Simplify Life

Monday, November 12, 2012

Let’s Be Thankful for Technology

Hurricane Sandy really reminded all of us how much we rely on today’s technology. Without power, many people are suffering in the dark without a way to cook or keep warm. Even some of us on the West Coast were affected when we couldn’t conduct business or access our favorite websites, which seems trivial by comparison.

It does remind us to stop and be grateful for what we have. It hasn’t been that long ago that many of the things we take for granted didn’t exist. What would we do without…

Electric lights, Security systems, Garage door openers,

Running water in the house, Flush toilets, Water heaters,

Washing machines, Dryers,

Electric ranges, Gas ranges, Ovens with accurate temperature sensors, Microwaves,

Radios, Televisions, DVDs, TiVo,

Computers, Laptops, Nooks, Kindles, Blackberry, Ipads, Ipods,

Telephones, Cell phones, Smart phones, Answering machines,

Copiers, Fax machines, Calculators,

Electric razors, Curling irons. Blow dryers, Electric toothbrushes,

Furnaces, Air conditioners, Heat pumps, Generators,

Comfortable automobiles, Airplane travel, Gas stations,

And Grocery stores full of wonderful produce from all over the world?

Compare our lives to the early settlers of California. They cooked over an open fire. They knew how to split wood and stockpile for the winters. They knew how to scrub clothes on a scrub board or in the river. They walked or rode horses, mules, or a buggy to the store a few times a year to get the essentials like flour, sugar, and coffee. They knew how to grow a garden and preserve food throughout the year. They lived without our technology. Can we?

What would you do tomorrow if you woke up and it was all gone? That’s what people are facing on the East Coast. Do you have your emergency kit ready to go? Have you fixed potential hazards in your home? Do you know how to shut off the water to your house? Don’t expect someone else to shut the gas off for you, either. If there’s an emergency, you won’t have time to ask.

And if a disaster occurred and technology was gone, what would you be left with? Wouldn’t you be grateful to have your life, your family and friends? Doesn’t that highlight that human relationships are most important ultimately? Which brings up the thought that we shouldn’t allow today’s preoccupation with technology rob us of time for caring for our family, our friends, and ourselves.

We, at Simplify, are very grateful for today’s technology. Without it, it would be extremely difficult to manage all of the services that make your life easier. If you live in the Silicon Valley, schedule a free consultation today so you can maximize technology to give you more time for the most important things.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Be Thankful for your Friends

When you hear the words “my friend,” doesn’t a warm feeling wash over you? Whose face pops up in your mind? Is it someone that you’ve had as a lifelong friend since school days? No doubt it’s someone who truly gets who you are.

Albert Schweitzer said it so well, “In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”

So much has been said about friendship because it is such an important part of being alive and happy. We need people we can openly communicate with without fear of being rejected. We need someone who will be there with a sympathetic hand when we’re under stress. We need someone who points us in a better direction when we have a bad idea.

“A friend is a gift you give yourself.” That’s a truism you’ll see on cards and plaques in many gift shops. The values we hold dear are embodied in our closest friends. We admire our friends and even want to become like them in some ways.

How can we show our friends that we appreciate them?

Keep in close contact. It doesn’t take a lot. A simple phone call, text message or even a handwritten letter tells your friend that he or she is important to you.

Be a good listener. Have you fallen into the habit of always talking about your life? A true friend shows interest in others. Ask questions and really listen to what is said.

Be open. That doesn’t mean telling your friend every little detail. Counselor and author of “The Friendship Factor,” Dr. Alan Loy McGinnis observed, “People with deep and lasting friendships may be introverts, extroverts, young, old, dull, intelligent, homely, good-looking; but the one characteristic they always have in common is openness. They have a certain transparency, allowing people to see what is in their hearts.”

Be willing to spend undistracted time. Friendship shouldn’t be sacrificed for less fulfilling pursuits.

Maintain mutual respect. Everyone needs to be shown consideration, especially when opinions differ. Being overly possessive can smother a friendship; everyone needs his or her space.

Have you ever thought about gifting a home concierge service to your friend? Is there something that needs to be done around the house that your friend can’t do? Or maybe you want to give your friend a night off while one of the professionals at Simplify comes in and cooks a tasty meal? If your friend lives in the Silicon Valley, contact us and let’s work something out.

Monday, October 29, 2012

When Is Not Exercising a Good Idea?

“I just don’t feel good today…but if I don’t push through my exercise routine, I’ll lose all my motivation and fall into a slump.” How do you know when you should keep pushing and when you should simply forgo exercise for the day?

While we can’t give medical advice, we’ve gleaned some ideas from our reading to give you some things to ponder. There are times when it’s wise to listen to your body (and doctor) and forgo your exercise program.

Exercising directly after eating a meal isn’t a good idea. There’s a lot of truth to the adage, “Don’t go swimming for an hour after eating.” That goes for other strenuous exercise as well. You’re body is expending its energy to digest your food. So you’ll avoid stomach cramps if you give yourself an hour or so before exercising.

Many find that exercising right before going to sleep may be a bad idea. A lot will depend on how vigorous your routine is and if you have an adequate cool down period.

