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Mum's list of chores for babysitter divides internet

<p>An American mum and schoolteacher has divided social media after she shared a list of chores that her 17-year-old babysitter could do for extra cash. </p> <p>Katrina Ivan hired a former student, who is now a senior in high school, to babysit her two-year-old son.</p> <p>The busy mum, who had been struggling to maintain her home, left an optional list of chores the babysitter could do for some extra cash. </p> <p>“You are more than welcome to hang out and watch TV but if you want to earn some extra cash these are up for grabs,” the note read.</p> <p>She claimed that her son was already asleep when the babysitter arrived at 7:30pm and she would be looking after him until 11:30pm.</p> <p>The babysitter was being paid $115.45 for the four hours of work.</p> <p>The extra chores included organising the kitchen island, which would earn the student $15, as would cleaning the windows and mirrors in the house and sweeping and mopping the kitchen floor.</p> <p>Cleaning out the fridge would earn the her $23, while vacuuming the couch would earn her $4.</p> <p>A few other optional chores included re-organising the toys, organising the kitchen island, and re-organising the silverware, which were all chores that would earn the student $15. </p> <p>The babysitter earned an extra $92 for the chores she chose, and a few social media users have said that this was a great idea. </p> <p> “I wish they did this when I was a babysitter. Would have loved the opportunity to earn extra," one wrote.</p> <p>“This is a great idea!! Sometimes it’s boring to just to sit and watch TV, this makes time go by quicker and sometimes it’s things I would do to help," another said. </p> <p>“I think since it’s optional or not you can give whatever amounts. It’s still the babysitters choice whether to do it or not,” a third added. </p> <p>However a few others weren't as impressed. </p> <p>“Those are 1990 prices,” one social media user wrote. </p> <p>“$23 for the fridge that’s wild," another added. </p> <p>“I think if you mention it ahead of time ‘oh I left a chore list if you’re interested in any of them it’s extra cash for you!’ Because if I just arrived to this note I might be a little uncomfortable,” a third said. </p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Family & Pets

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15 hacks that make running errands so much better

<p><strong>Run errands during the week</strong></p> <p>More than 90 per cent of people do errands on the weekends, meaning shops will be packed and traffic will be a nightmare. Running errands on a weeknight will get you in and out in half the time. Once the kids are in bed, have one parent stay home while the other drives to the shops. You’ll miss the crowds and keep your weekend free for fun and family.</p> <p><strong>Turn on a podcast</strong></p> <p>Radio music – and its deejays and commercials – can get intense. Switch off the FM and plug in your phone so you can listen to a podcast or audiobook. You’ll be more relaxed, and the time will fly as you get engrossed in the story.</p> <p><strong>Make the most of your time</strong></p> <p>Never run out for just one task. Save time, petrol, and stress by getting more than one thing done when you’re out of the house. After dropping your child off at soccer practice, drop off your dry cleaning or pick up the milk from the supermarket.</p> <p><strong>Set up an errand centre in your home</strong></p> <p>Keeping all the objects you’ll need to complete your errands – packages to be mailed, dry cleaning to be delivered, library books to be returned – in one place will make it easy to get out the door when you get the chance. Designate a space by the door or in your car as a visual reminder of what needs to get done.</p> <p><strong>Buy in bulk</strong></p> <p>Picking up big batches of items like toilet paper, dog food, and tampons means fewer trips to the supermarket and less time running errands. Plus, you save money by buying bulk packages or stocking up while the items are on sale.</p> <p><strong>Use long lines for "me time"</strong></p> <p>Instead of griping about how long your wait to the cash register is, think of it as a few peaceful moments to yourself. Close your eyes (don’t be self-conscious!) and imagine yourself sitting on a quiet beach or getting a massage. Take several deep breaths while you mentally escape to that place. You’ll be much more relaxed, and you can wait in line with less frustration.</p> <p><strong>Practice mindfulness</strong></p> <p>Performing a ‘walking meditation’ while you shop will keep you engaged with your task instead of letting your mind wander to other stressors. By the end of your trip, you’ll have more energy and less frustration. Pay attention to the bright colours of the produce, the scents wafting from the bakery, and the feeling of each step you take.</p> <p><strong>Do someone else's errands</strong></p> <p>If you have an elderly neighbour or know a mother with young kids, offer to add some of their tasks to your to-do list. Studies have shown that helping others can reduce stress.</p> <p><strong>Tune out</strong></p> <p>Instead of drowning out your thoughts with music, keep the radio off when you’re driving and allow your own thoughts to come to you. The stimuli of everyday life can be overwhelming, so this is your chance to recharge your energy in the silence.</p> <p><strong>Keep a grocery list on your phone</strong></p> <p>You probably buy the same things on most of your grocery runs. Instead of writing a new list every week, keep an ongoing list on your phone, which makes it easy to add and remove items. Organise your list in the order you’ll find them at the supermarket. For instance, if you start near the produce section, write the fruits and vegetables first.</p> <p><strong>Reward yourself </strong></p> <p>To keep yourself motivated while you’re out, add a little luxury to your shopping list. Treat yourself with nice bath soap, a bouquet of flowers, or your favourite craft beer.</p> <p><strong>Keep an ongoing errands list</strong></p> <p>Write down your usual tasks, along with the ones you keep forgetting to do, like buying socks for your child or making a vet appointment for the dog, in a notepad. Carry it with you so you don’t miss anything when you’re out. When you’re home, stash it where the rest of your family can access it and jot down their needs.</p> <p><strong>Buy online as much as possible </strong></p> <p>The possibilities are endless: order groceries, buy stamps, cash checks, and renew library books online. Giving your credit card number over a secured server is safer than stating your number over the phone, and sometimes safer than handing your card over at a store.</p> <p><strong>Alternate tasks with your neighbours </strong></p> <p>Make a deal with your neighbours in which you do the grocery shopping one week, and they take care of it the next. You can watch each other’s kids when it’s your turn to stay home, and both of you will make fewer trips to the supermarket. Or plan to go grocery shopping with a friend. You’ll have more fun with the social support, and your kids might behave better with someone else present.</p> <p><strong>Have dad run errands with the kids</strong></p> <p>Kids who cook, clean, and run errands with their dads have more friends and are better behaved, according to a University of California study. Make sure your partner (or you, if you’re a dad) takes the kids along every now and then. As a bonus, wives of men who do chores with their kids find their husbands more attractive.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/15-hacks-that-make-running-errands-so-much-better?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Money & Banking

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Annoying chores with unexpected scientific health benefits

