Author: The Metrognome

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Deal with it

Why your furniture isn’t working properly, and what to do about it

It’s a problem every household around the world faces. Over time, the furniture in the house acquires a dull patina that no amount of cleaning and sprucing up can banish entirely. The upholstery becomes dull. Wood furniture loses its sheen and acquires scratches. Laminate comes loose in shutters, drawers neither open or shut efficiently. It is time to take stock of the ills that plague your furniture and decide the next course of action.

Why your furniture doesn’t work like it used to

It doesn’t do to merely be disappointed about how the furniture in your home is coming apart and/or refusing to operate like it should. It’s time to find out why, and what to do about it.

* It has outlived its shelf life.

Every piece of furniture has a certain shelf life. Some items of furniture last longer than others, such as cabinets and cupboards. But couches and bed sets, among others, will begin to sag and creak due to regular heavy use. Not every piece of furniture will last long, and you cannot expect it to.

* It needs new fittings.

The most common reason for furniture not operating smoothly is that its inner fittings have malfunctioned. This happens mostly with inferior fittings like unbranded brass hinges, ordinary drawer channels, metal rollers that rust over time, and so on. If the furniture in your kitchen is not backed by superior kitchen fittings, shutters and drawers will not operate properly and you must spend extra effort in opening and shutting them. They may even remain ajar and cause accidents and injuries.

* It is overloaded.

Apart from malfunctioning kitchen fittings, do check if you have stored more items in your drawers and cabinets than they can take. Drawers, especially, have a particular load bearing capacity based on the dimensions and material of their make. If loaded beyond this point – think of drawers sagging beneath the weight of heavy pots and pans – then the runner systems operating that drawer begin to misalign. The bottom of the drawer develops a sag and may interfere in the working of the drawers under it.

* It has become corroded due to undetected dampness, pests, etc.

Corrosion and spoilage due to leakage and moist walls is most commonly seen with wood and metal furniture. Water is a highly corrosive element that causes irreversible damage. The damage can go undetected for years if the damp walls are hidden by heavy wardrobes and kitchen cabinets. Rotting wood and rusting metal can impair the furniture’s operational abilities to a dramatic extent.

What to do about problematic furniture

The most obvious solution is to junk whatever furniture is beyond repair or restoration. Indeed, repairing it might cost you more money and time, as compared to buying new pieces entirely that might be of a better quality, thus promising a higher shelf life overall.

Old furniture also imparts an ancient air to your home – this is not ideal, unless it’s a look you are actively aiming for. If you are not, then it is best to do a complete overhaul with new modular items that are more in keeping with new trends and your personal design ethos.

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Wellness

Cosy season’s here – Here’s how you pick the right comforter

African American Man Sleeping Hugging Pillow Resting Lying With Eyes Closed In Comfortable Bed In Bedroom At Home. Rest And Napping, Recreation, Bedtime Concept. Panorama

Warm and cosy, they go around you like a hug on a cold night. We’re talking about comforters! Comforters are a much-needed bedding accessory this season, when the weather vacillates between cold and pleasant and it even rains on some nights. But most people feel suffocated and hot inside a comforter. This happens when it’s not the right one for the temperature, and even your skin.

This article has some useful tips for picking the perfect comforter, no matter the season.

* Buy only at the right time of the year.

Comforter prices rise during the monsoon and winter months due to high demand. If you want one at a reasonable price, buy it when people are not thinking of them at all – the summer season is the best time to do this. And yet, top brands know that many customers do this, so they offer year-round price reduction with discounts and attractive offers. Another good time to buy is during the festive season, when there are sales and discounts galore.

* Discard the one you have if…

Normally, the right time to discard your existing comforter is if it has become frayed or lumpy. An old comforter with unevenly distributed filling or tears and rips cannot do its job properly and it is best thrown away.

* Research the insides of the item.

