Misc

Want to reduce stress? Take a walk!

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While office work isn’t as physically demanding as, say, hauling shingles or operating a jack hammer, it can be taxing in its own way. Office workers often look for ways to reduce stress. Adjusting the work load will help, of course. Can certain tasks be handled by others?

Consider, too, the layout of your office. Does it incorporate an ergonomic design? Furniture and lighting that are not conducive to efficient operations can seriously impair your abilities.

how to reduce stress, relieve stress, reduce stress, weight loss planAnother problem is that many office workers simply don’t get enough exercise. Their reasons are many, but often involve time and/or money. Consider this: What can you do that is free, really easy to do, doesn’t take much time, and pays big dividends long term? Talk a walk!

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WordPress tricks and tips

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I have been using WordPress for more than two years. In the course of writing more than 200 columns, I’ve learned quite a lot about this platform. In this column I’d like to share some of the techniques I use to make my blog what it is.

1. Colorize headlines. Most themes set their title (headline) color to black. Sales Letter theme usually uses red. What if you want a different color? You can change it, but you have to use HTML. Fortunately, the headline cell is receptive to HTML code. This is the format to use:

<span style=”color: #0000ff;”>Headline text goes here</span>

Websites use the Hexidecimal chart for colors. Each color is represented by a six-character designator (0000ff, for example). To produce a a colored headline, find the designator of the color you want, and insert it in the formula between the pound/number sign and the semi-colon. The formula is not case-sensitive; the letters can be all capped or lower case.

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Packing for a vacation? Here are some suggestions

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Prepare a vacation packing list

Packing for a vacation can be a maddening experience. You spend hours digging through your closets, chests of drawers, and other storage spaces looking for all the right clothes. Then comes the fun part: Trying to pack it all into a suitcase while staying under the weight limit. You surely don’t want to get socked with a surcharge once you arrive at the airline ticket counter.

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Throughout that maddening exercise, it’s easy to overlook some very important steps that can help make your vacation go smoother, especially if you suffer a loss. Create a vacation packing list (or checklist). Here are some suggestions for your list. (I include others in this column.) Note that I include both items and actions.

1. Buy a backpack. Talk about versatile baggage. Forget that small piece of luggage that comes snuggled inside your main suitcase. A backpack has multiple storage compartments that secure with a zipper, and it easily stores in the overhead bins. Best of all, you can sling it over your shoulder for easy transport.

2. Store valuables in the backpack for flight. This will keep them in sight, but also protects them. A 35mm SLR camera and a handheld transceiver (H-T, to you ham radio ops out there), bit the dust on separate trips because I stashed them in the suitcase. Even though I wrapped them in clothing, they still got jostled enough to break. A very costly learning experience, indeed!

Another bit of advice from a travel agent: Place a book or other thick object at the bottom of your backpack. That will stymie thieves who try to slice open the backpack while walking behind you. Some thieves are smooth enough to pull that off without the tourist knowing it.

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Getting involved in local volunteer opportunities: What should I do?

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Volunteering opportunities abound. Determine what you like to do, and make that call. Perhaps you’re thinking of volunteering somewhere–you know deep down that there are many local volunteer opportunities–but you’re unsure what to do and whom to contact. Start by determining where your talents lie and what you like to do. How would you like … Read more

Back up your computer and websites regularly

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Back up your computer files and websites regularly to overcome a loss Do you back up your computer files and websites? If not, you’re risking serious loss. There is no one best way to back up your computer. Just do it (if I may be so bold as to steal  a popular phrase). For your … Read more