<p><strong>Wash dishes: Reduce anxiety </strong></p> <p>People who cleaned their plates mindfully (they focused on smelling the soap, feeling the water temperature, and touching the dishes) lowered their nervousness levels by 27%, found a recent study of 51 people out of Florida State University’s psychology department. People who didn’t take as thoughtful approach to their dish washing did not experience a similar calming benefit.</p> <p><strong>Clean with a lemon scented cleaner: Be happier </strong></p> <p>A citrusy scent is a potent mood booster, according to a 2014 Japanese study. When participants spent as little as ten minutes inhaling yuzu (a super-tart and citrusy Japanese fruit), they saw a significant decrease in their overall mood disturbance, a measure of tension, anxiety, depression, confusion, fatigue and anger, PureWow recently reported.</p> <p><strong>Make your bed every morning: Boost productivity </strong></p> <p>Your nagging mum was right: starting your day with a freshly made bed is what Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, calls a “keystone habit”; one that has a ripple effect to create other good behaviour. In his book, Duhigg notes that making your bed every morning is linked to better productivity, a greater sense of wellbeing, and stronger skills at sticking to a budget.</p> <p>Bedmakers also report getting a better night’s sleep than those who leave their covers messy in the morning, per a National Sleep Foundation poll reported by WebMD.</p> <p><strong>Clean up your yard: Prevent a heart attack </strong></p> <p>Need motivation to clean up? People who did the most yard work, housecleaning, and DIY projects had a nearly 30% lower risk of a first-time cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke compared with those who were the most sedentary, according to a new Swedish study of 3800 older adults.</p> <p><strong>Banish kitchen clutter: Lose weight </strong></p> <p>A recent study showed that people with super-cluttered homes were 77% more likely to be overweight or obese. The likely reason: it’s harder to make healthy food choices in a chaotic kitchen. Organising guru Peter Walsh, author of Cut the Clutter, Drop the Pounds, has been inside of hundreds of people’s homes.</p> <p>He says once people finally get organised, they tend to experience a number of other unexpected perks, including weight loss, without strict dieting.</p> <p><strong>Mow the lawn: Feel more joyful </strong></p> <p>There’s something to that grassy scent. Australian researchers discovered that a chemical released by freshly cut grass makes people feel more relaxed and more joyful.</p> <p><strong>Grow flowers and vegetables: Lower depression risk</strong></p> <p>In a study out of Norway, people diagnosed with different forms of depression spent six hours a week gardening; after a few months, they experienced a notable improvement in their depression symptoms, and their good moods continued for months after the study ended.</p> <p>Doing a new activity and being outside in nature can certainly help, but some experts believe that dirt itself might be a depression fighter, according to Health.com. Christopher Lowry, PhD, a professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, has been injected mice with a common, harmless bacteria found in the soil.</p> <p>He’s found that they experience an increase in the “release and metabolism of serotonin in parts of the brain that control cognitive function and mood, much like serotonin-boosting antidepressant drugs do,” the site reported.</p> <p><strong>Share chores with your spouse: Have a better sex life </strong></p> <p>When men perceived their contribution to household chores as fair, couples have more frequent and satisfying sex, according to a 2015 study from the University of Alberta.</p> <p>“If a partner isn’t pulling their weight in housework, either one will have to pick up the slack, or the chores will remain undone. This will develop tension and bitterness in the relationship, which will transfer into the bedroom,” according to MedicalDaily.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/8-annoying-chores-with-unexpected-scientific-health-benefits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>. </em></p>

Body

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Don’t blame women for low libido. Sexual sparks fly when partners do their share of chores – including calling the plumber

<p>When a comic about “mental load” <a href="https://english.emmaclit.com/2017/05/20/you-shouldve-asked/">went viral in 2017</a>, it sparked conversations about the invisible workload women carry. Even when women are in paid employment, they remember their mother-in-law’s birthday, know what’s in the pantry and organise the plumber. This mental load often goes unnoticed.</p> <p>Women also <a href="https://theconversation.com/yet-again-the-census-shows-women-are-doing-more-housework-now-is-the-time-to-invest-in-interventions-185488">continue to do more housework</a> and childcare than their male partners.</p> <p>This burden has been exacerbated over the recent pandemic (homeschooling anyone?), <a href="https://theconversation.com/planning-stress-and-worry-put-the-mental-load-on-mothers-will-2022-be-the-year-they-share-the-burden-172599">leaving women</a> feeling exhausted, anxious and resentful.</p> <p>As sexuality researchers, we wondered, with all this extra work, do women have any energy left for sex?</p> <p>We decided to explore how mental load affects intimate relationships. We focused on female sexual desire, as “low desire” affects <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1743609520307566">more than 50% of women</a> and is <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091302217300079">difficult to treat</a>.</p> <p>Our study, published in the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2022.2079111">Journal of Sex Research</a>, shows women in equal relationships (in terms of housework and the mental load) are more satisfied with their relationships and, in turn, feel more sexual desire than those in unequal relationships.</p> <p> </p> <h2>How do we define low desire?</h2> <p>Low desire is tricky to explore. More than simply the motivation to have sex, women describe sexual desire as a state-of-being and a need for closeness.</p> <p>Adding to this complexity is the fluctuating nature of female desire that changes in response to life experiences and the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20160630-the-enduring-enigma-of-female-desire">quality of relationships</a>.</p> <p>Relationships are especially important to female desire: relationship dissatisfaction is a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18410300/">top risk factor</a> for low desire in women, even more than the physiological impacts of age and menopause. Clearly, relationship factors are critical to understanding female sexual desire.</p> <p>As a way of addressing the complexity of female desire, a <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-018-1212-9">recent theory</a> proposed two different types of desire: dyadic desire is the sexual desire one feels for another, whereas solo desire is about individual feelings.</p> <p>Not surprisingly, dyadic desire is intertwined with the dynamics of the relationship, while solo desire is more amorphous and involves feeling good about yourself as a sexual being (feeling sexy), without needing validation from another.</p> <h2>Assessing the link</h2> <p>Our research acknowledged the nuances of women’s desire and its strong connection to relationship quality by exploring how fairness in relationships might affect desire.</p> <p>The research involved asking 299 Australian women aged 18 to 39 questions about desire and relationships.</p> <p>These questions included assessments of housework, mental load – such as who organised social activities and made financial arrangements – and who had more leisure time.</p> <p>We compared three groups:</p> <ul> <li>relationships where women perceived the work as equally shared equal (the “equal work” group)</li> <li>when the woman felt she did more work (the “women’s work” group)</li> <li>when women thought that their partner contributed more (the “partner’s work” group).</li> </ul> <p>We then explored how these differences in relationship equity impacted female sexual desire.</p> <h2>What we found</h2> <p>The findings were stark. Women who rated their relationships as equal also reported greater relationship satisfaction and higher dyadic desire (intertwined with the dynamics of the relationship) than other women in the study.</p> <p>Unfortunately (and perhaps, tellingly), the partner’s work group was too small to draw any substantial conclusions.</p> <p>However, for the women’s work group it was clear their dyadic desire was diminished. This group was also less satisfied in their relationships overall.</p> <p>We found something interesting when turning our attention to women’s solo desire. While it seems logical that relationship inequities might affect all aspects of women’s sexuality, our results showed that fairness did not significantly impact solo desire.</p> <p>This suggests women’s low desire isn’t an internal sexual problem to be treated with <a href="https://www.insider.com/guides/health/yoni-eggs#:%7E:text=Yoni%20eggs%20are%20egg%2Dshaped,bacterial%20infections%20and%20intense%20pain.">mindfulness apps and jade eggs</a>, but rather one that needs effort from both partners.</p> <p>Other relationship factors are involved. We found children increased the workload for women, leading to lower relationship equity and consequently, lower sexual desire.</p> <p> </p> <p>Relationship length also played a role. Research shows long-term relationships are <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-018-1175-x">associated with</a> decreasing desire for women, and this is often attributed to the tedium of over-familiarity (think of the bored, sexless <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBq-Nyo0lQg">wives in 90s sitcoms</a>).</p> <p>However our research indicates relationship boredom is not the reason, with the increasing inequity over the course of a relationship often the cause of women’s disinterest in sex.</p> <p>The longer some relationships continue, the more unfair they become, lowering women’s desire. This may be because women take on managing their partner’s relationships, as well as their own (“It’s time we had your best friend over for dinner”).</p> <p>And while domestic housework may start as equally shared, over time, women <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/women-spent-more-time-men-unpaid-work-may">tend to do more</a> household tasks.</p> <h2>What about same-sex couples?</h2> <p>Same-sex couples have <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/fare.12293">more equitable relationships</a>.</p> <p>However, we found the same link between equity and desire for women in same-sex relationships, although it was much stronger for heteronormative couples.</p> <p>A sense of fairness within a relationship is fundamental to all women’s satisfaction and sexual desire.</p> <h2>What happens next?</h2> <p>Our findings suggest one response to low desire in women could be to address the amount of work women have to take on in relationships.</p> <p>The link between relationship satisfaction and female sexual desire has been firmly established in <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-018-1175-x">previous research</a> but our findings explain how this dynamic works: women’s sense of fairness within a relationship forecasts their contentment, which has repercussions on their desire for their partner.</p> <p>To translate our results into clinical practice, we could run trials to confirm if lowering women’s mental load results in greater sexual desire.</p> <p>We could have a “housework and mental load ban” for a sample of women reporting low sexual desire and record if there are changes in their reported levels of desire.</p> <p>Or perhaps women’s sexual partners could do the dishes tonight and see what happens.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/dont-blame-women-for-low-libido-sexual-sparks-fly-when-partners-do-their-share-of-chores-including-calling-the-plumber-185401" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Relationships

