7 THINGS TO STOP DOING NOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Using a weak password - Avoid simple names or words you can find in a dictionary, even with numbers on the end.  A password should have at least 8 characters.  Mix upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols, and insert numbers or symbols in the middle of a word.


Leaving your full birth date in your profile - It's an ideal target for identity thieves, who could use it to obtain more information about you and potentially gain access to your bank or credit card account.  If you've already entered a birth date, go to your profile page, click on the info tab, then on Edit Information.  Under the Basic Information section, choose to show only the month and day or no birthday at all.


Overlooking useful privacy controls - Restrict access to photos, birth date, religious views, and family information to only certain people or groups or block particular people from seeing them.  Consider leaving out contact info, such as phone number and address.


Posting a child's name in photo tags or captions - If someone else does, delete it by clicking on the Remove Tag or ask them to remove the name.


Mentioning that you'll be away from home - Wait until you get home to tell about your vacation and be vague about the date of any trip.


Letting search engines find your private information - If you want to prevent strangers from accessing your page, go to the Search section of privacy controls and select Only Friends for search results.  Be sure the box for public search results isn't checked.


Permitting kids to use social networking sites unsupervised.
Source: Consumer Reports




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CRITICAL PORCH AND DECK CHECKS

Signs of an unsafe porch or deck are often not obvious.  Here are some safety checks to make on any porch or deck:


~ Be sure the railings and banisters aren't loose.  They shouldn't wiggle as you push on them.


~ Check that all of the steps are securely anchored to the risers by resting your weight all along the width.


~ Check the structure.  Look for rot and insect damage beneath the platform; if you find any, have it repaired by a professional.


~ Help prevent mildew and the slip hazard it causes by regularly clearing away leaves, other yard waste, and puddles on, beneath, and around the structure.


~ Inspect all nails, screws, and bolts.  Hammer down nails and tighten screws and bolts.


~ Safeguard children and pets by keeping the spaces between the railing balustrades to 4 inches or less.


~ Inspect outdoor lighting and replace any frayed cords or other damaged components.
Source: Consumer Reports




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SPRING CLEANING UNCOVERS TAX DEDUCTIONS!

It's a great time of year to clear the clutter in our homes and offices.  Many items can be useful to others.  Here is a guide with some helpful hints for recirculating and donating:


- Most organizations can only use certain types of items - call or check the agency's website for a donation wish list.


- Inquire as to whether an agency can pick up items or if they need to be dropped off at a certain location.


- ask for a receipt to claim a tax deduction.


Where to donate:


Big Brothers/Big Sisters    www.bbbsmb.org    800-483-5503


Boomerangs    www.aac.org    617-524-5120


Brookline Senior Center - gift cart items, used cell phones and iPods    617-730-2770


Coalition for the Homeless    www.mahomeless.org    781-595-7570 x13


DVDs for Vets    www.dvds4vets.org


Goodwill/Morgan Memorial    www.goodwillmass.org    617-445-1010


Got Books?    www.gotbooks.com    978-327-7600


Rosie's Place    www.rosies.org    617-442-9322


Second Step   www.thesecondstep.org    617-965-3999


Solutions at Work    www.solutionsatwork.org    617-576-0039


And another great resource for both giving and receiving:  www.freecycle.org




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QUIZ: HOW MUCH DOES YOUR WEIGHT DEPEND ON YOUR GENES?

To find out, answer yes or no to each question:

Section A

1.  I have been overweight for much of my life.
2.  One or both of my parents, or several other blood relatives, are signficantly overweight.
3.  I can't lose weight even when I faithfully stick to a reducing diet and increase my activity for several months.

Section B

1.  I am strongly tempted by the availability of food.
2.  I am moderately overweight, but I can lose weight when I diet and exercise.
3.  I tend to gain weight easily if I don't follow a healthy diet.

Section C

1.  I've never really been overweight.
2.  I can eat almost anything I want and not gain weight.
3.  I don't exercise much, and my weight stays normal.