The comforter filling makes or breaks the item: it often determines how warm or light it will be. Conventionally, comforters are filled with duck or geese down (small feathers are called ‘down’) to impart softness and flexibility. Down also offers good insulation. The environmentally-conscious user will be happy to choose a down comforter rather than a polymer fibre one (though the latter might be much cheaper). Some comforters feature wool filling, but these are often heavy and overheat quite fast, so you cannot use them all year round. When picking the comforter, check what kind of filling it has, whether down or cotton threads.

* Look for good fill power.

Most people ask for ‘thread counts’ when buying comforters, but this term is applicable only to bedsheets. Instead of thread counts, comforters have ‘fill power’. This term indicates the amount of space the filling occupies per square inch. The higher the fill power, the denser the filling and the warmer the comforter will be. It naturally follows that if you want to use the comforter in all seasons, you must pick one with a lower fill power whose filling allows more ventilation when in use. Choose one with a fill power lower than 600.

* Check the stitching.

Whether the comforter is stitched properly or not determines whether it will keep its filling in place instead of allowing it to migrate to other areas and form lumps. Good stitching also determines whether the item can be washed regularly without coming apart in the washing machine or dryer. The most common construction you will find is the ‘baffle box’ or ‘square’ – you’ve probably seen this on quilts. This stitching allows for an even spread for the filling and holds it in place to prevent lumping. Unlike the fill power for the insides, the stitching or ‘overcloth’ will have a thread count; look for 300 to 500 thread count if you want an all-weather comforter.

* Check if it’s easy to maintain.

Most brands indicate wash and care instructions for the item, and it helps to follow these closely if you don’t want to ruin the product with harsh cleaning products or dryer cycles. Some comforters can only be dry cleaned. Others can be washed at home using a low spin cycle on the washing machine. All comforters should be washed in cold water to prevent the covering from pilling over time. If you must put it in the dryer, make sure to use dryer balls to extract human hair and/or pet fluff.

(Featured image courtesy https://blog.sobelathome.com/what-is-a-healthy-sleep-position/)

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Kharcha paani

Starting a home-based business? Read this first

It takes a lot of courage to become your own boss, especially if you have a salaried job that you wish to quit. Often, running your own business requires constant motivation and innovation, and the time you take to establish a steady revenue stream can be a taxing one. Little wonder that so many people give up on their dreams after a few months or a couple of years of starting the business. But if you want to start your passion project and see it through to a successful journey, this article is for you.

Your own venture will challenge you and make you want to give up several times. But taking the right steps before you launch is important. Here are some pointers to take on board:

* Build your business idea on solid research: Every second person has the Next Big Idea that can change the world – and if you do, too, then you need to bolster it with a lot of market research to ensure it doesn’t flounder and fail. Take the help of experts to get the right perspective on your idea, and/or hire a market research team to know if the chosen market is ready for your products and services. Don’t forget to test the product idea on a focus group to get honest feedback. Though this exercise might cost some money and time, it can give you invaluable insights about the direction your business can take, or not. If nothing else, it can give you the confidence to launch the business, or overhaul your initial strategy to ensure success.

* Create a business plan to show investors: A lot of people put in their own savings and investment corpus to fund their business. This is useful, but you should also consider venture capital if you want to start on a good footing. Before you approach private individuals or banks for seed money, create a professional business plan that outlines company goals and deliverables per quarter for at least two years. A detailed business plan with a targeted strategy and researched market projections is more likely to receive approval for funding than simply an idea presented passionately. Do not hedge or exaggerate your numbers.

* Invest in what the business needs: You’ve decided on the launch date. Now work backwards to gather resources like office space, staff, storage space for orders, office supplies, stationery, etc. Naturally, this is a costly affair and will require a bit of planning and a handy revenue source that can pay for whatever you need for at least six months. You could consider borrowing a low interest personal loan from a trusted loan app or your bank. (Read more on getting the personal loan in the last section of this article)

* Make every quarter count: Your business will need a constant look, and it helps to set clear marketing and sales goals from the get go. Sit with your teams to chart out goals for every quarter and discuss strategies to meet those goals.