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3 smart appliances to make your life easier

<p dir="ltr">It’s time to get digital but don’t worry, all you need is a set of batteries and a charging cord.</p> <p dir="ltr">From vacuuming to mowing the lawn, here are some helpful devices that will make your life easier. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>1. <a href="https://www.binglee.com.au/products/irobot-braava-jet-m6-robot-mop-m613200?utm_source=CommissionFactory&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;cfclick=346864d5d0bf44a58923574774cfdf9e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Robotic Vacuum</a></strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The concept of a robotic vacuum is not at all new. The Roomba vacuum, arguably the most iconic robot vacuum cleaner out there has been out for over a decade but if you do not own one, do yourself a favour and get one! Or something similar. </p> <p dir="ltr">A robot vacuum will make bending over a thing of the past. They are a self-propelled floor cleaner that uses a rotating brush or brushes to pick up dirt and debris. They work on their own without any human intervention, just press the button and let the little robot clean your home.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>2. <a href="https://www.ecovacs.com/au/winbot-window-cleaning-robot/winbot-w1-pro?cfclick=d2d2a30255d642df868b7ab3d6850b67">Robotic Window Cleaner</a></strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Cleaning windows is one of the most tiresome jobs in terms of cleaning, so rest those arms and get yourself a robotic window cleaner.</p> <p dir="ltr">This revolutionary window cleaner suctions itself onto the glass and gives your windows the gleam they deserve. Once again, no human intervention, just press the button and watch in amazement. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>3. <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/WORX-LANDROID-Robotic-POWERSHARE-Battery/dp/B09V2DQGC1/?tag=homestolove-trx0000057-22">Robotic Lawn Mower</a></strong></p> <p dir="ltr">If you have a big lawn, then this is the way to go. Lawn mowers that you can ride are certainly a better option than those you hold, but the robotic lawn mower allows you to cut your grass from the comfort of your living room.  </p> <p dir="ltr">They’re capable of cutting areas of up to 1000sqm. It measures the size of your lawn, the soil composition and can identify different grass species to make sure it’s cut at the right time based on growth rate and seasonality!</p> <p dir="ltr">Work smarter, not harder. </p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-90ac8f63-7fff-60bf-1904-739cd411e0a9"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credit: Getty</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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10 ways you’re doing your ironing wrong

<p>Some people like ironing, stopping at nothing but pressing their underwear. These individuals usually love their Sunday ritual of tackling four piles of laundry with a cup of tea and a midday movie for company.</p> <p>There’s even a group of extreme ironing enthusiasts, who’ve combined their love for action sports with the satisfaction of a well-pressed shirt. They swear by its meditative qualities: the repetitive movement; the hiss of the steam; the elimination of creases, one by one.</p> <p>Then there’s the rest of the population, who’ll do everything they can to avoid it: from only buying wrinkle-free fabrics to hanging garments in the bathroom for the shower steam to work its magic. They don’t call it a “chore” for nothing, people.</p> <p>Unfortunately, life thrusts at us many occasions that require whatever we’re wearing to receive a good press. Whichever camp you fall in – seasoned or sporadic – you’re poised to benefit from these practical tips.</p> <p><strong>1. Over-drying your clothes</strong></p> <p>Having them hang for too long, frying in the sun or on the heater, can over-dry clothes, leaving them stiff as cardboard and crispy in texture. They become difficult to reshape and harder to iron. Also, be wary of how long they’re in the dryer, especially if you don’t have one of the more advanced “moisture-sensing” models.</p> <p><strong>2. Not shaking clothes out</strong></p> <p>As you’re taking your clothes off the line and out of the dryer, don’t forget to shake them out. This smooths seams and pleats, making them easier to iron later down the line.</p> <p><strong>3. Not protecting delicates</strong></p> <p>Placing a hot iron directly on sensitive fabrics can ruin garments, branding them with an unsightly singed and shiny mark. Protect them by ironing fabrics inside-out and with a pressing cloth as a buffer. A handkerchief or napkin will do.</p> <p><strong>4. Not misting clothes</strong></p> <p>This makes creases easier to eliminate. Many irons have an in-built spray function so you can lightly mist your clothes at the touch of a button. Alternatively, keep a water spray bottle handy.</p> <p><strong>5. Not using a starch spray</strong></p> <p>Starch sprays can speed up ironing and leave your clothes looking extra pristine – if you use them correctly. Spray the area right before you iron and leave it to penetrate for a few seconds. This will also save your iron’s base plate from a build-up of product residue. (You can make your own starch spray by dissolving one tablespoon of corn-flour in two cups of water.)</p> <p><strong>6. Not adjusting the temperature</strong></p> <p>If you have a large pile to tackle, start with your lightest silk, synthetic and delicate fabrics, as these need to be ironed on lower temperatures. Then, as your iron begins to heat up, iron your woollens on medium heat, and then cottons and linens that require a higher heat. Always let the iron sit for a few minutes after you adjust the temperature setting. Want to cut your ironing time in half? Place a sheet of aluminium foil underneath the ironing board cover. The reflected heat from the foil means you don’t have to flip over the garment and iron the other side.</p> <p><strong>7. Not paying attention to the form of the garment</strong></p> <p>For shirts, start with the sleeves (cuffs always open) and lay the collar flat (even though that’s not how you usually wear it), then let the shirt hang for a few minutes before putting it on. For trousers, iron along the main crease, stopping six inches below the waist, then hang by the waistband. And always iron skirts from the top down, unless there’s a flounce or flare, in which case, start from the bottom and work up. If you’re having to iron pleats, start from the bottom, working from the inside of the pleat to the outside. Then set it with a shot of steam.</p> <p><strong>8. Using circular strokes</strong></p> <p>Ironing in circles stretches the fabric. Always iron lengthwise.</p> <p><strong>9. Making a mess of sheets</strong></p> <p>Is there anything more annoying than ironing sheets, tablecloths and curtains? The trick is to set up two chairs next to the ironing board. Fold the piece onto the chairs as you work on it. You could also iron them on a tabletop you’re not too precious about, provided you protect the surface with a bath towel.</p> <p><strong>10. Not hanging up or folding as soon as you’re done</strong></p> <p>But make sure you wait five minutes before putting them on. You need to let the press set, otherwise you’ll be undoing all your hard work.</p> <p>Do you have any ironing secrets to share with us? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Written by Kathleen Lee-Jo. First appeared on <a href="http://www.domain.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Domain.com.au</span></strong></a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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How many of these dirty spots in the home are you guilty of NOT cleaning?