Scoring:

 If you answered yes to two or more statements in Section A, genes are probably a significant contributor to your weight issues.  For people with a very strong genetic predisposition, sheer willpower can be tough in counteracting the tendency to be overweight.  But you can achieve and maintain weight loss under a doctor's guidance.

If you answered yes to two or more statements in Section B, genes are probably a lower contributor for you.  While you have some genetic predisposition to be heavy, it's not so great that you can't overcome it with some effort devoted to diet and exercise.

If you answered yes to two or more statements in Section C, your genetic predisposition to obesity is low.  You have a good chance of losing weight by eating fewer calories and getting more vigorous exercise.  It may also be easier for you to keep it off.  Ask your doctor for weight loss help.
Source: Nancy Snyderman MD, Diet Myths That Keep Us Fat


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CONQUERING THAT TO-DO LIST - Part 3

Continued from 2/21/15 post . . .

Guest Author:  Beverly Zibrak, President of the Word Doc, Brookline, MA

Add to the List - At the end of the day, add items to your list that weren't there but which you accomplished, just so you can cross them off.  This gives you a feeling of accomplishment.

Set Minimum Goals - Tell yourself that you will accomplish a doable number of things during the day.  Maybe it is three, maybe more.  You can see if ranking tasks by easiest to accomplish to hardest works better for you.  If you get more done by knocking off the easier or the harder tasks first, then do that.  See what works for you.

Whatever you accomplish in the day, think of it as a success.  Do not get daunted by the things you have not done.  Rather see them as challenges for the next day.

Beverly Zibrak is President of the Word Doc, a writing and editing services firm dedicated to helping small business with all their communication needs, including web content development, press releases and marketing communications, and blog posts.  You can reach Beverly at www.worddocusa.com.

HOW TO KEEP WARM ON COLD DAYS

It's important to stay active, whatever the season.  And it's essential to maintain an adequate body temperature during winter outdoor activities . . . including snow shoveling!  Here are a few tips to keep you warm when you venture out:

~ Cover your head and don't forget neck and ears.  Keep your ears warm with a cap, earplugs, or ear warmers.

~ Get some tight, waterproof gloves so ice and water can't seep in to chill you.  Also, make sure the gloves have a good grip, so you don't have to take them off to do things outside.  If it's really cold, you can put some mittens on over your gloves or a liner in them.

~ Dress in layers.  Cotton and silk are good at absorbing moisture so you won't get chilled if you work up a sweat.  You might start with a layer or two of long underwear, topped with sweaters, fleece pants and jackets, plus a wind/waterproof shell.  Layers should be loose enough to leave room for air so you lock in heat.


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CONQUERING THAT TO-DO LIST - Part 2

Guest Author: Beverly Zibrak, President of the Word Doc, Brookline, MA

Continued from 1/17/15 post . . .

Break Down Daunting Tasks - Break down big daunting tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks of activities that can be crossed off in a timely manner.  Some people prefer to tackle the harder tasks first in the day, so that you get a good sense of satisfaction in completing them.

Conquer the "Dregs" - Write down your "dreg" list, those mundane activities that appear on your list day after day.  Then divide it in to three categories:  a "hard" pile, a "nonessential" pile, and a "don't want to do" pile.  Ask for help on the "hard" pile, check with a colleague on the "nonessential" pile, and delegate items in the "don't want to do" pile.  If you work alone, make these decisions on your own.  You may still be able to get help on some of these tasks or eliminate them completely.

Reprioritize Your List Throughout the Day - When something inevitably happens and deters you from your to-do list, take some time and refocus your list.  You may be able to put an essential task off until the next day.

More tips next month!

Beverly Zibrak is President of the Word Doc, a writing and editing services firm dedicated to helping small business with all their communication needs, including web content development, press releases and marketing communications, and blog posts.  You can reach Beverly at www.worddocusa.com.