While Memorial Day honors those who have made the ultimate #sacrifice in #service to the nation, it never hurts to support living #veterans, too. Many know the sacrifice personally, and lived to tell the tale. Some need assitance such as health care, financial support or simple companionship. That’s where ClothingDonations.org comes in: By collecting and reselling #donations of lightly used clothing, small appliances, furniture and other household goods, we help fund valuable #veterans programs throughout the country, helping all who served access housing, health care and benefits claims, as well as offering fellowship. #MemorialDay
Tag: donations
Daylight Time Is Spring Cleaning Time
Daylight savings time — still observed in most states nationwide — begins again at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 5. The practice is rapidly declining in popularity, but most readers will temporarily lose an hour to the switch nonetheless.
The transition is increasingly associated with sleep deprivation and upticks in other dangers such car accidents, heart attacks and strokes. Daylight time apparently produces a mini-jet lag that can have subtle but marked consequence on the body and mind.
To reduce daylight time’s initial health impacts, Northwestern Medicine suggests adjusting one’s circadian rhythms by getting more natural morning light, exercising and going to bed an hour early in the week leading up to the change.
Even if you approach DST with little or no personal preparation, there are things you can do around the house to take advantage of the seasonal shift, Apartment Therapy says, and prepare for the longer nights of spring and summer.
First, of course, you’ll want to reset every clock. Then, take care of some of the seasonal chores that make your home safe and comfortable: Change the smoke detector batteries, reverse the ceiling fans to counterclockwise, and rotate or flip your mattresses and couch cushions.
This is also a great time to #sort and #declutter winter clothing. Chances are that those heavy coats and woolen sweaters are already falling into disuse, so make sure all of them are cleaned and stored, eliminating and #donating any that just didn’t make it into the rotation to ClothingDonations.org.
Outdoors, you’ll have an extra hour of light in the evening to #clean the gutters, #organize the garage, powerwash the deck or prepare your garden for #spring planting. Just be careful going up that ladder as your body slowly adjusts to the new time.
The mental health benefits of making your home #clean, #organized and #clutter-free are well-documented — and they may even outweigh the negative effects of losing an hour of sleep and adjusting to the change in light.
Until a proposal to make daylight time permanent becomes law, we’re stuck with it. So make the most of it by using it as a reminder to do the seasonal tasks you’ve been meaning to do. Time’s a-wastin’!
Declutter the Dingiest Stuff First
As 2023 begins, say “out with the old” to items such as worn pillows, dingy towels, half-burned candles, mismatched hangers and other unloved items, House Beautiful says. When the holidays are over, it’s a great time to clear out the #junk that has accumulated in the last year or years and now creates generalized stress and anxiety. Start by #decluttering easy throwaways such as takeout menus and expired food products, then move on to things that might be useful to others, but you don’t need or want — clothes that don’t fit, extra coffee mugs, etc. #Donate them to ClothingDonations.org, and you’ll help fund veterans programs! #NewYear #NewYou #2023
Out (the Window) With the Old?
On New Year’s Eve in countries such as Italy and South Africa, people throw used furniture and appliances out the window at the stroke of midnight to bring good luck in the new year, Good Housekeeping says. While you may be fed up with some of your old #stuff and eager to replace it, The Organizing Blog doesn’t advocate such dangerous displays of #decluttering. Instead, pack any lightly used goods you don’t want to take into the new year in boxes, bags or compact piles and visit ClothingDonations.org to schedule a free, contactless #donation #pickup at your earliest convenience. #NewYear #NewYou #2023
New Year, New You? Make a Plan and Be Patient
The phrase “New year, new you” runs counter to the mindfulness concept “Wherever you go, there you are.” But if you wish to make tweaks to your surroundings or habits, the new year is as good a time as any. To encourage success, make your goals specific, realistic and attainable, says VeryWellMind. Start with small, manageable steps and remember that change is a process. Revisit your motivation if progress slows, reevaluate the plan and keep pushing. “Be patient with yourself. Even if you make a misstep or two, you can restart and continue on your journey toward your goal.” #NewYear #NewYou #2023