<p>Just when you think you’ve got the house spick and span, along comes a list like this to keep you on your toes.</p> <p><strong>Ceiling fans</strong></p> <p>The tops of these can get dusty and grimy quickly, especially if they are anywhere near the kitchen. Get up there with a hot soapy cloth and give them a good wipe down.</p> <p><strong>TV remote</strong></p> <p>Dirty fingers can leave sticky marks on your remote, which should be cleaned with a slightly damp cloth. If you ever eat in front of the TV you can just imagine how dirty the remote must be.</p> <p><strong>Dustpan and brush</strong></p> <p>The products that clean up the mess need a wash now and then too. A soak in a bucket of hot water and bleach is a great way to clean these. Then allow to dry in the sun.</p> <p><strong>Yoga mat</strong></p> <p>All that Zen-sweat can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Give your yoga mat a clean regularly by taking it in the shower with you and rubbing it with soap or shower gel, then dry on the line. While you’re in the mood, pop your gym bag in the wash too.</p> <p><strong>Cloth bags</strong></p> <p>If you’re toting around your groceries in a cloth bag, little bits of food can start to accumulate in the bottom. Throw them in the washing machine regularly to keep them in good condition.</p> <p><strong>Tops of doors and picture rails</strong></p> <p>What you don’t see can easily be forgotten but the tops of doors and rails can quickly accumulate dust and grime. Get up there with a hot soapy cloth, followed by a buff with a dry clean cloth.</p> <p><strong>Bathroom door handle</strong></p> <p>We don’t need to go into too much detail as to why you need to clean this, but it is important that you do it.</p> <p><strong>Fridge seals and handle</strong></p> <p>The grime that gets in your seals can be easily removed with a hot soapy cloth. Remember to clean the handle regularly too – just think how many times you open the fridge when preparing food (with potentially sticky fingers).</p> <p><strong>Hairbrush</strong></p> <p>All that hair and dead skin accumulates quickly in a brush. Remove any hair and then use hot soapy water to soak your brushes. Allow them to dry in the sun.  </p> <p><strong>Sponges</strong></p> <p>It’s scary to think that the item you use to clean your whole kitchen could be harbouring some serious bacteria. You need to regularly clean your sponges and cloths by soaking them in the sink with a big glug of bleach in hot water.</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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Tactile robot with a sense of touch can fold laundry

<p>Why can you buy a robot vacuum cleaner easily, but not one that folds laundry or irons clothes? Because fabric is actually a very difficult thing for robots to manipulate. But scientists have made a breakthrough with a robot designed to have tactile senses.</p> <p>Fabric is soft, and deformable, and requires a few different senses firing to pick up. This is why the fashion industry is so <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/garment-supply-chain-slavery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">labour-intensive</a>: it’s too hard to automate.</p> <p>“Humans look at something, we reach for it, then we use touch to make sure that we’re in the right position to grab it,” says David Held, an assistant professor in the School of Computer Science, and head of the Robots Perceiving and Doing Lab, at Carnegie Mellon University, US.</p> <p>“A lot of the tactile sensing humans do is natural to us. We don’t think that much about it, so we don’t realise how valuable it is.”</p> <p>When we’re picking up a shirt, for instance, we’re feeling the top layer, sensing lower layers of cloth, and grasping the layers below.</p> <p>But even with cameras and simple sensors, robots can usually only feel the top layer.</p> <p>But Held and colleagues have figured out how to get a robot to do more. “Maybe what we need is tactile sensing,” says Held.</p> <p>The Carnegie Mellon researchers, along with Meta AI, have developed a robotic ‘skin’ called <a href="https://ai.facebook.com/blog/reskin-a-versatile-replaceable-low-cost-skin-for-ai-research-on-tactile-perception/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ReSkin</a>.</p> <p>It’s an elastic <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/explainer-what-is-a-polymer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">polymer</a>, filled with tiny magnetic sensors.</p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p220637-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> <form class="wpcf7-form mailchimp-ext-0.5.62 spai-bg-prepared init" action="/technology/laundry-folding-robot/#wpcf7-f6-p220637-o1" method="post" novalidate="novalidate" data-status="init"> <p style="display: none !important;"><span class="wpcf7-form-control-wrap referer-page"><input class="wpcf7-form-control wpcf7-text referer-page" name="referer-page" type="hidden" value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" data-value="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/" aria-invalid="false" /></span></p> <p><!-- Chimpmail extension by Renzo Johnson --></form> </div> </div> <p>“By reading the changes in the magnetic fields from depressions or movement of the skin, we can achieve tactile sensing,” says Thomas Weng, a Ph.D. student in Held’s lab, and a collaborator on the project.</p> <p>“We can use this tactile sensing to determine how many layers of cloth we’ve picked up by pinching, with the sensor.”</p> <p>The ReSkin-coated robot finger could successfully pick up both one and two layers of cloth from a pile, working with a range of different textures and colours.</p> <p>“The profile of this sensor is so small, we were able to do this very fine task, inserting it between cloth layers, which we can’t do with other sensors, particularly optical-based sensors,” says Weng.</p> <p>“We were able to put it to use to do tasks that were not achievable before.”</p> <p>The robot is not yet capable of doing your laundry: next on the researchers list is teaching it to smooth crumpled fabric, choosing the correct number of layers to fold, then folding in the right direction.</p> <p>“It really is an exploration of what we can do with this new sensor,” says Weng.</p> <p>“We’re exploring how to get robots to feel with this magnetic skin for things that are soft, and exploring simple strategies to manipulate cloth that we’ll need for robots to eventually be able to do our laundry.”</p> <p>The researchers are presenting a <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/reskin-cloth" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper</a> on their laundry-folding robot at the 2022 International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems in Kyoto, Japan.</p> <p><!-- Start of tracking content syndication. Please do not remove this section as it allows us to keep track of republished articles --></p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=220637&amp;title=Tactile+robot+with+a+sense+of+touch+can+fold+laundry" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><!-- End of tracking content syndication --></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/laundry-folding-robot/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on Cosmos Magazine and was written by Ellen Phiddian. </em></p> <p><em>Image: </em><em>Carnegie Mellon University</em></p> </div>

Technology

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Readers respond: What responsibilities did you have at home when you were young?