If you have a cold, Dr. Edward R. Laskowski, M.D., at the Mayo Clinic website makes this statement: “Exercise is usually OK if your signs and symptoms are all ‘above the neck’ —such as runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing or minor sore throat.” It’s advisable to choose a less strenuous type of exercise like walking at times like this.

If you’re running a fever or have flu like symptoms, Dr Edward R Laskowski, M.D. goes on to say, “Don't exercise if your signs and symptoms are ‘below the neck’ — such as chest congestion, hacking cough or upset stomach. Don't exercise if you have a fever, fatigue or widespread muscle aches.”

When you’re pregnant, it’s important to discuss exercise with your doctor. However, if you’re in good health, a low-impact exercise can be beneficial. Avoid anything that could cause risk to your abdomen or potential falls. Be mindful to drink plenty of water and take breaks so you don’t get overheated.

When you have muscle or joint pain from overexertion, you don’t want to keep pushing through the pain. Muscles need time to rebuild after exercise. Try an alternate light intensity form of exercise until you’re pain free. And if the pain continues, contact your doctor.

Have you recently broken a bone, pulled muscles, or simply become overwhelmed with trying to get everything done? When you live in the Silicon Valley, you can ask Simplify’s professionals to come to the rescue. Contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation and see what we can do until you’re back on your feet again.

Monday, October 22, 2012

How Busy People Can Squeeze in Time for Exercise

There barely seems to be enough time to go to work, take care of your family and home. To squeeze in time for an exercise routine seems impossible. And the truth is, that if you’re planning something out of the ordinary, it may well be impossible.

If however, you simply plan on increasing your physical activity throughout your normal routine, you’ll find yourself accomplishing a lot. Here are some suggestions:

Get up 30 minutes earlier. Sure it sounds great, but when the alarm goes off, it’s really easy to hit the snooze button and roll over for a few more minutes of rest. So a successful morning exercise routine depends on planning the night before. Try this…

Place your exercise clothing and shoes out the night before as a visual reminder that this is what you want to do.
Write in your journal the benefits you anticipate from exercise, whether your goal is to feel more energetic or fit into a special outfit for an upcoming event.
Set an easily obtainable goal, maybe once around your block. As soon as your half way around, you’ll be awake enough to include a couple more blocks before heading home.
Write your accomplishment on your calendar so you can track your progress.

Turn everyday chores into an exercise routine.

If the school is close enough, walk your kids to school.
Do you need to go up/downstairs to transport laundry or something else? After delivering your load, do more stair laps until your heart rate increases.
Do you need to take something to the garage? Extend your trip to include a couple of times around the yard.
When bringing groceries and supplies home, use them for weight lifting as you put them away. Canned goods or jugs with secure handles make great weights.
Step up the pace as you mop, vacuum, scrub, or mow the lawn. All of it counts!

Squeeze in more activity at work.

Wear your walking shoes to work so you’re in the mindset for exercise. Once you’re in the office, you can change to your business shoes.
If you ride the bus, get off a couple of blocks early and walk the rest of the way.
Instead of a coffee break, go for a stair-climbing break.
Form a lunchtime walking club with workmates. The extra support helps.
Deliver memos in person rather than relying on the phone or emails.

What’s your favorite way of sneaking in some exercise? Please share it with us. The key is making exercise convenient and part of your daily habits. Would you rather hit the gym and let someone else do the household chores? If you live in the Silicon Valley, contact us at Simplify and we’ll set up a complimentary consultation.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Finding the Motivation to Maintain Your Exercise Routine

You know you should exercise, but you just can’t make yourself do it. Of course, you tell yourself that you’ll feel better once you get going, but there just seems to be too many roadblocks.

Here are some common roadblocks and suggestions for what you can do:

I don’t like to exercise.

Exercise is anything that gets you moving. It doesn’t have to mean an hour at the gym. There has to be something that you enjoy– walking the mall, swimming, gardening, or tennis. When you find a way to exercise that you like, it will be easier to schedule time to do it. It might help to include family or friends to make it more enjoyable.

I don’t have the energy.

You’ll get energy from simply starting to move. Just add 10 minutes of one simple activity to your day like stretching or walking. Make reasonable goals. Set a timer or clock the distance around your block and use these are markers for reaching your goal. Others find that using a pedometer that tracks how many steps you take each day helps in increasing your weekly goal.

When you compete against yourself, using time or distance as the marker, it will give you encouragement to keep trying until your energy level rises. If it doesn’t, you might want to see a doctor and find out if there’s a medical reason for your lack of energy.

I start but fail after a week or two.

If you’ve started, you haven’t failed. If you feel you’ve failed, perhaps you need to reexamine your goals and work at accomplishing something simpler. Think of it as building on what you’ve already begun. Ask yourself, what can I do today that will make me more active than I normally would be?

I don’t have the time.

How can you make more time? Buy out time from some other activity. It can be something as simple as getting out of bed 30 minutes earlier or giving up 30 minutes of TV at night and going go for a walk instead.

You’ll achieve measurable improvements to your health by simply exercising 10 minutes at three different times during the day. Think of small ways you can increase your activity. Instead of reading that book, get it on audio and listen to it as you walk. Park your car further away from the door. Take the stairs. Little things like these all add up.

Want another way to make more time? If you live in the Silicon Valley, contact us at Simplify to see how our home concierge services can help you make more time for what’s important to you and your family.