positive t...

Below are AARP's recommendations for masking by vaccinated and unvaccinated. For more information, read A ARP's comprehensive article about living well during and after the Pandemic .  Also see Cleveland Clinic’s Mask Strategies , NJ's Tips on Where to Buy Masks , WSJ’s FAQ’s About Masking , and AARP's Mask Rankings  and  Covid Portal .   Covid variants can elevate the risk of infection so be careful to protect yourself, your family, and your friends. ​​ When Vaccinated Should Mask When gathering indoors with others who have tested positive or not been vaccinated  When indoors with the general public. When entering areas where mask mandates are in place When you feel unsafe When Unvaccinated Should Mask When indoors in public (especially in hospitals and nursing homes) When outdoors in crowds When entering areas where mask mandates are in place​​. When you feel unsafe

Below are tips for staying safe and sane amid changing directives, conflicting messages, and surging cases.  Covid has caused an  epidemic of confusion  that can be overcome by staying safe  and keeping calm .  Staying Safe and Calm Contacts - limit to small groups of familiar contacts Masking  - Wear KN 95 masks while in public areas News - Avoid polarizing news reports  Sanitizing - Use hand sanitizer after touching surfaces in public areas Shots - Get vaccinated and stay boosted to protect yourself and others Testing - test if needed for employment, travel, or immune compromised Travel - limit non-essential travel and focus on outdoor activities

Below are strategies for disconnecting from work to avoid burnout and stay social. Disconnecting from work on a daily basis is more effective than waiting for the weekend or taking an occasional vacation. Disconnecting is difficult and requires commitment to tactics to overcome fear of missing out. For more tips, read articles about the importance of disconnecting ,  how to do it , enjoying  life ,  healthy tech habits ,  managing stress ,  preventing burnout , and tips for disconnecting .  Disconnect Strategies Boundary - create physical boundaries between work space if you work from home Games - take up a game like checkers, chess, or canasta for mental stimulation Lunch - take time for daily lunch and try to schedule with colleagues and walks Relax - take a daily walk after work to mentally disconnect and enjoy nature Schedule - set a daily start and end time for work and adopt rituals to enforce like exercise Unplug - Set a quitting time and turn off yo...

Below are tips on how to become a calmer person. Learn more by reading articles about easing anxiety ,  releasing stress  and seeking serenity . For deeper study, read books about managing stress  and positive thinking . Tips for Staying Calmer Browsing - don’t Google for comments by extremists on the right or left  Debating - change topics when others try to discuss politics or controversies  Disengage - reduce time spent reading and viewing political and news content   Extracurricular  - Pursue hobbies and attend concerts, seminars, and sporting events Meetup - stay connected with family and friends Reading - avoid reading sources of anger-producing material Socialize - participate in group activities

Lying can occur in a variety of settings including business, family, legal, medical, political, and social. Lies range from white lies to bald faced untruths. Lies can be told by anyone including celebrities, clients, coworkers, family, friends, politicians, and sellers. Liars can cloud judgment, cause problems, and damage relationships. Remember that you cannot change a deceptive person. Maintain an attitude of healthy skepticism and independently verify truthfulness. Below are warning signs that someone is lying and a list of articles and books to help deal with them.   Warning Signs That Someone is Lying Answering - repeats questions before answering them Body Language - plays with hair, gestures with hands, puts fingers on face Eyes - looks away at a crucial moment Eyes - excessive blinking Response - vague response with few details Perspiration - facial sweating Volume - sudden increase in volume Articles Avoiding Scams Body Language   Dealing With a Liar Handling a ...

Below are some tips for avoiding burnout and fatigue. For additional tips, read articles about avoiding  problems,   making decisions , managing stress ,  preventing  fatigue ,   recognizing burnout  and sleeping health . Tips Breaks - walk to a different room or around the block at least every two hours every Excursion - talk a stroll in a park or drive to the countryside every week Exercise - schedule exercise sessions at least 3 times each week Health - consult a doctor or therapist f or help managing fatigue and mental health  News - limit daily news reading a newspaper or watching the nightly national news  Sleep - get at least 7 hours of sleep every night Stress - manage stress levels by practicing mindfulness and yoga Well-Being - schedule daily calls or visits with close family and friends

The summer 2023 season in Florida indicates that future waves off  will moderate. The reason is rising vaccination rates for adults and kids. See your doctor if you experience symptoms or have been exposed to others with the virus. Stay safe by getting  a booster, continuing to mask indoors, and avoiding large gatherings. Also, get your flu shot ASAP so it won't interfere with getting a COVID booster. Read articles about weathering another Covid Winter,  the urgency of getting vaccinated for the seasonal flu , and fighting the pandemic blues.  

It is possible to have a breakthrough COVID-19 infection even if you're fully vaccinated. The symptoms usually last 2 weeks and are less likely to result in hospitalization or death. Those with breakthrough can infect others so consider getting tested if concerned. Stay at home and contact your doctor if you test positive.   Avoid breakthrough infections by getting a booster, wearing a mask, keeping socially distant, staying away from large gatherings, and abstaining from non-essential travel. For more information about breakthrough infections, visit the WebMD website and see the NPR article about Will Stone's breakthrough case.