<p>We asked our readers what responsibilities they had at home when they were young and the responses were nothing short of surprising. </p> <p>From looking after younger siblings to having dinner ready because both parents were at work, here are just some of your awesome responses.</p> <p>Bernadette Heckford - Everything as my mother had seven kids. Being the eldest girl you helped her do chores. Taught me how to care for my home.</p> <p>Denise McGoldrick - We lived on a farm so when we got home from school we had to feed the pigs, ducks and chooks, cut up wood for the combustion stove, usually just splinters until we were old enough to do the big stuff. Only when our chores were finished we were allowed to watch TV for an hour, then bath, dinner, washing dishes and bed at 7.30pm. Also had to keep our rooms tidy and make our beds before leaving for school and have our uniforms and shoes ready the night before. Our Dad was an Army man, so was big on preparation. Still got my clothes ready the night before, so I am not running late.</p> <p>Peggy Czajka Bowser - Both parents worked so I had to prepare and get dinner ready for mum to cook, look after my little brother, do my own washing from the age of 12 and sometimes wash the whole family’s washing on weekends as well. Shopping, ironing, cleaning the floors, cut grass, general everyday cleaning of my room and put up with three painful lazy brothers as well. </p> <p>Diane Jack - Collect the eggs, bring in the wood my brother had chopped, set the table and do my homework.</p> <p>Gill Holman - Youngest of five and we all had chores. My dad even taught my brothers to sew on buttons and darn socks which he had learned to do in the RAF. We all learnt skills for life.</p> <p>Charlie Hedges - Keeping my room clean, helping to clean all common rooms, laundry, ironing, setting the table for meals, clearing and washing dishes, tending to my younger sibs, lawn mowing and raking leaves in the fall, anything else my parents asked. Our "payment" for family chores was a roof over our heads, food, basic wardrobe. If we wanted more we needed to find gainful employment outside of home.</p> <p>Kaye Whitbread - Helping Mum in the house. I was the only girl. Brothers did nothing.</p> <p>Judy Bagatella - I was responsible for all my five brothers and sisters. Washing up, taking them to the park ect. My parents had to both work. I didn't mind at all. When I was 19 though I moved away.</p> <p>Georgina Johnson - Keeping our room tidy and clean, helping prepare meals, ironing, chopping wood, and anything else that mum needed help with around the place. Also mowing the lawns with a hand mower. </p> <p>Petra Harris - To begin with, mum and dad had a servo open from 6am for five to six days a week so after school I usually went home (I was around 12) and started the evening meal prep. Other times I learnt to pump petrol and to get pocket money to go to the pictures. I ran a carpark for patrons of the footy club across the road. Then the parents bought a coffee lounge so when not at school I worked there before and after school and Saturday mornings, no pay/pocket money. Then I decided I would like a job and earn real money and the oldies were not impressed. I didn't resent my parents because they taught me good work ethic.</p> <p>If you would like to share a memory of your own click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oversixtys/posts/3349526351944294" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p>Image: Shutterstock</p>

Retirement Life

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Your favourite chore, based on your zodiac sign

<p><strong>Which chore suits you best?</strong></p> <p><span>As much as well all moan and groan about chores, we all have one that we really don’t mind. After all, how satisfying is cleaning up a burnt pan you thought was destined for the bin? Or even getting rid of the fingerprints that always seem to appear on your stainless steel appliances?  Find out what chores are best suited to you.</span></p> <p><strong>Aries (March 21 – April 19): taking out the rubbish</strong></p> <p><span>You’re a leader, not a follower, Aries. So if you think you’re going to wait around for someone else in your family to take out the overflowing rubbish (or recycling), think again. You’re the type that will do it before anyone even asks/notices/reminds you.</span></p> <p><strong>Taurus (April 20 – May 20): watering the plants</strong></p> <p>If you’re a Taurus, chances are you have a special bond with Mother Nature, meaning you have more of a green thumb than your fellow star signs. So any chores that involve nature – like watering the plants and gardening – are likely to be on your to-do list.</p> <p><strong>Gemini (May 21 – June 20): washing the car</strong></p> <p><span>Friday night dinner with friends? A church potluck? Your colleague’s birthday party? You RSVP yes to all of the above, Gem. To keep up your social butterfly status, you’ll need your car to get from place to place – so take care of your chariot by washing it often.</span></p> <p><strong>Cancer (June 21 – July 22): vacuuming</strong></p> <p><span>If we had to define you in one word, Cancer, it would be homebody (and that’s not a bad thing!). And since you love where you live so much, dirty floors just aren’t going to cut it. Hence, if you had your choice of chores, you’d likely grab the vacuum cleaner.</span></p> <p><strong>Leo (July 23 – August 22): washing dishes</strong></p> <p><span>You like to be in control in every aspect of your life, Leo – including when it comes to household chores. One task you aren’t willing to delegate? Washing the dishes. You’re convinced no one does it as well as you do (and you’re probably right!).</span></p> <p><strong>Virgo (August 25 – September 22): organising</strong></p> <p>Some call it OCD, some call it being a Virgo. Regardless, your perfectionistic tendencies mean you like everything to be in its proper place.</p> <p><strong>Libra (September 23 – October 22): making the bed</strong></p> <p><span>You’re a lot of great things, Libra: charming, happy, optimistic. But you’re also not that interested in housework. That means you like to 1) spend a lot of time in bed and 2) spend very little time doing chores. So changing the sheets and making your bed is about the extent of your chore duties.</span></p> <p><strong>Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): dusting</strong></p> <p><span>The only thing that’s more mysterious than a Scorpio? How so much dust can accumulate on your furniture (and your baseboards) in just a week. Uncovering what’s beneath the grime is similar to the way people have to peel back your layers to get to know you, Scorp.</span></p> <p><strong>Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): cleaning the bathroom</strong></p> <p>Everything you do, you do enthusiastically, Sagittarius. And of all the spots in your house that deserve such a thorough cleaning the bathroom is number one (the toilet! the bathtub! the floor!).</p> <p><strong>Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): scrubbing the floors</strong></p> <p><span>It takes an admirable amount of self-discipline to remember to scrub the floor every week, let alone motivate yourself to actually do it. But thanks to your incredible work ethic, Cap, you’re on it – and as a result, your floors are sparkly clean.</span></p> <p><strong>Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): laundry</strong></p> <p><span>Why fit in when you can stand out? That’s your motto, Aquarius, and one way to express your originality is through what you wear. All those clothes need to be washed before your next party, though, so laundry is something you’re probably pretty good at.</span></p> <p><strong>Pisces (February 19 – March 20): cooking</strong></p> <p><span>You love getting creative in the kitchen, Pisces, so cooking dinner for the fam hardly feels like a chore to you. Whether you’re experimenting with a new air fryer recipe or whipping up everyone’s favourite comfort food, you’re always mixing it up (figuratively and literally).</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Written by Amanda Tarlton. This article first appeared in </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/diy-tips/your-favourite-chore-based-on-your-zodiac-sign" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reader’s Digest</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </span><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA87V"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here’s our best subscription offer.</span></a></em></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Shutterstock</span></em></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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15 hacks that make running errands so much better

