Take Control of Your Tech - From constantly checking email to the endless buzz of a new Facebook notification, our tech devices can easily control our lives. Instead, make 2018 the year where you take control of your tech. For an easy way to start, resolve to stop using your phone as your alarm clock. Studies have found that the blue light emitted from electronics can have a negative effect on sleep, and that keeping your phone next to your bed makes you more likely to check your phone within just five minutes of waking up. Rather than encourage your family’s tech dependence, try setting up a charging station in the living room or kitchen. This attractive bamboo charging dock will keep phones and tablets out of the bedrooms, and in a spot where you can easily find them.
Carve Out a Space for Yourself - If it’s nearly impossible to find a space that’s just for you inside your own home, make this the year you claim a spot. Find an area to devote to your favorite hobby, and you’ll be more inclined to spend time doing what you love. Even if you can’t dedicate an entire room to your yoga practice, claim one corner of your family room for your mat, blocks, and soothing music. If the mat’s hiding in the closet, you’ll forget to take it out, but when it’s there waiting for you when you get home from work, you may just find 15 minutes for yourself. If you want to read more, create your own reading nook out of your most comfortable armchair and a small side table. Want to play guitar more often? Get a wall hook to hang the instrument where you’ll see it every day. You’re more likely to pick it up, even if it’s just for five minutes, when it’s stored out in the open.
Source: UNSPLASH |
Sync Up Your Family’s Schedules - Between piano practice, after-school clubs, and business dinners, coordinating everyone’s schedules can feel like a full-time job. Instead of doing it all yourself, let your family sync their own schedules—both in real life and virtually. In the entryway or kitchen, set up a shared calendar where each family member can add their own events. On the way out the door, it’s easy to spot what time basketball practice is that afternoon. And when your day gets busy and you can’t recall the start time, that’s where Cozi comes in. This free family organizer app lets multiple family members share one master calendar. You can set up reminders, appointments, family dinners, and even shared shopping lists, helping your family stay in sync even on busy days.