Can you get a personal loan for business?

Whether you are a first-time entrepreneur or a serial startup founder, you can get a personal loan for business provided you have a healthy credit score. Personal loans are relatively simpler to get – you might even have a pre-approved one waiting for you at your bank – and you don’t need to give the lender a reason for borrowing the money, nor furnish any collateral for it. A few reputed loan apps and several banks and NBFCs offer highly flexible personal loans for business with minimal paperwork. But do crunch the numbers with your accountant to assess your overall need and have a clear repayment plan in place before you apply. Though personal loans are easy to get, they also have amongst the highest interest rates amongst all loans today.

(Featured image courtesy https://articles.bplans.com/14-resources-to-help-you-start-a-home-based-business/)

Categories
Wellness

Stressed And Sleeping Poorly? This Will Help

Living in a modern city is wonderful – but also stressful. Rising living costs and uncertainty about jobs that started during the COVID-19 pandemic contribute to your stress. Add to that the fact that you have been sleeping badly and waking up feeling tired and irritable for months now. It’s a vicious cycle that you can’t seem to get out of – but here’s some help. We’ve compiled a simple guide to get you through this stressful time and improve your sleeping patterns.

#1 Just relax!

It is irritating to hear ‘Just calm down!’ or ‘Relax’ when you are stressed out. You would really love to relax, but don’t know how to! However, it’s not as tough as it initially appears. When you are stressed, you feel tired out also because you hold your body rigidly. Your shoulders may be hunched, neck out, back frozen in your chair, etc. Your muscles begin to clench and atrophy, and this causes small localised aches and pains. Here’s what you can do: take three deep breaths slowly, taking care to inhale and exhale slowly. Keep your eyes closed, and let your body relax. Let every limb stay loose, continue breathing slowly for at least five minutes. Do this twice a day as long as you can to reduce stress.

#2 Get the right spring mattress.

Stress has many unfortunate side effects, the biggest of which is an adverse impact on the body’s major functions. Digestion may be affected, as well as cognition and even sleep. If you have noticed an uptick in the number of sleepless nights you’ve had recently, you might consider changing your mattress. The simplest way to do this is to get a good spring mattress or memory foam mattress. These offer great cushioning to the key areas of the body and keep you comfortable all night. As a result, you find yourself sinking into a deep sleep – which in turn, helps you wake up calmer and more in control of your stress.

#3 Go to the outdoors – alone.

There is a lot to be said in favour of going to green open spaces or being in touch with nature. It soothes frayed nerves and the fresh air helps you refocus and think better. But when you are stressed, it is better to take some alone time for yourself. Strap on a pair of walking shoes and head to green open areas with fresh air. Look for easy hiking trails in and out of the city or go for a stroll with your dog. Breathing the fresh air, hearing the sounds of nature staying away from stressful triggers will help you gain control over your mind.

#4 Exercise regularly.

A fit mind is stress’s biggest enemy. You can get a fit mind that remains tranquil and unfazed when you exercise regularly and keep active. There’s no need to enrol in a gym to lift weights if you don’t want to – just wear running shoes and go for a 30-minute jog on the beach, or go cycling, or just walk briskly around the block till you work up a sweat. Exercise releases endorphins – the ‘feel good’ hormone – into the bloodstream, which reduces elevated blood pressure levels. Even your spiked blood sugar levels will drop down, and your mood will improve. Regular exercise also helps you sleep much better, which is an added benefit!

#5 Stay away from sugar.

If you thought only excess salt and oil are your body’s enemies, think again. Processed white sugar is as bad for the system as excess salt, since the kidneys take long to process it and it may create blood sugar level imbalances. However, the body has a strange reaction to stress – it craves sugar and comforting sugary foods, so you are more likely to binge on cookies, cakes, soft drinks, etc. when you are stressed out or worried. In turn, this creates havoc with your digestion and blood sugar function. Aim to eat balanced, healthy meals full of seasonal vegetables, lean protein, coloured leafy vegetables, and so on.

(Featured image courtesy https://sleepmdnyc.com/losing-sleep-shortens-your-life/)

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Learn

Buy the right health insurance in 2023

Healthcare costs rise every year in India – as do infectious diseases and lifestyle disorders. Instead of shelling out money from your pocket to pay high hospital and medicine charges, you could have a good health plan backing you up. A good health insurance policy allows you access to quality treatment witout delay, and you don’t have to pay the high costs of surgery, hospital room rent, medicines, doctor fees, and so on.

Mulling over buying a new health policy this year? Read on.

What to consider

  • If you’ve selected the best policy: Always choose reputed health insurance companies (a quick Google search will show you the year’s Top 5). This is important whether you buy an individual plan or a family one. Reputed companies offer competitive premiums, easy buying processes and faster pay-outs when you raise a claim.
  • Choose the right coverage amount: The best plan is one that gives you and your loved ones sufficient coverage when a health emergency strikes. Here’s a rule of thumb when it comes to deciding the coverage amount: it must be at least 10 times your annual income at any point in time. The health insurance plan must allow you to revise the coverage to account for future inflation and/or changes in your family’s needs. If buying a high coverage plan results in a high premium that you cannot afford, then choose a coverage you can afford this year and invest in a super top up plan from the same insurance provider. The super top up offers additional coverage with affordable premiums.
  • Check the claims process and settlement ratio: The insurance provider must offer an easy settlement process – you will not have the time or inclination to jump through several hoops to get your claim settled while you battle a health emergency – and a high claim settlement ratio. A Google search will reveal the companies with the highest claims settlement ratio (this should be as close to 100% as possible). Also check if the company pays the coverage amount only after hospitalisation or immediately after an ailment is diagnosed.
  • The waiting period: Every health insurance plan in India has a waiting period during which no claim is paid. The waiting period comes right after policy purchase, and may range from one month to three months to even one year.
  • Hospitalisation cover limits: The health policy document will list if there are any limits on pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses, and what they are. Check carefully before buying health insurance this year.

(Picture courtesy https://navi.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/best-health-insurance-plans.jpg)

Categories
Wellness

The 12-3-30 workout

by Vrushali Lad | editor@themetrognome.in

The ’12-3-30′ workout is all the rage at the moment. Created by fitness coach @laurengiraldo, it’s an incline treadmill workout that follows this system: Incline of 12 at a speed of 3 for 30 minutes. It’s touted as a quick but intense weightloss workout for those who don’t have the time for longer regimens.

I tried it out this week and here’s what I think:

💪 It’s certainly intense. The high incline challenges the entire body to maintain posture and balance while walking steadily uphill. Great for weight loss.

❌ It’s tough on the knees, ankles and back. Attempt it only if your joints and muscles are limber and pain-free. Seek medical advice if you have any health issues.

✅ Incline walking is excellent for a nearly full body workout. If you’re attempting this one, do it not more than thrice a week.

❌ Do not start on the 12-3-30 system the moment you hop on. Use 10 minutes to ease your body into it. Increase the incline (2 to 12) every minute while keeping speed steady at 3. This means you will be on the treadmill for a total of 40 minutes. Beginners should not do the full 30 minutes right away.

💧 Hydrate well before you begin, because you will sweat a lot and might feel cramping or nausea. Once done, hydrate with small sips of fluid infused with electrolytes.

🔽 I expect that weight loss may plateau if this is the only cardio you do. I would intersperse this workout with regular weight training to fuel your effort. I’m not much into cardio but I think this is good for people who are comfortable with treadmills and looking for a new workout to burn the fat.

 

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