<p>Run errands during the week<br />More than 90 per cent of people do errands on the weekends, meaning shops will be packed and traffic will be a nightmare. Running errands on a weeknight will get you in and out in half the time. Once the kids are in bed, have one parent stay home while the other drives to the shops. You’ll miss the crowds and keep your weekend free for fun and family.</p> <p>Turn on a podcast<br />Radio music – and its deejays and commercials – can get intense. Switch off the FM and plug in your phone so you can listen to a podcast or audiobook. You’ll be more relaxed, and the time will fly as you get engrossed in the story.</p> <p>Make the most of your time<br />Never run out for just one task. Save time, petrol, and stress by getting more than one thing done when you’re out of the house. After dropping your child off at soccer practice, drop off your dry cleaning or pick up the milk from the supermarket.</p> <p>Set up an errand centre in your home<br />Keeping all the objects you’ll need to complete your errands – packages to be mailed, dry cleaning to be delivered, library books to be returned – in one place will make it easy to get out the door when you get the chance. Designate a space by the door or in your car as a visual reminder of what needs to get done.</p> <p>Buy in bulk<br />Picking up big batches of items like toilet paper, dog food, and tampons means fewer trips to the supermarket and less time running errands. Plus, you save money by buying bulk packages or stocking up while the items are on sale.</p> <p>Use long lines for ‘me time’<br />Instead of griping about how long your wait to the cash register is, think of it as a few peaceful moments to yourself. Close your eyes (don’t be self-conscious!) and imagine yourself sitting on a quiet beach or getting a massage. Take several deep breaths while you mentally escape to that place. You’ll be much more relaxed, and you can wait in line with less frustration.</p> <p>Practice mindfulness<br />Performing a ‘walking meditation’ while you shop will keep you engaged with your task instead of letting your mind wander to other stressors. By the end of your trip, you’ll have more energy and less frustration. Pay attention to the bright colours of the produce, the scents wafting from the bakery, and the feeling of each step you take.</p> <p>Do someone else’s errands<br />If you have an elderly neighbour or know a mother with young kids, offer to add some of their tasks to your to-do list. Studies have shown that helping others can reduce stress.</p> <p>Tune out<br />Instead of drowning out your thoughts with music, keep the radio off when you’re driving and allow your own thoughts to come to you. The stimuli of everyday life can be overwhelming, so this is your chance to recharge your energy in the silence.</p> <p>Keep a grocery list on your phone<br />You probably buy the same things on most of your grocery runs. Instead of writing a new list every week, keep an ongoing list on your phone, which makes it easy to add and remove items. Organise your list in the order you’ll find them at the supermarket. For instance, if you start near the produce section, write the fruits and vegetables first.</p> <p>Reward yourself<br />To keep yourself motivated while you’re out, add a little luxury to your shopping list. Treat yourself with nice bath soap, a bouquet of flowers, or your favourite craft beer.</p> <p>Keep an ongoing errands list<br />Write down your usual tasks, along with the ones you keep forgetting to do, like buying socks for your child or making a vet appointment for the dog, in a notepad. Carry it with you so you don’t miss anything when you’re out. When you’re home, stash it where the rest of your family can access it and jot down their needs.</p> <p>Buy online as much as possible<br />The possibilities are endless: order groceries, buy stamps, cash checks, and renew library books online. Giving your credit card number over a secured server is safer than stating your number over the phone, and sometimes safer than handing your card over at a store.</p> <p>Alternate tasks with your neighbour<br />Make a deal with your neighbours in which you do the grocery shopping one week, and they take care of it the next. You can watch each other’s kids when it’s your turn to stay home, and both of you will make fewer trips to the supermarket. Or plan to go grocery shopping with a friend. You’ll have more fun with the social support, and your kids might behave better with someone else present.</p> <p>Have dad run errands with the kids<br />Kids who cook, clean, and run errands with their dads have more friends and are better behaved, according to a University of California study. Make sure your partner (or you, if you’re a dad) takes the kids along every now and then. As a bonus, wives of men who do chores with their kids find their husbands more attractive.</p> <p class="p1"><em>Written by the Reader’s Digest Editors. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/culture/15-hacks-that-make-running-errands-so-much-better?pages=1"><span class="s1">Reader’s Digest</span></a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe"><span class="s1">here’s our best subscription offer</span></a>.</em></p>

Mind

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“I want a very, very, very good dad”: Child’s heartbreaking letter to Santa

<p>A domestic violence shelter in Texas has shared a child’s heartbreaking letter to Santa.</p> <p>In the letter, seven-year-old Blake asked Santa for a “very, very, very good dad” after being forced to leave his home with his mother.</p> <p>“Dad was mad,” wrote Blake.</p> <p>“Mom said it was time to leave and she would take us to a safer place where we don’t have to be scared.”</p> <p>The handwritten note was shared  online on Thursday by SafeHaven of Tarrant County and was discovered a few weeks ago in the boy’s backpack, said the shelter.</p> <p>“I’m still nervous. I don’t want to talk to the other kids,” Blake told Santa.</p> <p>“Can you bring some chapter books, a dictionary, and a compass and a watch?</p> <p>“I also want a very, very, very good dad. Can you do that too?” he asked.</p> <p>With Christmas right around the corner, SafeHaven said “Blake is getting exactly what he asked for from Santa” thanks to donations from the public.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsafehaventc%2Fposts%2F2926963557336165&amp;width=500" width="500" height="495" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></p> <p>“But with 117 women and children needing shelter this holiday season, we need your help to make sure they have a safe place to stay throughout December,” added the shelter.</p> <p>The organisation reassured concerned users that Blake and his mother were safe, and thanked the public for their concern.</p> <p>“Victim safety has been our priority for over 40 years, and we would never compromise that through a social media post or otherwise.”</p> <p>The post received a stream of support, with many people asking how they could provide help and support for the shelter’s victims.</p> <p>“How many children do you currently house? Now I want to help all the children … my heart just breaks,” wrote one person.</p> <p>“Is there a way to send packages through the mail or Amazon to you guys to give to him? I want to gather up some books, stuffies and a card for this sweet boy,” wrote another.</p> <p>The post has been shared over 700 times and has close to 200 comments.</p> <p><strong>For information about family violence and where to get help: </strong></p> <p><em>If you have experienced sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732</em></p>

Family & Pets

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5 household chores that are a waste of time

<div id="page1" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>An endless list of the same old household to-dos costs you time, money and sanity. Here are some you can just skip.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/household-chores-that-are-a-waste-of-time"><strong>1. Washing your hair every day</strong></div> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/household-chores-that-are-a-waste-of-time"> <p>It may sound counterintuitive, but if you shampoo too often, you will actually make your hair oilier. Washing strips hair of natural oils, so your scalp produces more and then you have to wash again. Stick to two or three times a week, says derma­tologist Dr Tsippora Shainhouse. Using a ­gentle, sulphate-free shampoo and conditioner will keep your scalp and hair from drying out too much.</p> <p><strong>2. Using a top sheet on your bed</strong></p> <p>Save time making your bed every morning by skipping the tangle-prone top sheet. Many Europeans sleep directly under a quilt or a duvet with a cover, as do many of us. Just be sure to make time every week to wash any bedding that touches your body.</p> <p><strong>3. Tossing mouldy bread</strong></p> <p>The best bread is bought fresh at a bakery and eaten on the day you buy it. But if you don’t devour the loaf, you’ll want to store the rest in the freezer. 
It’ll last longer (two to three months, according to the experts 
at ­epicurious.com) and make much better toast, 
according to the<span> </span><em>New York Times</em>.</p> <p><strong>4. Opening curtains wide every morning</strong></p> <div id="page9" class="slide-show"> <div id="test" class="slide"> <div class="slide-description"> <p>Letting the sunshine in is a lovely way to greet the day, but if you’ll be leaving the house and not returning until after dark, all those rays can fade your furniture and make your air conditioner work harder. North and west-facing rooms are especially sun-prone, so try leaving those curtains drawn. Also, consider running the air conditioner only when you’re home.</p> <div class="at-below-post addthis_tool" data-url="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/household-chores-that-are-a-waste-of-time"><strong>5. Peeling vegetables</strong></div> <p>Unless you’re preparing pumpkin, celery root or some other food with a tough outer coating, there’s no reason to waste precious before-dinner time peeling vegetables, reports thekitchn.com. That goes for foods you may have been peeling 
all your life, such as carrots, cucumbers, potatoes and turnips. You’ll save time and gain flavour and healthy fibre.</p> <p><em>Written by Jody L. Rohlena. </em><em>This article first appeared in </em><a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/household-chores-that-are-a-waste-of-time"><em>Reader’s Digest</em></a><em>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, </em><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&amp;utm_medium=articles&amp;utm_campaign=RDSUB&amp;keycode=WRA93V"><em>here’s our best subscription offer.</em></a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div>

Home & Garden

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The mind trick to make chores more enjoyable

<p><span>There are days where it just feels hard to carry out our activities and complete daily tasks as needed. When this occurs, it may be helpful to ask yourself this mindset-changing question from Tim Ferriss’ <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/benjaminphardy/2017/12/13/by-asking-himself-this-9-word-question-tim-ferriss-changed-his-life/#436b84ab5df5"><em>Tribe of Mentors</em></a>:</span></p> <p><span>“What would this look like if it were easy?”</span></p> <p><span>The productivity guru said we sometimes perceive problems as unnecessarily difficult, leading us towards <a href="https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2019/11/ask-yourself-what-would-this-task-look-like-if-it-were-fun/">paths of most resistance</a>. </span></p> <p><span>“But what happens if we frame things in terms of elegance instead of strain? Sometimes, we find incredible results with ease instead of stress,” he explained. </span></p> <p><span>“Sometimes, we “solve” the problem by completely reframing it.”</span></p> <p><span>What does easy look like? For <a href="http://money.com/money/5661915/tackle-financial-to-do-list/"><em>Money.com</em></a>’s Nina Semczuk, things are easier when they are fun. </span></p> <p><span>To achieve this, Semczuk combines “hideously boring” chores such as grocery shopping and laundry with enjoyable things such as seeing friends, bike riding and dancing.</span></p> <p><span>However, be careful of your budget when pairing these activities – for example, balancing your books while dining out at an upscale restaurant is probably not the greatest idea. </span></p> <p><span>“It takes a bit more creativity to find strategic options that hit all three criteria: fun, easy, and aligned with your goals, but once you do, you’ll not only feel excited to get those tedious tasks completed, you’ll do it knowing you stayed true to your goals,” she wrote.</span></p>

Mind

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The one household chore that could break your relationship

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Household chores can bring even the most harmonious couple on the brink – and one task has come out as the worst offender.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A </span><a href="https://contemporaryfamilies.org/houseworkandrelationshipquality/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">study</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from the </span><a href="https://contemporaryfamilies.org/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Council of Contemporary Families</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> looked at how the division of labour of specific houseworks impact relationship quality. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It discovered that various tasks affected men and women differently. Men reported greater sexual and relationship satisfaction when they split the task of household shopping with their partner, while women were more impacted by the duty of dishwashing.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Women who found themselves doing the lion’s share of dishwashing reported significantly more relationship discord, lower relationship satisfaction, and less sexual satisfaction than women who split the dishes with their partner,” said Daniel Carlson, the study’s lead author and assistant professor of sociology at the University of Utah.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carlson said, “Sharing responsibility for dishwashing was the single biggest source of satisfaction for women among all the household tasks, and lack of sharing of this task the single biggest source of discontent.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carlson offered some theories as to why the task was detested. The first is the fact that it involves cleaning up after someone. “There is old, moldy food sitting in the sink. If you have kids, there is curdled milk in sippy cups that smells disgusting,” he told </span><a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2018/04/doing-dishes-is-the-worst/557087/"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>The Atlantic</em></span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another explanation was clean dishes do not exactly call for compliments. “What is there to say? ‘Oh, the silverware is so … sparkly’?” he joked.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dishwashing in itself can be quite a soothing exercise. According to a study published in the journal </span><a href="http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12671-014-0360-9"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Mindfulness</em></span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, those who took time to get in the zone – focusing on the smell of the soap, the warmth of the water and the feel of the dishes – reported a 27 per cent decrease in nervousness and a 25 per cent increase in mental inspiration.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But in the context of relationship, it seems best to make it a teamwork effort.</span></p>

Relationships

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Cashing out for happiness: Why you should outsource "negative" household chores

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">According to a Harvard professor, outsourcing “negative” experiences, such as laundry or mowing the lawn can result in more happiness.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ashley Whillans, who researches time-money trade-offs says that more people would be happier if they spent more of their money to “buy themselves out of negative experiences”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She spoke to the </span><a href="https://hbr.org/ideacast/2019/01/use-your-money-to-buy-happier-time"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Harvard Business Review’s IdeaCast podcast</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and explained the idea in more detail.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We really like to flip Benjamin Franklin’s adage on its head and say, ‘Well, if time is money, maybe also we can think that money can buy a happier time’,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Any way that we spend money in a way that might save us time — such as also buying ourselves into positive experiences — has reliable and positive effects on the happiness that we get from our days, our weeks, our months and our lives.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, Whillans has said that we need “retraining” in order to be comfortable with strangers helping them out.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I find in my studies that people feel really guilty about outsourcing even though they’re giving up money to have more time that they’ve earned … People feel guilty about burdening other people with their tasks.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whilst it might be tempting to outsource every chore you dislike, it can end up with negative consequences. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whillans noticed that people who outsource too much “experienced the lowest levels of happiness, in part probably because … they feel like their life must be so out of control if they can’t even do one load of laundry on the weekend”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">People on the lowest incomes also benefit more from time saving purchases.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whillans explained:</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What we think is going on there is that people who are materially constrained also tend to be time-poor,” she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“They might be working multiple jobs, they might be a single parent. They might have to commute really far away because the only place that they could live is somewhere that’s quite far away from where they work.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Do you outsource your chores? Let us know in the comments.</span></p>

Money & Banking

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How to help adult kids flee the nest

<p>Moving out of home can a big step in your kids’ lives and can often be considered a milestone in transitioning from childhood to adulthood. It is also a good time to have a casual chat with your adult child about how to live as an independent person. This could help with setting expectations about how much you’re willing to help out now and in the future and set healthy boundaries. Here are a few essential tips to help make the transition less stressful for everyone.</p> <p><strong>Choosing the right place</strong> <br />For first time movers, choosing the right place to live can be a difficult decision which is why your kids may need some help with this. There are a few different factors that should be considered before deciding, such as; location, cost, sharing a property, or getting their own place with each having their own pros and cons.</p> <ul> <li><strong>Location:</strong> Cars can be expensive, so being close to public transport can help with saving some extra cash. </li> <li><strong>Share house:</strong> Division of rent and utility costs is a plus for this option however, your kids may want to ask their mates if they want to move in together, rather than starting fresh with strangers.</li> <li><strong>Own place:</strong> This option can save your kids the stress of living with new people. However, this can sometimes get lonely and be expensive. Don’t be surprised if your kids end up returning for financial help or come home to raid your kitchen on weekends.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Budgeting</strong><br />Creating a budget is crucial for good financial management both now and in the future. No-one wants any nasty surprises with utility or credit card bills. You should consider having a chat with your kids and mapping out a budget in a spreadsheet or budget planner. It is a great opportunity to create healthy financial habits for the future.</p> <p><strong>Donating unwanted furniture</strong> <br />Does your home need a long-awaited refresh? Imagine having a custom-built lounge suited to your specific cushioning requirements! Now that you’re an empty nester, there’s no risk of pizza scraps staining the lounge by careless kids who’s showering habits are questionable. Another plus is saving your kids money by passing on any furniture you no longer need.</p> <p><strong>Home cooking</strong><br />Teaching your kids to cook seven basic meals can give them the tools to maintain health and sustenance while they’re living out of home. This will also help with their budget as leftover food can be used for other meals throughout the week.</p> <p><strong>Chores</strong><br />By moving out, your kids can find some independence, freedom and adventure. But with freedom, comes great responsibility. From now on keeping on top of chores such as cleaning, cooking, laundry, watering plants, and taking bins out will all be part of their daily lives. Don’t forget, it’s not your duty to help complete these things, but it is important that they are aware of these responsibilities. Don’t be surprised if you come to visit and their place isn’t up to your standards. It’s all part of the learning process of transitioning into adulthood.</p> <p><strong>Insurance</strong> <br />When moving out, insurance can often be a forgotten piece of the puzzle for young adults. This can be particularly important if your kids have some of your old furniture, television or expensive computer equipment. To save on costs, your adult child should consider shopping around online to get the best deal on contents insurance. Expensive items can be hard to come by at this early stage of adulthood, so every dollar counts.</p> <p>As a parent, it might be tempting to take full control of your kids moving out. However, remember that you are there to help and provide them with support; and if asked, provide more information about how to live independently. </p> <p>Remember, these are just starting points and living independently is usually a learning process that can take some time. So, placing expectations which are too high on your adult kids during this transition period, may add unnecessary stress to all parties involved. Take it one step at a time and let them make some (small) mistakes on their own.</p> <p><em>Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/money/financial-planning/how-to-help-adult-kids-flee-the-nest.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a></em></p>