Although the majority of Americans have been vaccinated, many remain reluctant due to fear, politics, and procrastination.  Encourage unvaccinated family members and friends to get vaccinated. Otherwise, they risk serious illness, hospitalization and death. Use friendly persuasion and mention the talking points listed below. For more help, read articles about the  benefits of getting vaccinated , changing minds ,  convincing the unvaccinated ,  Covid FAQ's , messaging strategies , and  talking to vaccine hesitant people , and  understanding anti-vaxers ,   Talking Points Danger - remind them  that they are at risk of getting and spreading Covid Doctor  - suggest that they talk to their doctor (vaccines are becoming available from doctors) Effectiveness   - note that vaccinated individuals avoid serious illness, hospitalization, and death Experience - mention your personal experience getting vaccinated (effects, procedure, timing) Listen...

Below are tips for living longer, healthier, and happier.  Get inspired by watching Taco Bell's 2013 Superbowl commercial titled  Viva Young .  Learn aging insight from  articles about eating healthy ,  keeping happy ,  staying young   and reconnecting with friends . See books about aging well and  keeping sharp . Al so see the  AARP and  WebMd  websites for articles about healthy aging. And consider taking Yale's Happiness Course at Coursera. Tips  Exericse - do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise at least 3 times a week Hydration - drink  125 ounces/day ( 91 ounces for women) Sleep - Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night Smoking - Stop smoking Sun - Reduce your time in the sun (and use sunscreen and protective clothing) Moisturizers - Moisture your with skin cream every day  Socializing - Stay connected with family and friends Strength - do strength training at least 3 times a week

Below are tips for sleeping better. Getting 7 to 9 hours of nightly sleep helps us to avoid Alzheimer’s, diabetes, hypertension, inflammation, and obesity, Eliminating interrupted sleep assured that your body’s ability to repair itself. Learn how to sleep better by reading Harvard Health Letter’s article about  steps for better sleep  and HealthLine’s article about regulating biorhythms . WSJ's sleep strategies , and WebMD's Sleep Checklist . Read how to prevent hybrid work  and smartphones from disturbing your sleep. See tips for  sleeping on long flights  and  sleeping with spouses  and visit the Sleep Foundation  website for more articles. See a doctor when sleep is disrupted by breathing difficulties.  Learn serenity tips by reading articles about  achieving work-life balance ,  overcoming anxiety , preventing night owl syndrome ,  and  staying clam .  Try purchasing gadgets to help you sleep bette r a...

Getting the Covid vaccine reduces the risk of  hospitalization and death, but doesn’t eliminate the chance of getting a mild case. Covid  will remain a significant health risk until a  majority of the population is vaccinated later this year. Meantime,   stay safe  by avoiding non-essential travel, dining at home, exercising outdoors, shopping on-line,  and streaming entertainment . Continue working remotely and maintaining  personal hygiene by distancing,  hand washing, and masking. Improve indoor air quality at your home and office by ventilating with outdoor air and using UV air cleaners . Check the status of the vaccine rollout in your state and it’s impact on herd immunity .  Learn how to winter another Covid Winter.  Find a vaccination center using AARP’s state-by-state directory . Read articles about  life after vaccination , Covid’s future as an endemic , and long-term health problems caused by Covid .   Consult resou...

Desk jobs can be hazardous to the health of office workers. Stay healthy by getting up every hour for a walk. Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes by aerobics bicycling, jogging, walking. Make exercise at your desk part of your daily rituals like squeezes, stretches, and physical activities, Learn more by reading about  deskercise , fitness apps ,  health tips , and  staying healthy . Workout with videos for aerobics and strengthening  and indoor walking .

Distractions can cause anxiety, damage relationships, and diminish productivity.  Causes include including overloaded schedules, cluttered desktops, overflowing inboxes, and unending alerts.  Solutions include using organizational tools, limiting time on digital devices, and terminating subscriptions. For additional tips, read articles about digital distractions , emotional distractions , mental health , and staying sane . For comprehensive guides, see book about Breaking Up With Your Phone ,   Doing More in Less Time and Guide to Wellness .  

Be mindful of ergonomics when working long hours at a desk. Proper use of ergonomics can help you avoid back pain and fatigue. Start by positioning your arms so that they are bent at a 90 degree angle. Adjust the height of your monitor so that your eyes are level with the top of it.  Keep your feet flat on the floor in front of you.  Use a desk chair that keeps your arms close to your body.  Position your monitor that it's not in direct sunlight.    Use a headset or  earphones for better audio. C onsider using a standup desk or getting up for frequent walks. For more information, read the articles about law office ergonomics , relieving muscle pain , and staying pain free . Also visit OSHA's Ergonomics website for additional articles.

A regular checkup of legal health can be just as important as your physical and dental examinations. Legal checkups remind you of your rights and duties, detect problems, and can result in your taking action before trouble starts. Click here for an article that provides tips and resources for conducting checkups for individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations.