Magazine Posts Table of Contents

Do You Have What it Takes to Live in a Tiny Home?

Posted 2014-09-03 12:25:02 | Views: 5,120
Do You Have What it Takes to Live in a Tiny Home?
The tiny house movement: many people are ditching lives of posh, palatial luxury living and instead are turning to the small, simple life. And that means living in tiny homes – literally. Tiny spaces are usually a couple hundred square feet, maybe less. 

It’s definitely not going to work for everyone, but many people love their tiny homes and prefer it over other types of living spaces. Do you think you have what it takes to live in a small space?

What are the benefits of living in tiny homes?
 
Big savings: Many tiny homes can be very affordable to build and maintain. Because of the small amount of square footage, lumber costs are low, linoleum or tiling costs are small, and appliances or other items that require electricity are often smaller and more affordable. (No more worrying about heating or cooling your home evenly!)

Some people even take it a step further and use recycled windows, doors, or tile to save money and have less of an impact on the environment.
In addition, for many tiny home enthusiasts, cash is saved on things that regular home-dwellers use regularly, such as cable TV, recycling, Internet, cell phones, etc. When tiny home dwellers decide to live off-the-grid in more unconventional housing such as these, they often simplify other parts of their lives and just go with the basics.
 
With more money in your pocket, you’ll have more freedom to pursue your dreams or dive into hobbies or things that you are truly passionate about. Use it to boost your retirement account, or spend it to travel the world. The tiny home lifestyle means more financial freedom.

Sustainability: Living in small homes means living sustainably, without a lot of extras. Small spaces require less use of lights and water for example, which translates to less of an impact on the environment. Residents also save big money when it comes to heating and cooling bills.

More time: Hate the upkeep of cleaning or dusting a big house? Not a big fan of yard work? If you choose to live in a tiny home, you can usually save a lot of time on these types of things because there simply isn't the same amount of maintenance or upkeep. This frees you up to do whatever you want – work or play!

How much does it cost?

Costs vary greatly. Many people choose to build them themselves while others have them built by someone else. The best part is – you get to customize it as you go along. This means that the cost can differ greatly. A small home that utilizes no electricity or indoor plumbing might cost as little as $2,000 but others that have a few more bells and whistles might cost upwards of $30,000. Still very affordable
 
There are endless possibilities when it comes to living life in a tiny home. The most important part is that it’s comfortable for you and allows you to experience life’s adventures along the way.

5 Ways to Beat Stress

Posted 2014-09-03 10:00:08 | Views: 4,951
5 Ways To Beat Stress
Stress isn't just annoying—it can actually shorten your life and lead to serious diseases. For example, stress and obesity go hand in hand. Study after study has shown that the more stressors a person has (assuming they don’t address them), the more excess weight they’ll carry. With obesity comes a higher risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and of course the emotional trauma of low self esteem.
The good news is that stress can be beat, and you don’t need to give up your job and all worldly possessions to make it happen. Here’s the trick: The best stress beater is the one that works for you. For some people it’s meditation, while for others it’s regular 15-minute walks throughout the day. Keep sampling the options until you find your stress beating cocktail. Here are a few ideas to get started:

1. Get enough sleep
It sounds so easy, yet it’s challenging for many Americans. Everyone has a different “right” amount of sleep, although the average is eight hours. You should be able to wake up naturally without an alarm. Go to bed earlier, practice good sleep hygiene, and prioritize it just like you do a healthy diet.

2. Work out
Exercise is the number one stress beater for a reason. However, you don’t need to do a certain type of workout at a certain type. Work out when it’s best for your preferences and/or schedule. Choose an eclectic mix that includes cardio, strength training and flexibility training. Check out a dance class, find a lifting partner or take up hiking—all movement is good.

3. Close your eyes
You can do other things during this recharge time such as listen to music or enjoy the sun in your face (with sunscreen, of course). However, simply taking a few minutes to close your eyes and shut out the daily grind can work wonders. Just stop looking at a screen for a couple of minutes and feel refreshed.

4. Start the day with warm lemon water
Warm (not hot) water with fresh squeezed lemon juice is the best way to start each morning. Don’t eat, drink or brush your teeth before doing this for at least 30 minutes after. You can then have your usual cup of coffee or tea, but warm lemon water kickstarts your metabolism, is an antioxidant, clears your complexion and wards off early morning hunger. It’s a healthy start to the day that also reduces stress.

5. Stop multi-tasking
Even though it remains popular on the want list for employers, the vast majority of people can’t actually multi-task. Everything will suffer including your stress levels. Instead, prioritize tasks, learn to say no and ask for help, and don’t try to do it all. Having unreal expectations of yourself is stress-inducing and if you pull it off once, that doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it.

Stress is a killer—literally. However, managing it is in your hands. Prioritize your well-being so that you can do your best for others and yourself.