BusinessVoice News Network

Don’t get fooled by these car care tips that could hit you hard in the pocketbook. Overfilling your tires won’t improve mileage but will give you a rougher ride and wear out the tires sooner. Taking more than 30 seconds to warm up your car before driving wastes gas. And don’t drive with less than a quarter-tank of gas because that makes your fuel pump work harder and wear out faster. Source Link

Making new friends can be hard when you’re an adult but a few simple steps might smooth the process. Start conversations and let others share about themselves; join a new club or organization, or create friendships with friends of friends. And take a tip from actors doing improv and say “yes” to show you’re open to wherever the encounter takes you. Source Link

Being a couch potato doesn’t mean you can’t see health benefits from taking more steps per day. Researchers found that people who were sedentary for more than 11 hours a day gained the same health benefits from walking as more active people did. And that benefit began with as little as 2,200 steps per day. Source Link

Be sure to mind these rules of the sky if you want to be a good fellow passenger on your next flight. The middle seat gets both armrests; don’t recline in economy seats and don’t grab the back of seats while walking down the aisle. And stand up when someone needs to get past you and into the aisle. Source Link

A healthy late night snack is one that satisfies hunger but doesn’t keep you awake. Combining protein and carbs can boost the brain chemical that helps with sleep, so try cereal with low-fat milk or yogurt and melon. And cheese and whole grain crackers is a classic snack that will top you up and help you get to sleep. Source Link

Many items for an emergency survival kit are probably around your house now. Binder clips can secure a tarp or hold a rope to a tree and zip ties make great hangers for things that need to stay off the ground. Dental floss can serve as a snare line or sewing thread and duct tape has lots of uses, from patching holes to serving as a great fire starter. Source Link

If you’re tasting chocolate in your head and it’s making you hungry, try putting the other senses to work to combat food cravings. Picture an image of some place or something you enjoy that’s not food or look at actual photos that you load to your phone. You can also counter the real aromas of food with a whiff of perfume or scented oil carried in a small vial. Source Link

You can combat procrastination by committing to a schedule rather than a deadline. The idea of being “in the zone” is a myth because the best way to get work done is to commit to a schedule and stick to it, even if you don’t feel like it. Maybe you can only spend a few minutes on a task, but that’s better than skipping it altogether. Source Link

Cracking your knuckles is a common habit that’s often discouraged because people believe it can cause arthritis. But studies have shown that knuckle cracking is not associated with an increased risk of injury. It may be annoying for others, but cracking your knuckles isn’t likely to cause any long-term damage. Source Link

Having the hottest smartphone isn’t a good thing when you’re talking about temperature and not popularity. If your phone feels warm to the touch, start by removing the case and don’t store it in the sun or have it directly touching your body. Some things that can overheat a phone are shooting video, playing graphically rich games, or using your phone as a mobile hotspot. Source Link

Medicare fraud is a major problem and there are ways to spot a scam before you get taken. Medicare will not make an unsolicited contact to verify your information and watch out for an offer of free medical supplies that asks you to give up your Medicare number. And never let anyone but your doctor review your medical records to recommend services. Source Link

What are some tell-tale early signs of hearing loss? You might be asking people to repeat themselves often during a conversation, or you can’t hear background noises such as birds chirping, leaves rustling or a beep from a kitchen appliance. And ringing in your ears can be a sign of hearing loss because that’s how the brain compensates for a deprivation of sound. Source Link

Starting a garden can teach kids about where fruits and vegetables come from and make it easier to get more of them into their diet. You can grow in containers or create a garden in the yard and let children plant seeds and help with watering and weeding. After harvesting, use your fruits and vegetables in a meal, like lettuce or tomato on a hamburger or fresh-picked berries for a fruit smoothie. Source Link 

These basics of car maintenance are things that any driver can handle themselves. Know how to check and refill your oil, top-off tire air pressure, or jump-start a dead battery. And you should know the car’s year, make and model because those are needed to find the right parts for D-I-Y work. Source Link 

Here are some ways to make that next moving day go easier. Start packing as early as possible and clearly label all boxes with what’s in them and the room they go to. Declutter first so you’re not moving junk and set up utilities and change your mailing address before moving day. And try to pick a weekday morning or afternoon to save money on paying the movers. Source Link

Grocery shopping by color can be your first step toward a healthier heart. Choose foods with lots of color by starting in the produce section to stock up on a rainbow of fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid white in bread, potatoes and rice and check labels to skip the added salt and sugar that can be found in many processed foods. Source Link 

There’s a way to read a book that has more benefits for your brain. Instead of reading for a goal of learning or finishing in a certain time, “mindful reading” focuses on the pleasure so you remain fully present and understand what you’re reading. It’s best done with a paper book because reading on a phone or tablet has distractions like notifications and the urge to multitask. Source Link 

Try these hacks to make better use of household tools you already have. A vegetable peeler can shave thin slices of onion faster than slicing and the hole in that spaghetti spoon helps you measure one portion. And wedging the teeth of a staple remover into a key ring can make it easier to slide on a new key. Source Link