Retirement Life

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Sydney Airport meltdown – travellers told to stay away

<p>Sydney Airport is in a state of chaos, with major technical problems throwing a spanner in the works for holidaymakers at two of the airport’s major terminals.</p> <p>Hundreds of passengers have seen their travel plans thrown up in the air by the issue, which affected the T1 international and T2 domestic terminal. The T3 Qantas domestic terminal and inbound flights to Sydney have not been affected.</p> <p>After some frustration, passengers have slowly started to move through the check-in desks but both terminals have massive queues and the sheer backlog of passengers still waiting to be processed is expected to cause delays throughout the day.</p> <p>Sydney Airport confirmed this in a statement on Twitter.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">UPDATE: We are now processing passengers at Sydney Airport. We are working hard to catch up any delays. Please contact your airline for flight status. We appreciate your patience this morning.</p> — Sydney Airport ✈️ (@SydneyAirport) <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyAirport/status/971849397469290496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Virgin Australia has also responded to passenger concerns, saying there were currently being processed by at a significantly “reduced capacity”.</p> <p>“Due to a technical issue at Sydney Airport’s domestic and international terminals, guests are being processed through security at a reduced capacity,” the airline said.</p> <p>“We are holding flights to minimise any disruption to passengers, and working to re-accommodate affected guests.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/sydney-airport-chaos-after-technical-issue-leaves-passengers-stranded-20180309-p4z3jc.html" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Fairfax reports</strong></em></span></a> a power outage is believed to be behind the issue.</p> <p>Passengers have been advised to contact their airlines to confirm flight schedules, but many in line are the terminal are starting to lose patience with the situation.</p> <p>“Calling people for the first 4 flights to ‘proceed immediately to security’,” said one passenger at the T2 domestic terminal.</p> <p>“Like there’s 10,000 people ahead of them. They need to clear a priority lane, but the cops and security guards are standing at the back of the crowd and shrugging their shoulders.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Scenes of chaos in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SydneyAirport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SydneyAirport</a> as flights are delayed due to technical fault. Poor communication from <a href="https://twitter.com/SydneyAirport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SydneyAirport</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sydney?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sydney</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/airport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#airport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/delays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#delays</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abcnews</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/10News?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@10News</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/7NewsSydney?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@7NewsSydney</a> <a href="https://t.co/p2yqYGtFHo">pic.twitter.com/p2yqYGtFHo</a></p> — Mathew Jones (@mathewlj) <a href="https://twitter.com/mathewlj/status/971815168282804224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Friday is traditionally one of the busiest travel days at Sydney Airport, adding to the frustration of thousands of passengers passing through he check-in gates.</p> <p>“So much for a developed city, can’t solve a security screening issue since the last 3 hours,” Nishank Kotain tweeted, venting on social media.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Epic delays at Sydney airport domestic. <br />The security cameras aren't working so security ain't open... <br />Fun <a href="https://t.co/xbh7lqVFG3">pic.twitter.com/xbh7lqVFG3</a></p> — Feenicks (@feenicks) <a href="https://twitter.com/feenicks/status/971821621936766976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Earlier today, Sydney Airport’s general manager of corporate affairs, Sally Fielke talked to <a href="https://www.2gb.com/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong>Alan Jones on 2GB</strong></em></span></a> and asking passengers to be patient while they resolve the issue.</p> <p>“We’ve got the IT and technical teams working at the moment with the software provider,” she said.</p> <p>“Our key priority is we’ve got to get this glitch fixed. What it means at the moment is we can’t process outbound passengers.</p> <p>“People who have booked flights to head out this morning… we are unable to process them.</p> <p>“We’re asking passengers: you’re going to have to be a little bit patient this morning.”</p> <p>What are your thoughts? Do you think Sydney Airport has handled the situation well?</p> <p><em>Hero image credit: Twitter / Nishank Kotain </em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Oprah reveals chores she doesn't know how to do

<p>Yes, she might be one of the world’s wealthiest women and can pay people to do the most tedious tasks for her, but does that excuse Oprah Winfrey for not knowing how to do even the most basic chores?</p> <p>Whilst promoting her upcoming moving <em>A Wrinkle in Time</em>, Oprah sat down with <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/916466/watch-oprah-winfrey-hilariously-reveal-that-she-doesn-t-pump-her-own-gas-i-wouldn-t-know-what-to-do">E! News</a>, along with her co-stars Reese Witherspoon and Mindy Kaling, and confessed some of the everyday chores the star doesn’t know how to do.</p> <p>When the actresses were asked if they still fill up their own cars at the petrol station, Oprah confessed, “I don’t. I gotta just say, I wouldn’t know what to do.”</p> <p>As Reese and Mindy giggled, Oprah shared another insight into her life, showing how out of touch she is with the average person.</p> <p>“I actually took someone to the airport recently and I said, ‘Make sure you have your ticket,’ and they were like, ‘What?’ And I said, ‘They don’t have tickets anymore?’”</p> <p>The former talk show queen’s petrol station revelation comes just days after she made an appearance on <em>Jimmy Kimmel Live!</em> and admitted she doesn’t answer her own phone at home either.</p> <p>“I actually have security,” Oprah told Jimmy.</p> <p>“Somebody does answer the phone and they’ll say, ‘Mr Kimmel is on line two.’”</p> <p><img width="499" height="380" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7815781/oprah-embed-image_499x380.jpg" alt="Oprah Embed Image"/></p> <p>And then there’s Oprah’s first bank visit since 1988! During a chat with friend Ellen DeGeneres on her TV show last year, Oprah revealed that she’d only recently been to the bank in the first time in almost 20 years.</p> <p>“What did you go to the bank for?” Ellen asked.</p> <p>“To deposit a million dollars,” Oprah admitted.</p> <p>“I just wanted to go there just to do it. I stood in line, just to do it. It felt fantastic,” she added, laughing, before remembering, “Actually, it was $2 million!”</p> <p>With Forbes estimating Oprah’s worth at $3.5 billion, $2 million sounds like it would have been small change for the star!</p> <p>What do you think about Oprah’s candid confessions about regular chores she doesn’t know how to do? Tell us in the comments below.</p>

Retirement Income

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